Natural Gas

Perspective: Impact of Trump’s Executive Orders Unclear

The executive orders signed Wednesday by President Trump are intended to make it easier for companies to build oil and gas pipelines, but experts aren’t sure yet if they will achieve their goal.

Police: 1 Dead, 15 Injured in North Carolina Gas Explosion

A gas explosion that partially collapsed a North Carolina building and set it ablaze Wednesday morning killed one person and injured more than a dozen others, police said.

Romania Premier Encourages European Independence From Russian LNG

Romania's prime minister says a number of European countries need to diversify energy sources to lessen dependence on Russian gas.

Sunoco Settles Mariner East 1 Case with Pennsylvania PUC

Energy Transfer's Sunoco Pipeline subsidiary has reached a $200,000 settlement agreement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) over an 840-gallon ethane and propane leak from Mariner East 1 pipeline in 2017.

Lebanon Warns Against Using Disputed Territory for East Med Pipeline

Lebanon warned its Mediterranean neighbors in March that a planned East Med gas pipeline from Israel to the European Union must not be allowed to violate its maritime borders.

China Plans State Pipeline Company to Spur E&P

China is expected to introduce a plan this year to combine the long-distance pipeline assets of its state-owned energy companies into a single, national oil and gas pipeline group and open access to private and foreign energy producers.

West Coast Perched at Forefront of Natural Gas Movement

Gas, widely seen as a transition fuel, provides 45% of California’s power, augmented by sustainable large-scale hydro (17.89%) and wind and solar. Indeed, California is one of only three U.S. states in which solar exceeds 10% of power generation. As of 2017 coal accounted for only 4.1% of California’s power, compared to 30% nationally and it will be zero by 2026.

Operational Intelligence Needed in Preparing for Oil and Gas Upswing

In the oil and gas industry, pressure can ramp up twofold during peak times and companies must figure out how to maximize extraction to optimize return.

Trump to Sign Order Seeking to Clear Gas Pipeline Hurdles: Kudlow

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration would soon issue an executive order that will open the door for more natural gas pipelines and exports of LNG. The administration has been considering an order that would push back against states, including New York, that have blocked interstate natural gas pipelines.

Greece's DEPA to Become First Gas Supplier to Bulgaria Outside Gazprom

Bulgaria's Bulgargaz has struck a deal to buy 1.5 million megawatt hours of natural gas from Greece's DEPA, the first time the state provider has bought gas outside its long-term contract with Russia's Gazprom.

EagleClaw Midstream to Proceed with Delaware Link Pipeline

EagleClaw Midstream said Wednesday it has made a final investment decision to proceed with construction of the Delaware Link pipeline, a new pipeline designed to transport residue natural gas from the Delaware Basin in West Texas to the Waha hub.

NextDecade and Shell Execute 2 MTPA, 20-Year LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement

NextDecade Corporation (“NextDecade”) announced at the LNG2019 conference in Shanghai, a 20-year sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”) with Shell for the supply of two MTPA of LNG from NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG export project in Brownsville, Texas.

Mass. Budgets Statewide Review of Natural Gas Systems

Gov. Charlie Baker has signed a spending bill that funds a statewide examination of Massachusetts’ natural gas distribution system. The review was ordered after the Sept. 13 gas explosions that killed one person, injured 25 others and damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings in the Merrimack Valley.

Denmark Asks Nord Stream 2 to Assess Third Route Option for Gas Pipeline

The Danish Energy Agency has requested an environmental assessment of a third route option for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Danish waters, a move that could delay the project to pump Russian gas to Europe.

NextDecade to Make Major Announcement at LNG2019

NextDecade Corporation (NextDecade) will make a major announcement related to its Rio Grande LNG project at LNG2019 in Shanghai, China. The announcement will take place on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.

