Favorable

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has launched a television and print ad campaign in Washington, DC, and in several states to drive home the importance of a favorable tax code in developing domestic domestic oil and natural gas and creating jobs. “Taxes on the industry are a key energy issue, and, as our Election Day polling showed, voters are skeptical about targeting the industry for higher taxes. To encourage members of Congress who are part of that conversation with voters, we’re launching new television and print advertising inside the [Washington, DC] beltway and in selected states,” said Khary Cauthen, API senior director of federal relations. Both the print and television ads will run for two weeks in the DC area, as well as New Mexico, North Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas, Alaska, Colorado and Louisiana. President Obama has proposed eliminating $4 billion annually in tax breaks for oil and gas producers. “Raising our taxes is not the answer. We already are taxed at a higher rate than [many] other industries,” an API spokesman said.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) launched a television and print ad campaign on Wednesday in Washington, DC, and in several states to drive home the importance of a favorable tax code in developing domestic domestic oil and natural gas and creating jobs.

FERC Tuesday issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) of Creole Trail Pipeline Co. LP’s proposal to modify its system to accommodate the delivery of raw gas to a liquefaction project that Cheniere Energy affiliates Sabine Pass LNG and Sabine Pass Liquefaction are planning to build at the existing import terminal in Cameron Parish, LA.

FERC has issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) of Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co.’s (ESNG) proposal to expand its pipeline system to meet the needs of its customers in the growing Delmarva Peninsula market, which includes most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) the go-ahead to place into service the remaining facilities that are part of the first phase of its 225,000 Dth/d expansion of its system to serve growing natural gas markets in the Southeast. The Phase I project, which would add 95,000 Dth/d, is scheduled to begin service this month. Construction of Phase II, which would add 130,000 Dth/d, is expected to go into service in June 2013. Transco has estimated the capital cost of the project at $217 million. The Mid-South Expansion Project consists of five loops totaling 23 miles of new pipeline. The facilities in the first phase that were approved for service include three loops in Randolph County, AL; and Gaston County and Davidson County, NC, as well as modifications to existing compressor stations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina [CP11-18]. Transco said it has entered into binding precedent agreements for 100% of the incremental firm transportation service to be provided by the project (see NGI, May 31, 2010).

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) for Alliance Pipeline LP’s Tioga Lateral Project that would deliver liquids-rich natural gas from the Permian Basin to the Chicago market hub. Alliance proposes to build a 79.3-mile lateral to extend from Hess Corp.’s facility in Tioga, ND, to the Alliance mainline near Sherwood, ND, with ultimate delivery to Chicago, as well as a 6,000 hp compressor station [CP12-50]. A precedent agreement has been executed with Hess as an anchor shipper on the Tioga Lateral, which would be able to provide up to 106.5 MMcf/d of capacity with a planned in-service date of July 2013. The Alliance Pipeline system consists of a 2,311-mile integrated Canadian and U.S. high-pressure gas transmission system, delivering rich gas from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and the Williston Basin.

FERC on Friday issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) for Alliance Pipeline LP’s Tioga Lateral Project that would deliver liquids-rich natural gas from the Permian Basin to the Chicago market hub.

FERC Friday issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) to Dominion Transmission Inc.’s proposal to expand its storage system in Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Energy Transfer Partners LP’s (ETP) $5.3 billion purchase of Sunoco Inc. isn’t expected to close until the second half of this year, but integration of the two companies “is well under way,” according to ETP CFO Martin Salinas.