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Members of Passamaquoddy Tribe keep LNG terminal off tribal land (Apr 28) — Environment News Service
On Friday, the BIA gave a group of Passamaquoddy Tribe members the outcome they had battled for in court for the past five years and cancelled the tribe's 50 year lease with an Oklahoma-based company, Quoddy Bay LNG.
NN has battled the proposed natural gas terminal on tribal land at Split Rock ever since the BIA's original approval in 2005. They have always maintained that the project threatens the ecological health of Passamaquoddy Bay and would destroy an area important to the tribe's cultural, spiritual and economic lives.
In the lawsuit, NN contended that the BIA approved the lease authorizing the construction of the LNG terminal without complying with the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal environmental and historic protection law.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
VLS Clinic helps tribal group win victory in natural gas dispute (Apr 26) — Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT
Some members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe living on the Pleasant Point Reservation in northeastern Maine have battled the proposed natural gas terminal on tribal land at Split Rock from the project's onset in 2004. They said the project threatens the ecological health of Passamaquoddy Bay and would destroy an area important to the tribe's cultural, spiritual and economic lives.
The ENRLC prevailed in a companion lawsuit involving its Freedom of Information Act requests for records from the BIA. A federal court judge in Maine ruled that the BIA violated FOIA by failing to promptly release the requested documents.
"Quite unlike many other cultures, ours is a history enlivened by a bay rich in marine life, tides and beauty. We are the original occupants of this land, and it is our responsibility to keep it that way. The defeat of Quoddy Bay LNG and the land lease cancellation are irrefutable examples that Passamaquoddy Bay is an inappropriate location for a liquefied natural gas terminal."
Mary Bassett, another member of Nulankeyutmonen Nkitahkomikon, said: "Split Rock rests easier today." She said the group and its supporters will continue to work to protect Passamaquoddy Bay and that "all land, all humans and animal life deserve a healthy environment." [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
US puts sea law on backburner (Apr 29) — International Oil Daily, Energy Intelligence [Paid subscription required]
US Senate passage of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea must wait until at least 2011 after missing a "window of opportunity during the Obama Administration's first year.
Murkowski pessimistic about US ratifying sea treaty [UNCLOS] this year (Apr 28) — Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and experts in Arctic policy are pessimistic that the U.S. will ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty this year, even as [Norway] and Russia say their countries were able to hammer out an Arctic border dispute this week thanks to the Treaty.
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Passamaquoddy Tribe members win victory in natural gas dispute [News release] (Apr 26) — Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon, Sipayik, Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation
The decision represents a victory for both the group and the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
On Friday, BIA cancelled the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s fifty year lease with an Oklahoma-based company, Quoddy Bay LNG. BIA’s decision comes in the wake of nearly five years of litigation and efforts by Nulankeyutmonen Nkihtaqmikon [standardized spelling: Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon] (NN), a group of members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe living on the Pleasant Point Reservation in northeastern Maine. NN was formed to protect their cultural and spiritual traditions from the harmful effects of the proposed LNG terminal on Passamaquoddy Bay. BIA’s decision was also prompted by the Tribe’s decision in June 2009 to terminate the lease. [Bold red emphasis added.]
Feds pull plug on tribe’s LNG pact — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
The Vermont Law School’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic issued a press release Monday afternoon indicating that BIA canceled Quoddy Bay LNG’s contract with the Passamaquoddy Tribe on Friday. The law clinic represents a group of tribal members that is opposed to the firm’s plans to construct a liquefied natural gas terminal on tribal land on Passamaquoddy Bay.
Quoddy Bay LNG loses land lease — Mainebiz
Quoddy Bay LNG in 2008 withdrew its state permit application for the terminal, after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed its application. Since then, the company has been sued by two Massachusetts firms for nonpayment of environmental and engineering services provided.
Bureau of Indian Affairs ends LNG agreement (Apr 27) — (AP) The Boston Globe, Boston, MA
The company had contended the project is still viable, but Quoddy Bay President Donald Smith said previously that his company ran out of money. He wasn't immediately available for comment Tuesday.
LNG terminal cancelled — WABI-TV, Bangor, ME
A deal between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and a company in Oklahoma to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Eastern Maine is over.
U.S. BIA cancels tribe’s deal with Quoddy Bay LNG — LNG Law Blog
This week the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) cancelled Quoddy Bay LNG's contract with the Passamaquoddy Tribe to use a portion of the tribe's land to construct an LNG import terminal. Quoddy Bay LNG President Don Smith told the Bangor Daily News that he intends to request that the BIA reconsider its decision.
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Vampire squished? (Apr 22) — The Economist
At a minimum, though, Goldman faces “headline risk”, likely further probes and distractions from running the business, says Mike Mayo, an analyst with CLSA. The board is firmly behind Mr Blankfein, but a top-level sacrifice may eventually be needed, especially if the firm’s legal troubles escalate. Britain’s Financial Services Authority has launched an investigation. Frank Partnoy of the University of San Diego’s law school expects class-action and other private suits over, among other things, Goldman’s failure to inform markets last year that it had received notification of a probe. IKB is considering its options, as is AIG, which lost a fortune selling Goldman credit protection on duff CDOs.
[I]t must defend itself, both in the court of public opinion and also, quite possibly, in courts of law.
U.S. woes threaten Goldman's government business (Apr 22) — Reuters
"The UK and the Germans are going to be aggressive on this because of the losses suffered, ultimately by the taxpayers," said one head of debt capital markets.
…Mn Services -- an asset manager owned by employees and unions which manages 62 billion euros ($83.3 billion) for Dutch pension funds -- said on Thursday it was "not happy" about Goldman Sachs and does not rule out consequences for its relations with the U.S. bank.
Explosion at gas plant in Ludlow under investigation (Apr 24) — MassLive.com, MA
LUDLOW – An explosion at the Bay State LNG Plant off Miller Street near the Wilbraham line on Saturday morning was caused by an equipment malfunction.
Sheila A. Dioron, spokesperson for Bay State Gas, said the explosion and fire was caused by a process heater that malfunctioned.
She said the heater is used in the process of liquefying natural gas, and said the plant is a storage facility that is operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“It was always a completely controlled situation. It was never a danger to employees or the plant or the surrounding community,” Dioron said.
Explosion at Ludlow gas company unit (Apr 24) — WWLP, Springfield, MA
The explosion not only took neighbors off guard but also worried some of the Ludlow firefighters who told 22News they thought the battle would be a lot worse when they could see the smoke from about a mile away.
Cove Point LNG submits noise survey results to FERC — LNG Law Blog
Cove Point LNG has completed a study of noise created by its LNG terminal and submitted its findings to FERC.
$1.1 billion liquid natural gas terminal on track for completion in 2011 (Apr 25) — GulfLive.com, AL
The daily capacity of natural gas that may be sent out of the terminal is 1.3 billion cubic feet, but daily distribution will depend on market conditions when it opens.
Cameron LNG applies to install back-up gas compressor for boil-off gas system — LNG Law Blog
Last week Cameron LNG submitted an application to FERC requesting permission to install a back-up natural gas compressor for the terminal's boil-off gas system. In its application, the company says that installing this back-up compressor will diminish the need for gas flaring when its primary boil-off gas compressor is offline for maintenance.
Cheniere executive: LNG prices should de-link from oil market — LNG Law Blog
H. Davis Thames, president of Cheniere Marketing, told the Platts Rockies Gas and Oil conference last week that he believes that the global LNG market should move away from long-term contracts based upon oil prices. Instead, LNG prices should track spot natural gas prices more closely, and exporting LNG from the United States could encourage that trend.
Landowners upset about Oregon LNG [Editorial] — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
[E]nough testimony was offered to again chip away at a facade of good neighborliness, with complaints offered about deceptive, secretive and high-pressure tactics.
Among other troubling indications, it appears to be the firm's strategy to buffalo landowners into granting access and rights-of-way by telling those who object that their property will be seized via the legal theory of eminent domain. Or that the pipeline perhaps will be placed in such a way as to be even more of a detraction. Furthermore, Oregon LNG won't even specify exactly where they intend to place the pipeline. [Red emphasis added.]
LNG saga continues (Apr 24) — The Newberg Graphic, Newberg, OR
The projects are at varying stages in their quest for certification from the Federal Energy Regulation Commission, but the front-runner, Bradwood Landing, has run into opposition.
[I]n Yamhill County, public sentiment runs contrary to the LNG efforts and extends to county government. Last month, the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the natural gas pipeline, saying they have not seen a demonstrated need for the gas to be piped through the area, affecting farmland.
US shale gas thwarts Gazprom’s domination dream — The Peninsula, Doha, Qatar
In 2000, shale gas only represented 1.0 percent of US output, today it accounts for 20 percent and could surpass 50 percent by 2030, a study published by research firm IHS CERA found last month. With the sudden boost in production, the United States has even re-routed shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European market, depressing demand for Russian pipeline gas. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Barents border on Medvedev's agenda — UpstreamOnline.com
The discovery of shale gas in the US has lowered energy prices and limited need for LNG imports, putting a question mark over the need to rapidly start the technically challenging and costly Shtokman project. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
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Canaport LNG terminal due to receive cargo April 26 (Apr 22) — Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB
Canaport LNG is due to receive a cargo of the fuel April 26, according to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The vessel, Bilbao Knutsen, can carry as much as 135,049 cubic metres of LNG, or about 2.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The terminal can put about one billion cubic feet a day of natural gas into pipelines. The ship is due after leaving Trinidad and Tobago, according to the data.
Democratic candidates seek union support — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Rowe, who served for eight years as Maine’s attorney general, said he would work with other states to fight against harmful NAFTA policies and would get heavily involved to resolve the stalemate with Canadian officials over liquefied natural gas tankers in Passamaquoddy Bay. But Rowe said the state needs new ideas and new approaches to improve the business climate. [Red emphasis added.]
"Our natural environment, our coasts, rivers and lakes, mountains, fisheries and wildlife, and vast forestlands draw millions of visitors to Maine every year, and our natural resource base is the foundation of our agricultural, forest products, and commercial fisheries industries. Continued, careful stewardship and collaborative approaches will enable Maine to continue to protect special places in Maine's environment, sustain natural resource-based industries, and boost nature-based tourism.
