News

Tallgrass Takes Significant Stake in Rocky Express Natural Gas Pipeline

Tallgrass Development has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Rockies Express Holdings, LLC, has signed a purchase agreement with Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, to acquire Sempra's 25 percent interest in the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) for approximately $440 million in cash.

Drones with Innovative Gas Detection Sensors Usher In A New Pipeline Inspection Era

The Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI), of Falls Church, Virginia, has funded a project resulting in the successful testing of a drone equipped with a methane gas sensor able to detect methane gas with a greater sensitivity than previously available.

Environmental Concerns Stymie Development of the Bakken Crude Oil Pipeline in Iowa

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has refused a request made by Dakota Access, subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, to expedite the final permit to construct the 558 - km Iowa portion of the 1825-km, 30 inch diameter interstate Bakken crude oil pipeline.

TransCanada Clinches Mega Deal with Columbia Pipeline Group to Become A Force in the Global Gas Market

TransCanada confirmed rumors reported in these pages last week that the company will acquire Houston-based Columbia Pipeline Group and its 24,000-km pipeline network for $13 billion, creating one of the largest regulated natural gas transmission businesses in North America.

Jury Out On the Proposed 340 km Palmetto Petroleum Products Pipeline

Kinder Morgan, sponsor of the proposed 340 km Palmetto Petroleum Products Pipeline to be built from South Carolina through the eastern part of Georgia into Florida, suffered another legislative setback this past week when the Georgia Senate denied the company the power to condemn property along the pipeline right-of-way, otherwise known as the right of eminent domain.

Chinese Edition of Pipeline Technology Journal to be published in April for the first time

The Pipeline Technology Journal (ptj) will be available as a Chinese edition from April 2016 on. This has been agreed between the ptj-publisher and a Chinese partner company associated with PetroChina, the country’s biggest oil and gas group.

With Gas Pipeline Nearly Complete, Israel Envisages Lucrative Export Market for Its Offshore Gas

Israel Natural Gas Lines announced last week that a gas pipeline currently being constructed in the Dead Sea area will begin supplying gas from the Tamar reservoir in the Mediterranean to private customers in Jordan next year.

Road Is Clear for Trans Adriatic Pipeline to Europe

Coinciding with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) awarding of contracts last week for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of approximately 760 km of cross-country onshore pipeline in Greece and Albania, the European Commission ruled that the Host Government Agreement between Greece and TAP conformed with EU state aid rules, opening the way for the new gas pipeline to enter Europ

Attack Shuts Down 970 km Kirkuk-Ceyhan Transnational Oil Pipeline

The Kirkuk-Ceyhan Transnational Oil Pipeline was sabotaged last month in Turkey, halting the export of the commodity from Iraq's self-governing Kurdish region and placing the Barzani-led Kurdish Regional Government under considerable strain, struggling to meet its public payroll.

Turkish Stream Sequel: The Southern Gas Pipeline Option to Europe Lives

With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Gazprom, Edison SpA and DEPA SA for gas deliveries across the Black Sea from Russia to Greece and ultimately Italy, Russia has signaled its interest in keeping the southern gas route option alive.

Previous recent manifestations of this option, like South Stream and Turkish Stream, have all been discarded for various reasons.

Major Peruvian Crude Oil Pipeline Breaks Spoil the Drinking Water of Local Native Communities

Two ruptures in Petroperu's main oil pipeline have spilled some 3000 barrels of crude into the Chiriaco and Morona rivers in northwestern Peru, contaminating the water supply of at least eight native Achuar communities which rely on the rivers for this purpose.

The pipeline, which normally transports 5000 - 6000 bpd, has ceased operation.

More Exacting Federal and State Regulations Expected After Natural Gas Leak Is Finally Plugged in Southern California

Sixteen weeks after high levels of methane gas were detected leaking from a storage facility owned by Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas - the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility) in Aliso Canyon, the California Department of Conservation has declared that the leak has been permanent sealed with concrete.

PHMSA Says External Pipeline Corrosion At Fault For Last Spring's Santa Barbara Oil Spill

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has determined in its preliminary report issued this week that external pipeline corrosion was the root cause of the devastating 19 May 2015 Santa Barbara oil spill, spoiling miles of coastline more than 100 miles away on Los Angeles beaches.

Salzgitter Group Profits From Rebounding Natural Gas Market in Europe

In keeping with the current upswing in the European natural gas market, the Salzgitter Group has announced the award of three contracts by Open Grid Europe for approximately 70,000 tons of spirally-welded large-diameter pipes.

The pipes will be used in the extension of the natural gas grid in southern and western Germany, enhancing the security of supply.

Max Streicher Building Two Major Gas Pipelines in France, Enhancing European Energy Security

In a new effort to significantly expand the French gas pipeline network along the north - south axis, Max Streicher GmbH & Co. has been commissioned to execute several pipeline construction lots as part of the Haute de France II and Arc de Dierrey projects.

Williams Partners' Gulf Connector Ushers the Continental United States into the Global LNG Market

Williams Partners' Gulf Connector project, intending to connect two Gulf Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities under construction in Corpus Christi and Freeport, also heralds continental U.S.'s first time export of this commodity.

Nigeria Employing Sophisticated Drones To Prevent Ongoing Sabotage to National Pipeline Infrastructure

With no apparent stop to Third Party Intervention causing up to $12 billion a year in damages to the country's pipeline infrastructure in Nigeria, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has established a 'Command and Control Center' to monitor the national grid in the South-South region and preempt vandals before they rupture the lines and steal the oil.

TransCanada Moves Forward With Plans to Construct New 1600 km Crude Oil Pipeline Extension of the Mammoth Energy East Pipeline Project

TransCanada, looking to begin construction on the additional 1600 km crude oil extension of the Energy East Pipeline, has signed a provisional multimillion - dollar order with ABB Canada for the development of 22 electrical houses (e-houses) along the pipeline route which would supply electricity to the pipeline's pumping stations.