Infrastructure

The need for a boost for the natural gas vehicle (NGV) sector is recognized on a bipartisan basis in Congress, but how and when it will take shape was still unknown on Wednesday after six industry executives made their case for federal tax incentives at a Senate Finance Committee subcommittee hearing chaired by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Final investment decisions (FID) for $150 billion worth of projects, including in Canada, Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export proposals in North America, may be deferred or canceled next year as oil prices continue to fall, consulting firm Rystad Energy said Friday.

Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC (Transco) recently began service on two expansions along the eastern seaboard: the Northeast Connector Project and partially on the Virginia Southside Expansion Project.

UIL Holdings Corp. has terminated its $1.86 billion agreement to purchase Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), the nation’s largest municipally-owned gas utility, after the city council’s decision in October to rule out what it deemed a risky sale.

FERC has approved Texas Eastern Transmission LP’s request to construct and operate the Ohio Pipeline Energy Network (OPEN) project, which would carry Marcellus/Utica shale gas to Gulf Coast markets and other markets using interconnections with downstream pipelines.

WGL Midstream has struck a deal to sell up to 430,000 Dth/d of natural gas to GAIL Global (USA) LNG LLC (GGULL) for 20 years. The gas is to be liquefied and exported from the Dominion Cove Point LNG terminal, where GAIL holds capacity, to supply markets in India.

Exploration and development (E&D) spending by independents worldwide dropped by 14% in 2013 from 2012 as depressed natural gas prices in North America took a toll on cash flows and spending ability, an annual survey by EY found.

FERC has approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s request to use price indexes taken from Natural Gas Intelligence’s (NGI) Daily Gas Price Index for calculating cash-outs on its system, replacing indexes from Natural Gas Week. Also, instead of the six points currently referenced in its Rate Schedules LMS-MA and LMS-PA, the new form will include 12 receipt points.

Pipeline companies operating in Texas will soon have to swear that they are common carriers and provide supporting documents in order to obtain the “common carrier” classification, which confers condemnation authority, according to a rule change at the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC).