Regulation
Tellurian Drops Equity-Ownership Condition for Driftwood LNG Project
Tellurian Inc. will sell LNG supplies to non-equity holders to bring its long-delayed Driftwood LNG project to fruition, Chairman Charif Souki said this week. The company plans to offer up to 11 million of its 27.6 MTPA output under offtake agreements to get Driftwood across the finish line.
US Army Corps Holds Off Endorsing Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Alternative
On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Energy Transfer's Dakota Access oil pipeline. The statement evaluated five alternatives, including options like abandoning or rerouting the pipeline, but it did not make any recommendations.
South Dakota Rejects CO2 Pipeline Permit; North Dakota Project Seeks Reconsideration
(P&GJ) — In a recent development, South Dakota regulators have denied a construction permit for a carbon dioxide pipeline project. This decision closely follows a similar rejection by a North Dakota panel regarding another company's project.
Tellurian, Baker Hughes Collaborate on Driftwood LNG Phase 1 Equipment for 2027 Production
(P&GJ) — Tellurian Inc. and Baker Hughes have entered an agreement to supply eight main refrigerant compression packages for Phase 1 of the Driftwood LNG project.
Canada Oil Sands Carbon Capture Project Struggles to Get Key Contract
Canada is struggling to get a key tool in place for major carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, said a representative of one of the largest such ventures, as the country seeks to launch incentives vital to cutting emissions from Alberta's oil sands.
EU Proposes Permanent Scheme for Joint Gas Purchases
The European Commission has proposed making the EU's scheme for joint gas purchases permanent, after demand exceeded expectations in the policy's first tenders to seek non-Russian fuel, a document showed, and officials told Reuters.
EIA Says Depleting US Crude Inventories Lift Oil Prices
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories have depleted by 34 million barrels since the middle of July, contributing to a sense the market is tightening and driving a recovery in spot prices and calendar spreads.
US Backs Chevron's Subsea Pipeline Plan for Aphrodite Gas Field Amid Cyprus Dispute
Washington has weighed into a dispute between Cyprus and international companies led by Chevron over how to develop a giant offshore gas field, backing the U.S. company's plan to link it to neighboring Egypt, two industry sources and a U.S. source said on Friday.
Aliso Canyon to Store More Gas to Prevent Winter Price Spikes
California's utilities regulator on Thursday raised the inventory level of Aliso Canyon natural gas storage to prevent price spikes seen last winter, while seeking to wean the state off the facility that in 2015 caused the biggest gas leak in U.S. history.
Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Faces Further Delays Over Route Change Dispute
Trans Mountain Corp. fears that the expansion of its Canadian oil pipeline may be delayed further unless a regulator allows it to change its route in British Columbia, according to a First Nation that opposes the route adjustment.
Williams to Complete US Natural Gas Pipelines by 2024
(P&GJ) — Iowa regulators consider permits for the 'largest' CO2 pipeline; Williams is on track to complete two gas pipeline projects by the end of 2024; Pinnacle Midstream has doubled its Midland basin processing capacity, and more!
Guest Perspective Interview: Tackling CO2 Storage on the Gulf Coast
(P&GJ) — In this interview, Crescent Midstream CEO Jerry Ashcroft discusses his company's CO2 storage project near the Louisiana Coast, expected to accommodate up to 300 million tonnes of CO2, along with the associated new pipeline. The company presently possesses approximately 1,500 miles of pipeline within the Gulf Coast region.
First US Gulf Offshore Wind Auction to Fuel Region's Green Hydrogen Push
The U.S. Gulf Coast region, the nation's primary offshore source of oil and gas, has cheap electricity and lacks state mandates for renewable energy procurement, making it an unlikely place to expand one of the most expensive forms of clean energy.
ProFrac Secures Legal Win in Halliburton Patent Battle Over Electric Fracking Tech
Halliburton failed to convince a U.S. federal jury on Thursday that a unit of rival oilfield services company ProFrac infringed its electric-fracking patents. E-frac uses electricity from natural gas or power grids to drive pumps instead of diesel fuel.
Fatigue, Burst Tests Among Best Ways Assess Pipeline Welds
(P&GJ) — All over the world, the pipelines of large diameter and relatively thin wall thickness are used to transport hydrocarbons. These pipelines or piping systems are usually comprised of girth welded joints.
