North America

EPA Sets Soot Pollution Rule, Kinder Morgan Warns of Hefty Costs

The U.S. environmental regulator said it sent the White House its final plan to slash interstate smog and soot pollution from the power sector. Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan warned the plan would cost an estimated $4.1 billion in upgrades and retrofits to about 950 engines along its pipelines, which carry about 40% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.

Navigator to Submit Expanded Proposal for 1,300-Mile Carbon Pipeline Project

(P&GJ) — Navigator CO2 plans to resubmit an enhanced proposal to the Illinois Commerce Agency before the end of February, over six months after initially submitting an application to the commission for its multistate pipeline. The expanded proposal is set to include at least one new sequestration site and an additional lateral route.

Canada's Suncor Mulling Options to Replace Supply from Key Oil Sands Mine

Canada's Suncor Energy on Wednesday said it is weighing options for replacing around 200,000 barrels per day of raw bitumen supply from its largest oil sands mine, which is set to run out by the mid-2030s.

Oil Prices Fall After Additional US Crude Reserve Release Announced

Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Tuesday after the U.S. government said it will release 26 million barrels of crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Last year, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration sold a record 180 million barrels from the reserve.

Williams Closes Acquisition of MountainWest Natural Gas Transmission, Storage Business

(P&GJ) — MountainWest comprises roughly 2,000-miles of interstate natural gas pipeline systems primarily located across Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, totaling approximately 8 Bcf/d of transmission capacity. MountainWest also operates 56 Bcf of total storage capacity, including the Clay Basin underground storage reservoir, providing valuable service to western markets.

US to Sell 26 Million Barrels of Oil Reserves As Mandated by Congress

The Biden administration said on Monday it is selling 26 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a release that had been mandated by Congress in previous years. The U.S. Department of Energy considered canceling the sale of the 26 million barrels after the Biden administration sold a record 180 million barrels from the reserve last year.

US Gas Producers Skimped on Price Hedges and Now Face A Reckoning

A rout in natural gas prices will hurt first-quarter earnings and cash flows at gas producers as hedges — the industry's version of price insurance — were inadequate to offset the expected losses, analysts and industry experts said.

Pipeline Operator TC Energy Beats Profit Estimates as Demand Boost Offsets Oil Spill Costs

TC Energy Corp. beat market estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday as sustained demand for energy helped the North American pipeline operator soften a $488 million cost hit from an oil spill at its Keystone pipeline in Kansas.

U.S. Treasury to Open Advanced Energy Tax Credit Applications on May 31

The U.S. Treasury said on Monday it will open applications on May 31 for $4 billion worth of new tax credits for advanced energy manufacturing and decarbonization projects, with $1.6 billion of those required to be in communities hit by closures of coal mines or coal-fired power plants.

UGI, Archaea Energy Partner to Develop Renewable Natural Gas Project in Pennsylvania

(P&GJ) — UGI Energy Services LLC and Archaea Energy Inc., a subsidiary of bp, have entered into a joint venture, Aurum Renewables LLC, to develop a renewable natural gas (RNG) project at the Commonwealth Environmental Systems landfill in Hegins, Pennsylvania.

Kinder Morgan Restarts Gas Pipeline After Leak at Watson Station in California - CNN

Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan has resumed operations after a leak was detected this week in a California gasoline pipeline that supplies unleaded and diesel fuel to storage facilities in southern Nevada, CNN reported on Saturday.

Australian Government Seeks More Leeway to Curb East Coast LNG Exports

Australia's government has proposed to expand its ability to curb LNG exports from three projects on the east coast in order to meet gas supply shortfalls, under a plan due to take effect in April.

Louisiana Slams EPA Over Lack of Urgency on Carbon-Project Approvals

Louisiana and other top oil-producing states say they can speed up permitting of carbon sequestration projects if allowed to handle decisions that currently fall under the EPA. There are dozens of these projects with multimillion-dollar price tags proposed by energy firms around the United States.

Cardinal Midstream Acquires 80 Miles of Natural Gas Pipelines in Delaware Basin

(P&GJ) — Cardinal Midstream Partners has entered a deal to acquire Medallion Midstream Services' natural gas assets in the Delaware Basin, which includes approximately 80 miles of high- and low-pressure natural gas gathering pipelines and a 140 MMcf/d natural gas processing facility.

