North America
Texas Freeze Could Bolster a Growing Recovery with New Demand
A historic arctic freeze that quickly spread over the state of Texas has caused short-term ceases in production for several refineries.
Are all oil and gas majors onboard with the energy transition?
In recent months we have seen an interesting trend, it has become clear that the oil and gas majors have started to present themselves as Integrated Energy Company’s (IECs) rather than International Oil Company’s (IOCs).
Agreement Between Maire Tecnimont Group and Essential Energy USA Corp for a new renewable diesel biorefinery in South America
Maire Tecnimont S.p.A., through its subsidiary NextChem and Essential Energy USA Corp. today have executed a Front-End Engineering Design contract as well as a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a new biorefinery in South America for the production of Renewable Diesel. Essential Energy USA Corp is one of the leading biofuels producers in South America.
ExxonMobil Plans to Complete its Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Project by Year’s End
ExxonMobil recently reduced its capex figures for this year, but despite an expected reduction down to $16 billion to $19 billion it is pushing some projects forward. The company’s venture with SABIC for a large ethane cracker and its derivate units are now anticipated for a 2021 startup, rather than the previous expectations for 2022.
Two Total and Borealis led Petrochemical Ventures in Texas Expected for Startup in 2021 and 2022
Two planned petrochemical units led by a Total and OMV-owned Borealis joint venture have updated their expected start times in Texas.
Alaska Seeks to Build Natgas Pipeline from North Slope to Fairbanks
(Reuters) — Alaska wants to start on the first phase of the state's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant and pipeline project by working with a private firm seeking to build a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Fairbanks.
Canada’s Come-by-Chance Refinery Seeing New Bids to Return as a Renewable Facility
According to recent reports, private firm Cresta Fund Management has placed an offer to purchase a majority stake in North Atlantic Refining LTD, who owns the presently idle 135,000 barrel per day Come-by-Chance refinery in Newfoundland. This refinery was one of the first sites in North America to shut in after the COVID-19 pandemic began to weaken demand.
U.S. Refiners Look Towards Renewable New Hopes
After seeing demand devastation in 2020 refiners in the United States are starting this year with new talk around the growth of renewable fuels to bolster their future in this ever-changing fuel scenario.
Limetree Bay Ventures Commences Refinery Startup Operations
Limetree Bay Ventures, LLC, a world-class refinery, terminal and logistics hub controlled by EIG Global Energy Partners (“EIG”), today announced that Limetree Bay Refining (“the Refinery”) has successfully resumed operations and begun production and commercial sales of refined products.
NextDecade Completes Evaluation of Galveston Bay LNG Site
NextDecade Corporation (NextDecade or the Company) (NASDAQ: NEXT) today announced that the Company has completed an evaluation of the Galveston Bay LNG site and determined that the site in Texas City is not suitable for development of an LNG facility and related infrastructure and utilities.
Michigan OKs Great Lakes Oil Pipeline Tunnel Permits
(AP) — Michigan's environmental agency said it has approved construction of an underground tunnel to house a replacement for a controversial oil pipeline in a channel linking two of the Great Lakes.
Darling and Valero’s Diamond Green Diesel Set to Begin Construction in Texas
Valero recently stated that it has approved construction at its 50/50 joint venture project with Darling known as the Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) renewable diesel project to be built onsite at Valero’s Port Arthur, Texas refinery complex.
CVR Energy Chooses Haldor Topsoe Technology for its Wynnewood Refinery Conversion
CVR Energy recently announced that it will convert its traditional refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma over to a renewable diesel facility with Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology in place. Haldor Topsoe has been contracted to provide basic engineering, license, proprietary equipment and catalysts.
Gas Projects in the U.S. Face Increasing Opposition in 2021
As 2021 began, a few projects in the United States quickly faced delays and challenges to their progress.
Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery considers solar to help meet power needs
The Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery is seeking bids for the construction of a large-scale solar development on the company’s property in Rosemount, Minnesota, to help meet the refinery’s electrical power needs and lower its energy costs. The 30-megawatt solar development would be among the largest of its kind in the nation where all the power is generated and consumed by a single business. The company has requested bids from select solar companies that specialize in building commercial-scale solar farms and integrating them within established operations. A decision on whether to proceed with the project is expected by mid-year 2021.