"As Maine's Attorney General, I sought to protect what is special about Maine's natural environment." [Bold emphasis added.]
Mr. Rowe is speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
Democrats work on mill workers — Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME
[McGowan], along with the other candidates, said they support adding liquefied natural gas to the state's mix of energy options.
[Red emphasis added.]
Risky business: Les Otten and the rise and fall of American Skiing Co. (Mar 10) — Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting
…Leslie B. Otten’s claim to fame was his attempt to turn that company into the nation’s largest and most successful owner of ski resorts, starting with Sunday River in western Maine.
But that attempt ultimately failed, a failure symbolized by the “delisting” of the company by the New York Stock Exchange after it had fallen from a high of $18 per share to well less than $1. Eventually, the company was dissolved.
Now, the 60-year-old Otten wants to be governor of Maine and is scrupulously avoiding his record as the founder and chief executive officer of American Skiing Co.
The result was that Otten’s stockholders … took deep losses on their investments while he continued to be paid as much as $400,000 annually. [Red emphasis added.]
Town forms panel to review LNG threat (Apr 22) — The Jamestown Press, Jamestown, RI
The three-part plan was enacted on April 19. It approves the formation of a five-member LNG Threat Committee to keep the council informed of developments in the Weaver’s Cove Energy endeavor to obtain a permit for the facility.
It also calls on Jamestown to host a “congress of town councils” in which Newport County councilors would meet to ratify a joint resolution stating the opposition of county communities against the LNG proposal.
Lastly, an existing LNG panel – the Jamestown-based LNG Working Group – will be invited to share its assessment of the proposed LNG facility in a presentation to the Jamestown Town Council. [Red emphasis added.]
Proposed LNG facilities off NJ coast now in doubt — WBGO, Newark, NJ
Cindy Zipf, the executive director of Clean Ocean Action, says the governor’s comments should signal the end of those projects.
Christie opposes offshore natural gas terminals — Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ
Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday he opposes allowing liquefied natural gas terminals off New Jersey's coast, saying their limited economic benefits are not worth the environmental risks they pose.
The Republican governor said although natural gas is a critical piece of the state's energy future, he is not convinced the offshore gas facilities are needed, or could significantly lower prices for customers. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Governor Christie highlights LNG policy and New Jersey’s energy future — Gov Monitor
Governor Christie reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to environmental protection and articulated the administration’s opposition to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities off the New Jersey coastline.
Today, Governor Christie added to his administration’s environmental protection accomplishments by announcing his opposition to LNG facilities off of New Jersey’s coastline. Under the Deepwater Port Act, the Governor of an adjacent coastal state has significant veto power over an LNG project.
Neighbors worry about LNG terminal (Apr 22) — WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD
Concerned residents gathered in Dundalk Wednesday night to get an update on a liquid natural gas pipeline proposed for Sparrows Point.
Two pipeline expansions planned for LNG facility — The Mississippi Press, Pascagoula, MS
During a Moss Point public meeting in October 2008, leaders from Transco pipeline, which delivers natural gas to customers in the Northeast and Southeast through a 10,500-mile system, said the 15.5-mile project would cost around $53 million. [Red emphasis added.]
Gazprom seals US LNG deal (Apr 22) — Risk.net
The agreement has been signed between Gazprom's UK-arm, Gazprom Global (GGLNG), and Sempra Energy's Sempra LNG and allows GGLNG to supply LNG to Sempra LNG's receipt terminal in Lake Charles near the US Gulf Coast.
Cheniere Energy agrees to sell interest in Freeport LNG Development, L.P. [News release] (Apr 22) — PR Newswire
HOUSTON, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cheniere Energy, Inc. ("Cheniere") announced today that it has agreed to sell its 30 percent limited partner interest in Freeport LNG Development L.P. to Zachry American Infrastructure, LLC, an independent member of the Zachry group of companies, located in San Antonio, Texas, and Hastings Funds Management (USA), Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation, acting on behalf of various institutional investors.
Cathlamet mayor steps in, stirs up debate (Apr 21) — The Daily News, Longview, WA
[H]is opposition to the NorthernStar Natural Gas LNG project has dominated his tenure so far. He says LNG tankers would make the river more dangerous, that the project could ruin Cathlamet's historical charm and that there are better uses for Cathlamet's waterfront than tying up LNG security and service vessels.
Bradbury takes on LNG terminal in new campaign ad [Blog] (Apr 22) — The Oregonian, Portland, OR
Former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury has made a lot of his staunch opposition to liquefied natural gas terminals in Oregon. Now, he's turned it into a new television commercial being launched by his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Bradbury releases second ad, still hates LNG (Apr 22) — Willamette Week, Willamette, OR
“So this ad allows us to present a compelling message and a clear contrast between Bill and John Kitzhaber [who is equivocal on LNG]. If you are looking for a clear difference between the candidates this is it.”
Landowners return the pressure back to Oregon LNG (Apr 22) — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
About a dozen people, several who live along the pipeline route in Warrenton and Jewell, attended the event at the Judge Guy Boyington Building and testified about their negative experiences with the company.
LNG developer to appeal state ruling on two key issues — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
Liquefied natural gas opponents declared victory last week when the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals rejected Clatsop County's Bradwood Landing approval for the second time.
The LUBA decision sent two of the 2008 approvals back to Clatsop County for further work, ruling that the county hadn't shown the project fits within the size limitations for the Bradwood site, nor that it adequately protects threatened and endangered fish and traditional fishing grounds as required by law.
LNG company to appeal Land Use Board's decision — Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
The liquefied natural gas company that recently lost an appeal before an Oregon land-use board is challenging that decision to a higher court.
Project opponents called the earlier decision a potentially fatal blow to Bradwood Landing.
Dan Walters: Tax returns fodder for governor's race — The Orange County Register, Orange County, CA
His father, former Gov. Pat Brown, became an adviser to Indonesia's military junta after his second term ended in 1967 and helped Pertamina, Indonesia's national oil company, line up billions of dollars in loans from American banks.
Pertamina then set Pat Brown up with an oil brokerage firm, called Perta USA, that received slices of petroleum imports into California, and the elder Brown made his offspring partners in the firm – all except son Jerry at the time.
As governor, Jerry Brown promoted a plan, backed by his father, to establish a terminal in Southern California to receive liquefied natural gas from Pertamina.
Jerry Brown's sister, Kathleen, acknowledged receiving a share of Perta USA when she ran for governor in 1994, but it's never been revealed whether he also received some of the firm's proceeds after leaving the governorship.
[Red emphasis added.]
Interview-Sempra's Costa Azul LNG port to get regular cargoes — (Reuters) Yahoo News
NEW YORK, April 22 - Sempra Energy plans to send nearly three cargoes a month to its Costa Azul LNG terminal in Baja California, Mexico, as supply from Indonesia ramps up, the head of Sempra's LNG division said on Thursday.
Despite low gas prices in the United States compared to in Asia, Sempra does see some returns from shipping gas across the Pacific to Baja California. "For us, the margins at Costa Azul are there," said Hulse.
Sempra also takes a fixed fee from Shell and Gazprom who have leased terminal capacity from Sempra at Costa Azul. Neither Gazprom nor Shell have sent LNG there yet.
Natural gas outlook: May futures fall 6 percent — Cattle Network, Lenexa, KS
Although natural gas supplies this week also increased 0.3 percent from the previous week, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports fell 12.2 percent and Canadian imports dropped 0.6 percent. An increase in production since last week more than offset these declines in imports. [Bold red emphasis added.]
LNG trade slows as Northern Hemisphere cold weather recedes — Bloomberg
“LNG use in the US markets is dropping, and it does look like a repeat of last year,” Allen said. “For that reason we have not changed our estimate of U.S. LNG use for the year, despite the strong start to the year due to very cold weather.” [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Industry analyst: LNG imports necessary to diversify U.S. natural gas supply (Apr 22) — LNG Law Blog
Jay Copan, senior vice president of corporate affairs for the American Gas Association, told attendees at the LNG16 conference in Algeria that he expects LNG imports to play an important role in maintaining a diverse natural gas supply for the U.S. market despite increased production from U.S. shale gas plays.
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Judge investigating claims of misconduct by LNG companies (Apr 20) — Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
One of the country’s top administrative judges on energy is in Oregon this week looking into the conduct of companies interested in importing liquefied natural gas.
Property owners in Northwest Oregon say they’ve been intimidated and misled by Oregon LNG and Oregon Pipeline. [Red emphasis added.]
FERC sets meetings on Oregon LNG complaints (Apr 20) — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is investigating landowner complaints against liquefied natural gas developer Oregon LNG.
The agency has scheduled three public meetings in Oregon this week to give landowners a chance to speak out and to give the company a chance to explain.
Earth Day rally against Oregon LNG abuse — Portland Independent Media Center, Portland, OR
A demonstration is planned for downtown Portland at noon on Thursday, April 22nd (Earth Day), to demonstrate opposition to Liquefied Natural Gas development on public land.
This rally coincides with two important LNG happenings this month: The state of Oregon is considering extending a lease for Oregon LNG on the publicly owned Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton. At the same time, Oregon LNG is being investigated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for misconduct and abuse of stakeholders in the permitting process.
LNG project — The World, Coos Bay, OR
Developers have completed a land-use application for a pipeline to be built along with the proposed LNG terminal on Coos Bay, said Patty Evernden, Coos County's planning director. She expects to post the application on the county's Web site this week and schedule a hearing for the end of May.
United States Coast Guard purchases and deploys MaxIDValidate mobile software for LNG tanker enhanced security screening activity — PRWeb
MaxID Corp, a leading global provider of identity solutions delivered and assisted the United States Coast Guard in deploying its MaxIDValidate Mobile Software running on the iDLMaxG multi-modal handheld devices. The MaxIDValidate software is currently being used to validate each crew member on-board LNG tankers bound to the United States from Yemen. The software integrates biometric and biographic data from relevant U.S. data repositories and is based on required crew information submitted from the inbound ship.
