Business & Markets

Balticconnector Still on Course for April Repair, Gasgrid Says

Finnish gas grid operator Gasgrid on Thursday said commissioning of the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was still technically possible in April of 2024, provided that ongoing design and repair work was successful.

FERC Approves MVP’s Southgate Gas Pipeline Extension in North Carolina, Alongside Rate Hike

(P&GJ) — The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) has received two federal approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): one for increased rates on the transportation of natural gas through the 303-mile pipeline and the other for additional time for the construction of a North Carolina extension known as the Southgate Project.

Study: Texas Grid Over Relies on Natural Gas to Restore Power After Blackouts

The Texas electric grid is too dependent on natural gas-fired backup power generators after blackouts, U.S. regulators found on Tuesday in a study that also called for gas suppliers and electric utilities to sync their plans to recover from outages.

DNV and NGT Collaborate on Pioneering Hydrogen Pipeline Research for UK's Gas Network

DNV has announced that it is the lead partner for National Gas Transmission (NGT) in further expanding a world first hydrogen pipeline research facility FutureGrid. DNV will support NGT in developing a hydrogen de-blending, purification, and re-fueling facility at the site.

Mubadala Energy Makes Major Gas Discovery in Indonesia’s South Andaman

United Arab Emirates' Mubadala Energy said it discovered a major deep sea gas reserve in Indonesia's South Andaman Block, which analysts said is the world's second-largest deepwater discovery this year.

Germany's Stade LNG Project Set for February Arrival of Floating Terminal

Germany's emerging LNG terminal in the Elbe river port of Stade expects its floating regasification vessel (FSRU) to arrive in February, allowing seaborne gas cargoes to be fed into local pipeline grids, its management said on Wednesday.

Mexico Shows Elevated Methane Emissions from Gas Pipeline, Scientists Report

Mexico emitted "extreme" amounts of methane from a natural gas pipeline running through its northern border state, Durango, in 2019, a research paper published on Tuesday showed, citing data collected from satellites.

Beijing Eyes Broader Energy Collaboration with Russia, Discusses Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline

Beijing intends to expand energy cooperation with Russia along all stages of production, and Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said that both countries were in active discussions about Russia's planned Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.

Putin Directs Removal of Wintershall Dea, OMV Stakes in Russian Arctic Gas Projects

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that Wintershall Dea and OMV be stripped of multibillion-dollar stakes in gas extraction projects in Russia's Arctic.

U.S. Purchases 2.1 Million Barrels for Strategic Reserve, Below 2022 Average Price

The U.S. bought 2.1 million barrels of crude oil, the Energy Department said on Tuesday, to help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) after the largest sale in history last year.

Some LNG Vessels Avoid Passing Yemen as Red Sea Attacks Increase

Several liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels have changed their courses in recent days to avoid the Red Sea region amid maritime attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on the world's main East-West trade route.

BP Short-Lists Three Internal Candidates for CEO

BP's board has short-listed interim CEO Murray Auchincloss and two senior female executives as internal candidates to replace Bernard Looney as chief executive, three company and industry sources told Reuters.

FERC Approves $1.2 Billion PJM Settlement for Outages During 2022 Storm

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Tuesday approved a $1.2 billion settlement between PJM Interconnection and more than 80 parties that resolved complaints stemming from a massive outage during a 2022 winter storm.

Congo LNG Project Boosts Drive for Viable Gas Economy

(P&GJ) — The Republic of Congo is among the African countries making progress in harnessing natural gas for export as LNG, as well as meeting the energy demands of an increasing population — now estimated at 6 million — and expanding its installed electricity capacity of 600 MW by 2018.

Natural Gas’ Sleeping Giant Explores Its Possibilities

(P&GJ) — Africa is a land full of promise, blessed with abundant resources and huge untapped potential in human capital. And when it comes to natural gas, the country’s gas reserves in 2021 were estimated at 625.6 Tcf, which is nearly equivalent to that of the United States.

Looking Back at the Biggest Pipeline Stories of 2023

(P&GJ) – In this final issue of P&GJ for 2023, the staff – with more than a little help from our readers – takes a look back at the sometimes chaotic year in midstream that was 2023.

China's Sinochem Buys Rare Venezuelan Oil Cargo After U.S. Suspends Sanctions

China's Sinochem Corp. has bought a million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil for arrival in December, a rare purchase as the state oil and chemicals group capitalizes on Washington's suspension of sanctions on the South American producer.

Imperial Oil Forecasts 2024 Production Surge Amidst Pipeline Expansion

The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors expects companies to drill 8% more wells in 2024 to take advantage of greater access to pipelines.

Equinor, Germany's Sefe Strike $55 Billion Gas Supply Deal

German energy firm Sefe secured a 50 billion euro ($55 billion) gas deal with Norway's Equinor on Tuesday, covering one-third of the industrial gas needs of Europe's largest economy.

EIA: U.S. Shale Output Expected to Fall in January

U.S. oil output from top shale-producing regions is set to decline in January for the third consecutive month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its monthly Drilling Productivity Report on Monday.

Venezuela's PDVSA, Spain's Repsol Agree to Revive Oil Joint Venture

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and joint venture partner Repsol on Monday signed an agreement amending the original terms of a project in the country, aiming to revive its crude and gas output.

Russia Eyes Additional Oil Export Cuts of About 50,000 bpd in December

Russia said on Sunday it would deepen oil export cuts in December by potentially 50,000 barrels per day or more, earlier than promised, as the world's biggest exporters try to support the global oil price.

Crude Stocks at Top U.S. Storage Hub Rebuild After Nearing Tank Bottoms

Oil inventories at the top U.S. storage hub rebounded last month after nearing operational lows, thanks to improved pricing at the hub that pulled in barrels from Texas' Permian basin and higher Canadian crude flows, analysts said.

Santos Advances Barossa Gas Project with Drilling Nod, Pipeline Fate Entangled in Legal Dispute

Australian oil and gas major Santos said on Monday it had received approval for a revised drilling plan at its $4.3 billion Barossa gas project, although the fate of a pipeline to take gas to shore remains locked in a legal dispute.

QatarEnergy CEO Anticipates Imminent LNG Supply Deals in Asia and Europe

QatarEnergy expects to agree new long-term LNG supply deals in Asia and Europe, with several "imminent", its chief executive told Reuters.

BlackRock Ends Talks with Exxon for Italy LNG Terminal Sale, Vitol Still in the Race

Asset manager BlackRock Inc. has bowed out of talks to acquire ExxonMobil Corp.'s majority stake in Italy's main LNG import terminal, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

CNX Resources Pulls Out of Adams Fork Ammonia Project

CNX Resources said on Friday it had pulled out of the Adams Fork ammonia project and is evaluating several alternative sites in southern West Virginia for clean hydrogen projects.

BP Restarts Pipeline After Gasoline Spill in Washington State

The pipeline was restarted following repairs, integrity testing, and regulatory approval of the restart plan, the source said. The company has been cleaning up the spill since Sunday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local officials.

Tokyo Gas to Acquire Gas Producer Rockcliff Energy for $2.7 Billion

With the acquisition, Tokyo Gas' natural gas production will quadruple to 1.3 Bcf/d from about 330 MMcf/d, making it one of the largest shale gas producers in Texas and Louisiana, according to Tokyo Gas.

Climate-Tech Firm Climeworks to Sell Carbon Credits to BCG

It is an important step toward building credibility for the nascent direct air capture (DAC) industry - which uses minerals and chemicals to suck carbon dioxide out of the air - as it ramps up commitments that will help it attract new funds for expansion.