Plains

Natural gas futures traded above $6.000/MMBtu to start the week as global supply concerns continued to infiltrate the U.S. gas market. With domestic gas demand at a seasonal low, however, early gains were pared and the November Nymex gas futures contract settled at $5.766, still up a significant 14.7 cents from Friday’s close. Spot gas…

Plains All American Pipeline LP and an affiliate agreed to pay $60 million in a court settlement for allegedly violating federal pipeline safety laws and liability for the 2015 pipeline leak of 2,934 bbl of crude oil that fouled Southern California beaches in Santa Barbara County.

ConocoPhillips Co. and Encana Marketing (USA) Inc. are challenging Plains All American’s plans to implement a surcharge on its Cactus II crude oil pipeline, a 5.0-cent/bbl fee designed to offset costs related to U.S. tariffs on steel imports.

Faced with higher costs because of U.S. tariffs on imported steel needed for its pipeline buildout, Plains All American LP is moving forward with a surcharge to make up the difference as it seeks an exemption from the Department of Commerce, according to management.

Affiliates of Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline LP have launched open seasons for two projects that could increase crude shipping capacity from Canada and the Rockies to the Gulf Coast. The proposals are set against the backdrop of a faltering Keystone XL buildout.

A jury in Santa Barbara County, CA, has found Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline LP guilty of criminal charges in a 2015 pipeline oil spill that fouled local beaches.

BridgeTexas Pipeline Co. LLC, which is able to transport up to 400,000 b/d of crude oil from the Permian Basin to the Texas coast, on Tuesday gained a Canadian pension plan as a partner, after 50-50 owners Plains All American Pipeline LLC and Magellan Midstream Partners LP agreed to sell a half-stake for nearly $1.44 billion.

Officials with the American Petroleum Institute (API) said their member oil and gas companies are frustrated with the process that the Trump administration established to request exemptions to tariffs on imported steel, with several petitions — including one for a pipeline to service the booming Permian Basin — already rejected on vague grounds.

Plains All American Pipeline LP (PAA) and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. each said Wednesday they will hold open seasons for projects to move West Texas crude oil, the third and fourth such announcements in less than a week.