LDC
Dominion Continues Coal-to-Gas Switch with $4.4 Billion Deal
Dominion Resources Inc., the power utility based in Richmond, VA, is the latest U.S. utility to expand its operations, reaching out west by offering to buy the gas company Questar Corp. of Salt Lake City, for about $4.4 billion in cash. Dominion announced the offer on Monday, the same day it ..
Where There Is Oil, There Will Be Pipelines
“An Industry in Transition: Where There is Oil & Gas There Will Be Pipelines” was presented Monday night by Pipeline & Gas Journal Editor Jeff Share to members of the Pipelines Association Association. Is this a crazy world or what? Would anyone disagree that it takes a strong stomach and nerv..
CenterPoint Announces Possible Sale of Enable Midstream Partners
Natural gas and electric utility CenterPoint Energy said on Monday it will consider “strategic options” for its pipeline company, Enable Midstream Partners, including a spinoff or sale. “We believe that now is the right time to explore options for unlocking the value of our strategic investment, re..
Coast Guard Issues Final EIS for Deepwater Port Project
The federal Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard issued a 4,242 page final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Port Ambrose Project deepwater port. The EIS confirms that the project is needed, the location is safe, and that impacts to the environment are minimal. According..
Warm Weather, Low Prices Reducing Home Heating Expenditures
Warmer temperatures and lower energy prices have contributed to a reduction in EIA’s current forecast average heating expenditures this winter compared with the forecast in the October 2015 Winter Fuels Outlook. Each October, EIA produces a Winter Fuels Outlook that projects heating fuel expenditur..
AP Investigation: US Power Grid Vulnerable to Foreign Hacks
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Security researcher Brian Wallace was on the trail of hackers who had snatched a California university's housing files when he stumbled into a larger nightmare: Cyber-attackers had opened a pathway into the networks running the United States power grid.
APGA Determined to Have Its Voice Heard on Capitol Hill
Leading a natural gas distribution company is always a challenge because there are few businesses that deal so directly with their customer base, be it residential, commercial or industrial, as well as safety regulators, equipment and service providers, not to mention the city council or utility board that approves rates.
Duke Energy Buying Piedmont Natural Gas for $4.9 Billion
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Duke Energy will spend about $4.9 billion in cash to acquire Piedmont Natural Gas, adding about a million new customers in the Carolinas and Tennessee. The Charlotte, North Carolina, companies are key partners in the Atlantic Coast Pipeline that will be the first major natural gas pipeline to serve the eastern part of the state. Piedmont shareholders will receive $60 in cash for each share of common stock. That's a 42% premium to Friday's closing price. Duke Energy Corp. will also assume about $1.8 billion in Piedmont debt.
SoCalGas Engages Stakeholders Early, Often in Pipeline Safety Projects
In the current phase of the pipeline safety enhancement plan (PSEP), SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric will test and replace about 1,000 miles of pipe throughout the system. While much of the construction work takes place in fairly remote locations, a significant portion is found in busy populated areas. Whether the work is in cities or unincorporated counties, in urban or rural space, customers and the local community are affected. Long before we received approval for PSEP, we knew community and customer outreach would be a critical factor for success.
Natural Gas Use: A Tale of 2 Peak Seasons
Use of natural gas has two seasonal peaks, with consumption patterns predominantly driven by weather. The largest peak occurs during the winter, when cold weather increases the demand for natural gas space heating in the residential and commercial sectors. A second, smaller peak occurs in the summer when air conditioning use increases demand for electric power, an increasing portion of which is provided by natural gas-fired generators.
Majeure Forces Alliance to Cut Natural Gas Flows to Zero for Now
The Alliance pipeline will be shut down for an unspecified period of time due to the presence of excess hydrogen sulfide on the mainline, according to Alliance Canada. The event constitutes a force majeure. During the past 30-days, Alliance Canada has been flowing an average 1,792 MMcf/d across the border to Alliance U.S., with single-day flows reaching as high as 1,977 MMcf/d on the roughly 2,000 MMcf/d capacity system.
Fire Sale on Stuff that Burns: Oil, Natural Gas, Coal Down
NEW YORK — These days it seems whatever can be burned to power a car, heat a home, make electricity or ship people and goods around the globe is being sold at bargain basement prices. Prices for coal, natural gas, oil and the fuels made from crude such as gasoline and diesel are all far less expensive than they have been in recent years.
PA11 Pipe to Connect Landfill Gas to Local Distributor
Arkema Inc., Georg Fischer Central Plastics LLC, and BioResource Development LLC (BRD) have partnered on a project to install a polyamide 11 (PA11) piping system to connect landfill gas to the local gas distribution system near Omaha, NE.
Presidents Report Finds Energy Infrastructure Needs Major Investments
The need for major changes to the nation’s energy infrastructure is why President Obama initiated a quadrennial cycle of energy reviews to provide a multiyear roadmap for U.S. energy policy. The result is the recent release of the initial installment of the first-ever Quadrennial Energy Review 2015 (QER) prepared by the White House task force.