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Goldman Sachs charges mark end of an era [Opinion column] (Apr 19) — Telegraph, UK
Goldman Sachs is angry – very, very angry. How dare the SEC file such a wing and a prayer case against us, senior executives splutter.
Only now is the full extent of the recklessness becoming clear. Financially, Goldman Sachs has managed to protect its back better than most, but sad to say, a growing volume of literature on the absurdities of the boom in credit derivatives places this doyen of Wall Street investment banks right there at the centre of it all.
The swaps and synthetic CDOs [collateralised debt obligations] … infringed two of the basic principles of insurance – that you must own the asset you are trying to insure, and what's more that you can only insure it once. Through swaps it is possible both to insure assets you don't own and insure them multiple times over, thus creating a direct incentive to burn the house down.
For bankers, there is no allegation so bad as to be accused of deceiving your own clients. Banks are built on reputation and trust; once that goes, they are finished. Andersen, the accounting giant, was utterly destroyed by client desertions after being charged over the Enron collapse.
An already inevitable clear-out of the Goldman Sachs old-guard is likely to be accelerated as a result of the SEC charges. I'd be amazed if Lloyd Blankfein is still chairman by the end of the year. Full catharsis will take much more. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Les Otten profile -- Your vote 2010 — The Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN)
Also important to Les Otten: saying yes whenever possible. That means yes to wind, tidal power, LNG, nuclear power and even off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Maine -- anything, he says, to wean Mainers off of expensive and finite foreign oil. …. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Apparently Maine Governor candidate Les Otten does not understand that imported LNG is an expensive, foreign, and finite source of energy.
A seaport asks for another kind of bounty — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA
The cash-strapped town of Gloucester, Mass., portrayed in ‘The Perfect Storm,’ contends that it’s a high-risk terrorist target and entitled to Homeland Security money.
Gloucester's mayor, Carolyn Kirk, is seeking some of the $832.5 million in Homeland Security funds set aside to protect America's most vulnerable and important urban centers.
Kirk's case relies mainly on the potential danger posed by two liquefied natural gas terminals that sit seven and 12 miles out in the Atlantic.
Kirk says the danger is real. The mayor wants to upgrade police and fire communications, build an emergency operations center, and train first-responders, among other goals. The town can't afford any of that without outside help.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Guest opinion: Hess LNG cannot be allowed to own the bay — The Herald News, Fall River, MA
Hess wants to own a piece of Mount Hope Bay, with no compensation or any offset for the loss of this property, not to mention the loss of recreation opportunities, the loss of a fishery and the loss of commerce and businesses.
Hess does not even pretend to provide a public benefit to offset the clear and obvious losses that will be sustained by all of us.
Hess LNG is not good for Rhode Island or Massachusetts. Our bays are our public property, and must remain that way.
Rhode Island appeals approval of Weaver's Cove LNG terminal (Apr 19) — SNL
The state claims in a letter sent to Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, that the captain of the port for the agency's southeastern New England sector violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not undertaking an environmental assessment, or issuing an environmental impact statement or making a finding of no significant impact, before it recommended the terminal.
"Many significant adverse environmental impacts to the human environment that are associated with such shipments have been identified to, and are well known to the USCG, yet it has illegally chosen to simply ignore all of them in the issuance of the 2009 [letter of recommendation] without consideration of such impacts," Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Terence Tierney wrote.
Additionally, Tierney argued that the Coast Guard said in its denial to Rhode Island that the letter of recommendation was a form of "input as subject matter expert" to FERC, which means the agency is attempting to exempt itself from NEPA by following its own guidance and not complying with federal law.
FERC requests schedule for addressing issues raised at Site Visit to Cove Point LNG — LNG Law Blog
FERC has requested a schedule and plans for a number of issues raised during last month's site visit to the Cove Point LNG import facility.
Public invited to meetings on gas pipes — The Daily Local News, West Chester, PA
ATGLEN — A local environmental group is hosting an April 27 forum on the status of current and future natural gas and petroleum pipeline projects in Chester County.
Top officials, including state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley and state Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary John Hines, are slated to speak at the event.
Safety, Agriculture, Villages and Environment Inc. (SAVE) is hosting the forum "Pipelines, Communities and Safety: The Current and Future State of Affairs for Chester County" at the Octorara Primary Learning Center, 87 Highland Road, Atglen.
Analysts: "Shale gas has changed the LNG business" — LNG Law Blog
Analysts with Tudor, Pickering, Holt released a report yesterday stating that "[s]hale gas has changed the LNG business," and that previous forecasts of LNG volumes to be imported to the United States will likely prove to have been overly optimistic. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
US: shale gas sending electricity prices and LNG imports down — Industrial Fuels and Power, Surrey, England, UK
According to a recent report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, wholesale electricity prices in the US dropped by over 50 per cent due to a similar decline in the price of natural gas.
FERC cited new pipelines, particularly the Rockies Express Pipeline connecting Wyoming to eastern Ohio and the resulting improvements in distribution, as one of the main factors behind reductions in price volatility and worked to reduce regional differences in gas prices, along with new LNG terminals in the US.
“The United States is closer than ever before to being a single natural gas market with congestion limited to a few markets for a few periods during the year,” the report said.
A new research report form [sic] Tudor, Pickering, Holt (TPH) is predicting that LNG shipments to the US this year, will drop to 1.8bnft3pd, compared to the country’s current regasification capacity of around 15bnft3pd. Clearly not mincing its words, the report states: “Shale gas renders US LNG imports nearly unnecessary over the next five to 10 years”. As a result, the US is expected to become the buyer of last resort. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Analysis-U.S. LNG import wave might not break this year — (Reuters) Forexyard
NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - U.S. gas traders might experience a touch of deja vu this summer when, for the second year running, an unneeded, bearish barrage of natural gas shipped from overseas fails to land on U.S. shores.
[A]s European and Asian markets show surprising demand resilience despite the economic downturn, U.S. natural gas prices slump and supply growth stutters, the U.S. might be spared from additional incoming cargoes.
Tudor Pickering Holt Energy analysts on Friday said: "We are lowering forecast 2010 U.S. imports from 2.5 bcfd to 1.8 bcfd on the view that better-priced Asian/European markets will attract the market's spot cargoes." [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Gas exporters push for prices to be linked to crude — The National, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), made up of nations controlling 70 per cent of the world’s gas reserves, has dropped an Algerian proposal to cut gas exports, thereby proving it is no “Gas OPEC”.
Instead, ministers from its 11-member states resolved yesterday to push for gas prices to be linked to market prices for crude.
The US emerged last year as the world’s biggest gas producer, narrowly eclipsing Russia, although – unlike Russia – it still consumes more gas than it pumps. The increased output was due to a parallel round of technological improvements in a field so esoteric that it went unnoticed by most market watchers.
The genie of abundant, affordable gas supplies was out of the bottle, at least in North America. That ruined most gas exporters’ expectations that the US would become a significant market for liquefied natural gas (LNG), and put the economics of capital intensive gas liquefaction projects in jeopardy. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
'Small role in LNG for unconventional gas' — UpstreamOnline
“Whilst unconventional LNG does have an, albeit limited, role to play, the significant impact of unconventional gas on the LNG industry is more likely to be the reduction in LNG demand that it causes.
We have certainly seen this in North America where shale gas has significantly impacted LNG demand,” he said. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Kuwait hires LNG tanker as offshore terminal for summer imports — BusinessWeek
April 20 (Bloomberg) -- Kuwait has hired a liquefied natural gas tanker to serve as an offshore terminal to help the country meet rising demand for gas from power plants during the summer months.
“The Explorer will stay until autumn to receive LNG via ship-to-ship and to regas the LNG,” said Andree Stracke, chief commercial officer of Excelerate, an LNG trading company based in The Woodlands, Texas, that’s half-owned by RWE AG. “The vessel is under regas charter” to Kuwait National Petroleum Co.
Excelerate’s Exquisite, which loaded an LNG cargo at Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana on April 16, may bring the cargo to Kuwait, said Charles Martin, director of analysis at Waterborne Energy Inc., a Houston-based provider of LNG shipping data.
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SEC takes off the gloves on Goldman [Editorial] (Apr 16) — Financial Times, London, England, UK
The case the US regulator has brought against Goldman is damning. It alleges that just before the subprime bubble burst in 2007, the bank worked with a hedge fund manager, John Paulson, to market certain subprime mortgage-related securities. Goldman did not tell the purchasers that they were buying an interest in loans hand-picked by Mr Paulson, who took a very bearish view of the subprime market. Or that he had chosen them for their high likelihood of default.
The buyers were also not informed that Mr Paulson’s purpose in structuring the deal was to take a short position against the investments they were making. This trade ultimately netted him roughly $1bn in profits, while the buyers lost their investment.
If the allegations are correct, the SEC should throw the book at Goldman.
The great American bubble machine (Apr 5) — Rolling Stone
From tech stocks to high gas prices, Goldman Sachs has engineered every major market manipulation since the Great Depression — and they're about to do it again
The world's most powerful investment bank [Goldman Sachs] is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money. In fact, the history of the recent financial crisis, which doubles as a history of the rapid decline and fall of the suddenly swindled dry American empire, reads like a Who's Who of Goldman Sachs graduates.
[E]ach investment trust served as a front for an endless investment pyramid: Goldman hiding behind Goldman hiding behind Goldman.
While Goldman's later pattern would be to capitalize on changes in the regulatory environment, its key innovation in the Internet years was to abandon its own industry's standards of quality control.
Goldman's role in the sweeping global disaster that was the housing bubble is not hard to trace.
[A]s the presidential campaign heated up, the accepted explanation for why gasoline had hit $4.11 a gallon was that there was a problem with the world oil supply. ... But it was all a lie. While the global supply of oil will eventually dry up, the short-term flow [of oil] has actually been increasing. In the six months before prices spiked, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the world oil supply rose from 85.24 million barrels a day to 85.72 million. Over the same period, world oil demand dropped from 86.82 million barrels a day to 86.07 million. Not only was the short-term supply of oil rising, the demand for it was falling — which, in classic economic terms, should have brought prices at the pump down.
