North America

WBI Energy's North Dakota Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Gets FERC Approval

(P&GJ) — For the project, WBI Energy will construct approximately 60 miles of 12-inch natural gas pipeline and ancillary facilities to Wahpeton from an existing compressor station at Mapleton, North Dakota.

Poll: 68% of Canadians Oppose Government's $20 Billion Writedown on Trans Mountain Pipeline

More than two-thirds of Canadians oppose the federal government taking a multibillion-dollar writedown on the Trans Mountain pipeline, a survey showed on Tuesday, a dilemma for Justin Trudeau's Liberals as they look to sell it ahead of an election expected by 2025.

Pipeline-Bound RNG Production Facility Construction Kicks Off in New Jersey

(P&GJ) — South Jersey Industries, OPAL Fuels Inc., and Atlantic County Utilities Authority have announced that construction has commenced on a new RNG production facility (Atlantic RNG) located at ACUA’s solid waste landfill in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

CER Commission Recommends Approval of NorthRiver Midstream Connection Project

(P&GJ) — The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) recommended approval of NorthRiver Midstream's NEBC Connector Project on Oct. 18. The project involves constructing and operating two parallel, 215-km (134-mile) natural gas liquids pipelines from B.C. to Alberta.

Williams’ DJ Basin Move May Signal New Investments

(P&GJ) — Early in 2023, Tulsa-based energy infrastructure giant Williams wasted no time in announcing that it had acquired MountainWest Pipelines Holding Company from Southwest Gas Holdings, in a transaction that included $1.07 billion in cash and $430 million in assumed debt, for an enterprise value of $1.5 billion.

Global News October 2023

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Navigator CO2 Ventures Cancels 1,300-Mile Carbon Pipeline Project in U.S. Midwest

Navigator CO2 Ventures has canceled its Heartland Greenway pipeline project aimed at capturing 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from Midwest ethanol plants and storing it permanently underground, the company said, citing "unpredictable" state regulatory processes.

U.S. Gulf Coast Oil Patch Gets Lucky, So Far, in Busy Hurricane Season

A very active Atlantic hurricane season so far this year has not sent storms across U.S. oil and natural gas fields in the northern Gulf of Mexico, sparing energy companies billions of dollars of losses and consumers higher fuel costs.

Oil on Track for Second Week of Gains on Gaza Contagion Fears

Oil prices extended gains on Friday and were on track for a second week of increases on heightened fears that the Israel-Gaza conflict may spread in the Middle East and disrupt supplies from one of the world's top-producing regions.

U.S. Broadly Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions After Election Deal

The Biden administration on Wednesday broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in response to a deal reached between the government and opposition parties for the 2024 election - the most extensive rollback of Trump-era restrictions on Caracas.

U.S. Hopes to Buy 6 Million Barrels for Oil Reserve by January

President Joe Biden's administration hopes to buy 6 million barrels of crude oil for delivery to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in December and January, as it continues its plan to replenish the emergency stockpile, the U.S. Department of Energy said on Thursday.

US Oil Refiners Crank Out Diesel, Further Squeezing Margins for Gasoline

U.S. oil refiners have cranked up output of diesel, heating oil and jet fuel for winter but are struggling to turn a profit because gasoline margins have fallen over 80% since the summer driving season ended.

Canada Court Ruling on Key Environmental Law Risks Deterring Investments

The ruling comes as Canada seeks billions of dollars of fresh investments to unearth minerals that play key role in the transition to a greener economy. More than $20 billion in foreign capital has fled the oil patch since 2017, partly because of delays in building new pipelines.

Venezuela May Redirect Oil Exports Away from China as U.S. Eases Sanctions

Exemptions to sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports that the U.S. is mulling should not result in a large crude production surge in the OPEC country, instead taking barrels away from its current main destination China, experts said.

Repsol CEO Vows Legal Action to Secure LNG Cargoes in Dispute with Venture Global

Spanish energy giant Repsol SA will take action against US gas exporter Venture Global LNG to obtain LNG cargoes under a long-term contract, the company's chief executive said on Wednesday.

