E&E News Tuesday, July 14, 2020 Energy experts warn there may be more turbulence ahead for the U.S. oil and gas pipeline industry following a chaotic week that saw a high-profile pipeline cancellation, a Supreme Court decision and a multibillion-dollar sale of utility giant Dominion Energy’s gas transmission and storage assets.   The outlook for U.S. … Read moreFrom NEPA to North Dakota, 4 pipeline fights to watch

By Jennifer Epstein, Ari Natter and Jennifer A. Dlouhy Jul 14, 2020 (Bloomberg) Joe Biden on Tuesday will unveil clean-energy and infrastructure plans that seek to balance progressives’ demands for bold action on climate against protecting swing-state jobs in a coronavirus-altered economy. Biden’s plan includes $2 trillion in spending over four years and sets the goal … Read moreJoe Biden Plots Energy Path With Eye on Left Flank, Swing-State Jobs

Miranda Willson, E&E News reporter Monday, July 13, 2020 Oil bankruptcies in the 2nd quarter spiked to the highest level in four years. Oil and gas bankruptcies spiked from April to June, reaching their highest level in a quarter since the 2016 oil crash, according to a new report. The analysis from law firm Haynes … Read moreReport warns of growing oil bankruptcies

By Naureen S. Malik Jul 10, 2020 (Bloomberg) To understand why the cancellation of the $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline last week was such big news, consider America’s most important natural gas-producing region.Appalachia is home to the Marcellus shale, a major driver of the fracking boom that’s driven down prices and helped to make the U.S. … Read moreScrapped Pipeline Imperils Comeback for Biggest U.S. Gas Patch

Lesley Clark, E&E News  July 10, 2020 Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette used the year’s chief global climate change conference to criticize 100% renewable electricity and to warn that government-mandated climate initiatives risk raising taxes and don’t take into account “real world” conditions.Speaking yesterday from Texas, where he plans to meet today with independent oil producers, … Read moreBrouillette dismisses 100% renewables at climate summit

By Tara Weber BNN Bloomberg Western Correspondent There’s no denying it – getting a major pipeline project built is becoming a lot more difficult. New pipelines are facing increasingly savvy environmental activists and are getting caught up in political gamesmanship, resulting in many project delays and cancellations. As a result, investors are taking a greater shine to existing pipeline infrastructure that is already in … Read moreInvestors look to existing pipelines as new projects face major hurdles

By Saket Sundria and Alex Longley  Jul 10, 2020 (Bloomberg) Oil fell as the International Energy Agency said a jump in Covid-19 cases could derail the market recovery, while Libya signaled the potential restart of crude exports. Futures slipped to near $39 a barrel in New York, and are down 4% this week. The IEA said … Read moreOil Slides on IEA’s Virus Warning and Libyan Export Restart

Pamela King, E&E News reporter Friday, July 10, 2020 A federal judge yesterday refused to reverse his order this week that shuttered the Dakota Access pipeline pending a key environmental review.The dispute now sits with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which will consider whether Dakota Access developer Energy Transfer … Read moreJudge Won’t Undo Dakota Access Shutdown

Niina H. Farah, E&E News: Friday, July 10, 2020 The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that millions of acres in eastern Oklahoma are part of a Native American reservation when it comes to applying criminal law. A Supreme Court ruling yesterday declaring that nearly half of Oklahoma remains Native American reservation land is causing a stir … Read moreTribal lands ruling in Oklahoma: ‘Will it be ‘total chaos’ for oil?

  Crude oil is the world’s most important commodity, but it’s worthless without a refinery turning it into the products that people actually use: gasoline, diesel, jet-fuel and petrochemicals for plastics. And the world’s refining industry today is in pain like never before. “Refining margins are absolutely catastrophic,” Patrick Pouyanne, the head of Europe’s top … Read moreLost in Oil’s Rally: $2 Trillion-a-Year Refining Industry Crisis

By Rachel Adams-Heard and Ellen Gilmer Jul 8, 2020 (Bloomberg) Energy Transfer LP said it’s not making any moves to empty its Dakota Access oil pipeline after a judge on Monday ordered the conduit shut while a more robust environmental review is conducted.The Dallas-based company run by billionaire Kelcy Warren said it’s also accepting nominations for … Read moreEnergy Transfer Isn’t Shutting Dakota Access Despite Ruling

Miranda Willson July 9, 2020 The biggest oil-producing state in the country issued less than a third as many oil and gas drilling permits last month as it did in June 2019, another sign of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on the energy industry.The Railroad Commission of Texas — which regulates oil producers — approved 312 … Read moreTexas drilling permits plunge 69%