The collective message of all this — the AIG bailout, the swift approval for its bank holding conversion, the TARP funds — is that when it comes to Goldman Sachs, there isn't a free market at all.
So what caused the huge spike in oil prices? Take a wild guess. Obviously Goldman had help….
And here's the real punch line. After playing an intimate role in four historic bubble catastrophes, after helping $5 trillion in wealth disappear from the NASDAQ, after pawning off thousands of toxic mortgages on pensioners and cities, after helping to drive the price of gas up to $4 a gallon and to push 100 million people around the world into hunger, after securing tens of billions of taxpayer dollars through a series of bailouts overseen by its former CEO, what did Goldman Sachs give back to the people of the United States in 2008? Fourteen million dollars. That is what the firm paid in taxes in 2008, an effective tax rate of exactly one, read it, one percent.
Instead of simply imposing a fixed government levy on carbon pollution and forcing unclean energy producers to pay for the mess they make, cap-and-trade will allow a small tribe of greedy-as-hell Wall Street swine to turn yet another commodities market into a private tax collection scheme. This is worse than the bailout: It allows the bank to seize taxpayer money before it's even collected.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Legislature ends 2010 session by passing energy corridor bill (Apr 16) — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Lifting of the moratorium has not softened the Canadian position…. A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Portland Press Herald this week that officials remain opposed to allowing LNG tankers through Head Harbour Passage.
That angers Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, who accuses Canadian officials of blocking economic development opportunities in Washington County while aggressively expanding the energy-based economy just across the border.
“If it turns out to be ineffective at protecting Maine’s interests, we should revisit it,” said Raye, the Senate minority leader. “I remain gravely concerned about the belligerence of the Canadian government.” [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Ways and Means hearing on green jobs economy - Pickens opening (Apr 14) — YouTube.com
The following link leads to a YouTube.com page containing a video.
"Study after study shows we're awash in natural gas. We have well over a 200-years' supply, by current estimates." — T. Boone Pickens [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Fall River, Rhode Island DEM appeal U.S. Coast Guard's Letter of Recommendation in Weaver's Cove LNG proceeding — LNG Law Blog
The City of Fall River and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management have filed separate appeals of the U.S. Coast Guard's Letter of Recommendation filed in the Weaver's Cove LNG proceeding.
Somerset will appeal Cost Guard ruling on LNG — The Herald News, Fall River, MA
SOMERSET — The town will appeal a 2009 Coast Guard decision saying that LNG tankers carrying gas into the Taunton River can do so safely.
State of the Markets Report 2009 (Apr 15) — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington, DC
The following link will access a PDF file.
In addition to increased gas production in the mid‐Atlantic area and expanded pipeline and storage capacity, new market area Liquefied Natural Gas import capacity appears to have reduced winter price volatility in New England. Over the course of 2009, 2 Bcfd of sendout capacity was added at the Northeast Gateway terminal in Massachusetts Bay and the Canaport terminal in St. John [sic; Saint John], New Brunswick. A fourth terminal, Neptune, off the northern coast of Massachusetts, began operation with a possible additional sendout of 750 MMcfd.
During the course of this winter, there were days when these terminals as well as the Everett terminal near Boston accounted for half of New England’s gas supplies. On those days—days nearing all‐time natural gas demand peaks in the Northeast—the basis from Henry Hub never exceeded $5.25 MMBtu. In the past, gas commonly reached a premium of $10‐15 per MMBtu on peak days. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
GE invests in US LNG terminal — Tank Storage Magazine
GE Energy Financial Services is injecting further funds into a $1.1 billion (€818 million) LNG regasification terminal under construction in Pascagoula, Mississippi, US, aimed at increasing supplies of gas to the northeastern and southeastern US.
US gas: Futures end lower amid ample supplies, mild weather — The Wall Street Journal [Paid subscription required]
Prices were facing pressure from increased drilling activity, a sign of growing production, and mild weather--which can stifle demand for the fuel and help boost gas inventories.
[Red emphasis added.]
Two companies submit final proposals for Jamaican LNG project — LNG Law Blog
Platts LNG Daily [subscription required] reports that two companies, Examr and Hoegh LNG, submitted final proposals for the LNG import project proposed for Jamaica. The piece also notes that the Jamaican government will announce its selection for the project in the first week of May.
Economic honesty [Opinion column] — Trinidad & Tobago Express, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Gas price is expected (ask Robert Riley) to remain low because of the oversupply of cheap shale-gas in the US (a product that will emerge elsewhere) and the massive increase in LNG from Qatar (and other places), Qatar possibly the only exporter that can make money on both the US and European markets. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
County LNG process to be continued ... at an unknown date (Apr 16) — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
Clatsop County hearings officer Peter Livingston has decided that despite this week's Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals remand of two land-use issues on the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas project, the county will not abandon the approval process already underway for the company's supplemental land-use applications.
Is LNG the new foreign Oil? Part 2: Peruvian Amazon — It's Getting Hot In Here
In the Pacific Northwest, NW Natural Gas claims that the Palomar pipeline and Bradwood Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal will bring “clean” fuel to the United States. But the truth is the real impacts of LNG importation are enormous, and extend far beyond the Pacific Northwest.
The extraction-based economy ravaging the Peruvian Amazon thrives on transferring the natural resources of Peru’s forests to foreign markets – a bad deal for both the environment and Peru’s indigenous and rural communities. Today the main foreign market for Peruvian LNG is Mexico, and there are no LNG import facilities on the western coast of the United States. But the Palomar Pipeline, backed by Northwest Natural, is a critical piece in a proposed network of LNG pipelines and import terminals which would throw open the doors of the US market to LNG from Peru and other countries in western South America.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Gas exporting countries to consider increase in gas prices for Europe — The Financial, Tbilisi, Georgia
The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), a "gas equivalent" of the OPEC oil cartel, will convene on Monday in the Algerian city of Oran to decide whether to raise prices for gas supplies to Europe and other regions, the Russian energy minister said.
Gas Opec looks less likely [Blog] — Financial Times, London, England, UK
Qatar, GECF member and the world’s biggest gas exporter, has invested heavily in building new LNG facilities and is not interested in reducing production. Russia, another of the group’s biggest exporters, no longer supports the idea either, despite recent comments from Gazprom bristling at the success of US shale gas, and its problems with the growing preference for cheaper spot pricing for pipeline gas. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Update 1-World's top gas exporters meet to cut glut — Reuters Africa
"When you drop the (OPEC) quota, someone else is not taking your place, but in gas, you have two important countries that are not members -- the United States and Australia," Khelil told journalists after the meeting, adding the group had instead decided to strive for oil-gas parity -- someday.
[Red emphasis added.]
Launching of OPEC-like gas cartel premature - Algeria — Eurasia Review, Madrid, Spain
"A fair LNG price should be USD 13 instead of the current USD four per mBtu (million British thermal units)," he believes. [Brown emphasis added.]
GECF sets sights on oil price parity — Upstream Online
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko also said they had also agreed that liquefied natural gas should not compete with other forms of gas.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Gas OPEC sends prices lower for worst commodity (Update 1) — BusinessWeek
“The producers are living in a fantasy world if they think that they can influence prices by cutting production,” because it won’t be enforceable, John Fahy, managing director of energy consultant Eras Ltd. in London, said in a telephone interview.
The fuel’s value is falling as Qatar raises liquefied natural gas output 44 percent this year and new supplies from North American shale rock cut U.S. imports to their lowest in more than a decade last year. Purchasers have reduced their take from long-term contracts priced to oil and bought more from spot markets such as the U.K., where the price for same day delivery is 21 percent below its five-year average.
In the U.S., gas has fallen 28 percent this year, the second-worst performer after sugar in the S&P GSCI Index of 24 commodities, as gas produced from shale rock bolstered supply.
Production of unconventional natural gas in the U.S. is sustainable, Khelil said today. It has led to an oversupply of LNG import capacity in the U.S. and Australian LNG output will exacerbate the surplus, he said.
Gas forum tackles how to boost falling prices (Apr 18) — KyivPost, Kyiv, Ukraine
Gas prices have dropped by nearly 50 percent over the past two years, mainly because of decreased demand and surging American production.
[S]hort-term trading prices have been driven steeply down by the U.S., which has found new means of extracting "non-conventional gas" at home.
Algeria Energy Minister: New US gas output leading to LNG glut — Easy Bourse
ORAN, Algeria -(Dow Jones)- New natural gas production from the U.S. is leading to an excess of capacity in liquefied natural gas, Algeria's energy minister said Monday. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Algeria: US could gain market share if forum cuts gas output — NASDAQ
"If you reduce, you must be sure that someone else won't replace you," Chakib Khelil, who is also Algeria's energy minister, told reporters after a meeting of the forum in Oran.
The risk of losing market share to countries like the U.S. and Australia in the case of a cut in production is "a question that still needs to be clarified, " he said.
‘Gas OPEC’ holds glut talks — The National, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Mr Khelil blamed the significant drop in spot market gas prices, which have fallen 28 per cent in the US since the start of this year to about $4 per million British thermal units, on the global economic crisis and new production technologies that have unlocked large volumes of unconventional “shale gas” in the US, ending the country’s reliance on imports. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Update 1-Russian minister says shale gas a problem for Gazprom — (Reuters) Interactive Investor
MOSCOW, April 19 (Reuters) - Rising shale gas production, which allowed the United States to surpass Russia as the world's largest gas producer in 2009, is a "problem" for state-run gas giant Gazprom, a government minister said on Monday.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Electric cars and natural gas — The Energy Collective
[T]he more we rely on gas to generate electricity--to meet incremental demand, including from EVs, and to back out higher-emitting sources like coal--and the more gas we put directly into vehicles, the likelier it is that we'll need to import LNG to balance supply and demand. If the international gas market were controlled by an OPEC-like cartel that was able to constrain output to put pressure on prices, then eventually this would translate into higher gas prices here--closer to crude oil's--and that would make both natural gas vehicles and EVs running on gas-generated power less competitive with fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel cars. So for both EVs and NGVs, it's good news that the gas producers meeting in Algeria seem unlikely to be able to match OPEC's market power any time soon.