Data is king, integration is queen
Harnessing the power of data science and real-time intelligence offers a powerful single view of the market Few people know that data intelligence firm Kpler’s journey actually started in 2014, when the founders were told by an LNG trader: “I receive many proposals for ship-tracking software, but I don’t care about the ships. I care about cargoes into them, their volumes and the commercial information related to them”.
Air Liquide inaugurates the world's largest low-carbon hydrogen membrane-based production unit in Canada
Air Liquide has completed the construction of the world's largest PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzer. Supplied with renewable energy, this unit is now producing up to 8.2 tonnes per day of low-carbon hydrogen in Bécancour, Québec. With this large-scale investment, the Group confirms its long-term commitment to the hydrogen energy markets and its ambition to be a major player in the supply of low-carbon hydrogen.
Biden Issues Order to Block Keystone XL Pipeline
U.S. President Joe Biden revoked a necessary permit needed to construct the disputed Keystone XL Pipeline, foreshadowing a victory for U.S. landowners, Native American tribes and environmentalists in a lengthy battle spanning nearly twelve years.
Canada’s Connacher Oil and Gas Announces Pipeline Project
Connacher Oil and Gas expects to have a 18,000 barrel per day oil pipeline from its Great Divide oil sands leases near Fort McMurray, Alberta, completed by the second half of 2022.
Blow for Oregon's export hopes
The last remaining planned LNG export plant on the US West coast was dealt another blow by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), potentially delaying the project even further. Pembina’s 2-train, 7.8m t/y Jordan Cove Energy Project, located on the North Spit of Coos Bay in Oregon, planned..
New Pipelines Needed to Bring Appalachia Shales Natural Gas to Gulf Coast LNG Facilities, Study Shows
The Appalachia Basin, made up of the Marcellus formations and the Utica Shale, accounted for more than 40% of the natural gas produced in the U.S. in 2020.
Private Refinery in Louisiana Expected to Restart in February
Calcasieu Refining of Louisiana recently announced that it plans to restart its idled Calcasieu refinery in early February 2021. Production had been shut in since mid-2020.
Canada Urges Biden Not to Cancel Keystone XL on First Day
TORONTO (AP) — Top officials in Canada want a chance to make the case for a long-disputed oil pipeline to be built amid reports President-elect Joe Biden will cancel Keystone XL on his first day.
Continued Midstream Infrastructure Development Expected After Market Rebound
The INGAA Foundation released its report North American Midstream Infrastructure – A Near Term Update Through 2025, which shows the oil and gas markets should rebound and lead to further midstream infrastructure development.
Tellurian Hopes to Start Driftwood LNG Construction as Demand Picks Up
Tellurian executive chairman Charif Souki recently spoke on the progress around the company’s Driftwood LNG export project in Louisiana. He stated that “I hope that we will be in construction this summer,” and that “There is a strong need for additional liquefaction capacity and we’re probably the project that is the closest to starting construction.”
Equinor goes large
Equinor announced that it had been selected to provide New York State with offshore wind power in one of the largest renewable energy procurements in US history.
Double E Pipeline Gets FERC Approvals
Summit Midstream Partners announced that Double E Pipeline received its Notice to Proceed with construction, as well as approval of its Implementation Plan, from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
UAE Energy Minister believes oil demand could recover by the end of 2021
According to recent reports, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei has commented on a potentially updated timeline for a return to form for global oil demand. He believes that global demand will make a somewhat optimistic return to pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021 or early 2022.
Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Pflugerville Solar Project
Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, is expanding its solar energy portfolio by acquiring the 144-megawatt (MWac) Pflugerville Solar project from Recurrent Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc. The project is under construction in Travis County, Texas, and is expected to achieve commercial operation in mid-2021. The energy generated from the Pflugerville Solar project will be sold to Austin Energy under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
Calhoun Port Expanding, Connecting to Gray Oak Pipeline
Max Midstream and the Calhoun Port Authority announced that with the recent passage of the Water Resources and Development Act by Congress that expansion of the Calhoun Port will begin this year.
