Europe

Galp to Join BP and Shell in Formal Complaint Against LNG Exporter Venture Global

Portugal oil and gas firm Galp has asked U.S. regulators to allow it to join BP and Shell's formal complaints against U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter Venture Global LNG, a filing showed on Tuesday.

German Gas Storage Operators Warn of Overblown Plans for Hydrogen Grids

Germany's future hydrogen demand could fall well short of the baseline the country is assuming in its plans to extend its gas network to carry the fuel, a study commissioned by a storage operators' group showed on Thursday.

Swiss Fossil Fuel Group Closes First Sale of Paris Agreement Carbon Offsets

A Thai electric bus operator said on Monday it had sold the first carbon offsets under a new system created by the Paris Agreement to a Swiss fossil fuel group, a major landmark for putting into action the eight-year-old United Nations climate accord.

E.ON CEO Stresses Germany's Gas Security Amid Middle East Risks

Germany's gas supply situation is far better than it was after Russia cut off supply last winter but instability in the Middle East could still send energy prices soaring, the head of energy firm E.ON said.

Global News January 2024

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Russian Oil Output to Hold Steady or Increase in 2024, Defying Earlier Sanctions Impact

Oil output in Russia, the third largest producer in the world after the United States and Saudi Arabia, is expected to be steady or even to increase next year as Moscow has largely overcome Western sanctions, analysts said.

Equinor Unloads Azerbaijan Assets, Including BTC Pipeline

Norway's Equinor said on Friday it has agreed to sell its assets in Azerbaijan to state-owned energy firm SOCAR, including interests in the ACG oilfield and the BTC pipeline for an undisclosed price.

Germany's $55 Billion Gas Deal with Norway Ends Russian Dependency

Germany's decision to make Norway its biggest gas supplier, culminating in a deal this week that will cover a major chunk of its industrial needs, means it has replaced the formerly dominant Russia with another equally dominant supplier.

Harbour Energy Strikes $11.2 Billion Deal for Wintershall Dea Assets

Britain's Harbour Energy on Thursday agreed to acquire Wintershall Dea's non-Russian oil and gas assets in a $11.2 billion share and cash deal with BASF and LetterOne that creates one of the world's largest independent producers.

Balticconnector Still on Course for April Repair, Gasgrid Says

Finnish gas grid operator Gasgrid on Thursday said commissioning of the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was still technically possible in April of 2024, provided that ongoing design and repair work was successful.

DNV and NGT Collaborate on Pioneering Hydrogen Pipeline Research for UK's Gas Network

DNV has announced that it is the lead partner for National Gas Transmission (NGT) in further expanding a world first hydrogen pipeline research facility FutureGrid. DNV will support NGT in developing a hydrogen de-blending, purification, and re-fueling facility at the site.

Germany's Stade LNG Project Set for February Arrival of Floating Terminal

Germany's emerging LNG terminal in the Elbe river port of Stade expects its floating regasification vessel (FSRU) to arrive in February, allowing seaborne gas cargoes to be fed into local pipeline grids, its management said on Wednesday.

Looking Back at the Biggest Pipeline Stories of 2023

(P&GJ) – In this final issue of P&GJ for 2023, the staff – with more than a little help from our readers – takes a look back at the sometimes chaotic year in midstream that was 2023.

Equinor, Germany's Sefe Strike $55 Billion Gas Supply Deal

German energy firm Sefe secured a 50 billion euro ($55 billion) gas deal with Norway's Equinor on Tuesday, covering one-third of the industrial gas needs of Europe's largest economy.

QatarEnergy CEO Anticipates Imminent LNG Supply Deals in Asia and Europe

QatarEnergy expects to agree new long-term LNG supply deals in Asia and Europe, with several "imminent", its chief executive told Reuters.

BlackRock Ends Talks with Exxon for Italy LNG Terminal Sale, Vitol Still in the Race

Asset manager BlackRock Inc. has bowed out of talks to acquire ExxonMobil Corp.'s majority stake in Italy's main LNG import terminal, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

Equinor Buys Shell's Stake in the Linnorm Gas Discovery

Norway's Equinor said on Thursday it has agreed to buy Shell's stake in the Linnorm gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea, raising its ownership to 50%.

U.K. to Back 11 Green Hydrogen Projects Under $2.5 Billion Fund

Britain's Energy Security Secretary, Claire Coutinho, announced on Thursday backing 11 projects to produce green hydrogen, as part of the government's 2 billion pound ($2.5 billion) funding to be committed over the next 15 years.

Former BP CEO Looney Loses $40 Million in Compensation Amid Board Misconduct Claims

BP cut over $40 million in remuneration from former CEO Bernard Looney after the British oil giant concluded he had knowingly misled the board over personal relationships with colleagues.

Energy Companies Launch Green Hydrogen Projects in Italy

Four energy companies announced on Tuesday two separate green hydrogen projects in Italy as they move to offer clean fuels to their customers and take advantage of money coming from the European Union's post-pandemic recovery fund.

Serbia Launches Gas Pipeline Interconnector with Bulgaria, Diversifying Supplies

Serbia on Sunday completed the interconnector to a pipeline in Bulgaria, which would allow the Balkan country to diversify its gas supplies and reduce its dependence on Russia.

Fluxys, OGE, Wintershall Dea Partner for CO2 Transport from Southern Germany to Belgian Hubs

(P&GJ) — Fluxys Belgium, Wintershall Dea, and OGE are joining forces to create a CO2 corridor transporting emissions from Southern Germany to Belgium's developing CO2 export hubs for storage in the North Sea reservoirs.

Symbio Inaugurates Europe's Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plant

Symbio, the hydrogen mobility joint venture between Stellantis, Forvia and Michelin, has inaugurated Europe's largest gigafactory for hydrogen fuel cells in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France.

Global News December 2023

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Green Hydrogen Projects by Spain's Enagas Poised to Receive EU Funding

Two renewable hydrogen projects partially managed by Spain's gas grid operator Enagas have been included in the European Commission's list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), the company said on Tuesday, meaning they could benefit from accelerated permitting procedures and subsidies.

Kyiv Proposes Reversing Trans-Balkan Gas Pipeline Flows Through Ukraine

Ukraine's state gas transit operator on Wednesday proposed reversing gas flows through the Trans-Balkan pipeline, which would allow gas to be pumped from the Balkans to Central and Eastern European countries through Ukraine.

Centrica Pumps Gas from Rough Storage into U.K. Grid as Demand Rises

British Gas owner Centrica has released stored gas from its largest storage facility into the national grid for the first time this winter, it said on Tuesday, seeking to manage rising heating demand and contain prices.

Caspian Pipeline Consortium Resumes Oil Loadings at Black Sea Terminal

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a main export route for Kazakhstan's crude oil, said on Thursday it has resumed oil loadings at its Black Sea terminal which had been suspended due to storms, disrupting exports since last Friday.

Europe Studies Mega-Projects for Piping CO2 Offshore

(P&GJ) — Belgian TSO Fluxys and Norway’s state oil and gas company Equinor are working on plans for a 620-mile (1,000-km) pipeline that could export CO2 from industrial clusters in Zeebrugge, Belgium to storage sites offshore Norway. An extension to industrial sites in the port of Dunkirk, France is also under consideration.

Snam, Eni, Terna to Fast Track European Pipeline, Hydrogen, Carbon Capture Projects

The two initiatives supported by Snam are a pipeline for hydrogen between Italy, Austria and Germany dubbed the SoutH2 Corridor and a carbon capture and storage hub offshore Ravenna known as the Callisto Mediterranean C02 Network.