Natural gas may be worse for the planet than coal (Apr 16) — Technology Review, MIT, Cambridge, MA
[U]sing natural gas rather than diesel in vehicles could actually increase climate change, says Robert Howarth, professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University. "You're aggravating global warming more if you switch," he says.
Howarth is basing his conclusion on a preliminary analysis that includes not only the amount of carbon dioxide that comes out of a tailpipe when you burn diesel and natural gas, but also the impact of natural gas leaks. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is much more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, so even small amounts of it contribute significantly to global warming. When you factor this in, natural gas could be significantly worse than diesel, he says. Using natural gas would emit the equivalent of 33 grams of carbon dioxide per megajoule. Using petroleum fuels would emit the equivalent of just 20 grams of carbon dioxide per megajoule.
But for all the shortcomings of Howarth's analysis, it points to a real need. Before Congress passes any bill promoting natural gas, a thorough study of the potential impact needs to be taken into account, including the energy it takes to obtain it, and the impact of methane leaks. [Red emphasis added.]
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Third Canaport LNG tank complete — Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB
On Wednesday, Canaport LNG spokeswoman Kate Shannon said construction of the third tank is complete, but that it must still be cooled to the proper temperature for storing LNG. That process is expected to occur within the next two weeks.
"It won't change output at all. It basically just gives us more storage space," Shannon said, noting each of Canaport's three tanks can hold 160,000 cubic metres of LNG.
Back in March, Phil Ribbeck, the president of Repsol Energy North America said the company aims to double its winter output to New England in 2010-11, up to 800 million cubic feet of natural gas a day.
This winter, the Canaport terminal averaged a daily output of 400 million cubic feet of natural gas.
Mayor objects to Maine LNG terminals — Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB
"As they have told us, the LNG proponents have no legal responsibility for the supply of emergency services in the event of an accident," the mayor said in the letter.
"The emergency services in this area of New Brunswick have neither the resources nor the training to even begin to respond to an LNG incident. To consider imposing this risk on those who cannot protect themselves is not the right way to be a good neighbour." [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Energy corridors measure doesn't budge Canada on LNG — Kennebeck Journal, Augusta, ME
[The following was originally reported today in the Portland Press Herald under the headline, "Canada still barring ship access to proposed LNG sites in Maine"]
Ottawa's reaction followed a news release by LNG advocates in Maine noting that the corridor ban had ended and urging Canada to drop its opposition to tanker traffic through Head Harbour Passage, the access route to two proposed terminals in Passamaquoddy Bay. Those projects, in Calais and Robbinston, are seeking state and U.S. permits. But without some compromise by Canada, they cannot be built.
[Maine Senate Minority Leader Kevin Raye, R-Perry], who grew up in Eastport, said the Canadian government's position amounts to a threatened blockade of U.S. waters. "The U.S. does not accept that erroneous interpretation," he said of Canada's control of water access to the terminal sites. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Maine bill won't ease LNG opposition — (AP) WBZ-TV, Portland, ME
The Portland Press Herald on Thursday quotes a spokeswoman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as saying the government remains opposed to the terminals in Robbinston and Calais in Washington County. Canadians say ships going to those terminals would have to pass through their waters.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Energy corridor ban lifted — Mainebiz, Portland, ME
A bill approved by the Legislature this week that lifts the state's moratorium on development of energy corridors has not swayed Canada to change its opposition to LNG terminals in Maine.
Legislators hoped lifting the moratorium would encourage more cooperation between Maine and Canada and pressure the country into backing down from its opposition to proposed liquefied natural gas terminals in Down East Maine. But Canadian officials have already reiterated their stance against LNG terminals. "Nothing has changed in terms of our position," New Brunswick Southwest Member of Parliament Greg Thompson told Canada's CBC News. Maine and Canadian officials have battled over whether tankers en route to LNG terminals in the state can pass through Canadian waters. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Chatham assessors board appeals property values of LNG terminal (Apr 14) — Savannah Now, Savannah, GA
The board is appealing an arbitration panel's ruling it had overvalued Southern LNG's personal property by $241 million. The decision to appeal came during a special called meeting Tuesday.
The board's decision to appeal came only after learning fines and penalties owed by Southern LNG for overdue taxes would be significantly lower than what had been anticipated, said Chairman Terry Tolbert.
ConocoPhillips to seek export extension for LNG plant (Apr 14) — Homer News, Homer, AK
The request will involve extending the time allowed for the export of LNG, but it will involve the same amount of gas approved for export by the energy department in a 1999 extension of the export permit, ConocoPhillips spokeswoman Natalie Lowman said.
It's over [Editorial] — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
It’s a Groundhog Day moment for the Clatsop County Commission
This charade has cost the county valuable administrative time. In political terms, these ridiculous decisions have devalued the commission's credibility. At the heart of the commission's Bradwood votes was an assumption that what's good for NorthernStar Energy LLC (Bradwood's developer) is good for Clatsop County. And in political terms, it has seemed as though commissioners, except for Rohne, were in NorthernStar's pocket.
Unlike Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, our county commission cannot expect to make the big score with NorthernStar Energy LLC. The game is over.
What swims below? — The World, Coos Bay, OR
Scientists are excited about learning more about the estuary from these samples, and liquefied natural gas developers are paying attention, too.
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Bill aims to tighten process for creating Maine "energy corridors" (Apr 13) — The Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN)
"Under the old system, we were practically giving up the right of way for foreign interests, namely Canadian interests, to pass right through our state and deliver low-cost energy," says John Hansen, a spokesman for the group Maine Jobs First, which sought the new corridor development process.
"This gives us a lot more introspection, a lot more opportunity, to get a reasonably fair share of the pie, if there's going to be one," Hanson says. "Plus we need clean energy desperately in the state at a reasonable cost."
Buxton says the law ends a moratorium on the development of energy corridors in the state. That moratorium was established in reaction to Canada's stated opposition to a proposed liquefied natural gas facility in Washington County. Although an LNG plant operates in [Saint John], New Brunswick, Canadian officials oppose the Washington County plan because of the navigational difficulties posed in that area of Passamaquoddy Bay. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Energy corridor moratorium lifted — CBC News
The decision to lift the moratorium is a goodwill gesture toward Canada and Canadian industries that want to transport electricity or products such as natural gas through Maine to large American markets, [Barry Hobbins, chairman of the joint standing committee on utilities and energy] said.
He said he hopes Canada will reconsider its opposition to the passage of LNG tankers through Head Harbour Passage in Passamaquoddy Bay.
"We kind of extended almost an olive branch to the Canadian government hoping that they will look favourably upon passageway issues."
But that's unlikely, according to New Brunswick Southwest MP Greg Thompson.
"Nothing has changed in terms of our position," he said. The federal government has safety and environmental concerns about LNG tankers sailing through the narrow passage. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
FERC determines AES Sparrows Point LNG project will conform to Pennsylvania's air quality standards — LNG Law Blog
Yesterday, FERC released its Final General Conformity Determination for Pennsylvania for the AES Sparrows Point LNG terminal and pipeline project. FERC concluded that LNG terminal and associated pipeline would conform to Pennsylvania’s air quality standards.
Security Zone; Calcasieu River and ship channel, LA (Apr 13) — Federal Register, Washington, DC
The following link will access a PDF file.
The Coast Guard is disestablishing the permanent safety zone at Trunkline LNG in Lake Charles, LA and replacing it with a security zone with new boundaries. The Coast Guard is also establishing two additional permanent security zones on the waters of the Calcasieu River for the mooring basins at Cameron LNG in Hackberry, LA and PPG Industries in Lake Charles, LA. The Coast Guard is also disestablishing the Calcasieu River ship channel moving safety zone and replacing it with a moving security
zone. The revised moving security zone extends channel edge to channel edge on the Calcasieu Channel and shoreline to shoreline on the Calcasieu River, 2 miles ahead and 1 mile astern of certain designated vessels while in transit on the Calcasieu Channel or Calcasieu River.
Noranda Bauxite targeted for acquisition — The Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
Jamaica is in the process of building out a new natural gas policy project, which includes the creation of a floating LNG platform from which supplies would be piped onshore to fuel bauxite plants.
LNG opponents claim a victory (Apr 13) — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
On Monday, [the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA)] ruled the county still hasn't proven that the $650 million Bradwood Landing LNG project meets standards for small- to medium-scale development, the only kind allowed at the Bradwood site 25 miles east of Astoria. The board also decided the county hadn't shown that the project would adequately "protect" salmon and salmon fishing grounds in the Columbia River as required by law.
Land use board deals setback to LNG backers (Apr 13) — (AP) KATU, Portland, OR
The board found that an area of riverbed slated for dredging to accommodate LNG ships needs to be included in the 100-acre zoning limit for the project, but an area occupied by the gas pipeline can be subtracted, so a new calculation of the project size is needed.
The states of Oregon and Washington, Columbia Riverkeepers and the Nez Perce Tribe are appealing the federal [FERC] approval, arguing the commission made its decision before environmental reviews and state permits were in. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Oregon court rejects Columbia River LNG application (Apr 13) — Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
Oregon’s land use court has again rejected an application for a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River. Bradwood Landing’s proposal returns to Clatsop County again.
Oregon land use board rejects Bradwood Landing LNG terminal approval for second time (Apr 12) — (AP) OregonLive.com
For the second time, an Oregon state land board has rejected Clatsop County's approval of the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal near the mouth of the Columbia River.
Sempra’s Costa Azul LNG terminal due to receive cargo — The Daily Transcript, San Diego, CA
Sempra Energy’s (NYSE: SRE) liquefied-natural-gas import terminal in Baja California is due to receive a cargo of the fuel on May 5, vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg showed.
The Costa Azul terminal, the first LNG receiving port on the West Coast of North America, serves Mexico, California and the U.S. Southwest, according to Sempra. BP’s Tangguh LNG supplies LNG to the terminal under a 20-year contract.
Pipeline prospects — Offshore-technology.com
Pipeline transportation of natural gas is less capital intensive and complex compared with LNG projects. While the key parameters that determine pipeline construction costs are diameter, operating pressures and length, for LNG transportation, costs are largely a function of the distance between liquefaction and regasification terminals.
