Regulation
US Pipeline Regulator Grants Over $25 Million in Funding to Improve Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Monday announced more than $25 million in funding to improve safety nationwide after recent train derailments. The funding will provide support to state inspectors for hazardous materials shipments and pipelines inspections.
Green Groups Sue Biden Administration Over Approval of Alaska Willow Oil Project
Six environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday over the Biden administration's approval of ConocoPhillips' Willow oil and gas project in Alaska, which they claimed could be a stepping stone to more development in an ecologically sensitive region.
Putin Says Germany Remains "Occupied" Due to Response to Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Germany's response to the explosion on North Sea pipelines showed that the country remained "occupied" and unable to act independently decades after its surrender at the end of World War Two.
Biden Administration Approves ConocoPhillips' $7 Billion Willow Project in Alaska
The Biden administration has approved a scaled-back version of ConocoPhillips' $7 billion oil and gas drilling project in Alaska. The department reduced the size of ConocoPhillips' proposal by 40% by denying two requested drill pads that will prevent the development of 11 miles of roads, 20 miles of pipelines, and 133 acres of gravel.
CERAWeek: Keystone Pipeline Oil Flows Won't Change After US Order to Cut Pressure, CEO Says
Oil flows on TC Energy's Keystone pipeline will not change after the U.S. pipeline regulator said it would require the company to reduce pressure following a 13,000-barrel oil spill in Kansas in December, CEO François Poirier told Reuters on Thursday.
US Carbon Pipeline Faces Setback as Residents Refuse to Cede Land Rights
Navigator CO2 Ventures’ proposed carbon pipeline project in the U.S. Midwest is struggling to secure a site to store millions of tons of greenhouse gas it hopes to collect from the region’s ethanol plants, as residents refuse to give up land rights over fears the underground reservoirs could leak, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.
US Regulator Orders Lower Pressure on Keystone Pipeline System After Spill
The U.S. pipeline regulator said on Tuesday it would require TC Energy to reduce operating pressure on more than 1,000 additional miles (1,609 km) of its Keystone pipeline that spilled about 13,000 barrels of oil in rural Kansas in December.
Turkey's Ruling Party Presents Gas Reform in Step Towards Trading Hub
Turkey's ruling AK Party presented a draft law to parliament on Wednesday aimed at establishing a competitive natural gas market as the country attempts to become a gas trading hub bringing together suppliers and consumers.
US Intelligence Suggests Pro-Ukrainian Group Sabotaged Nord Stream Pipelines -NYT
New intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
Petronas Aims to Complete Malaysia LNG Investigation by Mid-Year
Malaysia's state energy company Petroliam Nasional Berhad, or Petronas, aims to complete an investigation into disruption of Malaysia LNG gas supply by the middle of the year, CEO Tengku Taufik told reporters on Friday.
Mountain Valley Pipeline Gets a Key Approval to Restart Construction
The Biden administration has determined that restarting construction on the Mountain Valley Pipeline won’t significantly jeopardize rare fish and other endangered species along its path, clearing a major hurdle that was keeping developers from finishing the project.
ConocoPhillips’ Willow Oil, Gas Drilling Project in Alaska Sparks Green Opposition
Environmental and climate activists are rallying online against ConocoPhillips’ proposed Willow oil and gas drilling project in Alaska as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden weighs whether to greenlight the controversial plan.
Biden Administration Works on 'Green' Natural Gas as US Vies for Top LNG Spot
The Biden administration is holding talks with global energy companies and foreign officials in an effort to set standards for certified natural gas, a form of the fuel that producers market as climate friendly.
French Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against TotalEnergies Over Uganda Pipeline Project
Under the case filed in 2019, six French and Ugandan activist groups had accused the company of not doing all it could to protect people and the environment from the Tilenga oil development and the $3.5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
Mexico's Pemex Increased Gas Flaring at Top Field, Despite Pledge to Stop
In January, an estimated 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas were burned from four flares at the Papan and Perdiz plants meant to process gas from Ixachi, satellite data shows, up from 1 billion cubic feet in November when the promise was made.
