Regulation

Canada Reaches Out to Indigenous Groups About Trans Mountain Stake Sale

The Canadian government has reached out to Indigenous groups about potentially selling them a stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, edging ahead on its long-promised involvement of local communities in the controversial project, the finance minister's office said on Wednesday.

Montana Judge Rules State Policies Must Consider Climate Change in Fossil Fuel Projects

Montana is violating the rights of young people with policies that prohibit the state from considering climate change effects when it reviews coal mining, natural gas extraction and other fossil fuel projects, a state judge said Monday.

US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Mountain Valley Pipeline

A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a challenge to federal approvals for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, in a decision that likely ends legal fights over the construction of the $6.6 billion natural gas project led by Equitrans Midstream.

Australia Regulator Clears Way for Strike Vote at Chevron LNG Plants

Australia's labor regulator cleared the way for strike action at Chevron's Wheatstone and Gorgon LNG facilities if workers vote in favor of such a step, fueling concerns the country's exports could be cut.

US Awards $1.2 Billion to Oxy, Climeworks-Led Carbon Air Capture Hubs

The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday announced that projects in Texas and Louisiana to remove more than 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year will get over $1 billion in federal grants, a key step in scaling up direct air capture (DAC) technology.

Editor’s Notebook: Is Rerouting Line 5 the Best Option?

(P&GJ) — In a ruling that could be interpreted as a split decision, a U.S. District Court judge has told Enbridge it can continue to operate its Line 5 pipeline through an indigenous people’s territory but must relocate a portion of the line by 2026.

Challenges to Biden's Carbon Plan Emerge from U.S. Power Sector

Edison Electric Institute has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for revisions of the proposed power plant standards, which hinge on the widespread commercial availability of carbon capture and storage and low-emissions green hydrogen, adding the agency's vision was "not legally or technically sound."

Venture Global LNG Addresses Controversy Surrounding Delayed LNG Cargoes

Venture Global LNG responded strongly on Monday to allegations from certain customers such as BP and Shell regarding the delay in LNG shipments from its Louisiana export facility, accusing them of distorting confidential long-term agreements.

Canada Guarantees Up to $2.2 Billion in Fresh Loans to Trans Mountain Expansion Project

A Canadian government agency has guaranteed fresh commercial loans of up to $2.2 billion to the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project that has suffered repeated cost overruns.

North Dakota Regulator Rejects Summit Carbon Solutions Carbon Pipeline Application

The North Dakota Public Service Commission on Friday rejected a permit application from Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions to run 320 miles (514.99 km) of pipeline through the state to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to an underground storage site.

US Pulls Back Offer to Buy 6 Million Barrels of Oil for Emergency Reserve

The Biden administration has pulled an offer to buy 6 million barrels of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an Energy Department spokesperson said on Tuesday, as oil prices are expected to keep rising after an output cut from Saudi Arabia.

Pipeline Operator TC Energy Plans to Complete Coastal GasLink Pipeline This Year

TC Energy's surprise plan to split the company last week accelerated a stock selloff. Still, shareholders bet the North American pipeline operator will finish the year on a higher note by completing the 670-km (416-mile) Coastal GasLink pipeline.

Criteria to Consider in Selecting Water Transfer Flow Meters

(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry contains a complex number of flow applications, featuring a myriad of fluids and gases that challenge even the toughest of flow instrumentation. So, choosing the right flow meter for a water transfer application should be straightforward in comparison … right?

BP to Defend Its Rights to the Fullest in Venture Global LNG Arbitration Case, CEO Says

BP will defend its rights "to the absolute fullest" in an arbitration case against U.S. exporter Venture Global LNG for failing to supply contracted cargoes, CEO Bernard Looney said on Tuesday.

Equitrans to Begin Construction on Ohio Valley Connector Expansion Project

(P&GJ) — On Monday, FERC issued the Notice to Proceed, signaling Equitrans' imminent commencement of construction. The expansion project is designed to enhance deliverability on its Ohio Valley Connector pipeline, bolstering its capacity by approximately 350 MMcf/d.

