Energy Transition

The Biden administration has frozen awarding new oil and gas drilling permits, as well as leases on federal onshore and offshore property, for 60 days, likely heralding more permanent limits to be enacted down the road. The order mandating the freeze was signed by acting Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Scott de la Vega…

Global natural gas demand is rising, setting the stage for up to four export projects to be sanctioned this year, the Baker Hughes Co. CEO said Thursday. Only one liquefied natural gas (LNG) project was sanctioned during pandemic-plagued 2020, but there are signals from customers for positive final investment decisions (FID) this year, CEO Lorenzo…

State-owned Qatar Petroleum (QP), the world’s leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, has unveiled an ambitious plan to cut emissions and drastically reduce the environmental footprint of its fossil fuel operations.  The company said its “sustainability strategy” establishes targets to align with the goals of the United Nations climate accord, aka the Paris agreement, drafted…

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to cooperate with President Biden on climate change even though one of the new president’s first actions was to halt the construction permit for Keystone XL (KXL), the Canada-to-Gulf Coast system. “We are disappointed but acknowledge the president’s decision to fulfill his election campaign promise on Keystone XL,” said…

Richard Glick, a Democrat who joined FERC in 2017, was named chairman of the Commission by President Biden on Thursday. “This is an important moment to make significant progress on the transition to a clean energy future. I look forward to working with my colleagues to tackle the many challenges ahead,” said Glick, who was…

Methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector fell by an estimated 10% in 2020, mainly because of production curtailments in response to the Covid-19 crisis, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Methane Tracker 2021 report published Monday. Oil and gas operations emitted more than 70 million tons of methane into the atmosphere…

Portland-based NW Natural is partnering with Idaho-based BioCarbN to invest up to $38 million in four U.S. renewable natural gas (RNG) production projects.  The joint projects involve ones with a Tyson Foods Inc. facility in Nebraska to produce biomethane from its wastewater treatment unit, according NW Natural’s Scott Johnson, interim director of Renewable Resources.  “These…

Forty-six projects in 23 states, including ones to support carbon capture processes, are set to receive funding from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to stimulate technological innovation and improve energy productivity.  The total funding, estimated at $123.6 million, along with $44.7 million in cost sharing by states,…

A new federal rule intended to prevent large banks from denying loans to companies in the oil and gas industry and other sectors that have fallen out of favor with some institutional investors because of environmental and social concerns represents a win for energy companies. But it may prove short-lived. The “fair access” rule, finalized…