North America

Police: 1 Dead, 15 Injured in North Carolina Gas Explosion

A gas explosion that partially collapsed a North Carolina building and set it ablaze Wednesday morning killed one person and injured more than a dozen others, police said.

Pipeline Opponents Ask Judge to Strike Down Trump Keystone XL Permit

Opponents of the long-stalled Keystone XL oil pipeline asked a federal court Friday in a lawsuit to declare President Donald Trump acted illegally when he issued a new permit for the project in a bid to get around an earlier court ruling.

Tellurian Announces Binding Open Season for the Permian Global Access Pipeline

Tellurian announced today that its subsidiary Permian Global Access Pipeline is conducting a binding open season to secure prospective shippers for its proposed PGAP project.

Sunoco Settles Mariner East 1 Case with Pennsylvania PUC

Energy Transfer's Sunoco Pipeline subsidiary has reached a $200,000 settlement agreement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) over an 840-gallon ethane and propane leak from Mariner East 1 pipeline in 2017.

Hastings Announces Sale of Cactus Fuel

Hastings Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in lower, middle-market energy and industrial services businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of assets of Cactus Fuel, LLC to Pilot Thomas Logistics, LLC.

New Pipelines Drain West Texas Crude Stocks to 4-Month Low

Crude inventories in West Texas dropped in February to the lowest in four months after a converted pipeline began transporting crude from the nation’s biggest shale oil field to the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to data from Genscape.

West Coast Perched at Forefront of Natural Gas Movement

Gas, widely seen as a transition fuel, provides 45% of California’s power, augmented by sustainable large-scale hydro (17.89%) and wind and solar. Indeed, California is one of only three U.S. states in which solar exceeds 10% of power generation. As of 2017 coal accounted for only 4.1% of California’s power, compared to 30% nationally and it will be zero by 2026.

Beyond the Tribal Effect: Steps to Successful Permitting on Native American Lands

The playing field of environmental permitting can be complicated, exhaustive, and time consuming. Among the most challenging rules and regulations for the energy industry are those which were designed to uphold national obligations to tribal nations.

Optimism Abounds for M&A in the Gulf of Mexico

A comeback is expected for M&A activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The combination of substantial inventory on the block, potential proof-of-concept developments on the horizon and continued focus by many players in the region on divesting of non-core properties, may set the stage for heightened deal flow in the region, assuming commodity prices continue to cooperate.

Future of US Offshore Sector

One of the early lessons of the new year that revealed itself in the first few weeks of January is there is a renewed bullishness in the offshore oil and natural gas potential for the Gulf of Mexico.

Trump to Sign Order Seeking to Clear Gas Pipeline Hurdles: Kudlow

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration would soon issue an executive order that will open the door for more natural gas pipelines and exports of LNG. The administration has been considering an order that would push back against states, including New York, that have blocked interstate natural gas pipelines.

EagleClaw Midstream to Proceed with Delaware Link Pipeline

EagleClaw Midstream said Wednesday it has made a final investment decision to proceed with construction of the Delaware Link pipeline, a new pipeline designed to transport residue natural gas from the Delaware Basin in West Texas to the Waha hub.

Michigan Governor Halts Great Lakes Oil Pipeline Tunnel

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered state departments and agencies to take no further action on legislation enacted in late 2018 authorizing construction of an oil pipeline tunnel beneath lakes Huron and Michigan.

ACLU Challenges South Dakota Pipeline Protest Legislation

The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging a new law signed by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem aimed at potential protests against the planned Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Minnesota Regulator Confirms Approval of Enbridge Pipeline

A Minnesota regulator has confirmed its approval of Enbridge Inc's Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement, allowing the $7 billion project that will ship more barrels out of western Canada to move forward, the company said on Wednesday.

Noble Midstream Secures Investment for EPIC Crude Pipeline

Noble Midstream announced it has secured a $200 million equity commitment (“Preferred Equity”) from Global Infrastructure Partners Capital Solutions Fund (“GIP”) to fund capital contributions to Dos Rios Crude Intermediate LLC, a newly-formed subsidiary holding Noble Midstream’s 30% equity interest in the EPIC Crude Pipeline.

