Natural Gas

BP Agrees to Buy Shell's Stake in Australian Browse Gas Project

BP has agreed to buy rival giant Shell's 27% stake in the Browse joint venture, expanding its holding in Australia's largest untapped gas resource in a move that could improve the development prospects for the long-stalled project.

Norway Plans to Nationalize Gas Pipelines When Concessions Expire

Norway plans to nationalize most of its gas pipeline network when many existing concessions expire in 2028, the oil and energy ministry said on Friday, to tighten control over key infrastructure.

Xcel Energy Assessing Hydrogen Blending for Its US Gas Pipelines

(P&GJ) — Xcel Energy has contracted for a study of the feasibility of injecting and blending hydrogen into its 36,000 miles (57,936 km) of distribution and 2,200 miles (3,540 km) of transmission pipelines.

First Nations: Canada’s New Infrastructure Power Brokers

(P&GJ) — After decades of largely contentious relations between Indigenous groups and energy infrastructure developers, Canada’s First Nations are beginning to embrace the economic opportunities that pipeline and export projects can offer – a trend that could make it easier to approve and complete future projects.

Offshore Pipeline Design for CCUS

(P&GJ) — Design and construction of CO2 pipelines are similar to natural gas transmission pipelines. However, there are differences like: thermodynamic modeling, blow down modeling, specifying the maximum water content, pipeline fracture propagation control, use of elastomer materials and performing a quantitative risk assessment, mainly related to release modeling and defining the allowable exposure limits. These factors require special attention for CO2 pipelines, when compared with natural gas.

Explainer: Can Joint Gas Buying Boost Europe's Energy Security?

The European Union opened a scheme this week for companies to jointly buy gas, aiming to secure supplies ahead of winter and avoid a repeat of last year's record-high energy prices.

Russia Looks to Companies Beyond Gazprom to Supply Gas to China

Russia is considering supplying natural gas to China by a 2,600-km (1,620-mile) pipeline from companies other than Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, which currently has the monopoly for Russian pipeline gas exports, an Energy Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Naftogaz Held Talks with Exxon, Chevron, Halliburton About Energy Projects in Ukraine -FT

Naftogaz has held talks with Exxon Mobil, Halliburton and Chevron about projects in Ukraine as the country looks to lure back foreign investment to its energy sector, the Financial Times reported on Friday. Naftogaz hopes to sign a contract with Halliburton that would help increase production to a target of 13.5 Bcm this year.

Offshore Innovation Seen as Key to Overcoming Obstacles

(P&GJ) — At mid-year 2022, an online industry report service using artificial intelligence (AI) enabled analytic tools released a worldwide assessment of offshore oil and natural gas prospects with a decidedly upbeat tenor.

NextEra Energy Q1 Results Boosted by Clean Energy Push

NextEra, which generates more wind and solar energy than any other company in the world, said it is benefiting from a clean energy investment push that has received major public policy support in recent months and given it a buffer against natural gas price swings.

Dutch Government Confirms Plan to Halt Gas Production in Groningen

The Dutch government said on Tuesday that it will invest $24.24 billion in the earthquake-stricken Groningen region while confirming plans to halt gas production there no later than 2024.

Nigeria's NNPC Says 384-Mile AKK Gas Pipeline Is 70% Complete

Construction of Nigeria's 614-km (384-mile) natural gas pipeline is 70% complete, the head of state oil firm NNPC said on Monday, missing a target he initially set to finish the project by the end of the first quarter.

Tellurian Receives US Approval for Driftwood Gas Pipelines

Liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian Inc. said on Monday the U.S. energy regulator had authorized Line 200 and Line 300 of its $1.4 billion Driftwood natural gas transmission pipeline project.

EPA to Issue Power Plant Rules That Lean on Carbon Capture

The U.S. government may soon require natural gas-fired power plants to install technology to capture carbon emissions, sources said, as President Joe Biden's administration enacts new rules to help decarbonize the power sector in 12 years.

Liberty Energy Says 15 New Frac Fleets to Hit US Market This Year

The second-largest U.S. shale fracturing firm Liberty Energy on Thursday said service firms have about 30 new frac fleets in development and about half of those will hit the market this year.

