North America

Projects September 2023

The Trans Mountain expansion project plans to call on oil producers to start filling the pipeline in the days ahead, the head of shipper Canadian Natural Resources said during a quarterly earnings call.

Global News September 2023

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Japan's Inpex, Partners Study Ammonia Production and Export Project in US

Inpex , Japan's top oil and gas producer, and its partners have agreed to study developing a low-carbon ammonia production and export project on the Houston Ship Channel in the United States, Inpex said on Tuesday.

Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Halt Carbon Pipeline Permits Amid Safety Concerns

The United States should not permit any new carbon dioxide pipelines until updated federal safety regulations are finished, a dozen Democratic members of Congress said in a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

Freeport LNG Asks FERC to Authorize Texas Export Plant Restart

U.S. LNG company Freeport LNG sought permission from federal energy regulators to take more steps to return its export plant in Texas to full commercial operation.

ADNOC Gas Awards $600 Million Carbon Capture Contract to Petrofac

U.K. oil services firm Petrofac said on Tuesday it got a more than $600 million contract from ADNOC Gas for the Habshan carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, as the Abu Dhabi-based company steps up its decarbonization plan.

Navigator CO2 Ventures Seeks Pause in Iowa Permit Process for 1,300-Mile Carbon Pipeline

Navigator CO2 Ventures has asked Iowa regulators to pause the permit application process for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline project that will run across five U.S. Midwest states as it awaits approval in Illinois, where its carbon storage site would be located.

US LNG Exports Slump in September as Plant Outages Pare Output

U.S. LNG exports in September decreased slightly compared to August, primarily due to maintenance outages at key gas-processing plants. Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility operated at reduced capacity for four days, while ongoing maintenance at Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point facility in Maryland also impacted LNG exports last month.

Venture Global Expands Partnership with Baker Hughes for Modular LNG System

(P&GJ) — Venture Global LNG has extended its partnership with Baker Hughes to develop a modularized LNG system and power island. This expansion comes as part of a master equipment supply agreement, recently expanded to over 100 million tons per annum (MTPA) from the initial 70 MTPA.

US Crude Production Climbs to Near Record High in July

U.S. crude oil output grew in July to near its pre-COVID peak in 2019, fueled by a record level of production from Texas, the top U.S. shale oil producer, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Friday.

Cheniere Energy's Gas Intake at Texas LNG Plant Down for Fifth Day

Gas flows to Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi, Texas, LNG export plant on Friday were reduced for a fifth consecutive day, according to data provider LSEG.

Joint Venture to Establish First LNG Ship Bunkering Hub in U.S. Gulf

A joint venture is developing the first dedicated LNG bunkering facility for ships in the U.S. Gulf amid efforts by the maritime industry to find cleaner fuel solutions, executives said on Thursday.

LM Energy Sells New Mexico Oil Gathering Assets, Including 130 Miles of Pipelines

(P&GJ) — LM Energy Holdings LLC has entered into definitive agreements to sell certain subsidiaries and assets related to its Touchdown Crude Oil Gathering System in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico.

Analysis: US Carbon Capture Pipeline Setbacks Reflect Challenges in Climate Fight

A series of permit rejections for two high-profile carbon pipeline projects in the U.S. Midwest could bode poorly for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a widespread solution to climate change, reflecting deep-seated public concern about its risks and environmental impacts.

Enbridge Launches New Gas Capacity Open Season for C1 Transportation Service

(P&GJ) — Enbridge Gas is hosting a new capacity open season for C1 firm transportation service, providing up to 317,000 GJ/d starting on Nov. 1, 2026, for a minimum five-year term along the Dawn (Facilities) to Dawn (Vector) transportation path.

Cushing Oil Hub's Low Levels Spur Quality, Operational, Price Worries

U.S. crude stockpiles at the key Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub are at their lowest in 14 months due to strong refining and export demand, prompting concerns about the quality of the remaining oil and the potential to fall below minimum operating levels, traders and analysts said.

NextEra Energy to Sell Florida City Gas to Chesapeake Utilities for $923 Million

NextEra Energy said on Tuesday it plans to sell Florida City Gas (FCG) to Chesapeake Utilities for $923 million in cash. FCG’s natural gas infrastructure encompasses approximately 3,800 miles of distribution mains and 80 miles of transmission pipelines.

Cheniere Energy Reduces Gas Intake at 2 U.S. LNG Plants by 1 Bcf/d

The largest U.S. LNG producer, Cheniere Energy, on Tuesday reduced its combined feed gas intake at two of its plants by about 1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to data provider LSEG.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Route Change Request Approved by Canadian Regulator

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) approved a route change request for the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion on Monday, clearing a major hurdle and avoiding months of delay for the Canadian government-owned project.

Mexico's First LNG Plant to Receive Final Piece in Days

The last major piece of infrastructure needed to start production at Mexico's first floating LNG plant is set to depart from a Texas shipyard next week, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a notice to shippers.

FERC Approves Sempra's Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 Expansion Project

(P&GJ) — Sempra Infrastructure has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the permit authorizing the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 expansion project under development at Port Arthur LNG in Jefferson County, Texas.

TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Pipeline Fined for Environmental Non-Compliance

British Columbia has fined Coastal GasLink, the natural gas pipeline being built by TC Energy, $256,810 for non-compliance with environmental regulations, the Canadian province said on Thursday.

FACTBOX: Deals on the Rise in US Oil and Gas Pipeline Sector

The oil and gas pipeline business has seen increased consolidation this year as U.S. production grows and new pipeline permitting problems have made existing operators more valuable.

Repsol Challenges Venture Global LNG Over Failure to Supply Gas

Spain's Repsol SA has asked an international tribunal to require U.S. gas exporter Venture Global LNG to fulfill its contract for LNG or compensate it, Reuters reported. It is the fourth European customer to pursue an arbitration case against the U.S. developer.

Sources: Sinopec Buys Over 30 LNG Cargoes for Winter Demand, Trading

China's Sinopec Corp has bought more than 30 cargoes of LNG via a tender for October 2023 to the end of 2024 to cover Chinese winter demand and boost the supply pool for trading, traders said.

Pipeline Operator Enbridge Could Add 200,000 bpd to Mainline Oil Pipeline Capacity

Enbridge Inc. could add 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) of capacity to its 3 million bpd Mainline system, which ships the bulk of Canada's crude exports to the United States, a company executive said on Tuesday.

NextDecade Secures $356 Million Loan for Rio Grande LNG Phase 1

NextDecade said on Wednesday it had received a loan worth $356 million from a group of lenders to finance a portion of Phase 1 of its Rio Grande LNG export facility in Texas.

Latest Pipeline Security Initiatives Inside, Outside of NATO

(P&GJ) — Following the attack on the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline a year ago, NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the protection of critical infrastructure with NATO’s members. He made a special point of reaching out to German leaders and to Denmark’s defense minister, since this is the country closest to the damage.

Berkshire Hathaway Maryland Cove Point LNG Export Plant Shut

The amount of natural gas flowing to U.S. energy firm Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point LNG export plant in Maryland fell to near zero on Wednesday, a sign that the plant likely shut for work expected to start on Sept. 21.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion to Disrupt Oil Flow to US, Boost Prices

Canada's Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion (TMX), which will nearly triple the flow of crude from Alberta to Canada's Pacific Coast beginning early next year, will shake up North America's supply by diverting barrels now mainly delivered to refiners and exporters in the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast.