Articles
Dominion shuts Maryland Cove Point LNG export plant for annual maintenance
Dominion Energy has shut its Cove Point LNG export terminal in Maryland for annual maintenance expected to last about three weeks, according to energy traders and company notices to customers. Natural gas flows to the plant fell close to zero on Monday from around 0.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) since its last maintenance outage from Sept. 20-Oct. 13, 2019, according to data from Refinitiv.
Argentina Pitches Pipeline to Brazil for Vaca Muerta Shale Gas
BRASILIA (Reuters) — Argentina is making a new push to pitch the building of a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline from its Vaca Muerta shale gas reserves to Brazil, and is seeking financing for the project, a source at the Argentine embassy said on Monday.
Uganda, Tanzania Sign Agreement for Pipeline Construction
(P&GJ) — Tanzania and Uganda signed an agreement on Sunday paving the way for the construction of a crude oil pipeline running from Ugandan oilfields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, a Tanzanian government spokesman said.
Freeport gets more time to build Train 4 at LNG export plant in Texas
(Reuters) - U.S. energy regulators granted Freeport LNG's request for three more years - until May 2026 - to complete its proposed fourth liquefaction train at its LNG export plant in Texas. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved construction of the fourth train in May 2019, requiring Freeport to finish the facility within four years by May 2023.
Enterprise Abandons Texas Pipeline Project as Oil Prices Remain Weak
(Reuters) — Enterprise Products Partners LP on Wednesday abandoned a major 450,000-barrel-per-day Permian crude pipeline project in Texas and agreed to give customers lower near-term commitments on other pipelines as oil prices remain stagnant.
Snam's DESFA eyeing 20% stake in Greek offshore LNG terminal
Greek gas grid DESFA, 66%-owned by a consortium led by Italy’s Snam, is interested in buying a stake in an offshore LNG terminal in northern Greece, people familiar with the matter said. DESFA is considering taking a 20% stake in the consortium developing the Alexandroupolis LNG project, which is expected to be operational by 2023, the sources said.
Up to 7 MMtpy of spare capacity available at North West Shelf by 2027
Wood Mackenzie’s latest report shows that the North West Shelf (NWS) LNG project could have up to 7 million tons per year (MMtpy) of spare capacity available by 2027. This equates to 40% of the project’s nominal capacity. The Woodside-operated five-train NWS facility has been producing LNG since 1989. Next year production capacity becomes available for the first time.
Chevron delays restart of Gorgon LNG unit
Chevron Corp anounced it will delay till October the restart of the Train 2 unit at its Gorgon LNG plant in Western Australia, as more time is needed to repair welds on its propane heat exchangers. Train 2 at Australia’s second-largest LNG plant has been shut since May for maintenance, which was extended after cracks were found in the production unit’s propane kettles. The company had hoped to complete the repairs by early September.
San Mateo Midstream Provides Pipeline, Black River LNG Updates
(P&GJ) — San Mateo Midstream has announced updates on several pipeline construction projects as well as the completion of is expansion of the Black River LNG plant in Eddy County, New Mexico.
Hydrogen Delivers New Future for Holland’s Pipeline Network
The European Union’s ambitious decarbonization policies and plans for a green economic recovery will have repercussions on the continent’s pipeline networks, none more so than Holland’s.
2020 Midyear International Outlook: Pipeline Construction & Market Trends
The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically affected oil and gas production and demand, leaving no midstream markets untouched as drilling screeched to a halt, pipeline projects were sidelined and global storage neared capacity in a stark reversal of trends at the start of 2020.
Regulators Approve Two Pipeline Projects in North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — State regulators have approved two pipeline projects in North Dakota.
Eyeing demand recovery in a post-COVID-19 world
At AFPM's virtual Summit on Tuesday, Robert Auers, Senior Consultant at Turner, Mason & Company, hosted an afternoon session on challenges in the U.S. refining sector, including how COVID-19 has affected the short-term global demand for refined products and the prospects for demand longer term.
2020 AFPM Summit: Five trends to watch as coronavirus reshapes the global olefins industry
The coronavirus outbreak is having a transformational effect on global olefins. Supply, demand, trade, pricing, costs and margins are all being affected to the extent that it will undoubtedly reshape the wider industry.