Equitrans' 303-Mile Mountain Valley Pipeline on Track to Be Completed by Year-End 2023

U.S. energy company Equitrans Midstream on Tuesday said it still expects to complete the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline by the end of the year despite being tangled in numerous court fights since construction began in 2018.

SwRI Tapping into Geothermal Energy Possibilities in Texas

(P&GJ) — Electric power generates the second-largest share of greenhouse gas emissions and includes emissions from electricity production used by end use sectors, such as industry. Nearly 80% of electricity in the U.S. comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas.

Pipeline Companies to Pay $12.5 Million in Penalties After Spills in Montana, North Dakota

Belle Fourche Pipeline Company and Bridger Pipeline LLC that own and operate a network of crude oil pipelines in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming have together agreed to pay a $12.5 million civil penalty relating to oil spills.

TSA Updates Cybersecurity Requirements for Pipeline Owners, Operators

(P&GJ) — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced an update to its Security Directive regarding oil and natural gas pipeline cybersecurity. This revised directive will continue the effort to reinforce cybersecurity preparedness and resilience for the nation's critical pipelines.

Venture Global LNG's Calcasieu Pass 2 Project Gets Final U.S. Environmental Nod

Venture Global LNG's proposed Calcasieu Pass 2 project in Louisiana has received FERC's environmental approval, clearing the way for a final vote by the commission on expanding the company's natural gas liquefaction facility.

Supreme Court Approves Completion of 303-Mile Mountain Valley Gas Pipeline

The justices granted Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC's request to lift stays imposed by a lower court that had halted construction of a final short section of the 303-mile (488-km) natural gas pipeline. That section is a 3.5-mile (5.6-km) corridor through the federally owned Jefferson National Forest.

EQT in Deal with Energy Transfer Louisiana Lake Charles LNG Export Plant

EQT, the biggest U.S. natural gas producer, entered into an LNG agreement with U.S. energy firm Energy Transfer's proposed Lake Charles LNG export plant in Louisiana.

Canada Releases Framework to Phase Out Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Climate policy analysts said the framework was an important step forward but fell short in continuing to allow government support for oil and gas projects that plan to reduce emissions through technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).

US to Spend $700 Million for Oil and Gas Sector to Cut Methane Emissions

The U.S. government will provide up to $700 million in funding to monitor and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, setting aside half of the amount for grants to states, two agencies said on Monday.

Managing Lost and Unaccounted for Gas Volumes

(P&GJ) — Lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) gas is a calculated value that compares the amount of gas coming into a system (purchased) to the amount of gas leaving that system (sold or otherwise accounted for). Although LAUF is often equated to leaking pipes and equipment, leaks generally only represent a small portion of the value.

Natural Gas Pipeline at Risk as Wildfire Sweeps Through Washington County

The Newell Road Wildfire has already destroyed several structures in the area and is threatening homes, farms, crops and livestock, solar and wind farms and a natural gas pipeline, county emergency officials said.

Natural Gas Connection Failure Investigated in Fatal Pennsylvania Factory Explosion

(P&GJ) — Federal safety inspectors confirmed Tuesday that natural gas seeped through a faulty connection at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory where a strong explosion destroyed one building, severely damaged another, and killed seven people

Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass LNG Plant Returns to Normal

Cheniere Energy Inc.'s Sabine Pass LNG export facility returned to normal processing levels on Thursday following an outage at one of its units on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Senate Backs Amendment Banning US Strategic Oil Reserve Sales to China

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment to an annual defense bill on Thursday that would ban exports to China of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Argentina Turns Away Gunvor-Chartered LNG Tanker, Citing Sanctions

A tanker containing LNG that originated from a Russia supplier and was loaded onto a Gunvor Group-chartered vessel off the coast of France was turned away this week by Argentine energy firm Enarsa, according to officials.