Regulation

U.S. Senators Propose Bill to Fast-Track Energy Project Approvals

Senate energy committee leaders introduced legislation to expedite permitting for LNG export projects. The bill sets a 90-day deadline for the Secretary of Energy to approve or deny LNG export applications, aiming to end the current pause on such approvals.

QatarEnergy-Exxon’s Texas LNG Project Construction to Speed Up After Contractor Settlement

Work to complete the QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil $11 billion liquefied natural gas project in Texas could speed up following a settlement agreement allowing the joint venture to choose a new contractor to take over the development, according to court documents.

Mid-Year Global Forecast: Midstream Responding to Demand from LNG Projects

Global pipeline construction surged to nearly 42,000 miles in mid-2024, driven by increased LNG and hydrogen infrastructure needs, with significant expansions in North America and Europe.

Editor’s Notebook: Landowners and CO2 Pipelines Amid South Dakota Legislation

(P&GJ) — South Dakota's new bill empowers landowners to challenge forced easements for CO2 pipelines, enhancing rights amid eminent domain concerns. The legislation impacts projects like Summit Carbon Solutions, aiming for fairer terms and compensation for affected property owners.

U.S. FTC Probes Hess, Occidental Execs Over OPEC Communication

The current investigation of communication with OPEC officials is part of the U.S. antitrust regulator's review, the report said, adding that investigators are looking for evidence of collusion over oil market dynamics.

Circular Economy Initiatives for Offshore Piping and Related Infrastructure

Circular economy is a sustainable business model that aims to ensure use of resources, extraction of maximum value from the equipment during operation and the recovery and regeneration of products and materials at the end of each’s service life.

Ukraine Halts Lukoil's Russian Oil Transit, Slovakia and Hungary Affected

The move highlights the volatile nature of the remaining Russian oil supplies to Europe via the Soviet-built Druzhba pipeline, the last major functioning Russian oil supply route to the continent.

Trinidad Court Reaffirms ConocoPhillips' Claim Against Venezuela

Trinidad and Tobago's High Court has reaffirmed a decision recognizing ConocoPhillips' arbitration claim against Venezuela, which could freeze the Caribbean country's payments to its neighbor for joint natural gas projects.

Texas Tanker Bottleneck Grows Amid Slow Freeport LNG Restart After Hurricane Beryl

The number of LNG tankers waiting to load at Freeport LNG in Texas has increased since the U.S. second largest exporter of the supercooled gas halted processing ahead of Hurricane Beryl's landfall last week.

Meeting Challenges of Safely Repairing Online Pipelines

Oil and gas operators the world over face the same set of challenges, best summed up as requiring that they identify and implement the safest and most cost-effective way of maximizing hydrocarbon output.

Judge Pauses Wyoming Oil, Gas Drilling Leases for Environmental Review

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to pause approving new permits to drill for oil and gas on nearly 120,000 acres of federal land in Wyoming until it finishes reevaluating the environmental impacts of a lease sale.

Exxon Shuts Joliet, Illinois Refinery After Storm Causes Power Outage

ExxonMobil shut down its 251,800-barrel-per-day refinery at Joliet, Illinois, due to a power outage after a storm, according to a filing late on Monday.

U.S. Court Overturns Alaska Oil Lease Sale, Halting Energy Development

A federal court in Alaska overturned on Tuesday night an oil and gas lease sale that had been mandated by the Biden administration's signature climate law as part of a political compromise, on grounds that the U.S. government violated the law when holding the sale.

DeLa Express Advances 690-Mile Permian-to-Louisiana Pipeline with FERC Pre-filing Progress

DeLa Express advances its 690-mile Permian-to-Louisiana pipeline project with FERC pre-filing progress, aiming to transport natural gas from Texas to Louisiana markets. The project includes extensive environmental surveys and engages stakeholders early to address regulatory requirements.

