Regulation
New Methane Fee Could Hit Pipelines Hard
(P&GJ) — Numerous interstate pipeline companies have facilities that emit enough methane – in some cases much more than enough – to get hit with the new methane fee contained in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) President Joe Biden signed in August.
API Summarizes Enhanced Pipeline Leak Detection Standards
(P&GJ) — Leak prevention, mitigation and detection are critical to ensure pipelines operate safely and reliably to protect the public, workers, the environment and pipeline assets.
Phillips 66 Withdraws Offshore Texas Gulf Coast Oil-Export Terminal Permit
Phillips 66 on Friday said it plans to submit a new air-quality permit application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its proposed oil-export terminal off the Texas coast.
Manchin: 'Heavy Lifting' Needed to Overcome Opposition to Permitting Bill
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin on Friday warned that bipartisan opposition to his bill to overhaul energy permitting could derail his plan to attach it to a temporary spending and pass it by the end of the month.
Pieridae Advocates for TC Energy’s Pipeline Expansion Plan for Goldboro LNG Project
Pieridae Energy has asked the federal government to help ensure pipeline operator TC Energy would be able secure permits to expand gas supply pipelines in a timely fashion for the Goldboro LNG project, which it said can only go ahead if TC expands capacity on its existing pipeline network.
Mexico Files Lawsuit Against Former State Power Utility Execs Over Texas Gas Deal
Guillermo Turrent and Javier Gutierrez, two former top executives of CFE International, awarded contracts to Texas-based WhiteWater Midstream LLC for a pipeline and gas supply that saddled the company with hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, alleges a lawsuit filed in Harris County District Court in Houston.
Judge Revokes Drilling Permit for Santos' $3.6 Billion Barossa Gas Project
Australia's Federal Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of an indigenous group's challenge against a drilling permit for Santos Ltd.'s Barossa gas development, in what Santos called a "disappointing" setback for the $3.6 billion project.
Upcoming Court Hearing to Review Williams' Proposed Expansion of Pennsylvania Pipeline
(P&GJ) — The subject of a state regulatory hearing being held on Oct. 5 is the proposed expansion of an existing natural gas pipeline from the Marcellus Shale production region in northeastern Pennsylvania into New Jersey.
US Senator Manchin to Reveal Energy Permitting Bill on Wednesday
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin will unveil his full energy permitting bill on Wednesday to speed up fossil fuel projects, such as Equitrans' long-delayed $6.6 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline project, and offer incentives for renewable energy electricity transmission, legislation that faces an uphill battle.
EPA Approves First-of-its-Kind Permanent Carbon Sequestration Plan in Permian Basin
(P&GJ) — Stakeholder Midstream's Pozo Acido well’s proximity to the most prolific interstate CO2 pipelines in the United States, such as Kinder Morgan's Cortez pipeline, allows Stakeholder to provide carbon sequestration to third parties in the Permian Basin and beyond.
FERC Rate Change Posting Proposal Controversial
(P&GJ) — Responding to a June 2021 petition from interstate pipeline customers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed upgraded website posting requirements when pipelines file for a Section 4 rate change.
Wisconsin Judge Rules Enbridge Pipeline Can Continue to Operate on Tribal Land
A Wisconsin judge has ruled Enbridge Inc. Line 5 oil pipeline is trespassing on land belonging to the Bad River Band, but will be allowed to continue operating because a shutdown would have significant public and foreign policy implications.
Newest EPA Methane Proposal Hits Pipelines Hard
(P&GJ) — The Senate bill on climate change, which includes a new fee on pipeline emissions of methane, puts a new emphasis on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) two rulemakings on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Appeals Court Upholds Decision to Block Construction of 72-Mile Pipeline in Colorado
(P&GJ) — The Colorado Court of Appeals has upheld Larimer County’s decision to deny the permit tied to the construction of a 72-mile pipeline meant to funnel water from the Cache La Poudre River to residents in Denver, Colorado, the Denver Post reported last week.
EPA Denies Permit for Phillips 66, Trafigura's Bluewater Terminal Near Corpus Christi
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has denied a permit for an offshore oil terminal jointly developed by refiner Phillips 66 and global commodities trader Trafigura after several environmental groups flagged pollution risks.
Manchin’s ‘Deal’ Revisited
(P&GJ) — On the surface, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia’s surprise deal with the Democratic leadership of Congress, which would potentially clear the way for the 94% completed Mountain Valley Pipeline to finally be completed, appeared to be a major win for midstream.
Activists, Fishermen Argue Rio Grande LNG Terminal Permit is Too Obliging to Industry
Environmental groups and fishermen on Wednesday told a federal appeals court the U.S. government’s permitting for a Gulf Coast natural gas export terminal was too accommodating to industry interests at the expense of wetlands.
