Operations
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.
Russia Halts Oil to Poland Via Druzhba Pipeline, Says Refiner PKN Orlen
The halt in supplies via the Druzhba pipeline — which has been exempted from European Union sanctions imposed on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — came a day after Poland delivered its first Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
New Approach to Digital Pipeline Integrity Management
(P&GJ) — Pigging is an operation that is regularly required by pipeline operators for both cleaning and data collection (intelligent pigging). Managing pigging schedules and risks is a significant challenge to operators/pigging vendors without an intimate knowledge of the pipeline.
Nanoparticles Transform Pipeline Cleaning, Integrity Management
(P&GJ) — Oil, gas, and multi-phase pipelines can be fouled with several types of deposits or internally restrictive debris. The actual type of fouling is dependent upon several factors including: the production fluid characteristics such as hydrocarbon product, water, and gas composition; the presence and composition of common oilfield contaminants, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, mercury, arsenic, zinc, lead, iron, and manganese and operating conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, pH, flow regimes, etc.).
EOG Resources Says Low Natural Gas Prices Not Changing Drilling Plan
U.S. oil and gas producer EOG Resources on Friday said it had no plans to alter its strategy around new natural gas drilling, despite a sharp decline in prices this year. Rival producers, including Chesapeake Energy, Southwestern Energy and Comstock Resources, have said this month they are pulling back on drilling after U.S. gas prices tumbled 50% this year.
Focus on Integrity: Three Strategies for More Secure Pipeline Operations
(P&GJ) — The safe movement of liquids and gases across the pipeline infrastructure of the United States is critical. Whether pipelines are delivering fuels for transportation or home energy, feedstocks used to manufacture a wide variety of plastics and specialty chemicals, or any of the myriad other products that keep nations running, pipeline companies must ensure that operation continues without incident 24/7.
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.
Wintershall Dea Looks Ahead After Closing Door on Russia
Oil and gas producer Wintershall Dea, fresh from pulling out of its long-term partnership with Russia, will focus on growing its production elsewhere and building up carbon management for the long-term future, it said on Thursday.
Chesapeake Energy to Reduce Drilling on Lower Natural Gas Prices
U.S. natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy on Wednesday said it would pull back on drilling and completing wells this year as natural gas prices fell to a quarter of what they were last summer.
Damaged Line Triggers Natural Gas Leak in College Station, Texas
(P&GJ) — At around 4:00 p.m. on Monday, the Texas Avenue and Richards Street neighborhood was the scene of a gas leak that the College Station Fire Department and College Station Police attempted to contain.
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.
Nord Stream Blast Inquiries Ongoing, Say Denmark, Sweden, Germany at UN
Investigations by Denmark, Germany and Sweden into explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines have not yet concluded, the three countries told the U.N. Security Council in a letter on Tuesday ahead of a meeting called by Russia on the September incident.
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.
Gas Flow Continues After Fire at Russian Pipeline, No Injuries
Depressurization of an export gas pipeline transiting the Myshkinsky district of the Yaroslavl region north of Moscow sparked a fire but caused no casualties on Monday, Russia's emergencies ministry said.
Kinder Morgan Restarts Gas Pipeline After Leak at Watson Station in California - CNN
Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan has resumed operations after a leak was detected this week in a California gasoline pipeline that supplies unleaded and diesel fuel to storage facilities in southern Nevada, CNN reported on Saturday.
Pipeline Operator TC Energy Says Stress, Weld Fault Caused Keystone Oil Spill
Pipeline operator TC Energy Corp. said on Thursday a combination of factors including bending stress on the pipe and a weld flaw might have led to the Keystone oil spill in December and that it was expecting a hit of about $480 million.
Turkey's Ceyhan Oil Terminal, Iraq's KRG Pipeline Halted After Earthquake
Turkish pipeline operator BOTAS said there was no damage on main pipelines which carry crude oil from Iraq and Azerbaijan to Turkey. An emergency meeting will take place on the issue, the Tribeca shipping agency said.
