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NTSB Issues Final Report on 2019 Kentucky TETCO Pipe Explosion

2019 TETCO Pipeline explosion/fire in Kentucky

On August 1, 2019, one of three Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipelines exploded in Lincoln County, Kentucky, killing one, sending six to the hospital, destroying four homes, and damaging 14 other homes (see TETCO Pipe Explodes in Kentucky Killing 1; Southbound M-U Gas Stops). TETCO’s pipelines are a major conduit for Marcellus/Utica gas to the Gulf Coast, and for a time, all flows heading south on TETCO stopped. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) both investigated the accident. The NTSB recently issued a final report identifying several factors that contributed to the explosion and fire.
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Big Green Sues to Block Tiny 12-Mile Pipe in Kentucky

In May 2021 MDN told you that Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) had won Kentucky state approval to build a new 12-inch, 12-mile pipeline near Louisville to supply gas to 62 homes and businesses that can’t connect to LG&E’s local natgas utility system (see Pass the Jim Beam! Judge Clears Way for Gas Pipe Near Louisville, KY). The local Bernheim Arboretum has resisted attempts to build across three-tenths of one percent (0.028%) of Arboretum land–along an existing cleared path where electric lines already go (see KY Utility Hints at Defunding Local Arboretum Blocking New Pipe). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted a permit for the full 12-mile pipeline, including across Arboretum land, in September of last year (see Pass the Jim Beam! Army Corps Issues Pipeline Permit for KY Forest). As LG&E gets ready to built, the Arboretum, in collusion with two Big Green groups, is suing to block the pipeline.
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Pass the Jim Beam! Army Corps Issues Pipeline Permit for KY Forest

In May MDN told you that Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) had won Kentucky state approval to build a new 12-inch, 12-mile pipeline near Louisville to supply gas to 62 homes and businesses that can’t connect to LG&E’s local natgas utility system (see Pass the Jim Beam! Judge Clears Way for Gas Pipe Near Louisville, KY). The local Bernheim Arboretum has resisted attempts to build across three-tenths of one percent (0.028%) of Arboretum land–along an existing cleared path where electric lines already go (see KY Utility Hints at Defunding Local Arboretum Blocking New Pipe). Too bad for Big Green. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently granted a permit for the full 12-mile pipeline–including across Arboretum land.
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Pass the Jim Beam! Judge Clears Way for Gas Pipe Near Louisville, KY

Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) has Kentucky state approval to build a new 12-inch, 12-mile pipeline near Louisville to supply gas to 62 homes and businesses that can’t connect to LG&E’s local natgas utility system. The local Bernheim Arboretum has resisted attempts to build across three-tenths of one percent (0.028%) of Arboretum land–along an existing cleared path where electric lines already go (see KY Utility Hints at Defunding Local Arboretum Blocking New Pipe). Whatever. Antis tried to claim the only reason LG&E wants to build the pipeline is to feed the local Jim Beam production plant (see Antis Use Jim Beam to Try and Block Pipeline Near Louisville, KY). That flopped. Who doesn’t love Jim Beam? This week a judge ruled LG&E can use eminent domain and proceed with the project. Pull out your shot glass. Let’s get this party started!
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Diversified Gas & Oil Plays Big Role in Kentucky O&G Industry

Diversified Gas & Oil (DGO) is a fascinating company (see our DGO stories here). DGO’s strategy is to buy wells in “the long tail.” That is, wells already drilled with production far along the decline curve, but wells that will continue to produce small amounts for years to come. In October, DGO CEO Rusty Hutson, a West Virginia native, wrote a column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail expressing his company’s love for and investment in the Mountain State (see Diversified Gas & Oil Employs 425, Spends $100M per Year in WV). We have a similar article recently written for Kentucky where DGO has extensive assets.
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Third Lawsuit Filed Against Enbridge for KY TETCO Pipe Explosion

On August 1, 2019, Enbridge’s Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipeline exploded in Lincoln County, Kentucky–killing one and sending six to the hospital (see TETCO Pipe Explodes in Kentucky Killing 1; Southbound M-U Gas Stops). In September we reported that at least two lawsuits had been filed against Enbridge and TETCO–one for wrongful death, the other by a couple severely injured and burned following the incident (see Two Lawsuits Filed Against Enbridge for KY TETCO Pipe Explosion). A third lawsuit, on behalf of 80 people “affected by the blast,” has just been filed by a personal injury lawyer now a year after the accident.
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Fed Grand Jury Indicts Owner of Co. Dumping M-U Frack Waste in KY

In March 2016, MDN reported that 47 dumpsters full of concentrated frack waste from OH, PA and WV was illegally dumped in a Kentucky landfill in Estill County, KY (see Marcellus/Utica Frack Waste Illegally Dumped in Kentucky Landfill). The cuttings were buried between July and November in 2015, near as anyone can tell. Earlier this week a federal grand jury in Kentucky indicted the former owner of the company doing the dumping on five counts of mail fraud and 22 counts of violating the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.
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PHMSA Finds TETCO Pipe Defects at Kentucky 2019 Explosion Site

