Regulation
Projects September 2023
The Trans Mountain expansion project plans to call on oil producers to start filling the pipeline in the days ahead, the head of shipper Canadian Natural Resources said during a quarterly earnings call.
Non-Contact, Drone-Based Technology for Movement Assessment
(P&GJ) — Based on its R&D experience, Skipper NDT decided in 2019 to address pipeline geolocation and strain assessment using UAS. This effort has provided a 2.2-kg and a 160-cm wide embedded system that can be easily mounted on any UAS.
Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation—Part 2
(P&GJ) — An objective was to determine residual stress values corresponding to target probabilities, such as the 90th percentile. Every reference reviewed reported maximum stress levels, but only one-third of the references presented other residual stresses as they vary with position in the pipe.
Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Halt Carbon Pipeline Permits Amid Safety Concerns
The United States should not permit any new carbon dioxide pipelines until updated federal safety regulations are finished, a dozen Democratic members of Congress said in a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
Biden Angers All Sides with Scaled Back Offshore Oil Drilling Plan
The Biden administration's plan to slash offshore oil and gas leasing drew fire from both the fossil fuel industry and environmentalists on Friday, with energy companies saying it will raise fuel prices and greens saying it undermines efforts to stop global warming.
Freeport LNG Asks FERC to Authorize Texas Export Plant Restart
U.S. LNG company Freeport LNG sought permission from federal energy regulators to take more steps to return its export plant in Texas to full commercial operation.
Navigator CO2 Ventures Seeks Pause in Iowa Permit Process for 1,300-Mile Carbon Pipeline
Navigator CO2 Ventures has asked Iowa regulators to pause the permit application process for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline project that will run across five U.S. Midwest states as it awaits approval in Illinois, where its carbon storage site would be located.
US LNG Exports Slump in September as Plant Outages Pare Output
U.S. LNG exports in September decreased slightly compared to August, primarily due to maintenance outages at key gas-processing plants. Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility operated at reduced capacity for four days, while ongoing maintenance at Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point facility in Maryland also impacted LNG exports last month.
Turkey to Resume Operations of Iraq Oil Pipeline This Week
Turkey will restart operations this week on a crude oil pipeline from Iraq that has been suspended for about six months, Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Monday.
Woodside Needs New Seismic Approval for Scarborough Gas Project
Australia's federal court on Thursday halted approval for Woodside to conduct seismic blasting under the seabed for its $12 billion Scarborough gas project after a legal challenge by an Indigenous woman.
Analysis: US Carbon Capture Pipeline Setbacks Reflect Challenges in Climate Fight
A series of permit rejections for two high-profile carbon pipeline projects in the U.S. Midwest could bode poorly for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a widespread solution to climate change, reflecting deep-seated public concern about its risks and environmental impacts.
Collaboration Helps Balance Public, Owner Pipeline Project Interests
(P&GJ) — For linear projects such as pipelines, dealing with the unexpected should be expected. The best preparation for these surprises is to partner with a team structured for close collaboration between the real estate and engineering disciplines as well as everything in between.
Challenges of Converting Pipelines to Hydrogen Service
(P&GJ) — ASME B31.8, ASME B31.4, and CSA Z662 have well-deserved international reputations as best-in-class, evidenced by their frequent reference by documents within other jurisdictions. However, the standards don't contain explicit requirements to address the design, construction and operational challenges presented by transporting gaseous hydrogen at transmission pressures.
Trans Mountain Pipeline Route Change Request Approved by Canadian Regulator
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) approved a route change request for the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion on Monday, clearing a major hurdle and avoiding months of delay for the Canadian government-owned project.
FERC Approves Sempra's Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 Expansion Project
(P&GJ) — Sempra Infrastructure has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the permit authorizing the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 expansion project under development at Port Arthur LNG in Jefferson County, Texas.
TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Pipeline Fined for Environmental Non-Compliance
British Columbia has fined Coastal GasLink, the natural gas pipeline being built by TC Energy, $256,810 for non-compliance with environmental regulations, the Canadian province said on Thursday.
