Infrastructure

A natural gas industry-backed assessment by ICF International found that the cost to reduce methane emissions from gas systems is $3.35/Mcf, almost five times higher than researchers had estimated two years ago.

U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico will double between 2015 and 2020, according to an Energy Ventures Analysis, Inc. (EVA) report commissioned by the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA).

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LPsubsidiary Texas Gas Transmission LLC has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization to place its Southern Indiana Lateral Project into service by June 17. The project was designed to serve two industrial customers in southern Indiana, one of which subsequently dropped out of the project. The project includes 30.6-miles of 10-inch diameter pipeline lateral with a capacity of 53,500 MMBtu/d. The pipeline extends from an interconnection with Texas Gas’ existing Robards Junction facilities in Henderson County, KY, to an interconnection with SABIC Innovative Plastics Mt. Vernon in Posey County, IN.

Northern natural gas and thermal oilsands production will be able to grow in step as a result of approval granted Thursday for a C$1.29 billion (US$993 million) set of pipeline additions in Alberta and British Columbia.

FERC has approved Kinder Morgan Inc.’s (KMI) plan to add liquefaction and export capability to the existing Elba Island LNG Terminal near Savannah, GA, as well as make modifications to existing pipelines in support of the project.

Environmentalists alleging that FERC is biased towards approving natural gas pipelines because of the agency’s fee-based funding structure are “profoundly mistaken,” the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) told a federal court in a brief filed this week.

On Tuesday FERC granted a hearing for an ANR Pipeline Co. rate case reflecting “a substantial increase” in the pipeline’s cost of service. The Commission also will consider a “preferred case,” proposed by ANR, which would cut its rate structure from seven to four zones. Judging by filings in the docket so far, there will be plenty to talk about.

The proposed Access Northeast expansion by Algonquin Gas Transmission and Maritimes & Northeast pipelines is still in the prefiling stage with FERC, but groups are already weighing in on both sides of the project.

The Ohio-Louisiana Access Project of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners’ Texas Gas Transmission LLC was approved to enter full service last week as FERC allowed operations to begin at the greenfield Bosco Compressor Station in Ouachita Parish, LA.