Business & Markets
Automating Hydraulic Simulations of Large Number of Scenarios
As PG&E and other utilities perform unparalleled levels of safety-related work on gas transmission systems, frequent and complex pipeline system outages occur throughout the year. This safety work also carries the potential of pressure reductions due to previously undetected system anomalies in the ..
PG&E Testing Safety Drones to Inspect Gas and Electric Infrastructure
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is testing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, to enhance the safety and reliability of its electric and gas service. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized PG&E to use drones to assist with inspections of electri..
EIA Projects 48% Increase in World Energy Consumption by 2040
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s EIA International Energy Outlook 2016 (IEO2016) projects world energy consumption will grow by 48% between 2012 and 2040. Most of this growth will come from countries that are not in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), includ..
Frank Yoho and Natural Gas Are a Perfect Fit
From helping engineer the multibillion-dollar merger of his Piedmont Natural Gas with Duke Energy to his role as 2016 chairman of the Southern Gas Association, Frank Yoho is a very busy man with natural gas on his mind 24/7. Yoho, 56, is Piedmont’s chief commercial officer, with responsibility for ..
Turkmenistan Abolishes Agencies Managing Key Gas Industry
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — Turkmenistan, which holds the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves that are the base of its economy, has abolished two of the primary government agencies responsible for the sector. The central Asian country has been the prime mover in the effort to build a gas ..
The Unlimited Potential for Natural Gas
The energy industry cannot underestimate the promise and potential of natural gas. Successful natural gas development in emerging markets – where the gas resources are abundant – could spur economic growth and improve living standards. As emerging economies look to be part of the gas opportunity va..
Big Oil Begins To Worry About Trump’s Wall
Donald Trump’s idea to build a wall along the southern border of the U.S. has been called everything from controversial to harebrained, but—to the likely dismay of some of the oil majors—it’s now officially part of the Republican Party’s platform. As it turns out, the idea has been on the GOP table..
PECO Inspects 308 Miles of Natural Gas Main
PECO said it completed nearly 600 projects to enhance natural gas and electric service for customers during the first quarter of 2016. That work included inspection of 308 miles of natural gas main, completion of more than 1,700 valve inspections and replacement of nearly two miles of natural gas m..
Large Montana Coal Plant to Close 2 Units
A large Montana coal plant serving utility customers across the Pacific Northwest agreed Tuesday to shut down two of its four units by 2022 and limit pollution from the plant until that happens, under a settlement with environmentalists who sued over emission violations. Terms of the partial shutdo..
U.S. Natural Gas Trading Volume Increased 4 Percent in 2015
From 2014 to 2015, U.S. natural gas trading volume increased 4 percent, according to a new report from Cornerstone Research. The report, Characteristics of U.S. Natural Gas Transactions—Insights from FERC Form 552 Submissions, finds that the trading volume measured by Form 552 submissions increased ..
Upgrades to Unsafe Tank Cars Could Take 15 Years, Board Says
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Accident-prone tank cars used to haul crude oil and ethanol by rail could remain in service for another 15 years under federal rules that allow companies to phase in upgrades to the aging fleet, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Transportation offici..
New Attack On Nigerian Pipeline Takes 10,000 Bpd Offline
A new attack by the Niger Delta Avengers set back Nigerian oil production by 10,000 barrels per day, according to local media reports. The incident took place late Sunday evening and targeted a pipeline run by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and damaged trunk lines that link terminals for Brass an..
Southern Buying Stake in Kinder Morgan’s SNG System
Kinder Morgan will sell a 50% stake in its 7,600-mile natural gas pipeline system to Southern Gas Company for an estimated $1.47 billion. Kinder Morgan will continue to operate the system. The Southern Natural Gas (SNG) system connects gas supply basins in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and..
N.J. Court Dismisses Trespassing Lawsuit Against PennEast
A New Jersey State Superior Court judge on July 7 rejected a lawsuit filed by HALT, an association of New Jersey landowners, and several of its individual members, that sought to prevent the PennEast Pipeline from being built. The $1 billion underground pipeline will span the 118-miles between Dall..
Second Open Season for Grand Mesa Pipeline Begins
Due to additional interest from shippers, NGL Energy Partners began a second open season for its wholly owned Grand Mesa crude oil pipeline, which will close at 5 p.m. CDT on July 28. The pipeline will provide takeaway capacity for crude oil producers in the Denver-Julesburg Basin and is expected t..
Sanchez Production Partners Acquires Pipeline Assets in the Eagle Ford
Sanchez Production Partners (SPP) acquired Sanchez Energy’s 50% interest in Carnero Gathering, a joint venture that is 50% owned by Targa Resources, for about $37 million cash and the assumption of $7.4 million in capital commitments. Carnero Gathering will own about 45 miles of high-pressure natur..
