Regulation
California Steps In to Prevent Valero Refinery Closure, Avert Fuel Shock
California is making a rare move to find a buyer for Valero’s Benicia refinery near San Francisco to prevent its closure, reflecting concerns over fuel supply and soaring gasoline prices in the state.
Turkey Seeks New Deal with Iraq to Revive Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline
Turkey plans to negotiate a new agreement with Iraq to restart the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which has been shut down since 2023 due to arbitration disputes.
Greek Tankers to Keep Moving Russian Oil Despite New EU Sanctions
Greek shipping companies are expected to continue transporting Russian oil that falls under price cap exemptions, despite the European Union’s latest sanctions aimed at tightening energy trade restrictions.
Freeport LNG Gets FERC Approval for Train 4 Extension Through 2031
Freeport LNG received FERC approval to extend construction of its Train 4 project in Texas through 2031, citing the need for additional time to secure commercial deals after the terminal’s 2022 outage.
Pipeline Safety Cases Plunge as Trump Slows Enforcement
Pipeline safety enforcement actions have plunged to a 20-year low under President Trump’s second term, raising concerns about oversight gaps.
Sanctioned LNG Tankers Resume Stops at Russia’s Arctic LNG 2
The latest arrival was the Voskhod, raising questions about enforcement of trade restrictions tied to the conflict in Ukraine.
First Nations Sue Canada Over Laws Fast-Tracking Pipeline Projects
Nine First Nations groups across Ontario have filed a constitutional challenge against new provincial and federal laws that fast-track infrastructure and energy project approvals.
208-Mile Mississippi-to-Alabama Gas Pipeline Moves Into FERC Review
Kinder Morgan's Tennessee Gas Pipeline has entered FERC review for its $1.7 billion Mississippi Crossing Project, set to run from Greenville, Mississippi, to Butler, Alabama, with over 90% of capacity already contracted.
New Fortress $20 Billion Gas Deal Halted by Puerto Rico Watchdog
Puerto Rico’s financial regulator has halted New Fortress Energy’s proposed $20 billion gas supply contract over monopoly concerns tied to its subsidiary Genera PR, according to a Bloomberg report.
Feds Fast-Track Utah Crude Transport Project with 14-Day Review
BLM has cleared the Wildcat Loadout Facility expansion in Utah after an expedited 14-day review, paving the way for higher crude-by-rail capacity in the Uinta Basin.
FERC OKs Construction on Mississippi Hub Gas Storage Expansion
FERC has cleared Enstor to start a major expansion at its Mississippi Hub, adding three new caverns that will more than double the site’s working gas capacity by 2028.
Left for Dead, Gas Pipeline Makes Comeback as New York Launches Review
A once-rejected gas pipeline is back under review in New York, raising climate concerns amid federal pressure and revived talks between Trump and Gov. Hochul.
Exxon-Qatar JV Requests U.S. Approval to Re-Export LNG from Golden Pass
Golden Pass LNG, owned by Exxon and QatarEnergy, has asked U.S. regulators to approve LNG re-exports starting October 1 as the Texas export terminal nears completion.
Is Venezuela About to Lose Citgo, Its Most Valuable U.S. Asset?
With over $18 billion in creditor claims and U.S. sanctions complicating the sale, Citgo’s future—and Venezuela’s stake in it—remains uncertain ahead of a final court decision in August.
Trump Approves Operations for NGL Pipeline Crossing Canadian Border
President Trump has granted Steel Reef US Pipelines a renewed Presidential Permit to operate and maintain its 8.625-inch NGL pipeline at the U.S.–Canada border in Burke County, North Dakota, reaffirming federal approval for cross-border natural gas liquids exports.
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Enbridge’s Appeal in Line 5 Pipeline Venue Dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court will review Enbridge’s attempt to move Michigan’s Line 5 pipeline case from state to federal court. The outcome could set a precedent for venue disputes in future pipeline litigation.
EPA Eyes Revisions to Pipeline Methane Rules After Tax Repeal
With Congress repealing the methane emissions tax, the EPA is now weighing changes to two key methane-related regulations for gas pipelines—emissions reporting and control requirements—amid legal pressure from industry groups like API.
PHMSA Urges Broader Adoption of Pipeline Safety Management Systems
PHMSA has issued a new advisory bulletin encouraging pipeline operators to adopt formal safety management systems, citing ongoing accidents and stalled progress among smaller operators despite high adoption rates across the industry.
