Regulation
Canadian Regulator Approved Trans Mountain Pipeline Route Change Over Delay Concerns
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said on Friday that it approved a route change application for the expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline because continuing to use micro-tunneling construction techniques could delay completion by at least 10 months.
Oil on Track for Second Week of Gains on Gaza Contagion Fears
Oil prices extended gains on Friday and were on track for a second week of increases on heightened fears that the Israel-Gaza conflict may spread in the Middle East and disrupt supplies from one of the world's top-producing regions.
U.S. Senators Ready Bill to Fund Office Helping Iran Oil Seizures
U.S. senators from both parties are readying legislation to help the federal government enforce oil sanctions on Iran, the office of Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican, told Reuters on Thursday.
U.S. Broadly Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions After Election Deal
The Biden administration on Wednesday broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in response to a deal reached between the government and opposition parties for the 2024 election - the most extensive rollback of Trump-era restrictions on Caracas.
Canada Court Ruling on Key Environmental Law Risks Deterring Investments
The ruling comes as Canada seeks billions of dollars of fresh investments to unearth minerals that play key role in the transition to a greener economy. More than $20 billion in foreign capital has fled the oil patch since 2017, partly because of delays in building new pipelines.
Venezuela May Redirect Oil Exports Away from China as U.S. Eases Sanctions
Exemptions to sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports that the U.S. is mulling should not result in a large crude production surge in the OPEC country, instead taking barrels away from its current main destination China, experts said.
Repsol CEO Vows Legal Action to Secure LNG Cargoes in Dispute with Venture Global
Spanish energy giant Repsol SA will take action against US gas exporter Venture Global LNG to obtain LNG cargoes under a long-term contract, the company's chief executive said on Wednesday.
Shell Urges DOE to Approve Energy Transfer’s LNG Export License Application
Shell PLC has submitted a letter to the U.S. Energy Department in support of Energy Transfer's request for a new license to export LNG to countries without free trade agreements with the U.S., saying the pipeline operator is a reliable gas supplier.
Williams Selected by DOE to Participate in Two Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
(P&GJ) — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has chosen Williams to join two hydrogen hubs, one in the Pacific Northwest and another in Appalachia.
Suncor CEO Highlights the Challenge of Uncertainty in Canadian Energy Policy for Investors
Unpredictability in Canadian energy policy is scaring away capital investment in the sector, the CEO of one of Canada's largest oil producers, Suncor Energy, told a parliamentary committee on Monday.
Williams' Gas Pipeline in Idaho Ruptures, Company Challenges Explosion Allegations
The rupture occurred when an excavator operator accidentally damaged a 22-inch gas pipeline near Middleton. However, Williams contested the local authorities' account of the incident, asserting no ignition, fire, or explosion was connected to the occurrence.
Canadian Regulator Set to Decide on Trans Mountain Expansion Tolls
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said on Thursday it will make a preliminary decision on Trans Mountain Corp.'s proposed shipping tolls for its oil pipeline expansion project this autumn before holding a hearing on the tolls next year.
FERC Grants Venture Global Approval for Steam Generator Modifications at Louisiana LNG Plant
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday granted Venture Global LNG permission to proceed with the heat recovery steam generator modifications at the Calcasieu Pass LNG export plant in Louisiana.
Seismologists Detected Blast-Like Waves Near Broken Baltic Sea Pipeline
Nordic and Baltic seismologists said that they had detected blast-like waves on Sunday when a Baltic Sea gas pipeline ruptured but that the data was not strong enough to determine whether explosives were involved.
Chevron Australia, Unions Make Progress in LNG Talks, Deal Remains Elusive
Negotiations over a stalled pay and conditions deal between Chevron and unions at its LNG facilities in Australia made progress on Friday but fell short of sealing an agreement to end months of labor disputes at the major export sites.
Finland to Restrict Access to LNG Port After Gas Pipeline Damage
Finland on Friday was tightening access to key parts of the country's Inkoo port, where a vessel to import LNG was installed last year, as part of efforts in the wider region to intensify security at energy installations.
U.S. Supports Finland, Estonia as It Probes Baltic Gas Pipeline Burst
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday the United States would support Finland and Estonia as they probe damage to a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable under the Baltic Sea.
Pennsylvania Hydrogen Hubs Among Winners of $7 Billion in U.S. Grants
Two hydrogen hubs projects partially located in Pennsylvania- one in the mid-Atlanic region and one in the Appalachian region — will receive part of $7 billion in U.S. federal grants that will be announced on Friday, sources familiar with the plan told Reuters on Wednesday.
Venture Global Requests FERC Approval to Start Service at Louisiana Calcasieu LNG Plant Amid Customer Disputes
The startup of commercial service at that plant is the subject of several disputes between Venture Global and some of its customers, including units of European energy firms Shell, BP, Edison and Repsol.
Biden Administration to Unveil $7 Billion in Hydrogen Hub Grants Friday
The Biden administration is expected to announce on Friday the winners of $7 billion in federal grants to build out regional hydrogen hubs, Reuters reported.
Chevron Halts Gas Exports via EMG Pipeline from Israel to Egypt
Chevron has halted natural gas exports through a major subsea pipeline between Israel and Egypt and is supplying gas via an alternative pipeline through Jordan, industry and government sources said on Tuesday.
Israel Suspends Chevron's Tamar Gas Field Amid Hamas Attacks
Israel has suspended production at the Tamar gas field off its southern coast and will seek alternative fuel sources to meet its needs, the energy ministry said on Monday following three days of violence in the region.
RWE CEO Warns of Gas Supply Risks in Germany
Germany must speed up construction of gas import infrastructure to avoid supply squeezes, the CEO of the country's largest utility told news outlet WirtschaftsWoche, adding the risk of soaring energy prices had not been fully contained.
Tellurian Asks FERC for 3-Year Extension to Finish Louisiana Driftwood LNG Export Plant
U.S. energy company Tellurian Inc. has asked federal energy regulators for more time to build its Driftwood liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Louisiana.
Equitrans Midstream and PHMSA Collaborate to Improve MVP Pipeline Safety
(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream, the operator of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), entered into an agreement on Oct. 3 with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to strengthen the pipeline's safety and regulatory compliance.
416-Mile Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project 98% Complete
(P&GJ) — TC Energy’s Coastal GasLink pipeline project is 98% complete, signaling the culmination of a significant milestone in the development of the 670-km (416-mile) pipeline, according to the company’s September construction update.
Projects September 2023
The Trans Mountain expansion project plans to call on oil producers to start filling the pipeline in the days ahead, the head of shipper Canadian Natural Resources said during a quarterly earnings call.
Non-Contact, Drone-Based Technology for Movement Assessment
(P&GJ) — Based on its R&D experience, Skipper NDT decided in 2019 to address pipeline geolocation and strain assessment using UAS. This effort has provided a 2.2-kg and a 160-cm wide embedded system that can be easily mounted on any UAS.
Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation—Part 2
(P&GJ) — An objective was to determine residual stress values corresponding to target probabilities, such as the 90th percentile. Every reference reviewed reported maximum stress levels, but only one-third of the references presented other residual stresses as they vary with position in the pipe.
Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Halt Carbon Pipeline Permits Amid Safety Concerns
The United States should not permit any new carbon dioxide pipelines until updated federal safety regulations are finished, a dozen Democratic members of Congress said in a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
- Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
- Freeport LNG Plant Runs Near Zero Consumption for Fifth Day
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Mexico Seizes Air Liquide's Hydrogen Plant at Pemex Refinery
- Enbridge to Invest $500 Million in Pipeline Assets, Including Expansion of 850-Mile Gray Oak Pipeline
