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Mass. RINO Gov. Baker Orders “Review” of Compressor Station

[begin political rant] Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is a RINO–Republican in Name Only–and not all that different from another RINO who was once governor of the Bay State: Mitt Romney. We personally find RINOs disgusting. Why don’t they just switch parties and be done with it? Join the Democrats, or if the lib Dems are too far to the left, join the Establishment Party, which is really what they all belong to anyway, regardless of the D or R after their name. [end political rant] Gov. Baker has (surprise!) caved to pressure from radical, insane environmentalists in his state who want to stop a compressor station from getting built in Weymouth, MA. The compressor is part of Spectra Energy’s (now Enbridge) federally-approved Atlantic Bridge project (see FERC Approves Atlantic Bridge Project for New England/Canada). Atlantic Bridge will beef up capacity of the Algonquin Gas Transmission and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline systems–to move more Marcellus/Utica gas to New England and Canada. The compressor station in Weymouth is situated along the Alogonquin Gas Transmission pipeline. The radicals have been ranting about this project pretty much from the beginning. In February, Massachusetts’ two Democrat U.S. Senators, Ed Markey and the faux American Indian, Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren, asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to withdraw its approval of the project (see Mass. Senators Ask FERC to Reverse Atlantic Bridge Certification). Since that time, the radicals have continued their campaign to stop Atlantic Bridge. On July 11th, the Boston Globe ran a “you darned well better find a way to stop this compressor station, Gov. Baker” article, and less than a week later, Baker wilted like a picked flower, and said he will sic various state agencies on the case to try and find a way to slow it down. However, Baker does admit that in the end, the state likely can’t do a thing about the compressor, because it’s a FERC-approved project…
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Enbridge Withdraws $3B Access Northeast Pipeline Application

Last December Spectra Energy pushed the pause button on their Access Northeast Pipeline project, a roughly $3 billion project in New England to connect four existing pipeline systems (with enhancements): Texas Eastern, Algonquin Gas Transmission, Iroquois and Maritimes & Northeast (see Spectra Energy Puts Access Northeast Pipe to New England on Hold). Spectra’s original strategy was to bring natural gas to New England by cutting deals with electric companies who need the gas to produce cheaper electricity at their natgas-fired power generation plants. However, the green environmental Nazis came out in force against the plan, (sadly) aided and abetted by Spectra’s competitors, and those plans are now in ruins with three states blocking any such plans. So Spectra changed strategies, targeting local natural gas distribution companies (LDCs) as potential customers (see Spectra Energy Changes Strategy re New England Pipeline). Spectra needs customers to sign on the dotted line–committing to long-term contracts–before they can raise the funding and build the project, so they pushed the pause button last December. Since that time, Spectra completed selling itself to Enbridge (see Spectra Energy is No More – $28B Merger with Enbridge Complete). So just to confuse things, the Access Northeast project is now an Enbridge project. Yesterday Enbridge sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that oversees such projects, to officially withdraw the application. But the project is NOT dead. Enbridge says they will be back to file again–once the New England states get their energy policy crap together…
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Enbridge Axing 1,000 (Mostly) Spectra Energy Jobs

Last September MDN reported on a midstream deal with major implications for the Marcellus/Utica: Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. announced an all-stock deal to buy out pipeline operator Spectra Energy, based in Houston, for $28 billion (see Canadian Enbridge Buying US Spectra Energy for $28B). Spectra has a number of critical pipeline infrastructure projects under way or planned in the Marcellus/Utica region, including the planned Access Northeast pipeline to New England, the mighty NEXUS pipeline planned to span Ohio, the currently under construction Algonquin Incremental Marketing (AIM) pipeline project, and three projects (Access South, Adair Southwest and Lebanon Express) under way to expand one of the largest natural gas pipelines in the U.S. (and in the northeast)–the Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) pipeline. The merger was completed in February (see Spectra Energy is No More – $28B Merger with Enbridge Complete). Unfortunately, this week Enbridge announced they are axing around 1,000 jobs (6% of the workforce), to “address the overlap” and optimize “synergies” in the newly-combined company. Most of the 1,000 jobs being axed are from the Spectra workforce in the Houston area. We wonder how many top managers were “overlap” and “synergy optimized?” Yeah, likely none…
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Spectra Energy is No More – $28B Merger with Enbridge Complete