UK strives to develop economically viable deepwater wind capabilities
To further exploit the UK’s vast wind power potential, technology advances and cost reductions are required for floating installations to compete commercially against bottom-fixed facilities.
Kinder Morgan Reroutes Portion of Permian Pipeline, Reaffirms Commitment
(P&GJ) — Texas energy firm Kinder Morgan remains committed to its Permian Highway Pipeline and has agreed to reroute a short portion of the project after experiencing drilling fluid spills and notable opposition in recent months.
ConocoPhillips Gets U.S. Green Light for Alaska Oil Project
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Trump Administration on Friday approved U.S. oil producer ConocoPhillips' plan for drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, a wilderness area along the state's North Slope oil fields.
PennEast Pipeline Receives Favorable Environmental Review from Regulators
(P&GJ) — The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released a favorable environmental statement for a revised construction proposal for Enbridge’s PennEast Pipeline.
U.S. Appeals Court Allows Dakota Access Pipeline to Keep Running
(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday said that the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) does not have to be shut and drained per a lower court order.
Hydrogen economy offers low-emissions fuel to combat air pollution
The air quality indexes (AQIs) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations in many fast-developing countries and regions are climbing to high levels that are considered extremely hazardous to public health and the environment. For example, the AQI of New Delhi, India was recently assessed above 300 (severe), and PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm), PM10 (aerodynamic diameter < 10 µm) concentrations also reached extremely hazardous levels.
Germany Plans Ambitious Hydrogen Pipeline Network
Over the next decade, Germany plans to create the longest hydrogen transmission pipeline network in the world and it will be an integral part of the country’s “green stimulus” program to restart the economy after the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
A Little Good News from Back East
The pipeline industry in the U.S. Northeast finally got some positive news on the permitting front, when New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) received the go-ahead to move forward with construction work on a controversial 30-mile (48-km) section of the Southern Reliability Link (SRL) pipeline in New Jersey.
IRPC Americas ONLINE: Refinery-Petrochemical integration – Upgrading existing refineries to maximize chemicals
Raj Singh, Senior FCC technologist, TechnipFMC, presented a highly informative technical session on Refinery-Petrochemical integration - Upgrading existing refineries to maximize chemicals at Hydrocarbon Processing’s IRPC Americas ONLINE event today.
Calculating petroleum quantities in the 21st century
Over the past 100 yr, a number of technological advances and process improvements have dramatically changed how the oil and gas industry finds, produces and refines petroleum. The industry has made vast improvements in physical property databases, calculation procedures, and the determination of density and petroleum quantities by incorporating advances in modern processing technologies and updating measurement standards.
Global announcements and developments July
The industry's most comprehensive list of current and recent rounds for onshore and offshore licences
Oil firms ready to pick up the infrastructure divestment pace
Pipelines, storage facilities and processing plants could replace non-advantaged production as prime candidates Oil and gas producing firms create the most value by exploring for, developing and producing hydrocarbons. Internal rates of return (IRRs) far in excess of 20pc are the norm for successful upstream projects.
End of an Era? Series of Setbacks Bode ill for Big Pipeline Projects
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK — A rapid-fire succession of setbacks for big energy pipelines in the United States this week has revealed an uncomfortable truth for the oil and gas industry: environmental activists and landowners opposed to projects have become good at blocking them in court.
Caution creeps into investors’ oil and gas infrastructure appetite
The US downturn and the inexorable rise of ESG concerns are clouds on the horizon even for traditionally low-risk energy investments Infrastructure assets have remained relatively immune to the negative sentiment from investors towards fossil fuels—good news for IOCs looking to sell off non-core pipelines, processing plants and storage tanks to generate cash. But this immunity may be waning. Investors like the steady source of revenue from these assets, which help to diversify their investment portfolios and can provide some protection from low oil prices.
Developers Cancel Long-Delayed Atlantic Coast Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The developers of the long-delayed, $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced the cancellation of the multi-state natural gas project Sunday, citing uncertainties about costs, permitting and litigation.
Tallgrass Energy Cheyenne Connector Pipeline Enters Service
(P&GJ) — Tallgrass Energy announced that both the Cheyenne Connector pipeline and the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) Cheyenne Hub Enhancement Project will commence commercial service effective June 26, 2020, having obtained approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on June 24, 2020.