By Anthony Robledo Jul 8, 2020 U.S. utilities are producing less greenhouse gases as they continue to shift away from coal.Carbon dioxide emissions from the 100 biggest U.S. electricity producers fell 8% last year, according to a report Wednesday from the environmental group Ceres. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, two other key pollutants produced by burning … Read moreU.S. Utilities Are Cleaning Up Their Act With Emissions Down 8%

By Saket Sundria and Alex Longley Jul 8, 2020 (Bloomberg) Oil traded below $41 a barrel as industry data pointed to higher American crude stockpiles before government figures later. The American Petroleum Institute reported that inventories rose by 2.05 million barrels last week, people with knowledge of the data said ahead of official figures to be … Read moreOil Below $41 With Signs of Swelling U.S. Crude Stockpiles

By Robert Tuttle and Sheela Tobben  Jul 6, 2020 (Bloomberg) It was once the center of America’s shale boom — a vast reservoir of crude unleashed by hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, turning North Dakota into the second-largest oil producer in the U.S. and helping transform the nation into the world’s largest supplier.These days, the Bakken … Read moreThe One-Time Heart of Shale May Never Boom Again With Dakota Access Shut

By Greg Stohr Jul 6, 2020, (Bloomberg)The U.S. Supreme Court refused to let construction start on TC Energy Corp.’s Keystone XL oil-sands pipeline, rejecting a bid by President Donald Trump’s administration to jump-start the long-delayed project.The justices, without explanation or noted dissent, left in force part of a federal court order that blocks use of a key … Read moreKeystone XL Pipeline Stays Blocked in U.S. Supreme Court Order

By Saket Sundria and Alex Longley Jul 7, 2020 (Bloomberg)Oil pared losses to trade near $40 a barrel before U.S. government data that’s forecast to show gasoline stockpiles increased.U.S. gasoline supplies expanded by 1 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey before industry figures expected later Tuesday. That was offset by the dollar … Read moreOil Near $40 With Volatility Falling and Gasoline Stocks Growing

By Katherine Chiglinsky Jul 6, 2020 (Bloomberg) Warren Buffett finally found his next crisis-era deal.His Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which has stayed relatively quiet during the tumult of the coronavirus pandemic, broke its silence at the end of a holiday weekend with its biggest acquisition in more than four years. The agreement for Dominion Energy Inc.’s natural … Read moreBuffett’s Berkshire Ends Deal Drought With Dominion Bet

Reuters U.S. energy firms cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating to a record low for a ninth week in a row although the reductions have slowed as higher oil prices prompt some producers to start drilling again.The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by … Read moreU.S. Oil & Gas Rig count Hits Record Low for 9th Week -Baker Hughes

July 2, 2020 Business Wire Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) announced today that the Baker Hughes international rig count for June 2020 was 781 down 24 from the 805 counted in May 2020, and down 357 from the 1,138 counted in June 2019. The international offshore rig count for June 2020 was 194, down 1 from the … Read moreBaker Hughes announces June 2020 rig counts – See How the U.S. Stacks Up Against the World

By Elizabeth Low and Grant Smith Jul 3, 2020 (Bloomberg) Oil slipped on Friday, paring a weekly gain as surprisingly strong U.S. economic data and tightening crude supplies jostled with fears that a coronavirus resurgence will erode demand. Futures fell toward $40 a barrel in New York, but are still up 4.3% for the week. Crude … Read moreOil Pares Weekly Gain Amid Virus Fears, Signs of Tighter Supply

Laila Kearney, Devika Krishna Kumar NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. pipeline company Energy Transfer (ET.N) has taken the rare step of invoking force majeure – normally used in times of war or natural disaster – to prevent oil firms from walking away from a proposed expansion of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline, according to two sources … Read moreEnergy Transfer digs in on North Dakota pipeline expansion despite oil slump, sources say

By Will Mathis and Akshat Rathi Jul 1, 2020 Government spending to develop clean energy technologies needs to triple this decade in order to prevent the worst effects of climate change, according to the International Energy Agency. As the rapid acceleration of wind and solar farms have significantly decreased emissions from electricity, other emissions-heavy industries … Read moreEnergy Innovation Spend Needs to Triple by 2030 to Hit Climate Goals

