North America
Dakota Access Tree Replacement Lags Deadlines
The company hired to replace trees cut along the Dakota Access pipeline route has struggled to meet its deadline for reasons ranging from equipment and staffing issues to pushback from some landowners and agencies.
Maryland Board Rejects TransCanada Project Easement
Maryland's Board of Public Works voted against a proposed pipeline easement across the western part of the state that would enable TransCanada to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to West Virginia.
Seaway Begins Open Season on Cushing-to-Texas Coast System
Seaway Crude Oil Pipeline began a binding open season to gauge shipper interest in expanded crude oil capacity on its existing system originating in Cushing, Okla. and extending to the Texas Gulf Coast area.
ExxonMobil Shelves Canada LNG Export Project
U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp has withdrawn its West Coast Canada (WCC) LNG export terminal in Canada from the environmental assessment process, it said Thursday, signaling the project has been shelved.
Lawmakers Urge US Agency to Bolster Pipeline Cybersecurity
Two Democratic lawmakers urged the Department of Homeland Security to better protect U.S. oil and gas pipelines from cyber-attacks, after a report they requested detailed a lack of federal oversight of the critical conduits.
Canada Gives Struggling Oil Sector C$1.6 Billion Boost
The Canadian government will spend C$1.6 billion ($1.19 billion), mostly through loans, to assist the country's oil and gas industry, which has struggled to move energy to U.S. markets due to full pipelines.
Poland Signs 20-Year Deal to Buy U.S. Natural Gas
Poland has signed a long-term deal with a U.S. company for supplies of liquefied natural gas as part of an effort to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.
Governors Agree to Study Sending Gas to Asia by Way of California Coast
The governors of Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico's Sonora state signed an agreement Wednesday to study a plan to export natural gas to Asia by connecting existing pipelines to move the fuel south to the Gulf of California.
Projects
Valley Crossing Pipeline to Mexico Gains FERC Extension The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) awarded Enbridge subsidiary Valley Crossing Pipeline six additional months to connect its natural gas pipeline to its counterpart in Mexico, moving the deadline to April 23. The 168-mile pipelin..
Global News
Natural Gas Utilities Testing Demand Response Programs Demand Response (DR) programs have become a fairly common method of reducing electricity demand during summer peak periods, and now the approach is being tried by natural gas utilities – most recently due to concerns about limited pipeline capa..
Columbia Gas’ Merrimack Valley Accident: Fallout Just Starting
Federal and state agencies immediately jumped into action to uncover causes and preventative lessons that might be learned from the fatal September explosions, but other investigations could have implications for pipeline operations far beyond Massachusetts.
PPI President Discusses Growth, Challenges of Plastic Pipe Industry
PG&J talks to Tony Radoszewski of the Plastics Pipe Institute about opportunities and challenges of supplying plastic pipe to the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry.
Retiring Stavropoulos Leaves PG&E a Safer Utility
Eight years after joining PG&E in the wake of the San Bruno explosion, Nick Stavropoulos retired as an industry role model for restoring a sense of pride at the giant San Francisco utility.
Replacement Projects Still Boosting Infrastructure Work
A large volume of work remains in the United States for multibillion-dollar infrastructure replacement programs, with many now underway and more destined to follow. In this summary report, P&GJ provides an overview of the current widespread activity.
APGA Chairman to Focus on Safety and Consumer Education
P&GJ talks about industry priorities and challenges with Owen Reeves, 2018-2019 chairman of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), which represents more than 70% of all publicly owned natural gas utilities in the United States.
San Mateo Midstream Completes Crude Oil Pipeline System in New Mexico
San Mateo Midstream’s Black River Oil Pipeline has been placed its Rustler Breaks Pipeline System into service in Eddy County, N.M., following a successful open season earlier this year.
