Companies

Tallgrass, Kinder Morgan to Develop Rockies Crude Transportation Service

Tallgrass Energy and Kinder Morgan agreed to jointly develop a solution to increase existing crude oil takeaway capacity in the growing Powder River and Denver-Julesburg basins and to add incremental capacity to the Williston Basin and portions of Western Canada.

Tellurian’s Driftwood LNG Receives FEIS for Export Facility, Pipeline

Tellurian announced U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued the final environmental impact statement for Driftwood LNG, a 27.6 mtpa export facility and an associated 96-mile Driftwood pipeline project, proposed near Lake Charles, La., on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

TAP Gas Pipeline Completes $4.5 Billion Project Financing

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has completed its $4.5 billion (3.9 billion euros) project financing, paving the way for construction to be completed for start-up in 2020, its managing director said on Friday.

TransCanada to Change Name to TC Energy

TransCanada Corp., the company behind the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline, is changing its name to TC Energy. If approved by shareholders and regulators, the name change will occur in the second quarter.

SoCalGas Asks Customers to Reduce Use, Cites Limits on Pipelines

Southern California’s gas utility extended its request for consumers to reduce natural gas use through the weekend, to avoid straining the system as cold weather lingers over the area.

Dakota Access Tree Replacement Lags Deadlines

The company hired to replace trees cut along the Dakota Access pipeline route has struggled to meet its deadline for reasons ranging from equipment and staffing issues to pushback from some landowners and agencies.

Maryland Board Rejects TransCanada Project Easement

Maryland's Board of Public Works voted against a proposed pipeline easement across the western part of the state that would enable TransCanada to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to West Virginia.

Weldbend

Weldbend Begins Installation of ‘Biggest’ Tee-Press Michael Hammer, Mike Rowe, Kevin Coulas and Jimmy Coulas during a tour of the Weldbend manufacturing facility near Chicago. (Photo: Wellbend) Weldbend Corporation, manufacturer of carbon steel..

Seaway Begins Open Season on Cushing-to-Texas Coast System

Seaway Crude Oil Pipeline began a binding open season to gauge shipper interest in expanded crude oil capacity on its existing system originating in Cushing, Okla. and extending to the Texas Gulf Coast area.

Poland Signs 20-Year Deal to Buy U.S. Natural Gas

Poland has signed a long-term deal with a U.S. company for supplies of liquefied natural gas as part of an effort to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

Gas Seal Technology Designed to Reduce Methane Emissions

John Crane, a provider of rotating equipment solutions, recently launched its latest gas seal technology that can reduce methane emissions by up to 95% when retrofitted into centrifugal compressors

Government

Change of Class Location Draws Opposition Citizen organizations and state regulators are opposing interstate pipeline efforts to convince federal regulators to provide an alternative to the class location system, which requires pipelines to take steps when there is population growth around a pipeli..

Projects

Valley Crossing Pipeline to Mexico Gains FERC Extension The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) awarded Enbridge subsidiary Valley Crossing Pipeline six additional months to connect its natural gas pipeline to its counterpart in Mexico, moving the deadline to April 23. The 168-mile pipelin..

Global News

Natural Gas Utilities Testing Demand Response Programs Demand Response (DR) programs have become a fairly common method of reducing electricity demand during summer peak periods, and now the approach is being tried by natural gas utilities – most recently due to concerns about limited pipeline capa..

Columbia Gas’ Merrimack Valley Accident: Fallout Just Starting

Federal and state agencies immediately jumped into action to uncover causes and preventative lessons that might be learned from the fatal September explosions, but other investigations could have implications for pipeline operations far beyond Massachusetts.

Retiring Stavropoulos Leaves PG&E a Safer Utility

Eight years after joining PG&E in the wake of the San Bruno explosion, Nick Stavropoulos retired as an industry role model for restoring a sense of pride at the giant San Francisco utility.

Replacement Projects Still Boosting Infrastructure Work

A large volume of work remains in the United States for multibillion-dollar infrastructure replacement programs, with many now underway and more destined to follow. In this summary report, P&GJ provides an overview of the current widespread activity.

San Mateo Midstream Completes Crude Oil Pipeline System in New Mexico

San Mateo Midstream’s Black River Oil Pipeline has been placed its Rustler Breaks Pipeline System into service in Eddy County, N.M., following a successful open season earlier this year.

Carlyle Group to Head US Gulf Coast Crude Export Terminal Project

Lone Star Ports will lead development and operation of a Carlyle Group-backed crude export terminal in Corpus Christi, Texas, as new crude pipelines that will ferry an additional 2 MMbpd to the South Texas port are expected to begin operations in late 2019.

Phillips 66 Sets $1.6 Billion Midstream Budget for 2019

Phillips 66 announced that it has set a $2.3 billion capital budget for 2019 and will direct the bulk of that spending to midstream growth projects.

Mountain Valley Pipeline Project to Be 70% Complete by Year-End

Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) officials said the company remains on target for the $4.6 billion project in fully in-service in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Pennsylvania Judge Rejects Shutting Mariner East Pipelines

A Pennsylvania administrative law judge denied a petition by state residents asking utility regulators to prohibit the operation of Energy Transfer LP and its Sunoco subsidiary's Mariner East pipelines.

Gas Service Mostly Restored after September Explosions

Columbia Gas said natural gas service has been restored for 96 percent of customers who were affected by the September explosions in Massachusetts

Pipeline Company 'Trespassers' Handed $150 Fines by Judge

A Louisiana judge ruled a company building an oil pipeline through south Louisiana trespassed on the land of three people opposed to the project, but he allowed the work to continue while awarding the three only $150 apiece in compensation and damages.

Williams Completes Sale of Several Gulf Coast Pipeline Systems

Williams announced the sale of certain pipeline systems located in the Gulf Coast area to Easton Energy for $177 million in cash. The 31-mile Texas Belle Pipeline, which transports natural gas liquids from Mont Belvieu to the Houston Ship Channel, is included in this transaction.

Eni's Indonesia Gas Project to Start Up in 2021: Deputy Minister

Indonesia's deputy energy minister said Eni aims to start output of natural gas in 2021 from its offshore Merakes project, which includes construction of subsea systems and pipelines.

Jupiter Announces Open Season for Permian-Gulf Coast Crude Pipeline

Jupiter Energy Group announced it has commenced a 90-day open season for binding shipper commitments on a potential 1 Mmb/d crude oil pipeline from West Texas to the Port of Brownsville.

Keystone XL Prep Work Resumes Despite Court-Ordered Review

A federal court judge who ordered another environmental review of Keystone XL pipeline told TransCanada it can resume some U.S. pre-construction activities that had been blocked by his initial ruling.

Binding Open Season Launched for Mariner East Pipeline

Energy Transfer announced its Sunoco Pipeline subsidiary launched a binding open season to solicit shipper commitments for NGL transport through its Mariner East Pipeline system, which is nearing completion.

Energy Transfer, Sunoco Pipelines Rack Up Violations: Analysis

Energy Transfer LP and its Sunoco pipeline subsidiary have racked up more than 800 state and federal permit violations while racing to build two of the nation's largest natural gas pipelines, according to a Reuters analysis.