Environment

BP Commits to Germany with $11 Billion Low-Carbon Investment Push

BP plans to invest up to $10.7 billion in low-carbon fuels, renewables and EV charging in Germany by the end of the decade to rival local power firms, as competition over the energy transition of Europe's largest economy intensifies.

EPA: Biden's Climate Act to Cut US Emissions by 2030 by 35-43%

The U.S. economy is on track to spew between 35% and 43% less carbon dioxide by 2030 from 2005 levels as a consequence of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a U.S. government report released on Tuesday showed.

Trans Mountain Pipeline May Face 9-Month Delay Over Route Dispute

The Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion could be delayed by up to nine months if regulators do not approve a route deviation request, the Canadian government corporation building the project said in a regulatory filing on Monday.

US Army Corps Holds Off Endorsing Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Alternative

On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Energy Transfer's Dakota Access oil pipeline. The statement evaluated five alternatives, including options like abandoning or rerouting the pipeline, but it did not make any recommendations.

Eni, Snam Set Ambitions for Italy's First Carbon Storage Project

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is key to ensuring the survival and the competitiveness in Italy of industries including steel, cement and chemicals, energy group Eni and gas grid operator Snam said on Friday.

Kinder Morgan Says Idalia Caused Minimal Damage to Florida Terminals

Kinder Morgan on Wednesday said its Port Manatee, Port Sutton and Tampaplex terminals in Florida sustained minimal damage due to Hurricane Idalia, and that it was also planning to shut its Charleston area terminals later in the day.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Faces Further Delays Over Route Change Dispute

Trans Mountain Corp. fears that the expansion of its Canadian oil pipeline may be delayed further unless a regulator allows it to change its route in British Columbia, according to a First Nation that opposes the route adjustment.

Kinder Morgan Prepares to Close Florida Pipeline System Ahead of Hurricane Idalia

U.S. oil producer Chevron on Tuesday said it evacuated staff from three U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil production platforms while Kinder Morgan planned to shut its Central Florida Pipeline system, as the energy companies braced for Hurricane Idalia.

First US Gulf Offshore Wind Auction to Fuel Region's Green Hydrogen Push

The U.S. Gulf Coast region, the nation's primary offshore source of oil and gas, has cheap electricity and lacks state mandates for renewable energy procurement, making it an unlikely place to expand one of the most expensive forms of clean energy.

Equitrans Provides Root Analysis for 2022 Gas Leak at Pennsylvania Storage Facility

(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream Corp. has submitted information to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regarding the root cause investigation and analysis related to the Rager Mountain Storage facility incident that occurred in November 2022.

Commonwealth LNG Partners with Baker Hughes to Enhance Louisiana LNG Facility

(P&GJ) — Commonwealth LNG has signed a strategic agreement with Baker Hughes related to Commonwealth LNG's liquefied natural gas facility under development in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Draft Environmental Study on Dakota Access Pipeline Expected in Fall

A U.S. court last year ordered the federal government to undertake a more intensive environmental study of the pipeline's route under a lake that straddles the border of North Dakota and South Dakota.

Key Hearing for 2,000-Mile Carbon Capture Pipeline Begins in Iowa

Iowa residents living along the route of the U.S.'s largest proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline told state regulators they were worried about possible ruptures and land takings at the start of a hearing that will determine the fate of the project.

Fidelis New Energy to Develop Carbon Neutral Hydrogen Facility in West Virginia

(P&GJ) — Fidelis New Energy has made the strategic decision to establish its inaugural net-zero carbon hydrogen production facility, featuring FidelisH2 proprietary technologies, along with a data center campus and a greenhouse system in Mason County, West Virginia.

Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation

(P&GJ) — Pipeline safety regulations require performing a calculation of the predicted failure pressure (PFP) of defects as part of an engineering critical assessment. Whether to include residual stress from pipe manufacturing, and selecting the magnitude of residual stress, can significantly affect the outcome of the PFP calculation. Guidance for accounting for residual stress is inconsistent.

Pipeline Operator Trans Mountain Says British Columbia Fires Pose No Risk to Its Operations

Canadian oil pipeline system operator Trans Mountain said on Sunday that the British Columbia wildfires posed no risk to its pipeline operations or its expansion project.

Bakken Success Boosts Need for Gas Capture Innovations

(P&GJ) — While one of North Dakota’s top energy officials, Justin Kringstad, readily leads the cheers for his state’s success with industry in curbing the economic and environmentally harmful practice of flaring associated gas at well sites.

US Natural Gas Groups Oppose Federal Plan to Eliminate Methane Leaks

U.S. natural gas trade groups on Wednesday opposed federal pipeline regulators' proposed methane leak detection rules to address the climate-change crisis. The gas associations said extensive changes needed to be made to PHMSA’s proposal for it to be technically and economically feasible.

Venezuela’s PDVSA Fails to Curb Oil Leaks, Gas Flaring Despite Pledges

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has failed to make any dent in its oil spill or gas flaring woes, despite nascent promises of environmental clean-up by President Nicolas Maduro's government, according to people within the company, industry sources and an internal company document seen by Reuters.

Chevron Invests in Lower-Carbon Pilot Projects in Australia

The energy major would provide funding to Carbon Sync, which is leading a soil carbon sequestration pilot project as well as a research project with Deakin University to explore potential carbon dioxide sequestration opportunities in the region's coastal wetlands.

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.

Vision RNG, Meridian Waste Launch Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas Project in Missouri

(P&GJ) — Vision RNG has announced that its Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) project at Meridian Waste’s Eagle Ridge Landfill in Bowling Green, Missouri is now fully operational.

Canada Looking to Sell Trans Mountain Pipeline Stake to Indigenous Groups

Canada is looking to sell a stake in the Trans Mountain oil pipeline to indigenous groups through a special-purpose vehicle that will allow individual communities to buy into the enterprise, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

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."

Williams and Chattanooga Gas Partner to Deliver Certified Low-Emission NextGen Gas

(P&GJ) — Williams has entered into an agreement with Chattanooga Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, to provide certified, low-emissions NextGen Gas over a three-year period.

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.

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.

TC Energy's Columbia Gas Pipeline Explodes Near Virginia's Interstate 81

(P&GJ) — A gas line explosion occurred near Strasburg, Virginia, in rural western Virginia, not far from Interstate 81. The incident took place on Tuesday morning and was promptly responded to by local officials, according to The Associated Press.

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).