Carlyle Group to Head US Gulf Coast Crude Export Terminal Project
Lone Star Ports will lead development and operation of a Carlyle Group-backed crude export terminal in Corpus Christi, Texas, as new crude pipelines that will ferry an additional 2 MMbpd to the South Texas port are expected to begin operations in late 2019.
Landowners Lose Appeal over Dakota Access Pipeline Easements
North Dakota landowners who unsuccessfully sued the developer of the Dakota Access oil pipeline over land easements have lost their appeal.
Lawmakers Urge U.S. Agency to Bolster Pipeline Cybersecurity
Two Democratic lawmakers urged the Department of Homeland Security to better protect U.S. oil and gas pipelines from cyberattacks, after a report they requested detailed a lack of federal oversight of the critical conduits.
Phillips 66 Sets $1.6 Billion Midstream Budget for 2019
Phillips 66 announced that it has set a $2.3 billion capital budget for 2019 and will direct the bulk of that spending to midstream growth projects.
Mountain Valley Pipeline Project to Be 70% Complete by Year-End
Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) officials said the company remains on target for the $4.6 billion project in fully in-service in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Kenyan Pipeline, Insurance Fund Officials Charged Over Graft
A Kenyan court has charged senior officials from the state-run oil pipeline and others from the state health insurance fund for abuse of office and economic crimes that led to the loss of billions of shillings from the two institutions.
Pennsylvania Judge Rejects Shutting Mariner East Pipelines
A Pennsylvania administrative law judge denied a petition by state residents asking utility regulators to prohibit the operation of Energy Transfer LP and its Sunoco subsidiary's Mariner East pipelines.
Michigan Legislature Passes Great Lakes Oil Pipeline Bill
The Michigan Legislature approved a bill that would allow the replacement of a 65-year-old oil pipeline in a key Great Lakes waterway, voting to create a state authority that would oversee the construction of a tunnel to encase a new segment of pipe.
Panel to Take Closely Watched Vote on Atlantic Coast Pipeline Station
A massive winter storm delayed a closely watched vote in Virginia on a natural gas pipeline compressor station that's been the frequent target of protests. Dominion Energy needs the State Air Pollution Control Board to sign off on a permit to build a station in Buckingham County to pump gas through the planned Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
Gas Service Mostly Restored after September Explosions
Columbia Gas said natural gas service has been restored for 96 percent of customers who were affected by the September explosions in Massachusetts
Pipeline Company 'Trespassers' Handed $150 Fines by Judge
A Louisiana judge ruled a company building an oil pipeline through south Louisiana trespassed on the land of three people opposed to the project, but he allowed the work to continue while awarding the three only $150 apiece in compensation and damages.
Williams Completes Sale of Several Gulf Coast Pipeline Systems
Williams announced the sale of certain pipeline systems located in the Gulf Coast area to Easton Energy for $177 million in cash. The 31-mile Texas Belle Pipeline, which transports natural gas liquids from Mont Belvieu to the Houston Ship Channel, is included in this transaction.
Michigan Senate OK's Bill to Enable Great Lakes Pipeline Deal
The Michigan Senate voted to facilitate a deal to replace a contentious 65-year-old oil pipeline in the Great Lakes, approving legislation to empower a new authority to oversee the construction and operation of a utility tunnel that would encase the new pipeline.
Pair of Key Canada-to-US Oil Pipelines Hit by Disruptions
Two major pipelines carrying oil from Canada to the United States were hit by weather-related disruptions on Tuesday, the latest hit to Canada's oil industry just days after the Alberta government announced forced cuts in crude production.
- Phillips 66 to Shut LA Oil Refinery, Ending Major Gasoline Output Amid Supply Concerns
- FERC Sides with Williams in Texas-Louisiana Pipeline Dispute with Energy Transfer
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- ConocoPhillips Eyes Sale of $1 Billion Permian Assets Amid Marathon Acquisition
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Marathon Oil to Lay Off Over 500 Texas Workers Ahead of ConocoPhillips Merger
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
