North America
Russian Pipelines Facing Significant Pressure from Tightening Sanctions
(P&GJ) — The Russian pipelines’ sector is experiencing serious pressure amid ever tightening sanctions and the ever-growing isolation of the country in the international arena. Historically, pipelines have been a strategic asset in Russia, with the largest volume of cargo coming in the form of crude oil and natural gas.
Global News November 2023
Latest industry developments from around the world!
Biden Wants to Count Emissions Downstream of Pipeline Projects
(P&GJ) — The Biden administration announced its latest effort to throw a wrench in pipeline construction. The Biden Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) wants to roll back Trump administration pro-pipeline changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Editor’s Notebook: It Could Have Been Worse, Revisited
(P&GJ) — With its approval of the Willow Project on the North Slope Alaska early this year, along with its continued of drilling permits on federal lands, the Biden administration has begun to show at least some desire to play ball where oil projects are involved, much to the chagrin of the anti-fossil fuel forces.
Chevron Reviewing Options for East Texas Assets After Shale Acquisitions
Chevron Corp. said it is evaluating options for around 70,000 net acres of land in East Texas' Haynesville shale formation after pausing development earlier this year, with sources saying a full sale is one option under consideration.
DOE Rejects Repsol's Bid to Reopen Approval for Venture Global LNG Export Plant
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday rejected for a second time oil major Repsol SA's request to reopen regulators' approval of Venture Global LNG's Calcasieu Pass export plant in Louisiana.
North Dakota Natural Gas Output Hits Record High in September, Flaring Edges Up
Natural gas production in North Dakota rose to a record 3.440 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in September from an all-time high of 3.313 Bcf/d hit in August, while gas flaring also edged up.
Pipeline Operators Increase Quality Checks Over Concerns of Metal Contamination in Texas Shale Oil
U.S. oil pipeline and export terminal operators are stepping up quality checks after finding an out-of-specification cargo that raised worries of excess metals contaminating Texas shale oil, operators and sources said.
US Plans to Buy 1.2 Million Barrels of Oil for Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The U.S. plans to buy 1.2 million barrels of oil to help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after it sold off the largest amount ever last year, the Energy Department said on Monday.
Exxon Moves Up Beaumont, Texas, CDU Overhaul to June 2024
Exxon Mobil moved up the start date for a crude distillation unit (CDU) overhaul at its 619,024 barrel-per-day (bpd) Beaumont, Texas, refinery from August 2024 to June 2024, said people familiar with the company’s plans.
M6 System Expansion Nears Completion, Set to Enhance Gulf Coast Connectivity
(P&GJ) — A critical aspect of the M6 system expansion is the completion of the New Generation Gas Gathering (NG3) project, expected in 2024. This project will add approximately 275 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines and 2.2 Bcf/day of capacity to premium Gulf Coast and LNG markets, playing a pivotal role in serving the Gulf Coast market.
Trans Mountain Resumes Pipeline Expansion Work in British Columbia After Addressing Regulatory Concerns
The Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project on Tuesday said it had been allowed to resume work in a wetland area near Abbotsford, British Columbia, after correcting issues raised by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).
Analysis: Challenges to CO2 Pipelines Pose Threat to U.S. Ethanol's Role in Green Jet Fuel Development
The U.S. drive to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using ethanol could be slowed because of growing opposition to proposed pipelines that would curb greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol plants by capturing carbon dioxide and carrying it away to other states for storage.
TotalEnergies CEO Predicts Continued Gas Market Volatility Until New Supply Emerges
The CEO of French energy giant TotalEnergies said on Tuesday that the LNG market will continue to experience volatility until new supply is available, but prices are reasonable compared to 2022.
Freeport LNG Plant in Texas Set to Resume Operations After Monday Shutdown
U.S. liquefied natural gas company Freeport LNG's export plant in Texas was on track to return to service on Tuesday after all of its liquefaction trains shut on Monday, according to data from financial firm LSEG.
