North America
Environmental Groups Appeal Illinois Approval of DAPL Expansion
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Environmental groups are appealing a decision made last month by Illinois regulators to allow the expansion of the Dakota Access oil pipeline (DAPL), according to documents filed with the state.
Max Midstream Announces Binding Open Season
HOUSTON (P&GJ) — Max Midstream Texas announced it is launching an open season to solicit shipper commitments for services in the Eagle Ford region on its Seahawk crude oil pipeline.
Yellow Hydrogen: A Carbon Free Method of Developing More Cost-Effective Hydrogen
In the hydrogen industry blue and green hydrogen get most of the press. They are seen as the two best methods of developing hydrogen while lowering carbon emissions. Blue hydrogen is the more economic choice for the near term while green is the long-term choice with the expectation that costs will be driven down through government incentives and economies of scale. But there are other methods of developing carbon free hydrogen today with lower costs. Nuclear facilities around the world are already generating large amounts of clean electricity and heat.
Support for wind's growth
The International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Renewables 2020 released on 10 November 2020, proclaims that renewable power is defying the Covid crisis with record growth this year and next. It goes on to say that renewables will account for almost 90% of the increase in total power capacity worldwide in 2020 and will accelerate in 2021 to their fastest growth in the last six years. Wind and solar additions are set to jump by 30% in both the United States and China as developers rush to take advantage of expiring incentives.
Solar Installed capacity is dominated by China and United States
Looking into data available from the International Renewables Energy Agency (Irena) it is clear from the information that China and United States are leading the way when it comes to solar installed capacity and looks to continue
Potential $9.2 billion renewable fuel complex under study in Louisiana
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards recently announced that Fidelis Infrastructure portfolio company Grön Fuels LLC of Houston is currently preparing a feasibility study for a significant renewable fuel complex to be placed in the Port of Baton Rouge.
Firm Led by Former Alaska Governor Seeks to Take over LNG Project
(Reuters) - Former Alaska Governor Bill Walker said this week he was a founding member of Alaska Gasline & LNG LLC (AGLNG) that wants to take over the state's Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project and complete it by March 2028.
Enbridge releases energy transition strategy for a lower carbon future
Canada’s largest pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. released a long-term strategy in early November to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 35% by 2030 and achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Shell announces it will close the Convent refinery in Louisiana
Royal Dutch Shell announced on Thursday afternoon that it plans to shut down its Convent refinery in Louisiana due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This closure is expected this month and will be the largest facility in the United States to close since the pandemic began its effect on the economy.
Dominion Energy Proposes Largest Slate of New Solar Facilities for Virginia Customers
Dominion Energy Virginia proposed its largest slate yet of new solar projects as the company moves forward to provide customers with more clean energy. The nine solar facilities would bring nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy to customers, enough to power around 125,000 homes at peak output. The proposal comes just months after enactment of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and builds on what is already the third-largest solar portfolio among utility holding companies in the United States.
Canada confident in future of Keystone XL Pipeline despite US election
While a Biden presidential win could be the final blow for the Keystone XL Pipeline, O’Regan is confident the project will remain on track to come online in 2021 regardless of who’s in power.
Samsung Engineering signs on for next phase of Mexico’s Dos Bocas Refinery
Samsung recently announced that its consortium comprised of Samsung Ingenieria Manzanillo, S.A. de C.V. and Asociados Constructores DBNR, S.A. de C.V. (AC DBNR) have been awarded a $3.6 billion contract for the next phase of work at the Dos Bocas Refinery. This refinery is located at the Dos Bocas Harbor in Mexico’s Tabasco State.
Shell announces plans to reduce its refining portfolio
Royal Dutch Shell recently announced that it plans to reduce its refinery portfolio down to a count of six as the company plans to increase its lower carbon projects and to further support future cash planning. A time frame was not specified but could be completed in the next five years.
NIPSCO Announces New Indiana-Based Solar Projects to Power 270,000 Homes by 2023
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), today announced that it will bring an additional 900 megawatts (MW) to Indiana with the Dunns Bridge I, Dunns Bridge II and Cavalry Solar Energy Centers as part of the company’s long-term generation strategy. NIPSCO has finalized three build transfer agreements with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the sun and a leader in energy storage. The solar projects are expected to begin construction in 2022 and expected to be operational in 2022 and 2023.
TC Energy Sees Higher Costs for Coastal Gaslink Pipeline
(Reuters) — TC Energy Corp said it expects costs for its Coastal Gaslink pipeline in British Columbia to rise compared to the previously disclosed estimate due to increased scope, permit delays and COVID-19 impacts.
"Yes, Joe Biden really does want to end America’s oil and gas industry," says Gulf Energy Information CEO
The Biden energy plan has dire consequences for the oil and gas industry and the American economy.
Judge: Michigan Regulator Can Evaluate Enbridge Pipeline Tunnel Plan
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Public Service Commission has some authority over Enbridge's plans to build an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the channel that connects two of the Great Lakes, a state administrative law judge ruled Friday.
Chevron Phillips Chemical delays the FID on its Gulf Coast petrochemical project
Chevron Phillip Chemical (CP Chem) has reportedly chosen to delay a final investment decision (FID) on a proposed 2 million ton per year ethane cracker and a 2 million ton per year high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit with its partner Qatar Petroleum.
Formosa Plastics postpones construction on its Sunshine petrochemicals project in Louisiana
Formosa Plastics subsidiary FG LA LLC recently announced that it has chosen to defer the primary construction at the two-phase Sunshine petrochemicals project in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The negative effects on the industry caused by COVID-19 was named as the cause for delay.
EDF Renewables North America and Geenex Solar Transact on a 4.5 gigawatt (GWac) Solar Development Portfolio
EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Geenex Solar, LLC (Geenex), announced the close of an agreement of up to 4.5 gigawatt (GWac) pipeline of solar development assets throughout PJM. The pipeline acquisition brings to EDF Renewables the regional development expertise of Geenex, a leader of utility-scale solar development, while EDFR contributes with its financial and late-stage development expertise from a long-term owner and operator perspective. The transaction will accelerate EDFR growth in the PJM wholesale electricity market to meet the growing demands of corporate and utility customers seeking cost-effective renewable energy sources. The portfolio of project assets in the transaction exceed 20 solar projects in various stages of development. The first projects expect commercial operation in 2023 with other projects to follow.
Marathon begins permit approval process for Martinez renewable diesel conversion
Marathon Petroleum recently announced that it has begun the permit application process for the conversion of its idle Martinez refinery into a renewable diesel facility.
Trans Mountain Agrees to Reroute Pipeline Around Indigenous Area
(P&GJ) — The Trans Mountain pipeline has agreed to reroute a portion of its expansion project around an indigenous area, according to a filing with Canadian energy regulators.
Saudi Aramco, Investors Discussing $10 Billion Pipeline Deal — Sources
DUBAI (Reuters) — Saudi Aramco is in talks with BlackRock and other investors on a planned deal worth over $10 billion to sell a stake in its pipeline business, sources said.
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.
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.
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.
