Infrastructure

Trafigura Secures $400 Million Loan Facility to Purchase LNG from US Exporters

Commodity trader Trafigura on Wednesday said it has secured two revolving credit facilities totaling $400 million, supported by insurance from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Exxon Mobil to Sell Majority Stake in Italy LNG Terminal to BlackRock

Exxon Mobil Corp. chose BlackRock as the potential buyer for its majority stake in Italy's main LNG import terminal, the U.S. oil producer said in a statement.

Equitrans Midstream and PHMSA Collaborate to Improve MVP Pipeline Safety

(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream, the operator of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), entered into an agreement on Oct. 3 with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to strengthen the pipeline's safety and regulatory compliance.

416-Mile Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project 98% Complete

(P&GJ) — TC Energy’s Coastal GasLink pipeline project is 98% complete, signaling the culmination of a significant milestone in the development of the 670-km (416-mile) pipeline, according to the company’s September construction update.

Projects September 2023

The Trans Mountain expansion project plans to call on oil producers to start filling the pipeline in the days ahead, the head of shipper Canadian Natural Resources said during a quarterly earnings call.

LNG Custody Transfer System Provides Transparency

(P&GJ) — With the skyrocketing cost of fuel, the value of any mistakes made while loading and unloading liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers is increasing. This makes it even more important for plant and instrumentation managers to have access to the most accurate measurement tools.

Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation—Part 2

(P&GJ) — An objective was to determine residual stress values corresponding to target probabilities, such as the 90th percentile. Every reference reviewed reported maximum stress levels, but only one-third of the references presented other residual stresses as they vary with position in the pipe.

At Least 15 Killed in Explosion at Illegal Nigerian Oil Refinery

At least 37 people, including two pregnant women, were burned to death after a blast at an illegal oil refinery in southern Nigeria, a local security official and community leader said on Tuesday.

Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Halt Carbon Pipeline Permits Amid Safety Concerns

The United States should not permit any new carbon dioxide pipelines until updated federal safety regulations are finished, a dozen Democratic members of Congress said in a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

Egypt to Resume LNG Exports, Aiming to Reach 12 Million Tons Annually

Egypt, which faces growing demand for gas from its population of 105 million, will resume LNG exports this month as planned, petroleum minister Tarek El Molla said on Tuesday.

Freeport LNG Asks FERC to Authorize Texas Export Plant Restart

U.S. LNG company Freeport LNG sought permission from federal energy regulators to take more steps to return its export plant in Texas to full commercial operation.

Composite Repairs Effective for Various Pipeline Defects

(P&GJ) — Composite repairs are an effective method for repairing various defects in pipes and continue to gain widespread acceptance in critical industries, like midstream oil and gas, because of the multitude of benefits they offer.

US LNG Exports Slump in September as Plant Outages Pare Output

U.S. LNG exports in September decreased slightly compared to August, primarily due to maintenance outages at key gas-processing plants. Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility operated at reduced capacity for four days, while ongoing maintenance at Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point facility in Maryland also impacted LNG exports last month.

898-Mile Uganda–Tanzania Oil Pipeline Nearing Completion, Set for 2025 Debut

The 1,445-kilometer (898-mile) East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) that will transport crude from Tilenga and Kingfisher is set to come online in 2025, Uganda National Oil Co.'s chief executive said in an interview.

Venture Global Expands Partnership with Baker Hughes for Modular LNG System

(P&GJ) — Venture Global LNG has extended its partnership with Baker Hughes to develop a modularized LNG system and power island. This expansion comes as part of a master equipment supply agreement, recently expanded to over 100 million tons per annum (MTPA) from the initial 70 MTPA.

Turkey to Resume Operations of Iraq Oil Pipeline This Week

Turkey will restart operations this week on a crude oil pipeline from Iraq that has been suspended for about six months, Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Monday.

Joint Venture to Establish First LNG Ship Bunkering Hub in U.S. Gulf

A joint venture is developing the first dedicated LNG bunkering facility for ships in the U.S. Gulf amid efforts by the maritime industry to find cleaner fuel solutions, executives said on Thursday.

LM Energy Sells New Mexico Oil Gathering Assets, Including 130 Miles of Pipelines

(P&GJ) — LM Energy Holdings LLC has entered into definitive agreements to sell certain subsidiaries and assets related to its Touchdown Crude Oil Gathering System in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico.

Woodside Needs New Seismic Approval for Scarborough Gas Project

Australia's federal court on Thursday halted approval for Woodside to conduct seismic blasting under the seabed for its $12 billion Scarborough gas project after a legal challenge by an Indigenous woman.

Saudi Aramco to Acquire Stake in EIG's MidOcean Energy for LNG Expansion

Saudi Arabia's oil group Aramco said on Thursday it had agreed to acquire a strategic minority stake in LNG company MidOcean Energy for $500 million, with an option to increase the size of the shareholding.

Analysis: US Carbon Capture Pipeline Setbacks Reflect Challenges in Climate Fight

A series of permit rejections for two high-profile carbon pipeline projects in the U.S. Midwest could bode poorly for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a widespread solution to climate change, reflecting deep-seated public concern about its risks and environmental impacts.

CEPS Secures Deal for Net4Gas; Adds 2,485 Miles of Gas Pipelines to Portfolio

The Czech government approved a plan for state-controlled electricity transmission grid operator CEPS to acquire natural gas transmission system operator Net4Gas, which operates nearly 4,000 km (2,485 miles) of pipelines shipping gas to and from Germany and Slovakia and for domestic consumption.

Enbridge Launches New Gas Capacity Open Season for C1 Transportation Service

(P&GJ) — Enbridge Gas is hosting a new capacity open season for C1 firm transportation service, providing up to 317,000 GJ/d starting on Nov. 1, 2026, for a minimum five-year term along the Dawn (Facilities) to Dawn (Vector) transportation path.

NextEra Energy to Sell Florida City Gas to Chesapeake Utilities for $923 Million

NextEra Energy said on Tuesday it plans to sell Florida City Gas (FCG) to Chesapeake Utilities for $923 million in cash. FCG’s natural gas infrastructure encompasses approximately 3,800 miles of distribution mains and 80 miles of transmission pipelines.

Petronas, MOL, MISC to Develop Liquefied CO2 Carriers for CCS Projects

(P&GJ) — Petronas CCS Ventures Sdn Bhd has signed an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and MISC Berhad to jointly invest in developing and monetizing Liquefied Carbon Dioxide (LCO2) carriers for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects in Malaysia.

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.

Challenges of Converting Pipelines to Hydrogen Service

(P&GJ) — ASME B31.8, ASME B31.4, and CSA Z662 have well-deserved international reputations as best-in-class, evidenced by their frequent reference by documents within other jurisdictions. However, the standards don't contain explicit requirements to address the design, construction and operational challenges presented by transporting gaseous hydrogen at transmission pressures.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Route Change Request Approved by Canadian Regulator

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) approved a route change request for the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion on Monday, clearing a major hurdle and avoiding months of delay for the Canadian government-owned project.

PLIDCO Introduces Hydrogen-Compatible Fittings for Pipeline Maintenance and Repairs

(P&GJ) — The Pipe Line Development Company (PLIDCO) has launched a new range of products for use with hydrogen pipelines in response to the emerging transition toward hydrogen and other alternative energy sources.

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.