Environment
Editor's Notebook: A Spill Worth Crying Over
Every night I tear at the sheets, tossing, turning and hoping by some miracle the news will be better in the morning: that BP will have finally regained control of its runaway well that is causing heartache and angst throughout the nation, the Gulf Coast and the petroleum industry.
Lightning Strikes Gasoline Tank, Starts Fire
A Colonial Pipeline tank containing gasoline caught fire early on June 13 after it was apparently struck by lightning. The Greensboro, NC Fire Department deployed a reported 150 firefighters who worked for six hours to extinguish the fire.
BP Accident Imperils Offshore Gas Expansion; Consideration Of Renewable Incentives Worries Gas Advocates
Despite the different and superior safety profile for offshore natural gas exploration, the BP deepwater oil spill may well dissuade Congress from approving the addition by the Obama administration of gas-rich areas to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) 2007-2012 leasing plan.
Emission Regulations And Their Impact On Engine Choices And Costs
New emissions regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are scheduled to take effect in July and August. The regulations have a potentially large impact on domestic reciprocating engine usage and domestic energy production, but thus far, relatively little attention has been given to them.
FERC Issues Draft EIS For Apex Pipeline Expansion
A draft environmental impact statement (EIS) issued by the FERC for Kern River Gas Transmission Co.’s Apex Pipeline expansion indicates that some adverse environmental impacts exist.
Gas Pipeline Construction Relied Heavily On HDD To Minimize Environmental Impacts
The recently completed Line 108 Replacement Project, an 11 mile long natural gas pipeline for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in northern California, featured the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for portions of the pipeline installation beneath two rivers and two extremely sensitive natural areas.
Greenhouse Gas Reporting For Transmission Companies; Pipeline Safety Issues Crop Up
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) softened some of the prospective greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring requirements for the natural gas transmission companies but the supplemental rule the agency published March 22 left the industry miffed nonetheless.
ENTELEC 2010 Conference And Expo
The Energy Telecommunication and Electrical Association (ENTELEC), is an energy industry user group that focuses on communications and control technologies used by petroleum, natural gas, pipeline and electric utilities. In anticipation of this year’s ENTELEC 2010 Conference and Expo, scheduled April 13-15, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, a few of the group’s members recently sat down to discuss current issues affecting the industry.
AGA Launches Earth Day Radio Campaign Promoting Home Energy Efficiency
The American Gas Association (AGA) has launched a public service announcement campaign on radio stations across the country April 22 in honor of Earth Day. The campaign encourages Americans to be more earth friendly – and save money – by improving their home’s energy efficiency.
New Congressional Inquiries On Hydraulic Fracturing; EPA Delays Compression Station Rule; GHG Limits Face New Hurdle
Congressional concern about "fracking" took another step forward when the chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee sent letters to eight companies asking for details on the chemicals they use during horizontal drilling of shale gas deposits.
Gas Utilities Should Ask A Simple Question: Whats In Your Pipeline?
Alternative sources of methane gas often get overlooked in America’s ongoing quest to relieve its dependence on finite fossil fuels and decrease its greenhouse gas emissions. However, what should not be overlooked is the reality that biogas can be a supplement to natural gas in this country’s natural gas transmission and distribution systems.
New Rules For Reporting GHG Emissions Affect Oil & Gas Facilities Owners, Operators
The changes to the EPA's Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (MRR) announced March 22 mean that owners and operators of petroleum and natural gas facilities not previously subject to reporting under the existing MRR must now report their emissions, according to environmental law firm Vinson & Elkins.
Natural Gas Companies Wary Of EPA Involvement In Fracturing Regulation; Natural Gas Sectors Nervous About EPA GHG Tailoring Rule
The ExxonMobil purchase of XTO Energy has sparked new congressional interest in the environmental safety of horizontal shale gas drilling, a concern also lately exhibited by the EPA.
New EPA Ozone Standards Opportunity for Natural Gas Growth
Non-profit organization American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF) filed comments with the EPA March 22 stating that the EPA's tougher proposed air quality standards for ozone could be met, in part, by greater use of natural gas for power generation and transportation.
IHS CERA/World Economic Forum Report: Energy Efficiency Has Moved to Top of Energy Agenda
The need to address climate change and the expected surge in energy demand from the developing world have moved energy efficiency to the top of the agenda for government and business, according to a new report by IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates (IHS CERA) and the World Economic Forum.