TC Energy's $15 Billion Keystone XL Claim Rejected by U.S. Tribunal

Canada's TC Energy said on Tuesday a free trade arbitration tribunal had tossed out its claim to recover more than $15 billion from the U.S. government for the cancellation of its Keystone XL project.

Court Orders FERC to Review Emissions Impact of Louisiana LNG Project

A U.S. court on Tuesday ordered the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reassess the impact of greenhouse gas and other emissions from Commonwealth LNG's Louisiana liquefied natural gas project.

Biden Administration Considers Expanded Alaska Drilling Protections

The Biden administration is seeking input on whether to add more areas for protection from oil and gas drilling in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve.

ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil Face Second FTC Inquiry on $22.5 Billion Merger

Top U.S. independent oil producer ConocoPhillips said on Friday it received a second request from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for information on its proposed acquisition of rival Marathon Oil.

Hedge Funds Launch Rival Bid for Martin Midstream Amid Takeover Battle

Hedge funds Nut Tree Capital Management and Caspian Capital are making an offer for Martin Midstream Partners, a letter seen by Reuters showed, aiming to scupper a bid from the fuels storage and transporter's largest shareholder to buy it out.

U.S. to Buy 4.5 Million Barrels of Oil to Replenish Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The U.S. Energy Department said on Wednesday it is offering to buy up to 4.5 million barrels of oil to help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, though oil prices are now higher than the target price it wants to make such purchases.

Enbridge Faces Pipeline System Overhaul Under Proposed Modified Consent Decree

Enbridge faces mandated pipeline repairs under a proposed consent decree modification for Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act violations. The Department of Justice's plan requires addressing circumferential cracks, revising assessments, and potentially terminating specific requirements early.

MET Group Secures 10-Year U.S. LNG Supply Deal with Shell

Switzerland-based energy trader MET Group has struck a 10-year deal for Shell to supply it with liquefied natural gas from the U.S. on a free-on-board basis, it said on Tuesday.

Montana Appeals to Overturn Landmark Climate Ruling on Fossil Fuel Project Approvals

Montana's top court is set to hear the state's appeal of a landmark ruling holding that it was violating the rights of young people to a clean and healthful environment by barring regulators from considering the impacts on climate change when approving fossil fuel projects.

Bulgaria Initiates Arbitration Against Gazprom Over Gas Contract Breach

Bulgarian state gas company Bulgargaz EAD has started arbitration proceedings against Russia's Gazprom Eksport OOO, seeking compensation of $432.76 million for breach of contract in 2022, the company said on Tuesday.

FERC Upholds 3-Year Extension for Tellurian to Construct Driftwood LNG Plant

FERC has upheld an earlier decision to allow liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian a three-year extension to construct its Driftwood LNG plant on the west bank of the Calcasieu river, near Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Pipeline Regulatory Expert Michelle Boudreaux Joins Bracewell

Formerly a partner at Baker Botts, Boudreaux brings over 20 years of experience specializing in federal and state regulation of petroleum liquids and natural gas pipelines.

Gas Pipeline Accident Sparks Fire in Crimea, Disrupting Supplies to Alushta, Officials Say

A fire broke out late Saturday after an accident at a gas pipeline near the village of Vinogradnoye in Moscow-annexed Crimea, cutting gas to the resort town of Alushta and more than a dozen settlements, Russian officials said.

U.S. Coast Guard Warns Hurricane Beryl May Shut Texas Oil Ports

The U.S. Coast Guard warned of possible Texas port closures from Corpus Christi to Houston because of Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to make landfall by Monday morning south of Port Lavaca.

Technote: Operator’s New Vision to Control Flaring

In today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, oil and gas operators face increasing scrutiny and responsibility to align their practices with stringent environmental regulations. One of their most demanding, ongoing environmental challenges is efficient management of flaring operations.

Tropical Storm Beryl Expected to Have Minimal Impact on U.S. Offshore Oil Production

Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to have little impact on U.S. offshore oil and gas production, energy companies said on Friday while evacuating personnel from some facilities out of caution.