Natural Gas

Utility to Pay $53M for Fatal Gas Line Explosion

A utility company will pay the largest criminal fine ever imposed for breaking a federal pipeline safety law — $53 million — and plead guilty to causing a series of natural gas explosions in Massachusetts that killed one person and damaged dozens of homes, federal officials said Wednesday.

Saudi Aramco Launches Largest Shale Gas Development Outside U.S.

Saudi Aramco is launching the biggest shale gas development outside of the United States to boost domestic gas supply and end the burning of oil at its power generation plants, Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser told Reuters on Monday.

Williams Cancels N.Y. Constitution Pipeline

Williams Cos Inc said on Monday it canceled the proposed Constitution natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York following years of opposition from politicians and environmental groups in New York.

U.S. Supreme Court Leans Toward Atlantic Coast Pipeline

A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday seemed inclined to find that the federal government had authority to grant a right of way for a proposed $7.5 billion natural gas pipeline to cross under the popular Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia.

Canada Demands Rail Barricades Come Down as Farmers, Businesses Feel Pain

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday demanded aboriginal groups lift damaging rail blockades but the protesters at the heart of the standoff remained defiant, saying their conditions had not yet been met.

Fracking Ban Debate Causes Tremors in Battleground Pennsylvania

The notion of banning fracking is dividing the Democrats running for president and increasingly dividing Democrats in the presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania, where fracking has vaulted it to the No. 2 natural gas producer behind Texas.

Energy Transfer Signs NGL Transportation, Processing Agreement

Energy Transfer LP said on Wednesday it signed agreements with an undisclosed company for the gathering, processing, transportation and fractionation of natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the Eagle Ford shale basin through 2034, and the Delaware basin through 2040.

India Nears Record Imports as LNG Prices Slump on Virus Impact

India is set to import record volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) this month, data shows, taking advantage of the super-chilled fuel's price hitting all-time lows due to the coronavirus outbreak dampening demand in China.

China Resumes Construction on Mid Section of East-Route Pipeline

The middle section of the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline project resumed construction in Jinzhou City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Wednesday.

Texas Regulator Calls out State's Worst, Best Companies for Natural Gas Flaring

One of Texas' oil and gas regulators on Tuesday defended the state's high rate of natural gas flaring but named companies that burn off the most gas.

Canada Seeks Peaceful End to Rail Blockade as Pressure Builds

Canada is seeking a peaceful end to a rail blockade that has shut down freight and passenger traffic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday, amid increasing pressure from the Conservative opposition to clear the tracks.

Gas Prices Fall to Lowest Level Since 2016, Lowest February Prices in 20 Years - EIA

New data released last week by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reveals that LNG prices reached their lowest February closing price for the near-month contract in almost 20 years.

FERC Weighs Plan to Build Pacific Connector Pipeline in Oregon

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is set to decide this week on a proposed natural gas pipeline and marine export terminal in Oregon that is likely set up a court battle over state's rights if approved.

China's January Gas Consumption Falls for First Time in 2 Years

China's natural gas consumption in January saw its first year-on-year contraction in at least two years, data compiled by Chongqing Petroleum and Gas Exchange, a government-backed energy trading platform, showed on Monday.

Enbridge to Purchase Rio Bravo Pipeline from NextDecade

NextDecade Corporation and Enbridge announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Enbridge will acquire Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC from NextDecade.

Dominion to Buy Southern's Stake in Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Dominion Energy said this week it agreed to buy Southern Co’s stake in the roughly $8 billion Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina, which is expected to enter service in early 2022.

Germany Needs More Gas Power Plants: Utility, Lobby

Germany must support the construction of gas-powered generation to avoid an electricity supply crunch as it pulls out of nuclear and coal and electric vehicles increase demand, utility Uniper and gas lobby Zukunft Erdgas said on Tuesday.

US Firms Want to Expanded Portugal's Sines Port for LNG - Energy Secretary

American companies have a strong interest in expanding Portugal's deepwater port of Sines due to its strategic position for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said on Wednesday.

U.S. Gives Iraq Sanctions Waiver for Iranian Gas Imports

The United States has granted Iraq a 45-day sanctions waiver enabling the country to continue importing vital Iranian gas and electricity supplies, two Iraqi officials said on Wednesday.

Analysts Cut China's Gas Demand Estimates as Virus Outbreak Weighs

Several analysts cut their gas demand forecasts for China, the world's top gas importer, as the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak is expected to depress industrial, commercial and transportation appetite over the next few months.

Ameren Illinois Plans $64 Million Pipeline Upgrades

Ameren Illinois said it will replace 12 miles of aging natural gas pipeline in two Illinois locations for a combined cost of $64 million as part of its planned system upgrades around the state.

U.S. Shale Gas Investors Brace for Write-Downs Amid Price Plunge

U.S. shale gas producers are ripe for further spending cuts and write-downs, investors and analysts said, with prices at four-year lows and China's rejection of some gas imports weighing on earnings.

Williams Completes Gateway Expansion Project Ahead of Schedule

Williams placed its Gateway Expansion into full service 11 months ahead of schedule through “expedited project execution and construction,” boosting natural gas deliveries to the energy-hungry U.S. Northeast by 65,000 MMcf/d, in time for the winter heating season.

TurkStream Begins Gas Flows to Greece, North Macedonia

Russia is building TurkStream and doubling the capacity of NordStream across the Baltic Sea to Germany as part of plans to bypass Ukraine in its gas deliveries to Europe.

Mexico’s President to Request Rerouting of Planned Gas Pipeline

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that he will ask for a natural gas pipeline being developed by Canada’s TC Energy Corp to be rerouted, so it does not cut across lands considered sacred by communities in Puebla state.

FERC Approves Chesapeake Utilities Pipeline Expansion

Chesapeake Utilities has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued an order approving the Company’s proposed Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project.

India Approves $774 Million for Gas Pipeline in Northeast

India approved funding of $774 million (955.6 billion rupees) for a natural gas pipeline in its northeast, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, as part of a national gas grid being built to span remote locations.

Outrigger Expands in Williston Basin with Commitment from XTO

Private midstream energy company Outrigger Energy II said it is constructing a 70-mile gathering system and cryogenic plant in North Dakota to service XTO Energy natural gas production under a long-term, definitive gathering and processing agreement.

Bulgaria Starts Receiving Gas from TurkStream, Bypassing Ukraine

Bulgaria started receiving natural gas from Russia’s Gazprom via Turkey on January 1 and will no longer use the route through Ukraine and Romania, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said.

Nigeria Launches Regulations to Encourage Gas Use — Oil Minister

Nigeria has launched new regulations covering gas transportation which it hopes will expand use of the fuel and encourage private investment in pipelines, Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva said on Monday.