Case

The Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas has denied Sunoco Pipeline LP’s request to summarily dismiss a lawsuit filed last year by the Clean Air Council (CAC) and two landowners that challenges the constitutionality of the Mariner East 2 pipeline, clearing the way forward for one of the last remaining legal efforts to stop the project.

Estimated U.S. energy consumption in coming decades doesn’t vary much among a series of long-term projections released Thursday by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), but the fuel mix indicated in those cases would differ, and two prolific eastern shale plays will continue to bolster U.S. gas production, the agency said.

The Obama administration has issued a long list of denials in a lawsuit filed last summer by two environmental groups, pushing back against allegations that the Department of Interior (DOI) acted improperly before approving nearly 400 oil and gas leases in three western states.

The dustup over the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to levy a fine against BP plc in a 2008 market manipulation case appears far from over. Last week BP filed a petition in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit asking the Court to step into the case [IN13-15] to review portions of July’s opinion No. 549 which imposed a $20.16 million fine and ordered BP to disgorge $207,169 (see Daily GPI, July 12; Aug. 13, 2015). And late on Monday, in response to a request from BP, FERC put the disgorgement on hold when it was discovered that the Texas Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which was to receive the funds was not authorized to receive awards from FERC. The Commission also effectively tabled for now challenges to the main part of its decision by ordering rehearing for further consideration. BP detailed what it claimed were dozens of errors and inconsistencies that rendered opinion No. 549 “arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law” (see Daily GPI, Aug. 12).

September natural gas is expected to open a penny higher Thursday morning at $2.57 as traders await inventory data that is expected to show additions continuing at below normal rates. Overnight oil market narrowly fell.

BP plc has been fined $20.16 million and ordered to disgorge another $207,169 by FERC after the agency found affiliates of the company had gamed the market for natural gas at the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) in 2008 after Hurricane Ike, a decision the London-based supermajor says it will continue to challenge.

U.S. dry natural gas production is forecast to continue growing “strongly” over the next two decades thanks to development of domestic shale resources, with the United States on track to become a net exporter of gas by next year, according to the latest projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

U.S. dry natural gas production is forecast to continue growing “strongly” over the next two decades thanks to development of domestic shale resources, with the United States on track to become a net exporter of gas by next year, according to the latest projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

A federal criminal court case against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) for its alleged illegal actions and subsequent coverup related to the 2010 San Bruno natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion began last Friday in San Francisco (see Daily GPI,Sept. 13, 2010). Attorneys argued whether a corporation — not specific individuals — committed a crime.