Environment
Green Groups Sue Biden Administration Over Approval of Alaska Willow Oil Project
Six environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday over the Biden administration's approval of ConocoPhillips' Willow oil and gas project in Alaska, which they claimed could be a stepping stone to more development in an ecologically sensitive region.
Pembina Pipeline, Haisla Nation Receive Approval to Construct Pipeline for Cedar LNG Project
The Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipeline Corp., partners in the development of the proposed Cedar LNG project, have announced that Cedar LNG has received its Environmental Assessment Certificate for the construction of a pipeline that will connect the project into the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
US Carbon Pipeline Faces Setback as Residents Refuse to Cede Land Rights
Navigator CO2 Ventures’ proposed carbon pipeline project in the U.S. Midwest is struggling to secure a site to store millions of tons of greenhouse gas it hopes to collect from the region’s ethanol plants, as residents refuse to give up land rights over fears the underground reservoirs could leak, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.
Ecopetrol: Colombia Oil Pipeline Attack Causes Environmental Damage
An attack on an oil pipeline near a refinery in the Colombian city of Barrancabermeja has led to environmental damage but caused no injuries, majority state-owned oil company Ecopetrol said.
Biden Administration Works on 'Green' Natural Gas as US Vies for Top LNG Spot
The Biden administration is holding talks with global energy companies and foreign officials in an effort to set standards for certified natural gas, a form of the fuel that producers market as climate friendly.
French Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against TotalEnergies Over Uganda Pipeline Project
Under the case filed in 2019, six French and Ugandan activist groups had accused the company of not doing all it could to protect people and the environment from the Tilenga oil development and the $3.5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
Mexico's Pemex Increased Gas Flaring at Top Field, Despite Pledge to Stop
In January, an estimated 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas were burned from four flares at the Papan and Perdiz plants meant to process gas from Ixachi, satellite data shows, up from 1 billion cubic feet in November when the promise was made.
Say ‘Aloha’ to New Trend of Hydrogen Blending with Hawaii Gas
(P&GJ) — While most of the naphtha is converted to methane, some hydrogen is produced in the steam reformer process, resulting in hydrogen concentrations of up to 10% to 15%. As natural gas utilities around the world look to hydrogen as a potential solution to decarbonization, the decades of experience Hawaii Gas already has with a hydrogen blend provide an insightful study into the performance of equipment using hydrogen blends.
FERC’s Pipeline, LNG Project Evaluations Looking at EJ
(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is devoting an increasing amount of attention and staff resources to the evaluation of impacts of interstate natural gas pipeline and LNG terminal projects on environmental justice (EJ) communities (that is, communities with disproportionately large minority and low-income populations).
ESG & Innovation: API Looks at Species, Habitat Conservation
(P&GJ) — The American Petroleum Institute (API) published a first-edition document focused on species and habitat conservation for onshore natural gas and oil production facilities that will help boost the industry’s existing practices to enhance environmental performance.
Tokyo Gas Cuts Shareholder Returns to Invest in Decarbonization
Japan's Tokyo Gas will cut shareholder returns from the next financial year and use freed up funds to invest in technology to slash its carbon emissions, the company said on Wednesday. The company will pay out 40% of profits from the current 50% from the next financial year, it said.
Damaged Line Triggers Natural Gas Leak in College Station, Texas
(P&GJ) — At around 4:00 p.m. on Monday, the Texas Avenue and Richards Street neighborhood was the scene of a gas leak that the College Station Fire Department and College Station Police attempted to contain.
EPA Sets Soot Pollution Rule, Kinder Morgan Warns of Hefty Costs
The U.S. environmental regulator said it sent the White House its final plan to slash interstate smog and soot pollution from the power sector. Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan warned the plan would cost an estimated $4.1 billion in upgrades and retrofits to about 950 engines along its pipelines, which carry about 40% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.
U.S. Treasury to Open Advanced Energy Tax Credit Applications on May 31
The U.S. Treasury said on Monday it will open applications on May 31 for $4 billion worth of new tax credits for advanced energy manufacturing and decarbonization projects, with $1.6 billion of those required to be in communities hit by closures of coal mines or coal-fired power plants.
UGI, Archaea Energy Partner to Develop Renewable Natural Gas Project in Pennsylvania
(P&GJ) — UGI Energy Services LLC and Archaea Energy Inc., a subsidiary of bp, have entered into a joint venture, Aurum Renewables LLC, to develop a renewable natural gas (RNG) project at the Commonwealth Environmental Systems landfill in Hegins, Pennsylvania.