However, while gas pipelines can run across various national borders and can easily connect to existing national transmission grids, for LNG, further investments are required to transport natural gas to the domestic transmission grid. Over moderate distances, costs incurred from natural gas pipelines are lower than those of LNG.
[Red emphasis added.]
How the shale gas revolution is now tapping U.S. oil reserves more than five times those of Saudi Arabia — Business Insider
There was a time when this gas was once considered unfeasible at reasonable cost, and companies had planned Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals in order to accommodate U.S. natural gas imports.
Yet now major energy companies such as Exxon believe in shale gas and America faces a domestic supply glut of natural gas. LNG terminals are now discussed in terms of how much they can export. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Merrill cuts LNG oversupply forecast on recovering economy — Bloomberg
A weak U.S. gas price should mean more LNG is diverted away from North America in the coming months and toward Europe, South America and Asia, Merrill said.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Analysts: LNG is filling gas storage inventories in United States, Western Europe (Apr 13) — LNG Law Blog
NATS [subscription required] suggests in its LNG Week in Review that the driving force behind LNG markets in the United States and Western Europe is the push to refill natural gas storage inventories. NATS also notes that price advantages for U.S. LNG destinations over European terminals has eroded.
Separately, analysts with Raymond James released an analysis yesterday predicting that domestic natural gas supplies and LNG imports are "threatening to overwhelm [U.S. gas] storage this summer." [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Gazprom says ‘abnormal’ gas-price gap to undermine investment (Apr 15) — Bloomberg
In the U.S., shale gas will account for 50 percent of supply by 2035, up from 20 percent now, according to IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Spend wiser, go cleaner (Mar) — Oil & Gas Eurasia
[Russia's] plans – as well as those of existing and potential LNG exporters in the Middle East and North Africa – to ship LNG to the U.S. market, have been dealt a serious blow by what experts call a “silent revolution” in U.S. shale gas production. Its low cost (an IEA analysis rates it at $5 per Mbtu) combined with a 10-percent return rate promises a growing role of shale gas in the U.S. energy mix, at the same time largely reducing its needs for imported LNG. This and the biggest drop in gas demand over the last 40 years (in 2009 it fell by 4-5 percent globally) is expected to bring a gas glut of some 200 billion cubic meters by 2015. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
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The vast abundance of North American domestic natural gas, the ongoing news heralding that resource, and the already-vast LNG terminal overbuild has to be giving Passamaquoddy Bay LNG project developers a panicky, sickening feeling in their stomachs.
EIA sees plenty of cheap natural gas — Purchasing
Energy Information Administration economists now expect the Henry Hub natural gas spot price to average $4.44 per million British thermal units this year, a 49¢ increase over the 2009 average, but a significant downward revision from the $5.17 projected earlier. The EIA says "the price outlook is lower primarily because of an average 2 billion cubic feet per day upward revision to the 2010 domestic natural gas production forecast."
The number of working natural gas rigs has increased by almost 200 since the end of last year to 950 at the end of March. That will offset the slight decline expected in net natural gas imports of natural gas and LNG. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Natural gas futures decline on anticipation of ample supplies — San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
April 12 (Bloomberg) -- Natural gas futures fell in New York, on speculation that rising production and tepid demand will send U.S. stockpiles soaring in the months ahead. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Paramount Energy Trust confirms April 2010 distribution and announces non-core asset sales — PR Newswire
PET continues to actively manage its natural gas price risk. Natural gas prices in North America have weakened considerably since the beginning of 2010. The Trust remains cautious with respect to near term natural gas prices as impacted by strong supply from shale gas plays in the United States, increased LNG supply, weak industrial gas demand due to the economic recession and recent strength in the Canadian dollar.
Ventilation tests OK at Gulf LNG Energy — GulfLive.com, MS
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- A test of a temporary ventilation system for the two tanks of the Gulf LNG Energy plant under construction on Bayou Casotte went as expected, said a company spokesman.
The company had told residents to expect to see white smoke for about an hour during the test, but no smoke was visible Sunday morning.
Our view: LNG export [Editorial] (Apr 10) — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK
The Nikiski LNG plant is a prime customer for Cook Inlet gas. And the prime customer for the LNG the plant produces is Japan. While Japanese demand has fallen, the plant still does enough business to operate -- and thus, keep Cook Inlet wells operating.
U.S. to intensify offshore oil and gas drilling (Apr 1) — The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC
"At least 20,000 square kilometres of the Beaufort Sea is contested -- and perhaps much more," he added. "The push into Arctic oil and gas also creates pressure to resolve the long-standing dispute over the status of the Northwest Passage. With the Arctic sea ice receding, companies will wish to ship oil and liquefied natural gas through those waters to refineries and markets in the eastern United States."
Jordan Cove LNG submits initial implementation plan — LNG Law Blog
Jordan Cove LNG has filed an Initial Implementation Plan that addresses many of FERC's conditions for its approval of the regasification project.
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Smoke plumes may rise from tanks during test (Apr 8) — SunHerald, Gulfport, MS
Baerg said the company issued a media alert for the Sunday test just in case the smoke is visible. The test, which is expected to last no more than an hour, will be on the ventilation system that will be used during the construction of the tanks’ interiors.
It’s designed to keep fresh air flowing while workers operate machinery and weld inside the tanks.
The test will involve the controlled release of dozens of smoke flares simultaneously inside the southernmost tank. The company will use nontoxic flares similar to those fire departments use for training.
Excelerate Energy seeks LNG partner for Gulf Gateway terminal — Bloomberg
April 9 (Bloomberg) -- Excelerate Energy, a U.S. liquefied gas company that’s half-owned by RWE AG, is seeking a partner to market gas from its LNG terminal off the coast of Louisiana.
“We are not only looking for a marketing partner, we are also looking for somebody with an interest in potential physical positions as well, who might be interested in using our capacity.”
Denali Pipeline backers may consider LNG project if pipeline open season unsuccessful — LNG Law Blog
BP and ConocoPhillips, developers of the Denali natural gas pipeline proposed for Alaska, have begun the process to conduct an open season for capacity on the pipeline. However, Platts LNG Daily [subscription required] reports that if the open season does not attract commitments for at least 85% of design capacity, project backers may consider other options, including connecting to an LNG export facility.
Slope producers: state's gasline inducements don't do the job — Alaska Journal of Commerce, Anchorage AK
LNG sales are usually done in long-term contracts with adjustments for inflation, and if an LNG spot market index is used similar to the method planned o be used for North America sales it could result in a royalty value substantially different than the actual sales value of the LNG.
The regulations also do not fully allow the losses of gas used in the LNG process itself to be considered fully as costs, which again tends to discriminate against an LNG project.
Study shows bullet line likely will add to customer costs — Alaska Journal of Commerce, Anchorage AK
In theory, the Kenai LNG plant could see an extended operating life or even an expansion, but the plant is 40 years old and would need a major upgrading, which would require substantial investment.
Another way there could be larger volumes of gas moving to Southcentral is if a large LNG project were built in Valdez, which could require up to 3 billion cubic feet a day of gas moving through a 48-inch pipeline built to that plant. As a part of its open season planned this summer, TransCanada Corp. will offer the alternative of a pipeline to Valdez for any customers interested in building a large LNG plant.
Where do we put this stuff? — Before It's News
The petroleum industry is also show signs of too-much-ness. This week Total announced the start-up of the second train at its Yemen LNG project.
This is just one of several LNG projects coming on-line in the next couple of years. All of these projects were conceived years ago. When the global gas market looked very different.
Then came shale gas. U.S. gas production is now up for the first time in a decade. Throw in demand reduction forced by the recent recession and it looks as if over-, not under-supply may be America's issue.
Begging the question: where will all of the new LNG developments sell their gas?
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Reliance Industries buys 21% of US shale gas field (Apr 10) — DNA India
Shale gas will account for 50% of US supply by 2035, up from the current 20%, according to a report by IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
New technology provides abundance of natural gas (Apr 8) — Voice of America
U.S. development of its natural gas resources could reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy and some political analysts believe liquefied natural gas could be exported across the Atlantic to undermine Russia's periodic threats to cutoff European customers. [University of Houston chemical engineer and energy expert Michael Economides] agrees.
"Twenty-five European countries depend for more than 75 percent of their oil and gas on Russia," Economides added. "Now, if for instance, the United States, with all this gas, can actually export gas to Western Europe, it turns the whole energy independence conundrum on its head, because we clearly have enough gas to change the equation in Europe." [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Shale gas provokes debate in Russia (Feb) — Oil & Gas Eurasia
“The reality”, Yazev said, “is that 51 billion cubic meters of gas is being produced in the United States today and that is 6.7 percent of the total amount of gas being produced in America. Today, the US imports 41 billion cubic meters of gas and says it will import significantly more”. He said, “There has been something of a technological breakthrough in shale gas” which has already halted projects to build LNG plants in many countries. The United States, China and Australia have already begun to stop building facilities to produce and handle LNG, though some sites will be reserved.
Canada has also joined in shale gas production. Yazev said that he thinks Russia must absolutely study all the facts related to producing shale gas, since the impact this non-traditional source of energy could be significant on both Russia’s own market and on the country’s export potential
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Maine Board of Environmental Protection steps in on proposed liquefied natural gas facility and pipeline [Press release] (Mar 18) — Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, MA
Public Hearing to be Convened on Controversial Washington County Facility
PORTLAND, ME March 18, 2010 – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) hailed today’s decision by the Maine Board of Environmental Protection to take jurisdiction over, and hold a public hearing on, a liquefied natural gas facility and associated pipeline being proposed by a group led by an ex-legislator from Washington county, Augusta insiders seeking to block an energy corridor proposed by Governor Baldacci, and an arm of the banking giant Goldman Sachs.
CLF opposes the project. Sean Mahoney, CLF vice president, and director of its Maine Advocacy Center, notes that the project’s environmental impacts are inappropriate, given the lack of need for new natural gas supply in Maine.