Chevron, Exxon and Partners to Spend $36.8 Billion in Kazakhstan
NEW YORK (AP) — Chevron, Exxon Mobil and its other partners say they will spend $36.8 billion to develop more oil in Kazakhstan. The project is expected to increase production to about 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2022. Chevron, Exxon Mobil and its partners are forming a venture ..
Essar Projects Wins Contract for Replacement of Indian Oil Pipeline
Construction company Essar Projects won the contract to replace 87 miles (141 km) of 18-inch pipeline in the Koyali-Viramgam section of Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOCL) Koyali-Sanganer pipeline. The contract is valued at $12.6 million (INR 850 million), excluding of the cost of pipes, which are being..
Chinese Companies Splash US$80 Billion on Nigeria Oil, Gas
Chinese businesses have pledged to invest US$80 billion on oil and gas infrastructure projects in Nigeria, the country’s state oil company said. The announcement of the Memorandum of Understanding follows a roadshow in China by Nigeria’s Oil Minister and chief of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cor..
Canada Court Overturns Approval of Enbridge Oil Pipeline
TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has overturned the previous government’s controversial approval of a pipeline proposal that would bring oil to the Pacific Coast for shipment to Asia. In a ruling released Thursday, the court said the former Conservative government did not adequately ..
TransCanada Closes on Columbia Pipeline Purchase
TransCanada announced it will close on the previously announced acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group on July 1 for about $13 billion, which includes the assumption of $2.8 billion in debt. “This acquisition is a tremendous opportunity to obtain a competitively positioned, growing network of regul..
Alaska Governor Limits Annual Oil-Wealth Checks to $1,000
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Facing a multibillion-dollar deficit, Alaska’s governor on Wednesday cut in half the annual checks that give all residents a share of the state’s oil wealth, but he kept enough money in place to award everyone a $1,000 payout. Gov. Bill Walker’s administration said the chec..
Exxon Mobil Wins a Round in Climate Litigation
DALLAS (AP) — Exxon Mobil Corp. won an early round Wednesday in its fight against regulators over whether the oil giant covered up what it knew about climate change. The U.S. Virgin Islands attorney general agreed to drop a subpoena for company records. In exchange, Exxon asked a federal court to d..
Exxon Appraisal Well Discovers Large Oil, Gas Deposits in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Officials in the South American country of Guyana say Exxon Mobil has found large deposits of oil and gas in a recently drilled appraisal well. Energy Minister Raphael Trotman told The Associated Press on Monday that the company will drill another well in upcoming months. ..
Firm: California Spill Went Undetected Due to Pipeline Work
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — The operator of a pipeline that spewed tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a Southern California ravine said Friday it didn’t detect the leak because the line was undergoing maintenance. Crimson Pipeline said the remotely monitored line was emptied on Wednesday to ..
Cleanup Underway After California Oil Pipeline Spill
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled Thursday from a pipeline and flowed down a ravine in Southern California but did not reach the ocean, officials said. As much as 29,400 gallons of oil spilled and flowed a quarter- to half-mile from the spill, fire authorities said. ..
CAPP Annual Oil Forecast Shows Canada Needs New Major Oil Pipelines
Forecasted growth in Canadian oil production shows new major oil pipelines are urgently needed to deliver safe, secure and reliable energy to domestic and world markets, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers announced today in its 2016 Crude Oil Forecast, Markets and Transportation report...
California Pipeline Spill Revised Down to 29,400 Gallons
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Southern California authorities have revised the estimated size of a crude oil pipeline spill down to 29,400 gallons. The spill early Thursday in Ventura County was initially projected to be as much as 210,000 gallons. Ventura Fire Department spokeswoman Kelly Flanders says ..
New Mexico PRC Approves Emera Acquisition of TECO Energy
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) voted unanimously to approve final authorization Emera’s proposed acquisition of TECO Energy and the indirect acquisition of New Mexico Gas Company. (NMGC). Emera awaits the filing of the NMPRC’s written order, which will complete the final require..
Judge: US Agency Lacks Authority to Set Rules on Fracking
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge ruled Tuesday that federal regulators lack the authority to set rules for hydraulic fracturing, dealing another setback to the Obama administration’s efforts to tighten how fossil fuels are mined. U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl said the Bureau of Land Management ca..
- Trump Aims to Revive 1,200-Mile Keystone XL Pipeline Despite Major Challenges
- ONEOK Agrees to Sell Interstate Gas Pipelines to DT Midstream for $1.2 Billion
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- Boardwalk Approves 110-Mile, 1.16 Bcf/d Mississippi Kosci Junction Pipeline Project
- Kinder Morgan Approves $1.4 Billion Mississippi Crossing Project to Boost Southeast Gas Supply
- Tullow Oil on Track to Deliver $600 Million Free Cash Flow Over Next 2 Years
- GOP Lawmakers Slam New York for Blocking $500 Million Pipeline Project
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- Enbridge Should Rethink Old, Troubled Line 5 Pipeline, IEEFA Says
- Caspian Pipeline Consortium Lowers 2024 Oil Export Forecast Again