Alberta Oil Industry Backing Pipeline-Friendly Premier Candidate Amid Possible Sandal

Canada's battered oil industry is rooting for the opposition in next month's election in energy heartland Alberta, investors said on Wednesday, but a brewing scandal involving the party's leader could derail its hopes of an easy victory.

U.S. Shale Boom Drawing Big Oil Back to Permian Pushing Out Independents

Major oil companies are pouring money and resources back into the Permian after new shale discoveries and improvements in technology will enable the U.S. to quickly become the world's second largest oil producer behind only Saudi Arabia.

Wood Awarded Major Pipeline Construction Contract

Wood has been awarded a $34 million contract from RH energytrans LLC to construct 28 miles of new pipeline designed to carry natural gas from Pennsylvania to Ohio.

Michigan Panel Approval of Line 5 Deal Ruled Legal by Judge

A Michigan panel's approval of an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the Great Lakes will remain intact even though a state law set unconstitutionally long terms for authority members, a judge ruled.

Nuevo Midstream Dos to Purchase Republic Midstream

Nuevo Midstream Dos, LLC entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners to buy Republic Midstream, which owns and operates a crude oil gathering, storage and intermediate transportation system in the Eagle Ford Shale.

Project Delays Sink Oil Sands Output in 2019

Canadian Oil Sands production in 2019 will be almost 230,000 b/d lower than last year, according to ESAI Energy’s recently published North America Watch.

Global News

Finland, Estonia and Latvia Sign Deal for Single Gas Tariff Zone Gas transmission operators of Finland, Latvia and Estonia signed an agreement on to set up a single gas transmission tariff zone for the three countries from the start of 2020. The agreement fulfills a goal ..

U.S. Energy Information Administration Forecast Continued Growth of Natural Gas Production and Export

The 2019 Annual Energy Outlook (AEO2019) Reference case produced by the U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA) shows continued growth of natural gas production in the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio region from the Marcellus and Utica formations, resulting in increases of natural gas being transported to the Eastern Midwest and, ultimately, into the South Central region, which includes the Gulf Coast and Texas.

Cheniere Announces Substantial Completion of Train 5 at the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (Cheniere) announced today that Substantial Completion of Train 5 of the Sabine Pass Liquefaction (SPL) Project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana was achieved on March 7, 2019. Commissioning has been completed and Cheniere's EPC partner Bechtel has turned over care, custody, and control of Train 5 to Cheniere.

Moda Looks at 2nd Supertanker Berth to Handle 3 New Pipelines

Moda Midstream LLC is considering building a second berth at its Ingleside, Texas, crude export terminal to accommodate supertankers, the company’s chief executive said

S.D. Lawmakers Vote to Support Bills Aimed at Preparing for Possible Keystone XL Protests

A South Dakota legislative panel voted Wednesday to endorse bills proposed by Gov. Kristi Noem aimed at preparing for potential protests over the Keystone XL oil pipeline despite opposition from tribal representatives who said they weren't consulted about the contentious legislation.

NextDecade Leases Brownsville Site for $15 Billion Rio Grande LNG Project

NextDecade Corporation (NextDecade) announced today that Rio Grande LNG, LLC, a NextDecade subsidiary, has entered into a lease agreement with the Brownsville Navigation District (BND).

ExxonMobil Ups Permian Output Target to 1 Million Barrels per Day by 2024

ExxonMobil said Tuesday it has revised its Permian Basin growth plans to produce more than 1 million BOE/d by as early as 2024 – an increase that is driving significant pipeline and infrastructure development.

Cheniere, Bechtel Announce Substantial Completion of Train 1 at Corpus Christi

Cheniere Energy and Bechtel on Monday announced substantial completion of Train 1 of the Corpus Christi liquefaction project was achieved last week and said Bechtel has turned over the project to Cheniere following its commissioning.