Regulation

Chevron Takeover of Hess Resurrects Multi-Billion-Dollar Tax Shield

Chevron’s deal to buy Hess will unlock $15 billion worth of tax benefits that had once been relegated to the accounting dustbin, as the combined company takes advantage of Hess’s past losses to cut future payments, according to the company and tax experts.

US Needs More Pipeline Capacity for Reliable Gas Supply, INGAA Says

The U.S. needs more natural gas pipeline capacity to maintain reliable gas supply during extreme cold weather, a trade group representing pipeline companies said on Monday in support of regulators who last week urged sought new rules to prevent a repetition of last winter's power outages.

US Probes 30 Ship Managers for Suspected Russia Oil Sanctions Violations

The U.S. Treasury Department has sent notices to ship management companies requesting information about 100 vessels it suspects of violating Western sanctions on Russian oil, according to a source who has seen the documents.

INGAA Responds to Winter Storm Elliott Report, Emphasizes Need for Enhanced Infrastructure

(P&GJ) — The recently released Winter Storm Elliott Report sheds light on the proactive measures taken by members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) to uphold system integrity during the severe weather event.

BP, Edison, Shell Ask US, EU to Intervene in Venture Global LNG Dispute

BP, Edison and Shell pressed a U.S.-EU energy group to intervene in a dispute with liquefied natural gas exporter Venture Global LNG over the U.S. firm's failure to deliver contract supplies of the fuel.

Clearwater Paper Suspends Idaho Operations Due to Regional Natural Gas Pipeline Incident

(P&GJ) — Clearwater Paper Corp. temporarily halted some operations at its Lewiston, Idaho, facility on Nov. 9 due to an incident affecting the regional natural gas system, causing disruptions to gas deliveries in the mill and surrounding areas.

Mountain Valley Pipeline Sues Protesters Hindering $7.2 Billion Construction Project

The developer of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has sued two protesters it says blocked construction on the $7.2 billion natural gas project, seeking compensation and orders barring them from interfering in the future.

Regulators Say Loss of Everett LNG Terminal Threatens New England Energy Reliability

A possible loss of the Everett Marine LNG terminal can jeopardize the reliability of New England's energy supply during extreme cold weather, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said on Monday.

US Collaborating with Allies on Sanctions for Russian Arctic LNG Project

The U.S. is working closely with partner countries over sanctions on a Russian LNG project in the Arctic as a January deadline looms on a wind-down of transactions with the plant, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Environmental Group Urges FERC Not to Extend License for Tellurian LNG Plant

The Sierra Club environmental group on Wednesday urged the U.S. energy regulator to reject a request by liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian Inc. for a three-year extension to complete construction of its $25 billion LNG export facility.

US Looks to Buy Up to 3 Million Barrels for Oil Reserve for January Delivery

The United States is seeking to buy up to three million barrels of oil for delivery in January 2024 to replenish the country's strategic petroleum reserve, the Department of Energy said on Monday.

Recordkeeping on Colorado Pipeline Safety Deemed Lacking

(P&GJ) — Officials in Colorado consider the state’s regulations of the pipeline industry to be among the strongest in the nation: that Colorado’s regulations of pipelines promote safety within the industry, enhance the environment, and protect the lives and properties of Coloradans.

New Pipeline Meeting Format Implemented by Army Corps in Response to Criticism

(P&GJ) — Responding to concerns raised by the public, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has modified the manner in which oral comments are accepted for the draft environmental review of the contentious Dakota Access oil pipeline, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

U.S. House Easily Passes Bill to Harden Sanctions on Iranian Oil

The U.S. House of Representatives easily passed a bill on Friday to bolster sanctions on Iranian oil in a strong bipartisan vote.

INGAA Releases Key Safety Initiative Work Products

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and its member companies have released their “Integrity Management – Continuous Improvement (IMCI) 2.0” program work products.

Saudi Arabia, Russia to Continue Additional Voluntary Oil Cuts

Top oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia confirmed on Sunday they would continue with their additional voluntary oil output cuts until the end of the year as concerns over demand and economic growth continue to weigh on crude markets.

US Agency Proposes Allowing Carbon Capture Projects in National Forests

The proposed rule would amend existing Forest Service regulations by allowing "exclusive and perpetual use" of national forest land and pore space beneath it for approved CCS projects.

Trans Mountain Ordered to Stop Pipeline Work Over Environmental Non-Compliance

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) on Thursday ordered the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project to stop work in a wetland area near Abbotsford, British Columbia, after inspectors found several environmental and safety-related non-compliances.

New U.S. Sanctions Take Aim at Russia's Arctic LNG Project Amid Ukraine Conflict

The latest sanctions target a major entity involved in the development, operation and ownership of a massive project in Siberia known as Arctic-2 LNG, the State Department said in a statement. The project expected to ship chilled natural gas, known as LNG to global markets.

US Senators Urge FTC to Probe Exxon, Chevron Mega-Deals

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and 22 other Democratic senators wrote to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday that multibillion-dollar Exxon and Chevron acquisitions could lead to higher consumer prices.

DOE Warns New Fortress Energy's Mexico LNG Permit Could Require Reapplication

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has warned New Fortress Energy if any portion of its Altamira floating LNG project is located onshore Mexico, the company will have to resubmit its application for an export permit.

Russia's Weaker Hand Undermines Case for Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline to China

Russia is counting on a planned new pipeline to China as it seeks to make up for lost gas sales in Europe, but industry insiders see major risks around the project and question whether it will justify the huge costs.

Untangling Environmental Rules Can Lead to Permitting Success

(P&GJ) — Oil and gas pipelines are considered critical infrastructure, and the process of routing, permitting, designing and building them often elicits significant public pushback associated with perceived environmental concerns.

Santos to Fight Lawsuit by Indigenous Group to Halt Barossa Pipeline Work

Australia's Santos said on Tuesday it would defend against the legal proceedings brought by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) to halt the commencement of pipeline work at its Barossa gas project off northern Australia.

Clean Energy, TotalEnergies First Renewable Natural Gas Facility Begins to Sell Environmental Credits

(P&GJ) — Clean Energy Fuels Corp. and TotalEnergies SE have announced that renewable natural gas (RNG) from Del Rio Dairy in Friona, TX, began flowing in June to the transportation market and recently began generating D3 renewable identification numbers credits under the U.S. EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard.

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.

U.S. Picks 31 Regional Hubs to Spur Tech Innovation

The Biden administration on Monday named 31 U.S. regional technology hubs from 370 applicants, making the areas eligible for $500 million in federal funding to help spur innovation across various sectors.

Indigenous Group Files Emergency Application to Halt Santos Gas Pipeline Offshore Australia

Australia said on Tuesday it was reviewing an emergency application by an indigenous group seeking to block pipeline construction on Santos Ltd.'s $3.6-billion Barossa gas project off northern Australia.

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.

U.S. Hydrogen Tax Credits Trigger Disputes Among Senate Democrats

Ten Senate Democrats will ask President Joe Biden's administration not to include strict rules guiding use of clean hydrogen tax credits that the Treasury Department is due to release by the end of the year, according to a draft of a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday.