Regulation

Mexico Seizes Air Liquide's Hydrogen Plant at Pemex Refinery

Mexico expropriated a hydrogen plant at a Pemex state oil refinery that a previous administration sold to French firm Air Liquide, the government announced in an official gazette on Thursday.

Ceiling on Venezuela's Oil Output Growth Expected as U.S. Oil License Expires

The expiration of the widest U.S. license so far granted to Venezuela's oil and gas industry will put a ceiling on the South American country's slow crude production growth unless Washington grants enough individual authorizations to compensate, according to analysts and experts.

U.S. Considers Releasing More SPR Oil to Keep Gas Prices Low, White House Adviser Says

U.S. President Joe Biden will do what he can to ensure affordable gasoline prices, White House senior adviser John Podesta said at an industry conference on Tuesday, when asked about future releases of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Dutch Senate Approves Law to Permanently Close Shell, Exxon-Operated Groningen Gas Field

The Dutch Senate on Tuesday approved a law to permanently close the Groningen gas field, following the government's promise that production will never be resumed to limit seismic risks in the region.

Texas Regulators Fine Freeport LNG for Environmental Breaches

Texas' environmental regulator has fined LNG exporter Freeport LNG $152,173 for violating state air pollution emissions rules for periods between 2019 and 2021, the company reported on Tuesday.

Biden Unlikely to Tighten Iran Oil Sanctions Following Israel Attack, Analysts Say

Iran's unprecedented missile and drone strike on Israel is unlikely to prompt dramatic sanctions action on Iran's oil exports from the Biden administration due to worries about boosting oil prices and angering top buyer China, said analysts.

Black & Veatch Receives Green Light for Canada's First FLNG Project

Black & Veatch, in collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries, has received full authorization from Cedar LNG LP partners to commence construction of Cedar LNG's floating liquefaction facility in Kitimat, British Columbia.

Kansas City Fed Survey: Oil, Gas Activity Declines in U.S. Midwest, Rockies During Q1 2024

Oil and gas energy activity in Oklahoma, Colorado and the northern part of New Mexico fell in the first quarter of 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Missouri, said on Friday in its quarterly survey of energy activity.

U.S. Finalizes Big Reforms to Federal Oil and Gas Drilling

President Joe Biden's administration on Friday finalized a range of reforms designed to boost returns and address environmental harms from oil and gas drilling on public lands.

Oklahoma Attorney General Sues Enable and Symmetry Over Winter Storm Uri Natural Gas Price Hikes

(P&GJ) — Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed litigation against Enable Midstream Partners (Enable) entities and Symmetry Energy Solutions LLC, accusing them of artificially inflating natural gas prices in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri.

EU Parliament Approves Legal Option to Block Russian LNG Imports

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to pass rules allowing European governments to ban Russian LNG imports, by preventing Russian firms from booking gas infrastructure capacity.

Germany's Mukran LNG Terminal Receives Operating Permit

Germany's Baltic Sea import terminal for LNG at Mukran on Ruegen island has received its operating permit under federal and state laws, private operating company Deutsche ReGas said on Wednesday.

DeLa Express’ 690-Mile Permian-to-Louisiana Gas Pipeline Seeks FERC Approval, Targets 2028 Launch

(P&GJ) — DeLa Express LLC, an affiliate of Moss Lake Partners, has formally requested FERC approval to initiate the Pre-Filing Review Process for the proposed DeLa Express Project—a 690-mile natural gas pipeline aiming to transport gas from production sites in the Delaware Basin, Texas, to markets around Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Chesapeake, Southwestern $7.4 Billion Merger Delayed by FTC's Request for More Information

Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy said on Friday the closing date of their proposed $7.4 billion merger has been pushed back to the second half of the year after receiving a U.S. regulator's second request for information.

AMPP Unveils New Guide to Enhance Pipeline Safety Through Corrosion Control

AMPP unveils a comprehensive guide to enhance pipeline safety through corrosion control, aligning with the latest PHMSA regulations. Developed by industry experts, the guide offers practical strategies for U.S. gas transmission operators and valuable insights for international counterparts, all aimed at safeguarding pipeline integrity.