Pemex Deer Park, Texas Fire Broke Out in Crude Distillation Area
A Thursday night fire at Pemex’s 312,500 barrel-per-day Deer Park, Texas, refinery broke out in a crude distillation unit, said people familiar with plant operations. The sources did not know which of two Deer Park CDUs were hit by fire.
EPA: US 2022 Power Plant Emissions Fell on Switch from Coal to Gas
U.S. power plant emissions of pollutants that harm human health and warm the planet fell last year as the industry continued a switch from coal to natural gas, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday.
FERC’s Pipeline, LNG Project Evaluations Looking at EJ
(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is devoting an increasing amount of attention and staff resources to the evaluation of impacts of interstate natural gas pipeline and LNG terminal projects on environmental justice (EJ) communities (that is, communities with disproportionately large minority and low-income populations).
ESG & Innovation: API Looks at Species, Habitat Conservation
(P&GJ) — The American Petroleum Institute (API) published a first-edition document focused on species and habitat conservation for onshore natural gas and oil production facilities that will help boost the industry’s existing practices to enhance environmental performance.
US Regulator Approves 135-Mile ET Louisiana Pipeline
The 135-mile pipeline Gulf Run pipeline, with a capacity of 1.65 Bcf/d, transports gas from the company’s other Energy Transfer pipelines that link to basins in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, running from Westdale to Starks, Louisiana.
Guest Perspective: Plastic Pipe Regulations, Rules and Results
(P&GJ) — The continued increase in oil and gas output is relying more and more on spoolable reinforced plastic pipe and polyethylene (PE) line pipe. This is due to the high integrity of the pipe itself, and ease of installation. Additionally, PE pipes are easily joined by heat fusion forming a monolithic system that eliminates the potential for leaks at the joints.
DNV Kicks Off Phase Two of Offshore Hydrogen Pipeline Project H2Pipe
(P&GJ) — Phase 2 of H2Pipe will include a feasibility-level design of offshore hydrogen pipelines and a risk assessment study to examine the safety aspects of offshore hydrogen pipelines. The project's primary outcome is expected to be a detailed guideline offering specific guidance for use in the design and re-purposing of offshore pipelines for hydrogen transport. Phase 2 of H2Pipe is planned to start in Q1 2023 and last 2 years.
Cheniere Initiates Permit Process for Key Sabine Pass Project Expansion
Cheniere Energy Inc. on Thursday initiated an expansion permit process of LNG export capacity at its key Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana after the exporter topped revenue estimate on strong demand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
US Official Says Russia's Crude Output Cut Signals Unsold Oil
Russia's decision to cut crude oil production by 500,000 barrels per day reflects its inability to sell all of its oil, Ben Harris, a U.S. Treasury Department Assistant Secretary, said on Thursday.
US Energy Regulator Approves Partial Restart of Freeport LNG
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the partial restart of two liquefaction trains, two tanks, and one loop and dock each, a filing showed on Tuesday. Restart of a third train, along with a tank, a loop, and a dock, would require additional permission.
IEA's Birol Warns of Tighter Energy Supply Next Winter
International Energy Agency (IEA) head Fatih Birol has warned of possible energy shortages next winter as relatively little new LNG is coming to the market while China's consumption is set to rise this year.
Slovak Parliament Rows Back on Taxing Main Gas Transit Pipeline
The tax, planned at 6,000 euros per kilometer of pipeline, or around 126 million euros ($134 million) per year, was approved late last year as part of efforts to raise revenue for the 2023 budget that already sees a 6.4% deficit of gross domestic product.
US LNG Producers Poised to Leapfrog Rivals with Three New Projects
Projects best positioned to move ahead include Sempra Energy's Port Arthur plant in Texas, Energy Transfer LP's Lake Charles in Louisiana and NextDecade Corp.'s Rio Grande in Texas. They have all or most of the long-term LNG sales agreements needed to convince bank's that the projects are ready for debt financing, according to Reuters analysts.
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.
- 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