Alberta Ends Gas Flaring Cap After Exceeding Limit by 36% in 2024
Alberta energy producers exceeded the province’s annual gas flaring limit by 36% in 2024, marking a second consecutive year of overages. Days later, the province quietly eliminated the cap altogether, raising concerns about rising emissions and regulatory oversight.
Freeport LNG Seeks 40-Month Extension for Texas Expansion Project
Freeport LNG has asked FERC for a 40-month extension to complete its Train 4 project in Texas, citing delays from the 2022 explosion and emphasizing the need for more time to secure financing and restart construction.
Underground Refinery Busted in Mexico With Half a Million Liters of Crude
Mexican authorities discovered a clandestine mini-refinery in Veracruz and seized 500,000 liters of suspected stolen crude, part of a sweeping effort to curb pipeline theft and illegal fuel operations tied to organized crime.
Why Hydrogen Will Thrive No Matter Who’s in Office
Despite political shifts and changes in federal energy policy, hydrogen’s growing role in oil, gas, and industrial sectors positions it for long-term success. Industry experts argue that affordability, reliability, availability, and safety—not politics—will define hydrogen’s future.
Supreme Court Sets Venue Rules for EPA Lawsuits, Reverses Refinery Waiver Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court has set a new legal standard for determining which courts can hear lawsuits against the EPA, reversing a ruling that had favored small oil refiners seeking biofuel mandate exemptions. The decision directs such nationally applicable cases to the D.C. Circuit Court.
FERC Eases Permit Rules to Speed Up Gas Pipeline Construction
FERC approved waivers and rule changes on June 18 to speed up natural gas pipeline permitting and construction, including a rollback of Order No. 871 and higher blanket certificate cost thresholds.
Commonwealth LNG Wins FERC Approval for Louisiana Export Project
Commonwealth LNG has received final approval from FERC for its 9.5 mtpa export terminal on the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Louisiana, targeting a 2029 startup. The project has secured long-term deals with Glencore, JERA, and Petronas.
Mexico’s Pemex Risks July Shutdown as Suppliers Demand $20 Billion in Payments
Major oilfield service firms are threatening to suspend operations in July unless Pemex pays $20 billion in overdue invoices, raising concerns over the stability of Mexico’s upstream oil production.
Equinor’s 127-Mile Offshore Pipeline in Brazil Gets Early Construction Approval
Brazil’s EPE approves early construction for Equinor’s offshore gas pipeline from the Raia Project, set to supply 15% of national demand by 2028 with first-of-its-kind subsea processing.
Trump Rescinds Biden-Era Pipeline Inspection Rule Citing Regulatory Overreach
PHMSA has withdrawn a Biden-era advisory on idle-pipeline inspection and maintenance, saying the guidance exceeded Section 114 of the 2020 PIPES Act. USDOT officials call the move part of President Trump’s push to trim federal red tape.
California Refinery Shutdowns Could Push Gas Prices Toward $8 Per Gallon
California drivers could face gas prices over $8 per gallon as two major refineries prepare to shut down. Lawmakers raise concerns over supply, affordability, and the impact of state climate policies.
Chevron, Exxon Win Supreme Court Review in Louisiana Coastal Damage Case
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Chevron and Exxon aiming to shift Louisiana lawsuits over coastal and pipeline damage to federal court. The suits, filed by Plaquemines and Cameron parishes, seek billions for wetland restoration tied to decades of oil and gas activity.
- Enbridge Plans 86-Mile Pipeline Expansion, Bringing 850 Workers to Northern B.C.
- Intensity, Rainbow Energy to Build 344-Mile Gas Pipeline Across North Dakota
- U.S. Moves to Block Enterprise Products’ Exports to China Over Security Risk
- Strike Pioneers First-of-Its-Kind Pipe-in-Pipe Installation on Gulf Coast with Enbridge
- 208-Mile Mississippi-to-Alabama Gas Pipeline Moves Into FERC Review
- U.S. Pipeline Expansion to Add 99 Bcf/d, Mostly for LNG Export, Report Finds
- A Systematic Approach To Ensuring Pipeline Integrity
- 275-Mile Texas-to-Oklahoma Gas Pipeline Enters Open Season
- LNG Canada Start-Up Fails to Lift Gas Prices Amid Supply Glut
- Kinder Morgan Gas Volumes Climb as Power, LNG Demand Boost Pipeline Business