March Newsreel: Boomerang Tube Funds Texas Plant; Oil & Gas Execs Predict More 2010 Employment and more
<a href="http://pipelineandgasjournal.com/march-newsreel-boomerang-tube-funds-texas-plant-oil-gas-execs-predict-more-2010-employment-and-more#boom">Boomerang Tube Finalizes Funding For Line Pipe Plant In Texas</a> <a href="http://pipelineandgasjournal.com/march-newsreel-boomerang-tube-funds-texas-plant-oil-gas-execs-predict-more-2010-employment-and-more?page=2#sem">Free Pipeline Welding Productivity Seminar</a> <a href="http://pipelineandgasjournal.com/march-newsreel-boomerang-tube-funds-texas-plant-oil-gas-execs-predict-more-2010-employment-and-more?page=2#senior">Senior Oil & Gas Executives See Rising Employment This Year</a> <a href="http://pipelineandgasjournal.com/march-newsreel-boomerang-tube-funds-texas-plant-oil-gas-execs-predict-more-2010-employment-and-more?page=3#dresser">Dresser Selected For Project In Athabasca Oil Sands</a>
Green Software Solution Can Save Pipeline Companies On Power Use
Green solutions can often mean spending a great deal of green. From new departments full of power- optimization professionals who are searching for the best energy-savings solutions to researching the robust offering of energy-saving equipment, pipeline companies have their work cut out navigating the maze.
Clean Over Green: Oil And Gas in a Low-Carbon Future
Even with the world having reached a modicum of consensus in Copenhagen, it is becoming clear that the global obsession with anything green has subsided. This is a good thing. We can now move from breathless anticipation of a green dawn, to the more sober work of systematically and thoughtfully building toward a low-carbon future.
Liquid Fuels From Algae Show Many Advantages
Algae – black, slimy, and obnoxious – just may be the next black gold of energy products, especially for liquid fuels! While other agriculture products have gotten a head start as possible replacements for crude oil, the best candidate currently is one of the lowest forms in the plant kingdom, algae.
Energy Companies Announce Retirement of Leases on 29,000 Acres in Montana
U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced Jan. 14 that five energy companies have agreed to relinquish oil and gas leases on nearly 29,000 acres in Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front adjacent to Glacier National Park.
PRCI Announces $8M Research Program for 2010
Pipeline Research Council International, Inc. (PRCI), announced Dec. 16 the 2010 Research Program as approved by its board of directors at its fall 2009 meeting. Under the process, members vote their annual subscriptions to the projects of greatest interest and value to them. The 2010 program is funded at just over $8 million.
GTI releases primer on transporting biogas via pipeline network
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has made publicly available a set of reports titled “<a href="http://www.gastechnology.org/webroot/app/xn/xd.aspx?it=enweb&xd=1ResearchCap/1_4EnvironSci/DairyWasteBiomethane.xml" title="Go to gastechnology.com to view the report">Pipeline Quality Biomethane: North American Guidance Document for Interchangeability of Dairy Waste Derived Biomethane</a>.”
Lincoln Electric Awarded Recovery Dollars for Wind Installation
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced Nov. 29 that 25 Ohio solar and wind projects will receive more than $13 million in grants funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's State Energy Program.
Study Tallies Cost of Climate Legislation
The U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), an alliance between 26 major corporations and several environmental organizations, has analyzed the economic effect of its recommendations to Congress concerning climate legislation and projected that the U.S. GDP would grow 70 to 71 percent by 2030 under the proposed scenario.
How Can a Utility Ensure Contractor Safety and Quality-Control Excellence?
In today’s utility business, contractors perform the largest share of work in new construction, replacement and – sometimes - maintenance. This heightens everyone’s need for cooperation to assure safety and to control quality.
EPA GHG Emission Requirements Could Affect Interstate Pipelines
Pipelines dodged one Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas (GHG) bullet temporarily but may get hit by another.
Mears Hosts Workshop On ECDA For Cased Pipelines
Mears invited a group of customers to its state-of-the-art test-and-research facility for a hands-on workshop of External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) applications of cased pipes.
CH2M HILL Awarded CO2 Pipeline Project
CH2M HILL announced Sept. 29 that it has been awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction management contract from Encore Acquisition Company for its recently announced Greencore Project.
Kinder Morgan Begins Biodiesel Shipments on Oregon Pipeline
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners announced Sept. 22 that it has started commercial transportation of blended 2 percent biodiesel (B2) through its 115-mile Oregon Pipeline.
GTI Awarded Nearly $4 Million for California Energy Research and Development
The California Energy Commission has awarded nearly $4 million to the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) to research ways to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions in residential buildings.
- Phillips 66 to Shut LA Oil Refinery, Ending Major Gasoline Output Amid Supply Concerns
- FERC Sides with Williams in Texas-Louisiana Pipeline Dispute with Energy Transfer
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- ConocoPhillips Eyes Sale of $1 Billion Permian Assets Amid Marathon Acquisition
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Marathon Oil to Lay Off Over 500 Texas Workers Ahead of ConocoPhillips Merger
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
