Natural Gas

Today’s Oil Patch Success: 'It’s Technology, Stupid!'

Upstream and midstream executives have been quick to tell investors how technology and innovation are adding efficiency and cost savings to their operations, even coming out of a three-year global price depression for oil.

Compressor Stations Doing the Difficult Work

An updated look at the the scope, functionality and variations of compressor stations and their essential role in the transmission of natural gas from production fields and re-gasification ports to end customers around the world.

Regulators Reject France-Spain Gas Interconnect

Government regulators in France and Spain have rejected a project by the two countries' grid operators to build a gas pipeline across the Pyrenees, France's CRE said

2019 Global Pipeline Construction Outlook

The upstream sector started the new year on a cautious note following a sharp decline in oil and gas prices, but the midstream sector roared into 2019 on a wave of pipeline construction activity. The latest Pipeline & Gas Journal survey indicates 145,353 miles of pipelines were planned or under construction worldwide at the start of the year.

Israel Minister: Gas Exports to Egypt to Start Within Months

Israel will begin exporting natural gas to Egypt in a few months' time, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said, marking a key step in the plans to sell expanding gas production and bolster diplomatic ties.

WhiteWater Holds Open Season for NM-Texas Pipeline

WhiteWater Midstream commenced a binding open season for a 500,000 MMBtu/d pipeline from multiple points in Eddy County, N.M., to delivery points in northern Culberson County, Texas.

Pakistan Fires Gas Utility Chiefs over Winter Energy Crisis

Pakistan's Prime Minister fired the heads of Sui Natural Gas Pipeline and Sui Southern Gas Company over a severe winter energy crisis that has seen repeated supply outages.

Maryland Board Rejects TransCanada Project Easement

Maryland's Board of Public Works voted against a proposed pipeline easement across the western part of the state that would enable TransCanada to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to West Virginia.

Poland Signs 20-Year Deal to Buy U.S. Natural Gas

Poland has signed a long-term deal with a U.S. company for supplies of liquefied natural gas as part of an effort to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

Governors Agree to Study Sending Gas to Asia by Way of California Coast

The governors of Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico's Sonora state signed an agreement Wednesday to study a plan to export natural gas to Asia by connecting existing pipelines to move the fuel south to the Gulf of California.

Government

Change of Class Location Draws Opposition Citizen organizations and state regulators are opposing interstate pipeline efforts to convince federal regulators to provide an alternative to the class location system, which requires pipelines to take steps when there is population growth around a pipeli..

Projects

Valley Crossing Pipeline to Mexico Gains FERC Extension The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) awarded Enbridge subsidiary Valley Crossing Pipeline six additional months to connect its natural gas pipeline to its counterpart in Mexico, moving the deadline to April 23. The 168-mile pipelin..

Global News

Natural Gas Utilities Testing Demand Response Programs Demand Response (DR) programs have become a fairly common method of reducing electricity demand during summer peak periods, and now the approach is being tried by natural gas utilities – most recently due to concerns about limited pipeline capa..

Columbia Gas’ Merrimack Valley Accident: Fallout Just Starting

Federal and state agencies immediately jumped into action to uncover causes and preventative lessons that might be learned from the fatal September explosions, but other investigations could have implications for pipeline operations far beyond Massachusetts.

Retiring Stavropoulos Leaves PG&E a Safer Utility

Eight years after joining PG&E in the wake of the San Bruno explosion, Nick Stavropoulos retired as an industry role model for restoring a sense of pride at the giant San Francisco utility.

Cordillerano Pipeline Extension will be Delivered in March 2019

Growing natural gas demand in Argentina has led its Ministry of Energy to expedite expansion of the Patagonian System and the Rio Senger and Las Armas compressor plants.

Tunisia Pushes Forward with New Pipeline

Tunisia is positioning itself to be North Africa’s next gas producing and processing hub as the country anticipates the soon-to-be completion and commissioning of the Southern Tunisian Gas Pipeline.

Replacement Projects Still Boosting Infrastructure Work

A large volume of work remains in the United States for multibillion-dollar infrastructure replacement programs, with many now underway and more destined to follow. In this summary report, P&GJ provides an overview of the current widespread activity.

APGA Chairman to Focus on Safety and Consumer Education

P&GJ talks about industry priorities and challenges with Owen Reeves, 2018-2019 chairman of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), which represents more than 70% of all publicly owned natural gas utilities in the United States.

Phillips 66 Sets $1.6 Billion Midstream Budget for 2019

Phillips 66 announced that it has set a $2.3 billion capital budget for 2019 and will direct the bulk of that spending to midstream growth projects.

Bulgaria to Seek Binding Bids for TurkStream Link by Jan 16

Bulgaria's state gas network operator plans to launch a binding open season this month for a 300-mile link that would transport mainly Russian gas from the TurkStream pipeline to central Europe.

Gas Service Mostly Restored after September Explosions

Columbia Gas said natural gas service has been restored for 96 percent of customers who were affected by the September explosions in Massachusetts

Williams Completes Sale of Several Gulf Coast Pipeline Systems

Williams announced the sale of certain pipeline systems located in the Gulf Coast area to Easton Energy for $177 million in cash. The 31-mile Texas Belle Pipeline, which transports natural gas liquids from Mont Belvieu to the Houston Ship Channel, is included in this transaction.

Eni's Indonesia Gas Project to Start Up in 2021: Deputy Minister

Indonesia's deputy energy minister said Eni aims to start output of natural gas in 2021 from its offshore Merakes project, which includes construction of subsea systems and pipelines.

Binding Open Season Launched for Mariner East Pipeline

Energy Transfer announced its Sunoco Pipeline subsidiary launched a binding open season to solicit shipper commitments for NGL transport through its Mariner East Pipeline system, which is nearing completion.

Firms Approve Pipeline to Supply Norwegian gas to Poland

Polish and Danish gas grid operators Gaz-System and Energinet agreed to finance construction of the Baltic Pipe project, a 560-mile pipeline transporting Norwegian gas to Poland via Denmark.

Bulgaria OKs Pipeline Linking Russian gas to Central Europe

Bulgaria will go ahead with construction of a $1.59 billion pipeline to Turkey that enables Gazprom to transport natural gas from the TurkStream pipeline to Europe, bypassing Ukraine to the south.

Energy Transfer Defends Mariner East 2 Plan in Pennsylvania

Energy Transfer representatives went to Pennsylvania's capital today for a hearing before utility regulators to defend the company's plan to put the Sunoco Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipe into service by year end.

Energy Transfer, Sunoco Pipelines Rack Up Violations: Analysis

Energy Transfer LP and its Sunoco pipeline subsidiary have racked up more than 800 state and federal permit violations while racing to build two of the nation's largest natural gas pipelines, according to a Reuters analysis.

Pipeline Repairs Halt Iran gas Exports to Iraq

Gas exports from Iran to Iraq were halted late on Tuesday for several days, as Iranian authorities work to repair damages caused to the pipeline during a recent earthquake.