By Bloomberg News Jun 30, 2020 (Bloomberg) Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease specialist, warned lawmakers that coronavirus cases could rise to 100,000 a day if behaviors don’t change. The European Union extended a travel ban for Americans, deeming the U.S. response to the outbreak insufficient.Weekly deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales fell to their lowest in … Read moreTexas Cases Hit Record; Fauci Gives Grim Warning: Virus Update

By James Crombie (Bloomberg) More U.S. retail companies sought bankruptcy protection in the first half of 2020 than in any other comparable period. Energy filings piled up at the fastest pace since oil prices plunged in 2016, data compiled by Bloomberg show.There have been 75 filings among all companies with liabilities of at least $50 million … Read moreU.S. Bankruptcy Tracker: Retail, Energy Set Grim Milestones

By Joe Ryan and Brian Eckhouse Jun 29, 2020 (Bloomberg) –Tesla Inc. is planning to expand a battery-research facility in the San Francisco Bay Area, adding manufacturing capabilities that would run 24 hours a day. The electric-car maker laid out its plans in documents filed with the city of Fremont, California, where the facility is … Read moreTesla Plans to Make Batteries in Bay Area

By Margaret Newkirk, Emma Court and Joe Carroll (Bloomberg) It became clear that Texas Governor Greg Abbott was in retreat when he closed the bars. Ever since restarting the Lone Star state’s economy in early May, Abbott ignored the pleas of mayors and county leaders to impose strict rules to stop Covid-19. The 62-year-old Republican appeared … Read moreHow Texas Lost Control of the Virus

Scott DiSavino June 26 (Reuters) – U.S. and Canadian energy firms cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating to a record low again this week even as higher oil prices prompt some producers to start drilling again. The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by … Read moreU.S. oil & gas rig count falls to record low again – Baker Hughes

By David Wethe Jun 28, 2020 (Bloomberg) The shale bust has reached a grim milestone by claiming the pioneer of America’s drilling renaissance. But Chesapeake Energy Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday, is just the latest in a long list of casualties.More than 200 North American oil and gas producers, owing over $130 billion … Read moreChesapeake’s Collapse Is Latest in Long Line of Shale Disasters

By Olivia Raimonde Jun 26, 2020 (Bloomberg) Hundreds of billions of barrels of oil stranded by weak demand could accelerate companies’ pivot to cleaner energy, or threaten their long-term survival. BP Plc raised the possibility of stranded oil assets when it announced this month it would take the biggest writedown on the value of its business in a … Read moreCovid to Keep More Oil Underground, Forcing Drillers to Change

 by A.J. Mistretta Houston’s economy continues to struggle and likely will for the foreseeable future as it continues to contend with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of the oil market. That was the main takeaway from the Great Houston Partnership’s (https://www.houston.org/) news Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski’s June 23 … Read moreEconomic Update: The Latest on Houston Jobs, the Energy Sector and More

June 25, 2020 Reuters  U.S. energy companies slammed the brakes on returning staff to their Houston offices as COVID-19 cases soared and top hospitals warned they could soon run out of beds for the most severely ill patients. A record number of new illnesses in Texas this week spurred local officials to impose restrictions as new … Read moreAmerican oil firms slam brakes on return-to-work as virus cases soar

By Kevin Crowley and Catherine Ngai Jun 24, 2020 (Bloomberg) As oil prices tick up to $40 a barrel following a pandemic-induced plunge, there’s a sense the shale industry is snapping back to life with Continental Resources Inc., EOG Resources Inc. and Parsley Energy Inc. all saying they’re restarting closed wells.But top industry forecasters are painting a far … Read moreShale Oil Recovery Is Seen Taking Years After Decade of Excess

By Matt Day and Candy Cheng Jun 23, 2020 (Bloomberg) Amazon.com Inc. is investing $2 billion on “sustainable and decarbonizing technologies” in an effort to eliminate its carbon footprint.The fund, which will be run by the company’s internal sustainability team and aided by Amazon’s corporate development group, will have a mandate to back technologies being developed … Read moreAmazon Is Starting $2 Billion Fund to Back Climate Technologies

By MARC LEVY HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Trump administration has taken the final step to allow rail shipments of liquefied natural gas, a new front in the movement of energy products that had been opposed by environmental groups and 15 states. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration published the rule late last week … Read moreLNG shipments by rail approved in US amid pipeline battles