“Given the current glut of natural gas, the projected significant increase in domestic sources of natural gas and the projected lack of any increased demand for gas from current levels, moving forward with the project is a waste of resources and provides false hope for a part of Maine that is in desperate need for real solutions.” [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Ruggiero to host LNG conversation in Jamestown, R.I. (Apr 7) – The Herald News, Fall River, MA
PROVIDENCE — Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown, will host an event in Jamestown April 26 for residents to discuss with state leaders Hess LNG’s proposal to bring liquefied natural gas tankers through Narragansett Bay. She will be joined by Sen. President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport.
“A Conversation about Our Bay, Our Community and LNG” is scheduled Monday, April 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jamestown Senior Center/Grange, 6 West St.
“The Hess LNG terminal [would] be environmentally and economically detrimental to Aquidneck Island and Jamestown, negatively impacting tourism, the marine industry, fishing and the tourism industry. This facility [would] provide only a few short-term jobs at the expense of long-term jobs in the marine trades, tourism, fishing and retail. Tourism is a $680 million dollar industry in Newport. Cruise ships are on a tight schedule and if bridges close for a tanker those tourism dollars [would] go elsewhere. Also, Narragansett Bay, Beavertail and Fort Adams State Park are held in public trust for public benefit not to be conveyed to a private company for profits,” Ruggiero said. [Red emphasis added.]
Shipping accidents in Narragansett Bay [Editorial] — The Jamestown Press, Jamestown, RI
Over the years, we’ve seen ships that have run aground and ships that have spilled fuel. Shipping accidents do happen in Narragansett Bay.
Pol's beau tied to gas terminal bid off Rockaways (Apr 6) — NY Daily News, New York, NY
THE LONGTIME boyfriend of a state lawmaker from Queens lobbied Albany last year on behalf of a company that plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal off the Rockaways, raising eyebrows in her district.
Critics say this set up a potential conflict of interest for Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach), even though she has been a vocal opponent of such projects.
Refile-Low gas price challenge for JPMorgan-Cheniere deal (Apr 7) — Reuters US
-
Reexport from Sabine Pass terminal an option
While the JP Morgan-Cheniere deal could reap benefits in the longer term, finding lucrative deals will be difficult short term as weak U.S. gas prices make it hard to generate profits from sending gas there.
As a U.S. LNG importer, Cheniere has struggled the make profits in recent years, after building the biggest LNG import terminal in the United States on the bet that LNG tankers would flock to the United States.
Large increases in U.S. domestic supply, from the growth of unconventional gas plays like shale, has meant that U.S. LNG imports have not increased as was anticipated three or four years ago, and Cheniere's Sabine Pass terminal has received only sporadic deliveries.
Adapting to the new U.S. demand scenario, Freeport LNG in Texas and Cheniere's Sabine Pass have built -- and used -- special facilities to allow for reexport. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Conoco, Marathon to seek LNG permit extension — Alaska Dispatch, Anchorage, AK
The license expires March 2011, and renewal through the federal Department of Energy is no easy task. Conoco spokeswoman Natalie Lowman said they'll ask for another two years on the permit.
Without continued exports, some have warned that the Southcentral electricity and space heating market is too slim to entice continued production. The problem has gotten bad enough that natural gas distributor Enstar recently predicted it would be importing LNG by 2013, barring dramatic changes in the Cook Inlet production picture.
Alaska big, but most agree only room for one gas pipeline as Denali unveils plan (Apr 7) — (AP) CanadaEast.com
Both ventures aim to be in service by around 2020, with plans to deliver about 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day to North American markets via larger lines to Canada. TransCanada's other option is smaller in size and cost - between $20 billion and $26 billion - for a liquefied natural gas facility that would export the fuel by ship.
Some lawmakers have become skeptical of the idea of a mainline to North America because of other gas plays ahead of Alaska's and improved methods to tap natural gas stored in shale formations elsewhere. There's also the question of whether there will be sufficient demand beyond the next decade to make a major project succeed for all involved.
Not one, but two, open seasons this summer (Apr 7) — Alaska Dispatch, Anchorage, AK
Like TransCanada's project, the Denali offer includes offtakes for gas delivered within Alaska and through Canada. While Denali isn't putting out a second possibility -- a smaller line straight south to Valdez for LNG exports -- Fackrell said that lacking bids on 85 percent of capacity in this initial open season, there's room for recrafting a smaller line or considering a line for LNG export, instead of through Canada.
Will competing gasline projects merge? (Apr 7) — KTVA-TV, Anchorag, AK
Just days after the Feds approved the state backed TransCanada-ExxonMobil Alaska Pipeline Project starting to take producer bids for gasline space May 1, their competition BP-ConocoPhillips Denali Project is now asking for virtually the same thing.
Denali pitches its plan for a natural gas pipeline — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK
Attention now turns to the next few months, when the competing projects plan to court North Slope gas producers and seek shipping commitments as part of what's called "open season."
In its filing Wednesday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Denali noted the risks involved. It's seeking leeway to consider other options -- a scaled-down project, an entirely different project, such as a line to a liquefied natural gas plant, or allowances to drum up additional support for the original -- if it doesn't get commitments for at least 85 percent of the line's capacity at open season.
Gas plan falling apart (Apr 6) — Terrace Standard, Terrace, BC
IT LOOKS as if a natural gas export project which could have lowered the cost for other natural gas users in the northwest has been cancelled.
It planned to ship natural gas to Kitimat through PNG’s pipeline where it would be liquified on a converted tanker floating offshore and then exported overseas.
In a presentation on its own financial performance on its website, the Teekay Corporation said, “Kitimat F[loating] LNG project discontinued due to insufficient profitability.”
Ruby gas pipeline -- that would rival proposed LNG terminals in Oregon -- on track for spring work (Apr 7) — The Oregonian, Portland, OR
CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- El Paso Corp. said today that construction of the $3 billion Ruby gas pipeline from Wyoming to Oregon is on track to begin later this spring following Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval of the project.
El Paso's project, many experts believe, could eliminate the need for some or all of the three liquefied natural gas import terminals that have been proposed in Oregon. Much of the gas imported to an LNG terminal is expected to flow to customers in California, as is the gas in the Ruby pipeline, putting the projects in competition for the same customer base.
The pipeline will carry up to 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day.
County staff supports five of eight supplemental applications submitted by Bradwood Landing LNG — LNG Law Blog
Providing coverage on the first of as many as four planned public meetings on eight supplemental applications filed by Bradwood Landing LNG, the Daily Astorian reports that Clatsop County staff recommended conditional approval of five of the eight applications.
EIA Energy Conference: Experts see shale gas affecting overseas supplies — Oil & Gas Journal
US supply assumptions have been turned upside down in the last 3 years, they observed at the Apr. 7 natural gas breakout session at the Annual Energy Outlook Conference cosponsored by the US Energy Information Administration and Johns Hopkins University’s School for Advanced International Studies. “I sometimes wonder if we would have built 14 bcf of LNG import capacity if we’d known about this,” said Benjamin Schlesinger, president of Benjamin Schlesinger & Associates LLC, Bethesda, Md.
[Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Even as natural gas players throw in the towel, Goldman comes out and says prices are unsustainably low — Business Insider, New York, NY
NYMEX natural gas prices have fallen substantially below NYMEX Appalachian
coal prices, which have remained stable over the past month (see Exhibit 1). This
has re-established the economic incentive for coal-to-gas substitution in US power
generation.
NYMEX natural gas prices have also fallen substantially below UK NBP natural gas
prices (see Exhibit 1), reducing the economic incentive to send LNG cargoes to the
United States.
EIA expects increased U.S. LNG imports in 2010 (Apr 7) — LNG Law Blog
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts in its Short-Term Energy Outlook that LNG imports to the United States will increase by approximately 0.5 Bcf/d in 2010 over last year. The report also notes that if global LNG demand decreases while global LNG supply increases, LNG imports to the U.S. market may increase by a greater margin this year.
Math problems: Production in natural gas (Apr 5) — iStockAnalyst
Hot on the heels of news that the Energy Information Administration's weekly oil inventory data is miscalculated (which we covered in a recent podcast) comes new revelations that the agency's natural gas production numbers are junk, too.
But the shale gas boom has rapidly changed the fundamentals underlying natural gas.
In the next EIA-914 report, due out on April 30, the agency will use a new methodology to both revise January's numbers and analyze data for February. Exactly how the statistics will change is yet to be confirmed, but at the very least, the EIA says it will use more recent data in its production estimates for smaller companies (switching to data only 6-18 months old, rather than several years), and it will recalibrate data monthly, rather than annually.
[M]onthly output volume doesn't seem to matter nearly as much as the weekly natural gas inventory numbers—and those are still telling a story of massive oversupply. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
The changing world of gas [Blog] (Mar) — ICIS
The rise of shale gas has implications for countries like Qatar that has developed its LNG industry to meet US demand.
"That now looks like a blunder. America is still taking some of this LNG, but the exporters' bonanza is over before it ever really began," says The Economist.
The developments in the US market also has implications for Canada. The ceo of Nova Chemicals recently said that the growth of US natural gas capacity may make natural gas production in Canada less economical, which in turn could lead to a feedstock shortage for Canadian petrochemicals producers. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
United States: US EPA proposes to expand greenhouse gas reporting—petroleum and natural gas systems among the targeted industries (Apr 2) — Mondaq
As before, the latest proposal would require petroleum and natural gas facilities that emit greater than or equal to 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in a year to report. Covered facilities would include offshore petroleum and natural gas production, onshore natural gas processing, natural gas transmission, underground natural gas storage, liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage, and LNG import and export, plus, in a departure from the April 2009 proposal, natural gas distribution and on-shore petroleum and natural gas production. At present, however, the Agency is not proposing to include crude oil transportation in its reporting system.
The besieged behemoth fights back (Apr 6) — Russia Profile, Moscow, Russia
Ill at ease and at a crossroads, the Russian gas behemoth Gazprom has lately been struggling to redefine itself, after being hit by an economic double whammy of a global oversupply of gas and lower demand projections for gas in the near future.
