Regulatory

A bill that would lift a ban on most domestically produced crude oil exports passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a 31-19 vote on Thursday. It is to be taken up for consideration by the full House of Representatives later this month.

FERC on Thursday authorized Columbia Gulf Transmission LLC to construct a pair of pipeline segments totaling 34 miles and a new 12,260 hp compressor station in Jefferson Davis, Cameron, and Calcasieu parishes in Louisiana.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is preparing to send questionnaires to hundreds of onshore oil and gas (O&G) extraction workers in three states next year, part of a three-year study designed to make the industry safer.

The White House is opposed to a bill moving through the House that would lift a ban on most domestically produced crude oil exports, arguing that the decision to lift the ban should be made by the Department of Commerce, not lawmakers.

FERC has approved Columbia Gas Transmission’s (TCO) request for a pre-filing review process for the proposed Mountaineer Xpress project, which could carry up to 2.7 Bcf/d of Utica and Marcellus shale gas to the TCO pool and other points.

New Jersey’s largest utility, Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), and state regulators reached an initial settlement to allow replacement of aging natural gas mains and service lines.

FERC has given Texas Eastern Transmission LP (Tetco) permission to launch part of its Ohio Pipeline Energy Network (OPEN) project into service early, after the company sent federal regulators several photos, including an aerial shot, to illustrate that it had started restoration activities at one of its compressor stations.

BP plc is appealing a FERC administrative law judge’s (ALJ) initial decision (ID) that says affiliates of the company gamed the market for natural gas at the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) during two and a half months in 2008 following Hurricane Ike.

Developing oil and natural gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico hasn’t been hindered by rules enacted since the Macondo well blowout that clearly were needed, an offshore industry executive told Republican House members Tuesday in New Orleans.