Shell trading arm protests proposed program for Marketlink oil pipeline

Shell's U.S. trading arm onMonday urged regulators to deny a new program proposed byTransCanada Corp for its Marketlink oil pipeline from Cushing,Oklahoma, to Gulf Coast markets, saying it violates sections ofthe Interstate Commerce Act (ICA):

* Shell Trading (US) Company (STUSCO), a shipper onMarketlink, said the proposed ""flexible short-term program" isalso inconsistent with the FERC-approved rate structure.

* FERC's rate structure provides that walk-up shippers pay ahigher rate for the same type of flexibility being offered tothe flexible short-term shippers, STUSCO said.

* TransCanada in April filed for the program, effectiveJune 1.

(Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by DanGrebler)