Tellurian Woos Indian Investors for Its Driftwood LNG Project

Houston, Texas-based Tellurian resumed talks with Indian oil and gas companies for investments in Driftwood LNG late last year. Delays have hit construction of the Driftwood facility, but CEO Octavio Simoes said it is on track for its first gas output in 2026.

Pipeline Operator Magellan Says Permian Crude Flows to Houston Will Rise

U.S. pipeline operator Magellan Midstream Partners LP on Thursday predicted crude oil flows from the Permian Basin will shift toward Houston as shale production rises and lines to export hub Corpus Christi fill.

Enbridge Restores 1,835-Mile T-South Natural Gas Pipeline to Full Service

Canada's Enbridge Inc. has returned its T-South natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia to full service following an unplanned outage, the company said on Thursday.

Pipeline Operator Enterprise It's Says Bullish on Permian Oil Output

U.S. energy pipeline operator Enterprise Products Partners was bullish on oil production from the top U.S. shale basin, the firm said on Wednesday, predicting that international demand for U.S. oil and gas will rise.

Biden Backs Scaled-Down Version of ConocoPhillips Alaska Oil Project

President Joe Biden's administration said on Wednesday it would support a scaled-back version of ConocoPhillips' planned $6 billion Willow oil and gas drilling project in Alaska but has not yet made a final decision on the contentious proposal.

Carbon Pipeline Company Sues Iowa County Over Local Siting Ordinance

The developer of a Midwest carbon capture pipeline network has sued Shelby County in Iowa, saying its ordinance restricting the siting of hazardous pipelines is overruled by a federal pipeline safety law.

TC Energy Raises Coastal GasLink Pipeline Costs by 30% to Over $10 Billion

North American pipeline firm TC Energy Corp. said on Wednesday it now estimates costs for completion of its troubled Coastal GasLink project to be $10.89 billion, as it faces skilled labor crunch and adverse weather conditions.

2,000-Mile Carbon Pipeline Project Sparks Battle Among North Dakota Landowners

(P&GJ) — Landowners from North Dakota gave testimony on Jan. 27 in favor of and against Summit Carbon Solutions' use of eminent domain to construct a 2,000-mile carbon pipeline network beneath hundreds of homes and farms in the Midwest.

Peninsula Pipeline Receives Approval to Expand Natural Gas Infrastructure in Nassau County, Florida

(P&GJ) — Peninsula Pipeline Co. will construct new infrastructure in two phases. Phase one involves the construction of three new pipeline segments, which consist of steel pipe, new regulator stations and improvements, a new gas injection point and three new points of delivery. Phase two of the project involves the installation of two new steel pipeline segments.

Texas Oil Regulator Advises Pipeline Operators to Prepare for Severe Winter Conditions

The Texas oil regulator on Sunday advised oil and gas pipeline operators to secure equipment and facilities after forecasts for severe weather over the next several days.

Exxon Stops Routine Gas Flaring in The Permian, Wants Others to Follow

Exxon Mobil Corp. said it has stopped routine flaring of natural gas from production in the top U.S. shale basin and will press for stronger regulations for rivals to do the same, company officials said in an interview.

Expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline Will Be Fully Operational Early Next Year, MEG Energy Says

MEG Energy, an oil shipper on Canada's Trans Mountain Expansion project, said on Monday the pipeline is expected to start filling with oil in late 2023 and be fully operational early next year.

Editor’s Notebook: Big Early Win for Northwest Capacity

(P&GJ) — The venerable Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline system, which runs from the Canadian border to California, appears headed toward an important regulatory victory in the effort to increase its capacity by about 150 MMcf/d.

416-Mile Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project Nears Completion

(P&GJ) — Pipeline operator TC Energy’s Coastal GasLink pipeline project is more than 80% completed overall, and more than 77% of the construction is finished, according to a company construction update.

Tallgrass Completes Ruby Pipeline Acquisition, Adds 682 Miles of Infrastructure to Portfolio

(P&GJ) — Tallgrass announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Kinder Morgan and Pembina’s Ruby Pipeline. The acquisition extends Tallgrass’ reach to west coast markets and adds 683 miles of modern 42-inch pipeline infrastructure capable of moving 1.5 Bcf/d to the company’s extensive asset base.

Canadian Province and First Nations Agree to Revive Oil, Gas Development in Montney Play

The Canadian province of British Columbia (B.C.) announced a land, water and resource management agreement with the Blueberry River First Nations Indigenous group on Wednesday that will restart development in the vast Montney shale play. The deal includes an annual 750-hectare (1853-acre) cap on new land that oil and gas activity can disturb.