Sponsor

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) said Thursday it has begun looking at alternative routes for the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline suggested by its sponsor, Alberta-based TransCanada Corp. This means the start of a public hearing process by DEQ.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said it would sponsor four state legislative proposals to expand the regulatory panel’s safety enforcement authority, particularly as it relaters to pipeline safety. The CPUC said three of its proposals are the result of recommendations made by an independent review panel that the commission convened following the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. pipeline explosion in San Bruno. Assembly Bill 1514 would authorize the CPUC to issue civil penalties to a utility or excavator failing to comply with the state’s one-call law (dial 811) prior to beginning digging, and another measure (AB 1694) would permit the CPUC to employ a risk-based approach to determining the frequency of inspections for master-metered natural gas and propane systems. A third measure — still unnumbered in the legislative process — would provide gas utilities with expedited local permitting for pipeline inspection, remediation and replacement work. The fourth measure deals with the CPUC oversight of railroads.

QR Energy LP has agreed to pay $577 million to acquire oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin, Ark-La-Tex and Midcontinent from its sponsor, Quantum Resources Fund (QRF), the Houston-based upstream master limited partnership said Monday.

A bill moving through the Pennsylvania General Assembly would give state regulators more oversight over intrastate pipelines, but the sponsor of the legislation wants to expand it to include gathering lines in remote areas that aren’t currently regulated.

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) on Thursday proposed rules that would allow natural gas development projects — with conditions — in affected areas of the Marcellus Shale.

EQT Corp. and DCP Midstream Partners LP and its sponsor, DCP Midstream LLC, have agreed to create a natural gas processing and related natural gas liquids (NGL) infrastructure joint venture to serve EQT and third-party producers in the Marcellus and Huron shale areas of the Appalachian Basin.

EQT Corp. and DCP Midstream Partners LP and its sponsor, DCP Midstream LLC, have agreed to create a natural gas processing and related natural gas liquids (NGL) infrastructure joint venture to serve EQT and third-party producers in the Marcellus and Huron shale areas of the Appalachian Basin.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has added her name as co-sponsor to legislation that seeks to extend and expand federal tax credits for natural gas vehicles (NGV) and refueling facilities.

Canada’s northern pipeline project has become a case of never say never, with the senior sponsor promising to keep on trying to launch construction but setting no dates.