June 22, 2020 CNW Inspections show no damage to twin pipelines CALGARY, AB and LANSING, Mich. – Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) (Enbridge) said today the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction sought by the Attorney General of Michigan is legally unsupportable, unnecessary, and will be vigorously opposed by Enbridge. Enbridge understands the importance of the Great Lakes to the … Read moreEnbridge Says Line 5 Injunction Unnecessary – Inspections Show No Damage to Twin Pipelines

By Kevin Crowley Jun 22, 2020 (Bloomberg) Almost a third of U.S. shale producers are technically insolvent with crude at $35 a barrel, according to Deloitte LLP, highlighting the industry’s acute financial strain even as oil prices rebound from a record low earlier this year.West Texas Intermediate edged up to $40.06 a barrel at 11:38 a.m. in New … Read moreThird of U.S. Shale Near Technical Insolvency, Deloitte Says

Scott DiSavino (Reuters) – U.S. and Canadian energy firms cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating to a record low even as higher oil prices prompt some producers to start drilling again. The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell to a record low for a … Read moreU.S. and Canadian oil & gas rig count falls to record lows: Baker Hughes

By Robert Tuttle Jun 19, 2020 (Bloomberg) In a parched and dusty patch of land in California’s central valley, a series of wells has been pumping out some of the state’s dirtiest crude oil.Almost a century after the Chico-Martinez oilfield was first opened about 145 miles north of Los Angeles, it is still producing heavy crude. … Read moreCalifornia’s Dirty Little Secret Is Threatening Its Climate Ambitions

SALYERSVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) – In May 2012, Hanson and Michael Rowe noticed an overpowering smell, like rotten eggs, seeping from an abandoned gas well on their land in Kentucky. The fumes made the retired couple feel nauseous, dizzy, and short of breath. Regulators responding to the leak couldn’t find an owner to fix it. J.D. … Read moreSpecial Report: Millions of abandoned oil wells are leaking methane, a climate menace

By Julian Lee Jun 18, 2020 (Bloomberg) Oil consumption is set to recover from the impact of coronavirus more slowly than previously thought, even though the worst of the demand destruction doesn’t look quite as awful as had been feared a month ago. Global demand will still be below pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, never … Read moreOil Demand Recovery Set to Be Slower for Longer

By Alex Longley Jun 18, 2020 (Bloomberg) The oil market showed signs of tighter supply as key gauges of its health rallied, although concerns remain over a resurgence in coronavirus cases in China and the U.S.Futures in London and New York gained, while Brent for August was trading above the September contract, a sign of scarcer … Read moreOil Shows Signs of Stronger Demand, But Virus Dangers Lurk

By Dan Murtaugh Jun 16, 2020 (Bloomberg) Spending on renewable power is set to overtake oil and gas drilling for the first time next year as clean energy affords a $16 trillion investment opportunity through 2030, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.Renewables including biofuels will account for about a quarter of all energy spending next … Read moreGoldman Sees $16 Trillion Opening as Renewables Pass Oil and Gas

By Brian Wingfield and Javier Blas Jun 16, 2020 (Bloomberg) After flooding the U.S. with crude earlier this year, Saudi Arabia has all but cut off the taps to the American oil market. The kingdom has exported just one cargo to the U.S. so far in June, equivalent to about 133,000 barrels a day, tanker-tracking data … Read moreSaudi Oil Exports to U.S. Plunge To Lowest Level in 35 Years By Brian Wingfield and Javier Blas

June 16, 2020  Reuters U.S. natural gas futures traded within a few cents of unchanged on Tuesday on forecasts calling for similar weather and demand over the next two weeks as in the previous session. Front-month gas futures rose 0.5 cents, or 0.3%, to $1.674 per million British thermal units at 7:49 a.m. EDT (1149 … Read moreU.S. natgas futures little changed on steady weather, demand forecasts

By Ann Koh and Alex Longley  Jun 16, 2020 (Bloomberg) Brent crude rose above $40 a barrel as broader markets rallied on stimulus from the Federal Reserve and physical supplies continued to look tight.Futures in London rose for a second session. India’s oil minister said consumption in the first half of June had recovered to levels … Read moreOil Rises on U.S. Stimulus and Tighter Supplies

By Jeffrey Bair  Jun 16, 2020 (Bloomberg) In a sign that U.S. fuel demand is improving, gasoline futures are once again rallying when massive oil refineries shut down. Houston gasoline on Monday climbed to a three-month high after Motiva Enterprises LLC shut a key gasoline-making unit at the largest U.S. refinery, in Port Arthur, Texas. Earlier, … Read moreOne Sign Americans Are Hitting the Road Again: A Gasoline Rally