Turkey's Ceyhan Oil Terminal, Iraq's KRG Pipeline Halted After Earthquake
Turkish pipeline operator BOTAS said there was no damage on main pipelines which carry crude oil from Iraq and Azerbaijan to Turkey. An emergency meeting will take place on the issue, the Tribeca shipping agency said.
Italian Union Files Legal Complaint Against Snam's LNG Terminal Over Environmental Concerns
The Italian trade union USB filed a legal complaint against a plan by gas grid operator Snam to set up a new LNG terminal in the Tuscan port of Piombino, it said in a press release on Friday.
2,000-Mile Carbon Pipeline Project Sparks Battle Among North Dakota Landowners
(P&GJ) — Landowners from North Dakota gave testimony on Jan. 27 in favor of and against Summit Carbon Solutions' use of eminent domain to construct a 2,000-mile carbon pipeline network beneath hundreds of homes and farms in the Midwest.
Exxon Stops Routine Gas Flaring in The Permian, Wants Others to Follow
Exxon Mobil Corp. said it has stopped routine flaring of natural gas from production in the top U.S. shale basin and will press for stronger regulations for rivals to do the same, company officials said in an interview.
Exxon to Exit Africa in Crude Phaseout, Eyeing Low-Carbon Natural Gas Options
Exxon's departure reflects a wider move by major oil producers to reduce crude production in West Africa and shift investments to lower-carbon natural gas development on the continent, and to more lucrative projects in the Americas.
Sustainability: Energy Company ESG Efforts
(P&GJ) — Late in 2021, a global energy think tank at Columbia University held a private workshop with representatives from the national and international oil, financial, consulting and nongovernment organization (NOC) sectors, along with academia, to better understand the dynamics and impact of the global sustainability movement on the energy space.
Environmental Groups Attempt to Slow LNG Exports to Europe
Despite Biden’s commitment to get more U.S. LNG to Europe, environmental groups are trying to convince FERC to slow or kill export LNG facilities and pipelines that serve them on mostly environmental grounds.
Michigan Regulators Request More Information on Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline Tunnel Project
State of Michigan regulators on Thursday ordered Canada's Enbridge Inc. to file additional information on safety and engineering for its proposed Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel, describing Enbridge's current application as "deficient."
Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Authority to Regulate Carbon Emissions
In a highly anticipated but not unexpected 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 30, 2022, that the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act.
US Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Rose 6% in 2021
In 2021, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 296 million metric tons (MMt), or 6%, compared with 2020 levels. This increase followed a rise in economic activity and energy consumption once the initial economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic began to subside.
Rethinking Practices Can Reduce Carbon Footprint for Pipeline Projects
The push to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is at the forefront as we continue to close in on our 2050 net-zero targets set by the Paris Agreement. Governmental agencies for countries pledged to the cause are clamping down on companies to aid them in their efforts.
Southwestern Energy, Uniper Ink Supply Agreement for Responsibly Sourced Gas
Gas producer Southwestern Energy Co. has signed a multiyear, certified Responsibly Sourced Gas sales agreement with Uniper, one of Germany’s largest publicly listed energy supply companies.
NWP 12 Up for Review Again
The Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking a review of Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP 12), which allows gas and oil pipelines to avoid a lengthy, expensive environmental review when building facilities near wetlands.
Hydrogen Blending Well into Climate Change Discussion
The venerable international energy conference, CERAWeek, returned as a live, week-long venue in Houston the second week of March, touting its usual lineup of speakers from around the globe and its topics from A to Z in the energy space.
Energy Transition Spells Opportunity for Midstream Sector
These are interesting times in midstream, and it’s going to take some collective courage, creativity and calculated investment to make sure “interesting” refers to opportunities seized rather than the ominous outcomes the old “may you live in interesting times” expression portends.
- Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
- U.S. House Passes Bill to Reverse Biden's LNG Pause
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Enbridge to Invest $500 Million in Pipeline Assets, Including Expansion of 850-Mile Gray Oak Pipeline
- Williams Delays Louisiana Pipeline Project Amid Dispute with Competitor Energy Transfer
- Evacuation Technologies to Reduce Methane Releases During Pigging
- U.S. Regulators Approve Mexico Pacific LNG's Saguaro Connector Pipeline
- Editor’s Notebook: Nord Stream’s $20 Billion Question
- Enbridge Receives Approval to Begin Service on Louisiana Venice Gas Pipeline Project
- Russian LNG Unfazed By U.S. Sanctions