Enterprise Products Partner's Texas Gulf Coast Oil-Export Facility License Upheld by U.S. Court

A U.S. appeals court on Thursday upheld federal approval of a deepwater oil-export facility planned off the Texas Gulf Coast, saying the proposed Enterprise Products Partners facility had met environmental review criteria.

Enbridge Receives Approval to Begin Service on Louisiana Venice Gas Pipeline Project

Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge's Texas Eastern Transmission subsidiary received approval on Thursday from U.S. energy regulators to commence service of a natural gas pipeline associated with its Venice extension project in Louisiana.

U.S. Halts Louisiana SPR Contracts Due to High Oil Prices

The U.S. Department of Energy on Wednesday said it will not award oil supply contracts for Louisiana's Bayou Choctaw Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) site in August and September due to high oil prices.

Trans Mountain's Expanded Pipeline System to Begin Operations on May 1

Trans Mountain's expanded oil pipeline system will start commercial operations on May 1, the Canadian company said on Wednesday.

Biden Administration Cancels Latest Oil Reserve Refill Plan Amid High Prices

The U.S. has canceled the purchase of about 3 million barrels of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve due to rising prices, slowing down the pace of replenishment after a historic sale from the emergency stockpile in 2022.

Court Upholds FERC's Authority in Gas Pipeline, LNG Project Deadline Extensions

(P&GJ) — A recent court ruling upheld FERC's authority to extend deadlines for approved natural gas projects, despite opposition from environmental groups. The cases in question involved the Northern Access Pipeline in Pennsylvania and the expansion of Cheniere's Corpus Christi Liquefaction LNG facility in Texas.

Shell Seeks Longer U.S. License Before Committing to Venezuela Gas Project

Oil major Shell is seeking a long-term license from the U.S. before making a final investment decision on the Dragon natural gas project in Venezuela, four people familiar with the matter said.

White House Considers Ending LNG Export Pause for Ukraine Aid, Sources Say

U.S. officials are open to ending President Joe Biden's pause on approvals of LNG exports to get a Ukraine aid package passed in Congress, but want to wait to see the entire proposal before making any decisions, two White House sources said on Tuesday.

Cheniere's Reduced Output Leads to Decline in U.S. LNG Demand

There was a significant decline on Tuesday in the amount of U.S. natural gas being liquefied for export with a drop in demand from Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi plant in Texas and its Sabine Pass operation in Louisiana, according to data from financial firm LSEG.

INGAA Commends House Leaders for Advancing Pipeline Safety Bill

Amy Andryszak, president and CEO of INGAA, commended the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce for its progress in advancing the Pipeline Safety, Modernization, and Expansion Act of 2024.

XCL Resources Seeks FTC Approval for Altamont Energy Acquisition

The application seeks approval from the agency for its proposed acquisition of Altamont Energy, LLC, an oil and gas operator in Utah's Uinta Basin region.

Colonial Pipeline Delays Shutdown of Baltimore Segment After Bridge Collapse

Colonial Pipeline will delay the shutdown of a small, underutilized section of its pipeline system that delivers fuel to North Baltimore from April 1 to May 1, according to a notice to shippers seen by Reuters.

API Releases New Standard for Public Engagement in Pipeline Operations

The standard, titled API Recommended Practice (RP) 1185, Pipeline Public Engagement, aims to foster proactive, inclusive, and collaborative communication throughout the lifecycle of pipeline construction and operation.

Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price

The Biden administration on Wednesday awarded contracts to buy 2.8 million barrels of oil for the government's emergency reserve for more than $81 a barrel, $2 above the target purchase price.

Hydrogen Industry Urges Streamlined Process for U.S. Tax Credits

Some companies planning to use new U.S. tax credits to deploy hydrogen projects urged the Treasury Department this week to ease proposed environmental requirements, warning that they could hinder the nascent industry’s takeoff.