Energy Forecast Predicts Rising Gas, Oil Demand As Global Middle Class Grows
ExxonMobil’s 2015 energy forecast posits natural gas as the fuel with the most demand growth between now and 2040, overtaking coal as the second most popular energy source with a 65% gain vs. its 2010 levels. By the end of the period, the report predicted more than 125 Bcf/d will be shipped by LNG or inter-regional pipeline.
In Turnaround, FERC Proposes to Allow Surcharges to Fund Modernization
In a departure from past policy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is considering allowing interstate pipelines to recoup the costs of complying with federal environmental and safety regulations.
LDCs Can Profit From Natural Gas Role In North American Energy Mix, Economy
Local distribution companies are the most essential ingredient if natural gas is to become the predominant energy fuel in North America. Although strong inroads have already been taken, a number of challenges remain before the LDCs can take their rightful place in the natural gas value chain.
Gas, Electric Sectors Split On Key Scheduling Issue
Gas producers and pipelines seem in general agreement about a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposal to improve coordination between gas suppliers and electric transmission providers. But regional electric buyers such as the ISOs and RTOs are a little disappointed.
Plastic Pipe Where Past Is Prelude
Although plastic pipe has been actively used in the natural gas industry since the late 1950s, it is still considered by some to be the “the new kid on the block.” Perhaps one of the key reasons for this reputation is the fact that the plastics industry continues to push the envelope in creating higher performance materials that inspire new compositions and installation techniques. And the main benefactors are gas utilities, exploration and production companies and ultimately their customers.
Global Demand For Polyethylene To Reach 99.6 Million Tons In 2018
Global demand for polyethylene resins – HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE – will rise 4% per year to 99.6 million metric tons in 2018, valued at $164 billion. Gains will match overall world economic growth, fueled by an acceleration in consumer spending and manufacturing activity.
Distribution Delivers Innovation To Pipeline Replacement Prioritization
Ian Davidson, member of Parliament: “Let me be clear. If the [natural gas distribution] companies find themselves in a position where the number of health and safety breaches is increasing, a plausible defense for them is to say that they cannot afford to do it because you are squeezing them too tightly.”
How LDCs Performed During Nations Coldest Winter In 29 Years
America’s natural gas utilities work with federal and state regulators to build and maintain a 21st century infrastructure capable of safely and reliably delivering natural gas to homes and business throughout the United States.
More Emphasis Needed On Natural Gas, APGA Leader Says
These are unquestionably exciting times in America’s natural gas industry as wide arrays of statistics continue to show. Homeowners and businesses that use natural gas are enjoying considerable cost savings and ample, reliable supplies that will only increase as the nation’s pipeline grid spreads to regions that have not been accustomed to using the environmentally friendly and domestically produced fuel.
U.S. Oil And Gas Production Continues To Rise
<em>Pipeline & Gas Journal</em>’s 34th Annual 500 Report provides the industry’s most inclusive statistical review of U.S. energy pipeline systems. Once again, the report ranks the nation’s top gas distribution, liquids and gas transmission systems. The gas distribution rankings are based on number of customers, while transmission companies are ranked by mileage. Each liquids pipeline company ranking is based on yearly crude deliveries.
UGI Gets Aggressive With Pipeline Replacement Program
In some ways UGI Utilities is fortunate to be so far ahead of the game when it comes to infrastructure replacement. The natural gas distributor, which serves 600,000 customers in 45 eastern and central Pennsylvania counties and one county in Maryland, has about 86% of its 12,000 miles of pipeline already constructed of contemporary materials.
EDF/Google Earth Outreach Map Gas Leaks Under City Streets
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) recently unveiled interactive online maps showing natural gas leaks beneath the streets of Boston, Indianapolis and New York City’s Staten Island. Leaks like these rarely pose an immediate safety threat, but the leaking natural gas – which is mostly methane – has a powerful effect on the global climate, carrying 120 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide.
Nicor Gas To Enhance Natural Gas Distribution System
Nicor Gas received Illinois Commerce Commission approval on a tariff that will allow for the recovery of pipeline infrastructure investments across northern Illinois. This nine-year initiative, which begins in 2015, will allow Nicor Gas to replace hundreds of miles of aging distribution pipe and thousands of natural gas services, upgrade transmission and natural gas storage systems and replace and refurbish natural gas regulating stations.
Best Estimates: Developing New Quantification Protocol For Methane Emissions Reduction
Aggressive efforts are underway to reduce methane emissions from the natural gas sector and the industry is working on technologies and approaches for mitigating emissions. But it also must improve the way emissions are quantified. By establishing reasonable baselines, utilities will be able to provide more accurate reports about their emissions profiles and implement mitigation and reduction programs. GTI and its industry partners are working to update those baselines now.
Curtailment: It Can Happen To You
It’s no secret that last winter was one of the worst on record for the United States. The natural gas industry may have been hit the hardest, with prices rising due to the high level of demand that comes along with below zero temperatures and diminishing supply.
Integrys Replacing Aging Chicago Distribution System
With about 2,000 miles of cast iron mains to replace within its Peoples Gas distribution system, Integrys Energy Group would be facing a huge job, even in the friendliest of environments.
- Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Freeport LNG Plant Runs Near Zero Consumption for Fifth Day
- 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
- 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
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