Equitrans Provides Root Analysis for 2022 Gas Leak at Pennsylvania Storage Facility
(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream Corp. has submitted information to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regarding the root cause investigation and analysis related to the Rager Mountain Storage facility incident that occurred in November 2022.
Trans Mountain Seeks Last-Minute Route Deviation on Pipeline Expansion
The Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project has asked Canadian regulators for a route deviation on a 1.3-km (0.8 mile) section of pipeline in British Columbia, months before the 600,000 barrel per day project is due to start shipping crude.
US Regulator Aims to Improve Safety of Gas Distribution Pipelines
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Thursday proposed new measures to bolster the safety requirements of gas distribution pipelines.
Trudeau Stands by Trans Mountain Expansion as Strong Investment Amid Challenges
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday he was confident the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion was a solid investment and that interest is high among Indigenous groups who want to buy a share of the pipeline.
Key Hearing for 2,000-Mile Carbon Capture Pipeline Begins in Iowa
Iowa residents living along the route of the U.S.'s largest proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline told state regulators they were worried about possible ruptures and land takings at the start of a hearing that will determine the fate of the project.
Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation
(P&GJ) — Pipeline safety regulations require performing a calculation of the predicted failure pressure (PFP) of defects as part of an engineering critical assessment. Whether to include residual stress from pipe manufacturing, and selecting the magnitude of residual stress, can significantly affect the outcome of the PFP calculation. Guidance for accounting for residual stress is inconsistent.
Energy Transfer Seeks New LNG Export License After Extension Denied
Pipeline operator Energy Transfer on Friday requested a new and expedited export license for its proposed Lake Charles LNG plant in Louisiana, according to a filing with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
US Natural Gas Groups Oppose Federal Plan to Eliminate Methane Leaks
U.S. natural gas trade groups on Wednesday opposed federal pipeline regulators' proposed methane leak detection rules to address the climate-change crisis. The gas associations said extensive changes needed to be made to PHMSA’s proposal for it to be technically and economically feasible.
API and LEPA Release Comprehensive CO2 Pipeline Safety Guide
(P&GJ) — The guide, developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, helps operators advance a zero-incident safety culture by outlining best practices for CO2 pipeline safety and emergency preparedness.
German Government to Examine Finances of Private LNG Operator
The German government will examine the finances of Deutsche ReGas, the operator of a planned LNG terminal on the Baltic coast opposed by local authorities, it said in a response to a lawmaker seen by Reuters on Thursday.
Venezuela’s PDVSA Fails to Curb Oil Leaks, Gas Flaring Despite Pledges
Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has failed to make any dent in its oil spill or gas flaring woes, despite nascent promises of environmental clean-up by President Nicolas Maduro's government, according to people within the company, industry sources and an internal company document seen by Reuters.
US Investor Group Clinches Tax Credit Deal for $1.5 Billion Renewable Power Acquisition
Invenergy Renewables, Blackstone and Canada's second-largest pension fund said on Wednesday they struck a deal with Bank of America to help buy wind and solar plants worth $1.5 billion, capitalizing on a new tax structure included in President Joe Biden's climate law.
Canada Reaches Out to Indigenous Groups About Trans Mountain Stake Sale
The Canadian government has reached out to Indigenous groups about potentially selling them a stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, edging ahead on its long-promised involvement of local communities in the controversial project, the finance minister's office said on Wednesday.
Montana Judge Rules State Policies Must Consider Climate Change in Fossil Fuel Projects
Montana is violating the rights of young people with policies that prohibit the state from considering climate change effects when it reviews coal mining, natural gas extraction and other fossil fuel projects, a state judge said Monday.
US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Mountain Valley Pipeline
A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a challenge to federal approvals for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, in a decision that likely ends legal fights over the construction of the $6.6 billion natural gas project led by Equitrans Midstream.
- Trump Aims to Revive 1,200-Mile Keystone XL Pipeline Despite Major Challenges
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
- ConocoPhillips Eyes Sale of $1 Billion Permian Assets Amid Marathon Acquisition
- ONEOK Agrees to Sell Interstate Gas Pipelines to DT Midstream for $1.2 Billion
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Tullow Oil on Track to Deliver $600 Million Free Cash Flow Over Next 2 Years
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- GOP Lawmakers Slam New York for Blocking $500 Million Pipeline Project
- Texas Oil Company Challenges $250 Million Insurance Collateral Demand for Pipeline, Offshore Operations