Chevron Takeover of Hess Resurrects Multi-Billion-Dollar Tax Shield
Chevron’s deal to buy Hess will unlock $15 billion worth of tax benefits that had once been relegated to the accounting dustbin, as the combined company takes advantage of Hess’s past losses to cut future payments, according to the company and tax experts.
EIA: US Shale Oil Output Expected to Fall in December
U.S. oil output from top shale-producing regions is set to decline in December for a second consecutive month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its monthly Drilling Productivity Report on Monday.
US Needs More Pipeline Capacity for Reliable Gas Supply, INGAA Says
The U.S. needs more natural gas pipeline capacity to maintain reliable gas supply during extreme cold weather, a trade group representing pipeline companies said on Monday in support of regulators who last week urged sought new rules to prevent a repetition of last winter's power outages.
Mach Natural Resources to Buy Anadarko Basin Assets for $815 Million
Mach Natural Resources said on Monday said it will buy certain oil and gas assets in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma from privately-held Paloma Partners for $815 million in cash.
BKV, EnLink Start First Carbon Capture Project in Texas
Energy firms BKV and Enlink Midstream said on Monday the first injection of carbon dioxide at a carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Texas was completed ahead of schedule.
INGAA Responds to Winter Storm Elliott Report, Emphasizes Need for Enhanced Infrastructure
(P&GJ) — The recently released Winter Storm Elliott Report sheds light on the proactive measures taken by members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) to uphold system integrity during the severe weather event.
Climate Tech Company Heirloom Opens US Commercial Carbon Capture Plant
California climate technology company Heirloom on Thursday unveiled what it says is the first U.S. commercial direct air capture (DAC) plant to suck planet-warming carbon dioxide from the air, a milestone in the effort to scale up nascent carbon removal technologies and hit global climate goals.
Canadian Firm to Build $2.9 Billion Green Hydrogen Project in Quebec
Montreal-based renewable energy firm TES Canada H2 Inc. will build a $2.9 billion green hydrogen project in Quebec that is expected to create 200 permanent jobs and reduce 3% of the province's carbon emissions by 2030, a source familiar with the project told Reuters on Thursday.
Occidental Petroleum Beats Q3 Estimates on Higher Production
Occidental Petroleum on Tuesday beat analysts' third-quarter profit estimates on strong U.S. oil production, but its results were well below a year ago due to lower energy prices and weaker chemical and pipeline results.
BP, Edison, Shell Ask US, EU to Intervene in Venture Global LNG Dispute
BP, Edison and Shell pressed a U.S.-EU energy group to intervene in a dispute with liquefied natural gas exporter Venture Global LNG over the U.S. firm's failure to deliver contract supplies of the fuel.
Glenfarne Energy Transition’s Texas LNG Selects Baker Hughes Gas Technology
(P&GJ) — Texas LNG and Glenfarne Energy Transition chose Baker Hughes to supply gas compression technology, including electric motor drives, for their four MTPA LNG export terminal in the Port of Brownsville, Texas.
Clearwater Paper Suspends Idaho Operations Due to Regional Natural Gas Pipeline Incident
(P&GJ) — Clearwater Paper Corp. temporarily halted some operations at its Lewiston, Idaho, facility on Nov. 9 due to an incident affecting the regional natural gas system, causing disruptions to gas deliveries in the mill and surrounding areas.
Mountain Valley Pipeline Sues Protesters Hindering $7.2 Billion Construction Project
The developer of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has sued two protesters it says blocked construction on the $7.2 billion natural gas project, seeking compensation and orders barring them from interfering in the future.
Regulators Say Loss of Everett LNG Terminal Threatens New England Energy Reliability
A possible loss of the Everett Marine LNG terminal can jeopardize the reliability of New England's energy supply during extreme cold weather, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said on Monday.
Snam Explores Acquisition of Edison's Gas Storage, Eyes Bigger Stake in Adriatic LNG
Snam plans to file an offer to buy Edison's gas storage business and is also considering increasing its stake in Adriatic LNG, Italy's biggest LNG terminal, the group's CEO said on Thursday.
- 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