AMPP Appoints Dr. Amir Eliezer as New Board Chairman
(P&GJ) — The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), a global nonprofit representing corrosion and coatings professionals and industries in 130 countries, has named Professor Amir Eliezer, Ph.D., as chair of the board of directors. His term began on January 1, 2023.
Enagas: Number of Ships Loading LNG in Spain Doubled in 2022
The number of ships loading LNG in Spain and taking it across Europe doubled in 2022 compared with the previous year, helping ease the energy crisis driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, gas grid operator Enagas said on Thursday.
Enbridge Restores 1,835-Mile T-South Natural Gas Pipeline to Full Service
Canada's Enbridge Inc. has returned its T-South natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia to full service following an unplanned outage, the company said on Thursday.
Carbon Pipeline Company Sues Iowa County Over Local Siting Ordinance
The developer of a Midwest carbon capture pipeline network has sued Shelby County in Iowa, saying its ordinance restricting the siting of hazardous pipelines is overruled by a federal pipeline safety law.
Study Shows Soil Moisture Plays Big Role in Spread of NG Leaks
(P&GJ) — Soil moisture content is the main factor that controls how far and at what concentration natural gas (NG) spreads from a leaked pipeline underground, a new study has found.
Texas Oil Regulator Advises Pipeline Operators to Prepare for Severe Winter Conditions
The Texas oil regulator on Sunday advised oil and gas pipeline operators to secure equipment and facilities after forecasts for severe weather over the next several days.
Recognizing Value of Data as Pipeline Integrity Assets
(P&GJ) — Increased investment in infrastructure as a result of higher oil and gas prices, as well as growing activity in planning for future energy provision, means that many operators and utilities around the world are seeking ways to help them improve operational efficiency and access to safe and sustainable energy for the communities that they serve.
Supply Chain Woes Loom Large for Oil, Gas Sectors
(P&GJ) — In the fall of 2022, the Chicago-based Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) joined with the respected global accounting and consulting firm KPMG International to create an index for measuring the sustainability of the global supply chain, accompanied by a report that included some sobering conclusions. It summarized the past two years as producing a doubling of the stress level on global supply deliveries.
Value of Routing Studies for New Natural Gas Pipelines
(P&GJ) — When natural gas pipeline owners announce their preferred route for a new pipeline, permitting bodies and other stakeholders inevitably ask, “Why here?” By conducting a methodical routing study that produces data-driven and experience-tested route alternatives, owners obtain supporting data and documentation they can use to formulate a response and help obtain buy-in.
Supply Chain Solutions for Natural Gas Leak Detection
(P&GJ) — Now more than ever, utilities, governments and pipeline companies are incentivized to secure their supplies of natural gas from production all the way to the meter. Leak detection and emissions reduction are critical components of an optimized natural gas distribution system.
Bankruptcy at European Storage Terminal Supports Tank Storage Rates
The bankruptcy of a major storage terminal planned in northwest Europe has supported regional tank storage rates for diesel and gasoline, just as European traders rush to fill up diesel tanks ahead of a Feb. 5 ban on Russian fuel.
NATO, EU Launching Task Force to Protect Pipelines Following Nord Stream Attack
NATO and the EU are launching a task force to boost the protection of critical infrastructure in response to last year's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and Russia's "weaponizing of energy," the organizations’ leaders said on Wednesday.
- Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
- U.S. House Passes Bill to Reverse Biden's LNG Pause
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Enbridge to Invest $500 Million in Pipeline Assets, Including Expansion of 850-Mile Gray Oak Pipeline
- Williams Delays Louisiana Pipeline Project Amid Dispute with Competitor Energy Transfer
- Evacuation Technologies to Reduce Methane Releases During Pigging
- U.S. Regulators Approve Mexico Pacific LNG's Saguaro Connector Pipeline
- Editor’s Notebook: Nord Stream’s $20 Billion Question
- Enbridge Receives Approval to Begin Service on Louisiana Venice Gas Pipeline Project
- Russian LNG Unfazed By U.S. Sanctions