Williams, MPLX, WES DJ Gathering Reach Settlement with EPA, DOJ Over Methane Leaks

The settlements announced by the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency require the three natural gas processors to pay a combined $9.25 million in civil penalties and make about $16 million in improvements at plants and compressor stations.

CEO: Woodside's Stalled Browse LNG Project Still 'Very Attractive'

The estimated $13.8 billion Browse project to develop Australia's largest untapped gas resource has been bogged down for years by demand uncertainty and negotiations over a processing agreement.

PG&E Reduces Emissions from Gas Pipelines by More Than 20%

(P&GJ) — PG&E's Gas Operations and Engineering teams took a comprehensive approach to reduce emissions from the natural gas system, including enhancing the leak survey program that now assesses more than 42,000 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline every three years versus the previous every-five-years rotation.

Italy's Eni, Snam Offer Slovakia Gas Supply and Storage

Italy's energy group Eni and gas grid operator Snam on Thursday signed two agreements with Slovakia's biggest energy provider SPP for the supply and storage of gas and LNG.

Kinder Morgan Beats Profit Estimates on Higher Natural Gas; Permian Pipeline Expansion Delayed

Kinder Morgan Inc. on Wednesday beat profit expectations for the first quarter as the U.S. pipeline operator transported higher volumes of natural gas primarily from Haynesville and Eagle Ford systems.

Japan's Mitsui Buys US Gas Asset in 'Pragmatic Solution' for Energy Transition

Japan's Mitsui & Co. Ltd. has bought a 92% stake in an unconventional gas asset in Texas and plans to promote its gas business as a "pragmatic solution" for the energy transition, it said on Thursday.

Permian In Spotlight as Energy Dealmaking Gathers Steam

Companies with a focus on the oil-rich Permian basin are likely to be at the center of the next wave of consolidation in the U.S. energy sector as favorable oil prices prompt cash-rich drillers to tap into the largest source of shale oil.

Official: Louisiana on Track for Carbon Well Permitting by Year-End

Louisiana likely will receive permitting authority over wells designed to capture and store greenhouse gases by the end of the year, U.S. Congressman Garret Graves, who represents a southern section of the state, said on Tuesday.

Mitsubishi Power Starts Natural Gas Turbine Operation in Rayong, Thailand

This natural gas turbine is the fifth of its kind of a total of eight to be delivered under a full turnkey 5,300-megawatt contract secured by Mitsubishi Power in 2018, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

California City Can't Enforce Natural Gas Ban, Appeals Court Says

Berkeley, California, cannot ban natural gas hookups in new buildings because a U.S. federal law preempts its rule, a federal appeals court said Monday, siding with a challenge the state's restaurant industry made.

Chevron Seeks Drilling Ship to Expand East Med Gas Search

Chevron is seeking a drilling ship to explore for natural gas off Cyprus, Egypt and Israel as the U.S. energy major looks to meet growing demand in the region and Europe, two sources told Reuters.

Gazprom Says Europe Set to Struggle Refilling Gas Storage for Next Winter

It will be very difficult for Europe to refill its gas storage to last year's levels after the continent ended the winter heating season with relatively low stockpiles, Russian natural gas giant Gazprom said on Tuesday.

Shell Restarts Pierce Field Operations in UK North Sea

Shell Plc said on Tuesday it had restarted operations at the Pierce field in the UK Central North Sea, following an upgrade to allow gas to be produced at the location after years of it producing only oil.

Marathon Oil, Chevron Agree to Further Develop Equatorial Guinea Gas Mega Hub

(P&GJ) — Marathon Oil Corp. has signed an agreement with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Noble Energy E.G. Ltd, a Chevron company, to progress the next phases (Phases II and III) in the development of the Equatorial Guinea Regional Gas Mega Hub.

Security of Supply Concerns Prompt Arctic Barents Sea Gas Pipeline Rethink in Norway

Building a pipeline to transport gas produced in the Arctic Barents Sea could be worth re-examining due to an increased focus on supply security and Norway exporting more of its gas to Europe, gas infrastructure operator Gassco said on Monday.