FACTBOX: Deals on the Rise in US Oil and Gas Pipeline Sector
The oil and gas pipeline business has seen increased consolidation this year as U.S. production grows and new pipeline permitting problems have made existing operators more valuable.
Latest Pipeline Security Initiatives Inside, Outside of NATO
(P&GJ) — Following the attack on the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline a year ago, NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the protection of critical infrastructure with NATO’s members. He made a special point of reaching out to German leaders and to Denmark’s defense minister, since this is the country closest to the damage.
US Pipeline Regulator Awards $15 Million Grants to Improve Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Wednesday awarded $14.8 million in grants for pipeline safety training and technological research.
Berkshire Hathaway Maryland Cove Point LNG Export Plant Shut
The amount of natural gas flowing to U.S. energy firm Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point LNG export plant in Maryland fell to near zero on Wednesday, a sign that the plant likely shut for work expected to start on Sept. 21.
How Emissions Are Measured: Gas Concentration vs. Emission Rate
(P&GJ) — The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed a rule in May that included significant measures to reduce emissions from pipelines and other midstream infrastructure.
Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion to Disrupt Oil Flow to US, Boost Prices
Canada's Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion (TMX), which will nearly triple the flow of crude from Alberta to Canada's Pacific Coast beginning early next year, will shake up North America's supply by diverting barrels now mainly delivered to refiners and exporters in the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast.
U.S. Lawmakers Urge Biden to Revive Kurdistan Pipeline for Economic Relief
A new U.S. approach is needed to facilitate the re-opening of a pipeline between Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and Turkey, a trio of U.S. congressmen urged President Biden in a letter seen by Reuters.
Japan's Mitsui to Comply with Arctic LNG 2-Related U.S. Sanctions
Japan's Mitsui said on Saturday it is committed to complying with restrictions in the wake of fresh U.S. sanctions related to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 liquefied natural gas project in which it holds a stake.
Budget Bill Permitting Provisions Slight Natural Gas Industry
(P&GJ) — The natural gas industry greeted the permitting reform bill Congress passed and President Biden signed with something short of enthusiasm to say the least.
Canada's Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline's Faces Hearing on Route Change Dispute
Canadian regulators on Monday kicked off a two-day hearing to weigh up a controversial route change request from the Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) project that has sparked Indigenous opposition and may lead to further delays for the key oil pipeline.
Editor's Notebook: Colorado’s Bold Initiative
(P&GJ) — The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) recently adopted rules aimed at increasing repair inspections and leak detection at oil and gas facilities throughout the state. While these new guidelines do not affect midstream directly, there are implications for the sector due to the growing emphasis on carbon-capture and related pipelines.
Irish Planning Body Rejects Major LNG Terminal, Cites Climate Plan
Ireland's top planning body has refused permission for a major new LNG terminal, citing the government's greenhouse gas reduction targets, a possibly fatal blow to a project supporters say is essential to the country's energy security.
Trans Mountain Asks Regulator to Approve Oil Pipeline Tolls Despite Shipper Complaints
Trans Mountain Corp., the oil pipeline company owned by the Canadian government, asked a regulator on Thursday to approve the proposed tolls it wants to charge shippers, who have said they are too high.
US Contacts Oil Producers, Refiners as Gasoline Prices Rise
The head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers said that the U.S. Energy Department has talked to oil producers and refiners to ensure stable fuel supplies during rising gasoline prices.
- Freeport LNG Plant Runs Near Zero Consumption for Fifth Day
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Mexico Seizes Air Liquide's Hydrogen Plant at Pemex Refinery
- Kinder Morgan Declares Force Majeure on West Texas Gas Pipeline After Fire
- Enbridge Picks Contractors for Great Lakes Tunnel Project, Securing Line 5 Pipeline Route
- Pipeline Hydro Test Pressure Determination
- Venezuela Proposes Alternative Payment Plan as Weak Bids Surface in Citgo Auction
- Baker Hughes Wins Contract for Huge Aramco Gas Expansion Project
- Japan Looks at Developing Domestic Pipelines Sector
- Enbridge Picks Contractors for Great Lakes Tunnel Project, Securing Line 5 Pipeline Route
