Business & Markets

Ensuring LNG Liquefaction Facilities’ System Tightness

By Nirmal Surendran Menon, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), New Zealand  System “tightness testing” is the last stage before inerting (the introduction of a non-combustible gas into a closed system) and the introduction of hydrocarbon and is a vital safety step in the start-up sequence..

McDermott to Construct Offshore Pipelines, Infrastructure for Pan Malaysia Field

McDermott International today announced contracts from Sarawak Shell Berhad (SSB) and Sapura Exploration and Production (SEP), to provide transportation and installation pipelines, offshore structures and pre-commissioning work for the Pan Malaysia field development offshore Malaysia.

Canadian National Train Derails in Manitoba, Leaks Oil

A Canadian National Railway Co train derailed in Western Canada and leaked an undetermined volume of crude oil. The incident comes as crude oil shipments by rail in Canada reached a record high due to full pipelines.

EU Strikes Deal on Rules to Govern Nord Stream 2

The European Union reached a provisional deal on Wednesday on new rules governing import gas pipelines including Russia's planned Nord Stream 2, in a move that cast doubts over the project's current operating plan.

Finland, Estonia and Latvia Sign Deal for Single Gas Tariff Zone

OSLO (Reuters) - Gas transmission operators of Finland, Latvia and Estonia signed an agreement on Thursday to set up a single gas transmission tariff zone for the three countries from the start of 2020. source: Baltic Connector Oy The agreement..

CEPA Seeks Common Ground on Bill C-69

Canada’s energy transmission pipeline companies are clear on what amendments they would like to see, and we ask the Canadian government to take the time to get this right.

FERC OKs Part of Gulf XPress Pipeline for Service

FERC has approved a request by TransCanada Corp's Columbia unit to put part of the company's $600 million Gulf XPress natural gas pipeline into service in Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Bakken Shale: North Dakota's Growth Engine

The Bakken Shale play has catapulted sparsely populated North Dakota to the No. 2 oil-producing state behind Texas, eclipsing historically oil-rich states such as Alaska and California.

Projects

Bulgaria Seeking Binding Bids for TurkStream Link  Bulgaria’s state gas network operator Bulgartransgaz plans is seeking binding bids from shippers for a new gas link to transport mainly Russian gas from the TurkStream pipeline to central Europe, Reuters said, based on company documents. ..

Pennsylvania Suspends all Permit Work for Energy Transfer

Pennsylvania environmental regulators said they have suspended all permit work for Energy Transfer projects because it failed to comply with an October order after an explosion on the Revolution natural gas pipeline in the western part of the state.

Russian Gas Volume Through Ukraine Jumps 26% in January

Russian natural gas volumes piped via Ukraine to European consumers rose 26 percent year-on-year in January to 7.6 Bcm, the Ukrainian gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said.

Phillips 66, Kinder Morgan Announce Gray Oak Open Season

Phillips 66 Partners and Kinder Morgan announced the start of a joint open season by Gray Oak Pipeline, LLC and Kinder Morgan Crude & Condensate LLC (KMCC) to provide shippers with long-term crude oil transportation from origin points in the Permian Basin to KMCC delivery points at or near the Houst..

Section of Keystone Pipeline Shut Down after Leak

TransCanada Corp said a stretch of its Keystone crude oil pipeline from Nebraska to Illinois remained shut down on Monday after a leak was discovered last week near St. Louis, Missouri.

Gazprom Seeks Bigger Share of European Gas Market after Record Exports

Russia's Gazprom is looking to gain an even larger gas market share in Europe following record-high 2018 exports, expecting a decline in Europe's gas output combined with rising demand.

Exxon-Qatar's Golden Pass JV to Anchor Enable's Gulf Run Pipeline

nable Midstream Partners said an affiliate of Golden Pass LNG is the cornerstone shipper for the company’s Gulf Run Pipeline project.

Exxon, Qatar Petroleum to Expand LNG Export Plant in Texas

Exxon and Qatar Petroleum announced Tuesday that they will go ahead with a $10 billion project to export liquefied natural gas from a plant on the Texas Gulf Coast. Construction at the Golden Pass plant in Sabine Pass is planned to start before April, with exports expected to begin in 2024.

Noble, Apache, Diamondback Affiliates Buy Stakes in EPIC Pipelines

EPIC Midstream announced Monday that Noble Midstream Partners exercised its option for a 30% equity stake in the EPIC Crude Pipeline Project and a 15% equity stake in the EPIC NGL Pipeline. Also Monday, EPIC also said an Altus Midstream subsidiary and Diamondback Energy's Rattler Midstream subsidiary exercised options for 15% and 10%, respectively, in the EPIC Crude Pipeline Project.

Subsea Bayesian Networks – Integrity and Risk Assessments

If high levels of safety and environmental protection in the subsea oil and gas sector are to be maintained, then understanding the risks involved is more important than ever. But it has never been more difficult necessary to optimize IMR activities than it is now.

France Makes Biogas Support Conditional on Cutting Cost

France is ready to provide &8-10 billion of subsidies for renewable gas but only if the industry can substantially lower its costs, the government said. Biogas is still four times the cost of natural gas imported by pipeline.

Projects

FERC Approves Final 2 Laterals on Rover Pipeline Energy Transfer said service has begun on the final two laterals of Rover Pipeline following final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).   Rover has been operational since August 201..

Global News

Eni’s Indonesia Gas Project may Start Up in 2021   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 to transport production to a floating production unit (FPU) appro..

Shell Falcon Pipeline Gets Important FERC Approval

At least a small measure of celebration likely buzzed through the offices at Shell Pipeline Company when FERC granted a declaratory order for its Falcon Ethane Pipeline System. The 98-mile pipeline is fundamental to the success the company’s $6 billion ethane cracker plant under construction in Pennsylvania.

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.

Open Season Launched for ACE Pipeline System in Louisiana

Phillips 66 Partners, Harvest Midstream and PBF Logistics commenced an open season for the ACE Pipeline System after agreeing to jointly develop the 400,000 bpd Louisiana project.

Pipeline Shutdowns Lead to Import Bottlenecks at Mexican Ports

Bottlenecks for offloading imported fuel are forming at some Mexican oil ports following government orders to shut pipelines to limit losses from widespread fuel theft.

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.