Gas

Russian Oil Producers Send CPC Blend to UAE, Open New Export Route

Russian oil producers supplied their first cargoes of CPC Blend crude to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August and September, four traders told Reuters, opening up a new export route as Moscow looks to find new customers and skirt Western sanctions.

FACTBOX: Deals on the Rise in US Oil and Gas Pipeline Sector

The oil and gas pipeline business has seen increased consolidation this year as U.S. production grows and new pipeline permitting problems have made existing operators more valuable.

Sources: Sinopec Buys Over 30 LNG Cargoes for Winter Demand, Trading

China's Sinopec Corp has bought more than 30 cargoes of LNG via a tender for October 2023 to the end of 2024 to cover Chinese winter demand and boost the supply pool for trading, traders said.

Former CFO of Russian Natural Gas Firm Novatek Sentenced to 7 Years in US Prison

A former deputy chief of Russian natural gas producer Novatek was sentenced on Thursday to seven years and two months in a U.S. prison for a scheme to hide millions of dollars of income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts and submitting a false filing.

Explosion at Gas Pipeline Near Construction Site in Romania Kills Four

An explosion killed four people and injured five more at a gas pipeline on a motorway construction site in the eastern Romanian county of Vrancea early on Thursday, a government emergency response unit said.

Germany Expands LNG Regasification Capacity with New Terminals

A new LNG terminal at Mukran on Ruegen Island in the German Baltic Sea should be operational from the first quarter of 2024, Gascade, the pipeline firm building its onshore connection, said.

NextDecade Secures $356 Million Loan for Rio Grande LNG Phase 1

NextDecade said on Wednesday it had received a loan worth $356 million from a group of lenders to finance a portion of Phase 1 of its Rio Grande LNG export facility in Texas.

P&GJ’s Europe 500 Report of Top Pipelines

(P&GJ) — Following is a listing of some of the longest transportation routes on the continent of Europe as of July 2023. This third such report will be broken down into two sections, gas and liquids (oil and products), which will be updated in each of our September issues going forward.

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.

DNO Makes Norway Gas Condensate Discovery

Norwegian oil company DNO said on Tuesday it had discovered gas condensate at its Norma prospect in the North Sea and that it would continue to drill for more resources nearby.

Japan's Mitsui to Comply with Arctic LNG 2-Related U.S. Sanctions

Japan's Mitsui said on Saturday it is committed to complying with restrictions in the wake of fresh U.S. sanctions related to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 liquefied natural gas project in which it holds a stake.

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.

PipeChina Starts Laying Second Gas Line Linking Sichuan to East Coast

The new line will be built in phases. Under the first stage, PipeChina will lay a 1,576-km (979 miles) western section, including 12 branches, crossing the Chongqing municipality and provinces of Sichuan and Hubei.

Sources: Disagreements Delay Russian Gas Hub Plans in Turkey

Russia's push to create a "gas hub" in Turkey to replace lost sales to Europe is facing delays because of disagreements over who should be in charge of it, two sources familiar with the project told Reuters.

ConocoPhillips Signs 15-Year LNG Deal at Gate Terminal in Netherlands

ConocoPhillips has signed a 15-year LNG throughput deal in the Netherlands, starting in 2031, to secure additional regasification capacity in Europe.

US Contacts Oil Producers, Refiners as Gasoline Prices Rise

The head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers said that the U.S. Energy Department has talked to oil producers and refiners to ensure stable fuel supplies during rising gasoline prices.

Gas Leak in Southern California Prompts Evacuation of Homes; No Injuries Reported

(P&GJ) — In the early hours of Thursday, a natural gas leak from an underground pipeline necessitated the evacuation of a residential neighborhood in Southern California.

Sempra Completes Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 Interest Sale to KKR

(P&GJ) — Sempra Infrastructure announced that it has completed the sale of a 42% indirect, non-controlling interest in its Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project to KKR.

TotalEnergies to Start Gas Production at Argentina's Fenix Field in 2024

France's TotalEnergies will start drilling at the Fenix field off the southern Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego in March 2024, and expects to start production the following November, Vice President Catherine Remy said.

Freeport LNG Gas Intake Cut for a Fourth Day to About a Third

Freeport LNG's natural gas intake on Tuesday remained well below capacity for a fourth day, at about 695 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d), or about a third of its normal rate, according to LSEG data.

North Africa Will Be Italy's Key Gas Supplier for Years, Eni Top Exec Says

Algeria, Egypt and Libya will be Italy's main gas suppliers for the next few years, Eni's head of natural resources told Reuters, adding that the energy group would invest heavily in Africa both in exploration and in new low-carbon projects.

EIA: US Regains Crown as World's Largest LNG Exporter

The U.S. regained its crown as the world's largest exporter of LNG in the first six months of this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA).

Freeport LNG Feedgas Flows Drop Sharply, Raising Supply Concerns

Feedgas flows to Freeport LNG, the second-largest U.S. LNG exporter, dropped sharply over the weekend and were still down for the third day in a row on Monday, LSEG data showed.

Russia's Gazprom to Launch Two Amur Gas Processing Lines in 2024

Gazprom, Russia's largest natural gas company, plans to launch two more processing lines at the Amur gas processing plant early next year, Vitaly Markelov, deputy head of the company told the Russian TASS news agency on Monday.

Russia Finalizing Power of Siberia-2 Gas Pipeline Route to China, Novak Says

Russia is finalizing the route of the China-bound Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which is intended to traverse Mongolia, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak wrote in the energy ministry's in-house magazine, published on Wednesday.

Venezuela's Maduro Seeks to Renew Beijing Ties Amid China-West Tensions

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro arrived in China on Friday, his first visit in five years, to renew engagement between the two countries as China's ties sour with the West and the South American country seeks fresh financing.

Tellurian Drops Equity-Ownership Condition for Driftwood LNG Project

Tellurian Inc. will sell LNG supplies to non-equity holders to bring its long-delayed Driftwood LNG project to fruition, Chairman Charif Souki said this week. The company plans to offer up to 11 million of its 27.6 MTPA output under offtake agreements to get Driftwood across the finish line.

Natural Gas Firm Peyto to Buy Repsol's Canada Unit for $468 Million

Canadian natural gas firm Peyto Exploration & Development has agreed to buy Spanish energy company Repsol's assets in Canada for $468 million, the two companies said in separate statements.

Brazil's Petrobras Signs Agreements with Compagas for Natural Gas Supply

Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras has signed contracts for the supply of natural gas with gas company Compagas for around $1.28 billion, Compagas told Reuters on Tuesday.

Williams CEO Not Interested in Acquisition of Utility Companies

U.S. energy firm Williams Companies is not interested in three utilities recently bought by Canada's pipeline operator Enbridge as the return rate would be too low, CEO Alan Armstrong said on Wednesday.