Perspective: Agencies with Power to Approve Pipelines Need a Reality Check
Federal regulators with the power to approve natural gas pipelines need to make judgment calls on everything from how pipelines will affect farmland to how much methane will leak. When real-world data comes in that contradicts predictions, regulators ought to reevaluate their decisions in the light of new facts.
Mexico Continues to Block Trafigura Fuel Imports Despite Regaining Permits
Trafigura has been prevented from bringing fuel to Mexico months after the lifting of import restrictions on the global commodities trader, federal court documents showed, underscoring the roadblocks that foreign energy companies continue to face.
Mistakes Pipeline Companies Make with PHMSA-Required Substance Testing
One element of PHMSA regulation that cooperators are sometimes falling short of during PHMSA inspections is the content and application of their required drug and alcohol testing plans. For businesses eager to avoid monetary fines and other difficulties that come with noncompliance, a practical consideration of the most common mistakes is worthwhile.
Canada Invokes Pipeline Treaty with U.S. to Prevent Shutdown of Enbridge’s Line 5
Canada has invoked a 1977 pipeline treaty with the United States for the second time in less than a year, in this case to prevent a shutdown of Enbridge Inc.’s Line 5 pipeline in Wisconsin, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Monday.
Amplify Energy Reaches Settlement Terms in Southern California Pipeline Civil Litigation
Amplify Energy Corp. has reached an agreement in principle with plaintiffs in the class action to resolve all civil claims against Amplify and its subsidiaries, the company said in a statement.
Peru Court to Hear $4.5 Billion Lawsuit Against Repsol Over Pipeline Oil Spill
A Peruvian judge on Tuesday admitted a $4.5 billion lawsuit against Spanish oil firm Repsol SA, eight months after an underwater oil pipeline owned by the company caused a spill of over 10,000 barrels into the Pacific Ocean.
Oil Companies Find Loophole Around Shipping Law to Supply US Fuel Markets
U.S. oil companies are working around a century-old shipping law to supply fuel to the U.S. East Coast, according to data from Refinitiv and oil trading sources, as high demand for gasoline and global disruptions in fuel markets sent prices higher.
Judge Sides with Enbridge Against Michigan to Send Pipeline Dispute to Federal Court
In a small victory for Enbridge, a judge ruled on Thursday that a state of Michigan lawsuit aimed at forcing the pipeline operator to shut down operations the Line 5 oil pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac in the Great Lakes will be heard in federal court.
US Officials Block Idaho-Wyoming Gas Pipeline Pending Environmental Review
(P&GJ) — Officials in the United States have blocked the approval of a natural gas pipeline from Idaho to Wyoming until additional environmental studies are completed.
EPA, Army Corps Double Team Pipeline Construction
(P&GJ) — The Biden Administration is at it again with its latest regulatory effort to stymie pipeline development. Three months ago, the Army Corps of Engineers suggested new restrictions on general pipeline repair Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12, in which there is minimal dredge and fill near Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).
FERC Considers Pipeline Sales of ‘Responsibly Sourced Natural Gas’
(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) appears likely to approve the first application from a pipeline company to sell “responsibly sourced natural gas” (RSG) at a premium price.
Oil Industry Ready to Tap $430 Billion Climate Fund for Carbon Capture Projects
Tax credits in the $430 billion U.S. climate and tax bill set to be signed into law this week will kickstart carbon sequestration projects, say oil and gas proponents, offsetting startup costs for some of the anti-pollution initiatives.
Conceding to Manchin, US Climate Bill Eases Methane Fees on Oil Industry
The U.S. Senate climate bill’s fee on oil and gas industry methane emissions will cover less than half the sector’s releases of the greenhouse gas, thanks to concessions made to win over party holdout Joe Manchin, according to a review of the legislation and interviews with lawmakers that negotiated it.
- Poland Detects Leak in Russia's Druzhba Oil Pipeline
- Magellan Midstream Approves $18.8 Billion Sale to ONEOK, Creating Major U.S. Pipeline Player
- Energy Transfer to Buy Crestwood in $7.1 Billion Pipeline Deal
- DT Midstream Successfully Completes Phase 1 LEAP Expansion Ahead of Schedule
- South Dakota Denies Permit for Summit Carbon Solutions' 495-Mile CO2 Pipeline Segment
- Canada Looking to Sell Trans Mountain Pipeline Stake to Indigenous Groups
- Energy Transfer to Buy Crestwood in $7.1 Billion Pipeline Deal
- Criteria to Consider in Selecting Water Transfer Flow Meters
- US Energy Firm Payouts to Oil Investors Top Exploration Spending for First Time
- DT Midstream Successfully Completes Phase 1 LEAP Expansion Ahead of Schedule
