Community & Environment

Collaboration Helps Balance Public, Owner Pipeline Project Interests

(P&GJ) — For linear projects such as pipelines, dealing with the unexpected should be expected. The best preparation for these surprises is to partner with a team structured for close collaboration between the real estate and engineering disciplines as well as everything in between.

Climeworks Explores Large-Scale Carbon Capture Project in Kenya

Climeworks is exploring the development of a large-scale direct air capture (DAC) project in Kenya to remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with Great Carbon Valley, the first of its kind in East Africa, the two companies said on Thursday.

TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Pipeline Fined for Environmental Non-Compliance

British Columbia has fined Coastal GasLink, the natural gas pipeline being built by TC Energy, $256,810 for non-compliance with environmental regulations, the Canadian province said on Thursday.

How Emissions Are Measured: Gas Concentration vs. Emission Rate

(P&GJ) — The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed a rule in May that included significant measures to reduce emissions from pipelines and other midstream infrastructure.

Budget Bill Permitting Provisions Slight Natural Gas Industry

(P&GJ) — The natural gas industry greeted the permitting reform bill Congress passed and President Biden signed with something short of enthusiasm to say the least.

Greenpeace Blocks Arrival of New LNG Unit at French Port

A new LNG floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) arrived in western France on Monday morning, a TotalEnergies' spokesperson said, as activist group Greenpeace tried to prevent it from entering port.

Irish Planning Body Rejects Major LNG Terminal, Cites Climate Plan

Ireland's top planning body has refused permission for a major new LNG terminal, citing the government's greenhouse gas reduction targets, a possibly fatal blow to a project supporters say is essential to the country's energy security.

Marathon Galveston Bay, Texas, FCC Expected to Remain Shut Through Late This Week

The fire-damaged, gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at Marathon Petroleum's 593,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas City, Texas, is expected to be shut until late this week, said people familiar with plant operations on Friday.

BP Commits to Germany with $11 Billion Low-Carbon Investment Push

BP plans to invest up to $10.7 billion in low-carbon fuels, renewables and EV charging in Germany by the end of the decade to rival local power firms, as competition over the energy transition of Europe's largest economy intensifies.

EPA: Biden's Climate Act to Cut US Emissions by 2030 by 35-43%

The U.S. economy is on track to spew between 35% and 43% less carbon dioxide by 2030 from 2005 levels as a consequence of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a U.S. government report released on Tuesday showed.

Trans Mountain Pipeline May Face 9-Month Delay Over Route Dispute

The Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion could be delayed by up to nine months if regulators do not approve a route deviation request, the Canadian government corporation building the project said in a regulatory filing on Monday.

Chevron Gambles on Untested Laws to Halt Australia LNG Strike Action

Chevron Australia no longer expects to reach a deal with unions and will instead pursue an untested legal strategy to stop industrial action at its Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities as unions prepare for full-scale strikes.

US Army Corps Holds Off Endorsing Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Alternative

On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Energy Transfer's Dakota Access oil pipeline. The statement evaluated five alternatives, including options like abandoning or rerouting the pipeline, but it did not make any recommendations.

Canada Oil Sands Carbon Capture Project Struggles to Get Key Contract

Canada is struggling to get a key tool in place for major carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, said a representative of one of the largest such ventures, as the country seeks to launch incentives vital to cutting emissions from Alberta's oil sands.

Eni, Snam Set Ambitions for Italy's First Carbon Storage Project

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is key to ensuring the survival and the competitiveness in Italy of industries including steel, cement and chemicals, energy group Eni and gas grid operator Snam said on Friday.

Kinder Morgan Says Idalia Caused Minimal Damage to Florida Terminals

Kinder Morgan on Wednesday said its Port Manatee, Port Sutton and Tampaplex terminals in Florida sustained minimal damage due to Hurricane Idalia, and that it was also planning to shut its Charleston area terminals later in the day.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Faces Further Delays Over Route Change Dispute

Trans Mountain Corp. fears that the expansion of its Canadian oil pipeline may be delayed further unless a regulator allows it to change its route in British Columbia, according to a First Nation that opposes the route adjustment.

Kinder Morgan Prepares to Close Florida Pipeline System Ahead of Hurricane Idalia

U.S. oil producer Chevron on Tuesday said it evacuated staff from three U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil production platforms while Kinder Morgan planned to shut its Central Florida Pipeline system, as the energy companies braced for Hurricane Idalia.

First US Gulf Offshore Wind Auction to Fuel Region's Green Hydrogen Push

The U.S. Gulf Coast region, the nation's primary offshore source of oil and gas, has cheap electricity and lacks state mandates for renewable energy procurement, making it an unlikely place to expand one of the most expensive forms of clean energy.

Fatigue, Burst Tests Among Best Ways Assess Pipeline Welds

(P&GJ) — All over the world, the pipelines of large diameter and relatively thin wall thickness are used to transport hydrocarbons. These pipelines or piping systems are usually comprised of girth welded joints.

Equitrans Provides Root Analysis for 2022 Gas Leak at Pennsylvania Storage Facility

(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream Corp. has submitted information to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regarding the root cause investigation and analysis related to the Rager Mountain Storage facility incident that occurred in November 2022.

Commonwealth LNG Partners with Baker Hughes to Enhance Louisiana LNG Facility

(P&GJ) — Commonwealth LNG has signed a strategic agreement with Baker Hughes related to Commonwealth LNG's liquefied natural gas facility under development in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Draft Environmental Study on Dakota Access Pipeline Expected in Fall

A U.S. court last year ordered the federal government to undertake a more intensive environmental study of the pipeline's route under a lake that straddles the border of North Dakota and South Dakota.

Key Hearing for 2,000-Mile Carbon Capture Pipeline Begins in Iowa

Iowa residents living along the route of the U.S.'s largest proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline told state regulators they were worried about possible ruptures and land takings at the start of a hearing that will determine the fate of the project.

Fidelis New Energy to Develop Carbon Neutral Hydrogen Facility in West Virginia

(P&GJ) — Fidelis New Energy has made the strategic decision to establish its inaugural net-zero carbon hydrogen production facility, featuring FidelisH2 proprietary technologies, along with a data center campus and a greenhouse system in Mason County, West Virginia.

Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation

(P&GJ) — Pipeline safety regulations require performing a calculation of the predicted failure pressure (PFP) of defects as part of an engineering critical assessment. Whether to include residual stress from pipe manufacturing, and selecting the magnitude of residual stress, can significantly affect the outcome of the PFP calculation. Guidance for accounting for residual stress is inconsistent.

Pipeline Operator Trans Mountain Says British Columbia Fires Pose No Risk to Its Operations

Canadian oil pipeline system operator Trans Mountain said on Sunday that the British Columbia wildfires posed no risk to its pipeline operations or its expansion project.

Bakken Success Boosts Need for Gas Capture Innovations

(P&GJ) — While one of North Dakota’s top energy officials, Justin Kringstad, readily leads the cheers for his state’s success with industry in curbing the economic and environmentally harmful practice of flaring associated gas at well sites.

US Natural Gas Groups Oppose Federal Plan to Eliminate Methane Leaks

U.S. natural gas trade groups on Wednesday opposed federal pipeline regulators' proposed methane leak detection rules to address the climate-change crisis. The gas associations said extensive changes needed to be made to PHMSA’s proposal for it to be technically and economically feasible.

API and LEPA Release Comprehensive CO2 Pipeline Safety Guide

(P&GJ) — The guide, developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, helps operators advance a zero-incident safety culture by outlining best practices for CO2 pipeline safety and emergency preparedness.