UK Oil and Gas Authority Releases Data on Over 3,000 Pipelines

Earlier this week, the UK Oil and Gas National Data Repository (NDR) was launched with over 130 terabytes of data covering thousands of pipelines, offshore wellbores, and seismic surveys going back more than 50 years. This is believed to be one of the largest ever single open releases of data in the industry.

Additional Pipeline Takeaway Capacity Increased Permian Crude Price

Crude oil prices in the Permian region have increased since the beginning of the year as two recent pipeline capacity additions reduced some of the takeaway constraints that developed in the middle of 2018. These transportation constraints had forced producers to use more expensive ways to transport crude oil, resulting in lower received prices.

No-Deal Brexit Won't Disrupt UK Gas Flows from Europe: National Grid

Britain's National Grid said electricity and gas flows from continental Europe would continue as normal even under a no-deal Brexit.

Surging LNG Imports Drive Down British Wholesale Gas Prices

Britain's imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for March are at their highest levels since October 2015, helping British wholesale gas prices slide to a more than 18-month low.

Con Edison Halts Gas Hookups, Citing Interstate Pipeline Constraints

Consolidated Edison Inc said it will impose a moratorium on new natural gas service in parts of New York's Westchester County to protect system reliability due to limited space on interstate pipelines to the region.

At Least 5 Killed in Iran Gas Pipeline Explosion

A gas pipeline explosion in southwestern Iran killed at least five people and injured six, the Tasnim news agency reported.

Global News

Finland, Estonia and Latvia Sign Deal for Single Gas Tariff Zone Gas transmission operators of Finland, Latvia and Estonia signed an agreement on to set up a single gas transmission tariff zone for the three countries from the start of 2020. The agreement fulfills a goal ..

Unwanted Night Moves

Whenever the subject of internal corrosion in pipelines comes up, it rekindles some unpleasant memories from my extensive time as a pipeline company spokesperson. Being part of an emergency response team for over 12 years was rewarding in many ways, but there was always an uneasy feeling when the phone would ring in the middle of the night.

Corrosion Protection Through New Cost-Effective Coating

A growing number of proactive companies are going beyond traditional techniques that have only slowed corrosion. They are turning to a new category of tough, chemically bonded phosphate ceramics (CBPCs) that can stop carbon steel corrosion, extend equipment life, and minimize the cost and production downtime required to recoat, repair, or replace equipment.

SGA’s Chapman Promotes Clean Energy Future

P&GJ recently sat down with Adrian Chapman to discuss his new role as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Southern Gas Association, and the outlook for SGA and the energy industry.

Pakistan to Open Gas Fields, Pipelines to Attract Foreign Investment

Pakistan plans to offers dozens of gas field concessions in the coming year to fill in a fuel shortage, a senior official said, with Islamabad hoping a sharp drop in militant violence and changes to exploration policy will attract foreign investors. To encourage development, the government also plans to make its pipeline system more accessible and affordable.

NACE International Roundtable: Corrosion Management for Pipeline Integrity

To explain the value of corrosion management systems (CMS), how they work, and what programs and platforms are available to help organizations improve corrosion control programs, three experts in oil and gas pipeline corrosion management share their knowledge and experience with CMS. They are Michael Ames, Chapman Engineering; Gerry Koch, DNV GL; and David Kroon, Aegion Corporation.

Argentina Plans Vaca Muerta Production Boost, Pipeline Buildout

Argentina's energy secretary today reiterated his country's commitment to build infrastructure and boost output of natural gas, citing plans for a new 22 MMcm/d pipeline from the Vaca Muerta shale producing region to Buenos Aires.

Serbia's Gastrans Invites Binding Bids for New Gas Link

Serbia's Gastrans has invited binding bids to book capacity at a planned section of Gazprom's TurkStream pipeline, which will carry Russian natural gas across Serbia to Europe.

Lebanon Warns Against Using Disputed Territory for East Med Pipeline

Lebanon on Thursday warned its Mediterranean neighbors that a planned East Med gas pipeline from Israel to the European Union must not be allowed to violate its maritime borders.