The last nine months haven’t been the best for Enbridge’s Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipeline in Kentucky. Last August one of the TETCO lines exploded in Lincoln County, Kentucky, killing one and sending six to the hospital (see TETCO Pipe Explodes in Kentucky Killing 1; Southbound M-U Gas Stops). Earlier this month TETCO exploded again, in Fleming County, Kentucky (see Texas Eastern Pipeline Explodes in Kentucky…Again). Fortunately, the second Kentucky explosion didn’t injure anyone.
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3 TETCO Pipelines in Kentucky Shut Down (for Now) Following Blast

One week ago the Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipeline running through Kentucky exploded for the second time in a year (see Texas Eastern Pipeline Explodes in Kentucky…Again). The Marcellus/Utica gas flowing through TETCO in that area had been flowing at 1.33 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). It’s now flowing at zero. When will gas flows return to at least one of the three TETCO lines running through Kentucky?
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NTSB Investigates Exploded TETCO Pipe in KY; Gas Flows Rerouted

On Tuesday MDN told you that the Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipeline running through Kentucky had exploded for a second time in a year (see Texas Eastern Pipeline Explodes in Kentucky…Again). While the owner (Enbridge) still has not said much, they did say the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken over the investigation into what happened and why. NGI is reporting “much” of the gas flowing through TETCO in the region has been rerouted.
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Diversified Deal to Pick Up Another 6,500 O&G Wells in WV, KY, TN

Diversified Gas & Oil (DGO) owns close to 8 million acres of leases with some 60,000 (mostly) conventional oil and gas wells. Their focus has been to acquire quality production and cash flow–regardless of the well or commodity type (gas or oil)–in the Appalachian Basin. They currently have over 400 Marcellus/Utica shale wells in their portfolio too. DGO announced it has a conditional deal to buy another 6,500 conventional wells spread across West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, along with a 4,700-mile gathering pipeline system located in WV. The deal, “subject to ongoing due diligence,” is for $110 million.
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Antis Use Jim Beam to Try and Block Pipeline Near Louisville, KY

Anti-fossil fuelers know no depths to which they won’t sink in efforts to block *any* new natural gas pipelines. Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) has state approval to build a new 12-inch, 12-mile pipeline near Louisville to supply gas to 62 homes and businesses that can’t connect to LG&E’s local natgas utility system. The local Bernheim Arboretum has resisted attempts to build across three-tenths of one percent (0.028%) of Arboretum land–along an existing cleared path where electric lines already go (see KY Utility Hints at Defunding Local Arboretum Blocking New Pipe). Now antis claim the only reason LG&E wants to build the pipeline is to feed the local Jim Beam production plant. Grab a shot glass and prepare yourself for the latest attack on this project…
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Kentucky Launches New Study of Rogersville Shale Potential

The CSRC horizontal research well will be drilled from the pilot hole of the Bruin Exploration 1 Young well, highlighted in red (click for larger version)

The State of Kentucky is spending $7.4 million ($5.9 million coming from the U.S. Dept. of Energy) to study the oil and gas potential of the Rogersville Shale (and other formations) located in eastern Kentucky. Which is big news for us in light of previous failed attempts to drill in the Rogersville.
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Kentucky PSC Dismisses Antis’ Request to Block Pipe Near Louisville

In September MDN told you about environmentalist wackos at the Bernheim Arboretum (about 25 miles from Louisville, Kentucky) who refuse to grant an easement for 4,000 feet of land they bought *after* the Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) already had a state-approved plan to build a new pipeline over that land as part of tiny 12-inch, 12-mile pipeline (see KY Utility Hints at Defunding Local Arboretum Blocking New Pipe). The Arboretum’s refusal, along with a few other property owners, means 62 homes and businesses have been denied the right to connect to LG&E’s local natgas utility system.
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KY Regulators Side with Enviro Wackos in Blocking Tiny Pipeline

In September MDN told you about environmentalist wackos at the Bernheim Arboretum (about 25 miles from Louisville, Kentucky) who refuse to grant an easement for 4,000 feet of land they bought *after* the Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) already had a state-approved plan to build a new pipeline over that land as part of tiny 12-inch, 12-mile pipeline (see KY Utility Hints at Defunding Local Arboretum Blocking New Pipe). The Arboretum’s refusal, along with a few other property owners, means 62 homes and businesses have been denied the right to connect to LG&E’s local natgas utility system. Unfortunately the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (state agency) has just sided with the wackos.
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Enbridge Zeros in on Cause of Kentucky TETCO Pipe Explosion

On August 1, Enbridge’s Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipeline exploded in Lincoln County, Kentucky–killing one and sending six to the hospital (see TETCO Pipe Explodes in Kentucky Killing 1; Southbound M-U Gas Stops). Since that time one of the three TETCO pipes in the area has returned to service. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) continues to investigate. As is typical for such an investigation, we won’t have an official determination for months, maybe even a year, as to what caused the explosion. However, Enbridge is saying the explosion is likely due to a certain kind of pipe manufactured back in the 1950s.
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