Business & Markets

French Protests Disrupt Output at Total's Grandpuits Refinery

Total's Grandpuits refinery near Paris is producing at a reduced rate after the CGT union voted to halt output as part of nationwide protests against a pensions reforms, the French energy company said.

Putin says Russia has Vessel to Build Nord Stream 2

President Vladimir Putin said Russia has a pipe-laying vessel to complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, the Kommersant daily newspaper reported, following sanctions imposed by Washington.

US Consumed Record Energy in 2018; Gas Up 10%

Primary energy consumption in the United States reached a record high of 101.3 quadrillion Btu in 2018, up 4% from 2017 and 0.3% above the previous record set in 2007, according to updated statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It was the largest increase in both absolute and percentage terms since 2010.

Reducing Risk At Compressor Stations Through Gas Flame Detection

Compressor station owners and operators can significantly reduce fire-related risks to hazardous and remote facilities by deploying a comprehensive gas and flame detection system.

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles Have Role in Pipeline Security

Dramatic developments in the technological development and commercial application of UUVs indicates they have become much more viable within the oil and gas industry since a 2007 PHMSA report said otherwise.

Europe’s Gas Distribution in Need of Evolution

Europe is in transition toward a low-carbon economy in which fossil fuels’ share of the energy mix is projected to fall in coming years, but import of natural gas are expected to rise. This means that Europe’s distribution network capacity will have to be improved.

EPA Recommends Alternative for Alaska’s Cook Inlet Pipeline Crossing

Filings from federal, state and municipal agencies, environmental and business groups and the public piled in on the last two days for comment on the Alaska LNG project’s draft environmental impact statement.

Manipulation of Multi-Phase Flow in Offshore Pipelines

In recent years, offshore oil and gas production is facing an increasing challenge related to the multi-phase flow in the transportation pipelines; the pipelines transporting fluids from the reservoirs to the separation platforms.

A Decade into DIMP, Pipe Replacement Still Keeps Workforce Busy

Ten years after it went into effect, the U.S. Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) continued to drive much of the nation's pipeline replacement activity.

Cyprus, Greece, Israel to Sign EastMed Pipeline Deal on Jan. 2

The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel plan to sign an agreement early in the new year for the building of the eastern Mediterranean natural gas pipeline, the Greek prime minister’s office announced Sunday.

Japan's LNG Demand to Rise During Reactor Upgrades

Japanese utilities face hundreds of millions of dollars in extra fuel costs in 2020 as they buy in extra LNG and coal while nearly half the country's working nuclear reactors go off-line for government-ordered security upgrades.

Egypt to Begin Gas Imports from Israel by Mid-Jan 2020

Egypt will begin importing natural gas from Israel by mid-January 2020, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio on Sunday.

U.S. Gas Volatility Diminishes on Higher Output and Exports

Traditionally severe seasonal swings in inventories and prices are being softened by surging domestic production and the increasing international integration of the U.S. gas market through LNG exports.

Turkey Threatens Retaliation Against Possible U.S. Pipeline Sanctions

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Friday that Ankara would retaliate against potential U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian defense systems and the TurkStream gas pipeline.

First Pipe Segments Delivered for Canada's Coastal GasLink Project

TC Energy said the first segments of pipe for its Coastal GasLink pipeline project have been delivered to storage sites in Kitimat and Chetwynd, British Columbia, in anticipation of construction ramp-up next year for the 416-mile (670-km) project.

TC Energy Files to Reduce Toll on Canadian Mainline Pipeline

TC Energy Corp said on Friday its unit has reached a settlement with customers to reduce toll on the western part of its Canadian Mainline pipeline, making it cheaper to transport gas, and asked the Canada Energy Regulator for its approval.

Russia, Ukraine, EU Agree 'In Principle' on New Gas Deal

Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission, after hours-long talks on Thursday, agreed in principle on a new gas deal starting after Jan 1, 2020, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic told a briefing.

APGA Chairman Intends to Re-Engage Membership

In an interview with Pipeline & Gas Journal, APGA Chairman Samual Davis Jr. discusses the challenges and goals faced by the organization in during the coming year. He also talks about strategies for effectively explaining the benefits of natural gas to the public and shares his thoughts on electrification.

FERC Rules Clean Energy Sources Must Pay Higher Market Price

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday directed the largest U.S. power grid operator to force state-subsidized solar and wind electricity providers to raise prices, a move that opponents called a partisan attempt to protect fossil fuels.

Oil Patch Woes: Amid Downturn, Alberta Rages at Canada's Trudeau

A shortage of pipelines, shut-in wells, slumping prices, oilfield layoffs, and strained local food banks. The root causes of Alberta's problems are uniquely Canadian, and their blame of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is fueling a Western separatist movement dubbed #Wexit.

New England Power and Gas Prices Spike During Cold Snap

Natural gas and power prices in New England spiked to their highest since last winter as a cold snap froze the six-state region. Next-day gas prices for Thursday jumped almost 25% to $14.50 per mmBtu, their highest since January, for a second day in a row.

Russia's Putin Says Moscow Plans to Keep Gas Transit Via Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow planned to keep gas transit via Ukraine irrespective of a number of gas pipelines Moscow currently builds to bypass its ex-Soviet neighbor.

Leviathan Gas Field to Start Up Monday; Court Lifts Injunction

Israel's energy ministry gave its final approval for the start of production at the giant Leviathan gas field and said the wells will open early on Monday after a court lifted a temporary injunction granted over environmental concerns.

Orsted Divests LNG Business to Glencore

Danish energy group Orsted said on Wednesday it has agreed to divest its liquefied natural gas business to trading house Glencore.

Court Delays Decision on Trans Mountain Pipeline Challenge

A panel of Canadian appeals court judges withheld their decision on a challenge to Trans Mountain pipeline Wednesday, saying they need more time to make a decision after a three-day hearing.

Energy Firms Fight Surprise Court Order Blocking Leviathan Gas Output

Companies developing the huge natural gas field Leviathan will try to convince an Israeli court to remove an injunction that threatens to delay production due to environmental concerns.

Bill Imposing Sanctions on Companies Building Nord Stream 2 Heads to White House

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to slap sanctions on companies building a pipeline to bring Russian natural gas to Germany, but it was uncertain whether the measures would slow completion of the project.

Oil Hovers Near 3-Month High on Trade Optimism, Supply Cuts

Oil prices trickled a fraction lower on Tuesday but remained near a three-month high as investors kept the faith with hopes that a fully fledged U.S.-China trade deal is forthcoming and set to stoke oil demand in the world's biggest economies.

U.S. Sanctions Could Hit Nord Stream 2 Construction in Danish waters

Germany believes a new U.S. law imposing sanctions on companies building Russia's contested seabed Nord Stream 2 pipeline could affect ongoing construction works off the coast of Denmark, Bild newspaper said, citing a government document.

Dominion Confident of 2022 Atlantic Coast Startup, Despite Analyst Doubts

Dominion Energy said it is confident it will complete the proposed $7.3-$7.8 billion Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina by early 2022, in response to a prediction by investment bank Morgan Stanley that a court decision would likely scuttle the project.