The shale gas boom is also hitting Gazprom hard in other export markets. Gazprom’s ambitions to grow a major business in North America based on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia now face considerable challenges, as the shifting landscape in shale gas production is forcing many Canadian companies to investigate and invest in the booming energy potential.
As long as unconventional gas supplies continue to grow in the North American market, the long-term pricing environment is unlikely to be sufficient to support the economic development of high-cost projects, such as the Shtokman liquefied natural gas project in the Russian Arctic or the Yamal LNG project, researchers at Wood Mackenzie found.
With the United States consuming less liquefied natural gas, gas exporters like Qatar have been diverting LNG to the European market, further putting downward pressure on spot market gas prices. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
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Shale gas seen reshaping research and relationships — Oil & Gas Journal
Shale gas, said Jonathan Lewis, senior vice-president of Halliburton's drilling and evaluation division, is "fundamentally changing the energy landscape in North America and is doing so with unprecedented speed."
"Energy efficiency, alternatives, and things like that will have a bigger role than we think," he said after calling politics "the shark in the swimming pool."
Boston Safety Zones proposed for LNG DWPs — MarineLink.com
The U.S. Coast Guard proposed to establish new and modify existing regulated navigation areas (RNAs) and safety/security zones off the coast of Massachusetts in the vicinity of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater ports (DWPs) in the Boston Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by June 1. [Red emphasis added.]
Our view: Greater LNG oversight [Editorial] — The Herald News, Fall River, MA
DOT said Weaver’s Cove Energy’s method for calculating how far a gas cloud would travel is "impracticable,”" and required the company to use a new method to determine its likely travel distance.
Agency after agency, on the local, state and federal level, have said an LNG facility doesn't belong in Mount Hope Bay or in a residential area at Weaver's Cove. It is too dangerous to public safety and too damaging to the economic development of the region. Weaver's Cove needs to face reality and end its quest to bring a project to the SouthCoast that the public in Massachusetts and Rhode Island overwhelmingly opposes.
Guest opinion: LNG: A wolf in grandma's dress [Op-ed column] (Apr 2) — The Herald News, Fall River, MA
[A]s we await the FERC decision, Hess LNG President Gordon Shearer continues to deluge the media with tired old arguments that do not address the dangers that his LNG shipments would pose — much less acknowledge the availability of recently discovered gas reserves in the U.S.
Unlike Shearer’s LNG, which comes from foreign sources, the vast American reserves are located in the mid-Atlantic states, which means gas could be delivered to New England through ordinary pipelines. [Red & yellow emphasis added.]
Hess LNG executive answers critics on ‘Special Assignment’ (Apr 3) — Turnto10, Providence, RI
News video and interview available from the page below.
Gordon Shearer of Hess LNG answers critics of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal.
One killed, 100 injured in quake near Mexico-U.S. border (Apr 4) — National Post, Dons Mills, ON
A liquefied natural gas import terminal operated by Sempra Energy south of Tijuana was not damaged by the quake, a company spokeswoman said
Bauxite blues could be over in a year — Jamaica Observer, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
Recently, Mining Minister James Robertson appeared to suggest that moves by Government to accelerate the introduction of liquefied natural gas, LNG as Jamaica's main source of electricity generation, replacing petroleum-based fossil fuels, could speed the recovery of bauxite/alumina. At its height bauxite/alumina is said to have netted in the region of US$500 million for the Jamaican economy.
Gas for beginners (Apr 2) — Alaska Dispatch, Anchorage, AK
This is a quick cheat sheet for the 95 percent of Alaskans who don't understand the intricacies of gas line progress but would like to be able to follow along when other people talk about it. So if you'll be patient with me now, I'll resist the urge to jump in and correct you when you try to explain to someone else why an oboe needs two E flat keys and three different fingerings to play an F.
Persily to Alaska: Think about natural gas — UPI
Advocates note Obama has placed a natural gas pipeline in Alaska on a list of top five green energy projects for the United States. However, opponents say new technology to exploit gas locked in shale deposits in the Lower 48 undermines the need for the natural gas pipeline to feed U.S. markets.
Hearings on prposed LNG terminal to begin amid controversy over schedule — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
Clatsop County's notice of four hearings on eight new applications from liquefied natural gas developer Bradwood Landing didn't fully explain the plan for taking public testimony.
"The amended notice does reference a single hearing, which is the proper way in which to notice a hearing that will start on a specific date and time and that we anticipate will be continued to dates certain," he wrote.
Mix up on meetings irks LNG opponents — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
[T]he additional hearings listed in the county's public notice were intended to be held only as needed to continue Tuesday's proceeding. If four hours aren't enough to hear everyone, the hearing will be continued from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the same location. Two potential hearing dates are scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. April 13, and April 15.
Meeting offers latest on pipeline — Upper Rogue Independent, Eagle Point, OR
With the abundance of natural gas in our own country and Canada, opponents such as Adams are concerned the pipeline could be used to export gas overseas. What was considered paranoia a few years ago is today garnering a second look. [Red emphasis added.]
Drill better baby! (Apr 3) — The Atlantic, Washington, DC
[T]he strongest argument against coal, nuclear power, and LNG terminals has been the discovery of massive amounts of "unconventional" natural gas in the U.S. over the last ten years. What made producing that gas possible? A modest $185 million investment in unconventional gas technology in the early 1980's, which was then modified by the gas industry itself over the years. But simply drilling for that gas will have huge environmental effects unless we can find ways to do it better. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
‘In gold sector you get biggest bang for your buck’ – CommodityOnline.com
Investment Banker and Financial Advisor Paul Moase:
The North American price for natural gas has got to do more with whether or not we have a severe cold winter in the northeast.
[T]he percentage of North America's use of gas that LNG represents is still very small. It's not affecting the price, I don't believe.
Gas exporters may propose supply cut — Zawya.com, Dubai
The upcoming meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in the Western Algerian city of Oran on April 19 is expected to discuss a proposal for a natural gas supply cut, to shore up falling prices.
If a consensus on the proposal was reached, this will amount to Opec process of setting quotas. Such a move would rekindle concerns of energy-consuming developed countries over the creation of a gas cartel - so-called Organisation of Gas Exporting Countries (OGEC). [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
Tough road ahead for the global LNG industry- supply glut leading to a grim short term outlook [Press release] — PRLog
Apr 05, 2010 – The global LNG industry is in a crucial stage of it development as a key supplier of natural gas to the world markets. Natural gas has been touted as the fuel of the future due to its clean burning nature, thereby forecasting a positive outlook for future demand. However, in the current scenario, with the economic downturn, the natural gas demand and thereby the LNG demand has slackened. Also, increases in natural gas supplies from unconventional sources have altered the supply situation, inducing a surplus in supply. In this scenario, the global LNG industry faces a significant challenge in the short to medium term.
[Red & yellow emphasis added.]
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Canadian Superior plans to submit permit applications this summer for Liberty LNG deepwater port — LNG Law Blog
Platts Gas Daily [subscription required] reports that Canadian Superior has said that it expects to file permit applications this summer for the proposed Liberty LNG deepwater port project and that the company is evaluating joint venture options related to the project.
Short-term LNG jobs are not sustaining [Op-ed column] — Jamestown Press, Jamestown, RI
As we debate this, natural gas is being recovered from the recently found Marcellus shale deposits – one of the largest in the world – in New York and Pennsylvania. This increase in domestic natural gas production will decrease all LNG imports in the Northeast.
Meanwhile, domestic supplies of natural gas to New England and the Northeast are increasing thanks to CanaPort [sic] and two truly offshore LNG facilities operating off of Massachusetts (none of these LNG facilities are owned by Hess). [Red & yellow emphasis added.]
LNG forum draws opponents — Jamestown Press, Jamestown, RI
Stone said that this terminal would be the fifth in New England and that there is already a wealth of natural gas in the region, adding that there is “no clear compelling need for another LNG terminal.”
[Red & yellow emphasis added.]
U.S. Coast Guard determines no update needed for Sparrows Point LNG WSA — LNG Law Blog
Captain Mark P. O'Malley, Captain of the Port for Sector Baltimore, informed AES Sparrows Point LNG this week that no update is required at this time for the project's Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA).
GE company acquires interest in LNG terminal — GulfLive.com
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. -- Stamford, Conn.-based GE Energy Financial Services announced Wednesday it is acquiring a 30 percent interest in Gulf LNG Energy's $1.1 billion liquefied natural gas terminal, being assembled on 40 acres on Bayou Casotte in Pascagoula.
JP Morgan enters LNG market with Cheniere deal (Mar 31) — Reuters
"We can buy much larger quantities of LNG with the help of JP Morgan than we could by ourself," Charif Souki, chief executive officer of Cheniere Energy, told Reuters. "They have a balance sheet and we have assets, which is a pretty good match."
Oregon Governor comments on planned environmental analysis of Bradwood Landing LNG project — LNG Law Blog
Recently Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s (D-Ore.) office submitted comments to FERC and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding NMFS' analysis of the environmental effects of LNG vessels delivering cargos to the planned Bradwood Landing LNG regasification facility. Specifically, the Governor's natural resources policy director states that, in light of the U.S. Coast Guard's concerns regarding the external ballast intake screens proposed by Bradwood Landing LNG, NMFS' Biological Opinion of the project should consider the impact on Columbia River fisheries of the LNG vessels' unscreened ballast and cooling water withdrawals.
DECON and CBRNE treatment of the masses: nuclear, explosives — The Klaxon
Explosives (High Yield)
After the events of Sept. 11 became clear by the carnage unleashed by al-Qaeda, the U.S. quickly learned how their operatives had factored in the use of jet fuel as a major component of their means of attack. With this said, liquified natural gas (LNG) must also be considered as a significant potential threat for high yield explosives. A Sandia National Laboratories report considered four ways of a terrorist attack against a tanker: (1) ramming with another large ship or vessel, (2) triggered explosion, such as a sub-surface mine, (3) an external assault with an explosive charge and (4) a hijacking.
A high yield explosion likely is to overwhelm a municipality’s resources within a short period of time.
Emergency managers must anticipate the possible detonation of a secondary explosive device when one has gone off and their personnel are responding to the scene. [Red, yellow & bold emphasis added.]
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