Chesapeake Considers Acquisition of Rival Natural Gas Producer Southwestern Energy

U.S. natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp. has approached Southwestern Energy, a peer valued by the stock market at $12 billion including debt, about a potential acquisition, people familiar with the matter said.

Shell Urges DOE to Approve Energy Transfer’s LNG Export License Application

Shell PLC has submitted a letter to the U.S. Energy Department in support of Energy Transfer's request for a new license to export LNG to countries without free trade agreements with the U.S., saying the pipeline operator is a reliable gas supplier.

Williams Selected by DOE to Participate in Two Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs

(P&GJ) — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has chosen Williams to join two hydrogen hubs, one in the Pacific Northwest and another in Appalachia.

Kimmeridge Secures Gas Takeaway Deal with Kinder Morgan for Eagle Ford Assets

(P&GJ) — Kimmeridge signed a definitive multiyear transportation agreement with Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LLC (KMTP) to secure midstream takeaway for its Eagle Ford natural gas, enabling Kimmeridge to deliver natural gas across multiple LNG facilities along the Gulf Coast.

Japan’s Inpex Enters Partnership to Develop Low-Cost Hydrogen Hub in South Texas

(P&GJ) — Inpex and Green Hydrogen International (GHI) have agreed to advance GHI's flagship Hydrogen City production hub in South Texas to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia to meet growing Asian and global market demand.

Western Midstream Closes Meritage Acquisition, Adds 1,500 Miles of Gas Pipelines

(P&GJ) — In the $885 million deal, Western Midstream successfully acquired Meritage's 1,500 miles of high- and low-pressure natural gas gathering pipelines in Wyoming's Powder River Basin.

Eagle LNG Delivers First LNG Carrier for Caribbean Basin Service

(P&GJ) — Eagle LNG Partners LLC has announced the successful delivery of its first LNG carrier, the Coral Favia, from Anthony Veder. The 10,000 cubic meter LNG supply vessel is the first of a planned fleet from Eagle LNG offering LNG supply and bunker services for the Caribbean basin.

As Oil Majors Cast Shale Nets, Texas Oilman Sheffield Made Pioneer the Prized Catch

Four years ago, Texas oilman Scott Sheffield saw the oil majors were moving aggressively into the top U.S. shale basin and plotted to make his then-$24 billion Pioneer Natural Resources the oilfield's biggest prize.

Williams' Gas Pipeline in Idaho Ruptures, Company Challenges Explosion Allegations

The rupture occurred when an excavator operator accidentally damaged a 22-inch gas pipeline near Middleton. However, Williams contested the local authorities' account of the incident, asserting no ignition, fire, or explosion was connected to the occurrence.

Canadian Regulator Set to Decide on Trans Mountain Expansion Tolls

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said on Thursday it will make a preliminary decision on Trans Mountain Corp.'s proposed shipping tolls for its oil pipeline expansion project this autumn before holding a hearing on the tolls next year.

TC Energy Names Ex-CEO as Chair of Oil Pipeline Business

Canadian pipeline operator TC Energy on Thursday named industry veteran and former CEO Hal Kvisle as the chair of its oil pipeline unit.

FERC Grants Venture Global Approval for Steam Generator Modifications at Louisiana LNG Plant

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday granted Venture Global LNG permission to proceed with the heat recovery steam generator modifications at the Calcasieu Pass LNG export plant in Louisiana.

Biden Awards $7 Billion in Hydrogen Hub Money to 16 States

The Biden administration has announced that seven proposed "hydrogen hubs" in 16 states will share $7 billion in federal grants to jump-start the emerging industry, with hubs in Texas' Gulf Coast and California each receiving a hefty $1.2 billion.

Trace, Molpus to Develop Evergreen Carbon Sequestration Hub in Louisiana

(P&GJ) — Trace Carbon Solutions LLC and Molpus Woodlands Group have agreed to develop and operate a carbon sequestration site on approximately 20,000 acres in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes in Louisiana.

Oil Reverses Gains After U.S. Posts Large Crude Build

Oil prices reversed early gains on Thursday in a volatile session after a large build in U.S. crude stockpiles outweighed expectations that U.S. interest rates had peaked.