Last September MDN reported on a midstream deal with major implications for the Marcellus/Utica: Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. announced an all-stock deal to buy out pipeline operator Spectra Energy, based in Houston, for $28 billion (see Canadian Enbridge Buying US Spectra Energy for $28B). Spectra has a number of critical pipeline infrastructure projects under way or planned in the Marcellus/Utica region, including the planned Access Northeast pipeline to New England, the mighty NEXUS pipeline planned to span Ohio, the currently under construction Algonquin Incremental Marketing (AIM) pipeline project, and three projects (Access South, Adair Southwest and Lebanon Express) under way to expand one of the largest natural gas pipelines in the U.S. (and in the northeast)–the Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) pipeline. The update is that as of yesterday, Spectra Energy is no more. The merger is complete, and Spectra’s stock has stopped trading, and the name on the door has changed. Yes, this is a big, hairy deal for our region…
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Spectra, Enbridge Shareholders Approve $28B Merger

Combined infrastructure – click for a larger version

In September MDN told you about the proposed deal by Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. to buy out pipeline operator Spectra Energy (based in Houston) in an all-stock deal (see Canadian Enbridge Buying US Spectra Energy for $28B). Spectra has a number of critical pipeline infrastructure projects under way or planned in the Marcellus/Utica region, including the planned Access Northeast pipeline to New England, the mighty NEXUS pipeline planned to span Ohio, the currently under construction Algonquin Incremental Marketing (AIM) pipeline project, and three projects (Access South, Adair Southwest and Lebanon Express) under way to expand one of the largest natural gas pipelines in the U.S. (and in the northeast)–the Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) pipeline. This is a big deal for our region. Last week the shareholders of both companies voted to approve the proposed buyout/merger. Provided everything goes according to plan, the marriage will take place in 1Q17…
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Canadian Enbridge Buying US Spectra Energy for $28B

CombinedInfrastructure_8col
Combined infrastructure – click for larger map

Another big hairy (midstream) deal with implications for the Marcellus/Utica. Yesterday Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. announced an all-stock deal to buy out pipeline operator Spectra Energy (based in Houston). Spectra has a number of critical pipeline infrastructure projects under way or planned in the Marcellus/Utica region, including the planned Access Northeast pipeline to New England, the mighty NEXUS pipeline planned to span Ohio, the currently under construction Algonquin Incremental Marketing (AIM) pipeline project, and three projects (Access South, Adair Southwest and Lebanon Express) under way to expand one of the largest natural gas pipelines in the U.S. (and in the northeast)–the Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) pipeline. Does a Canadian pipeline company heavily involved in shipping crude via pipelines buying a U.S. company that ships natural gas via pipelines sound familiar? It should. TransCanada bought out Columbia Pipeline Partners two months ago–another case of a Canadian company buying into the bountiful U.S. Marcellus/Utica shale midstream (see TransCanada and Columbia Pipeline Tie the Knot Today). Here’s the low down on Enbridge’s play to buy Spectra Energy, which would form another mega midstream company to rival Kinder Morgan and Williams…
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NEXUS Gas Pipeline Pre-Files with FERC, New Details Come to Light

but wait there's moreIn September 2012, three companies–DTE Energy, Spectra Energy and Enbridge–formed a joint venture to build a new Utica Shale pipeline from Ohio through Michigan and eventually into Canada, delivering Utica Shale gas to Midwestern markets (see New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced). The new pipeline, called NEXUS Gas Transmission, will cost $1.5 billion to build, begin in Columbiana County, OH and cross through 11 Ohio counties and 3 Michigan counties in total (see list below). Some of the details were revealed last year when the Akron Beacon Journal filed an open records request (see OH Route of Proposed NEXUS Gas Pipeline Revealed). On December 30, NEXUS finally filed what’s called a “pre-filing” with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). We have a copy of that pre-filing document below, along with extracts (new details) and a new map showing where the pipeline is due to go…
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FDS? Michigan Man Tries to Stop Pipeline by Crawling Inside It

DerangedFracking Derangement Syndrome (FDS) is a dangerous disease. Most often it attacks those who grew up watching Captain Planet on Saturday mornings (one of the risk factors). FDS creates all sorts of weird behaviors in its victims. The disease recently struck again–this time infecting a 36 year-old Michigan man. The disease manifested by causing the man (the Green candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan) to crawl inside of a pipeline under construction by Enbridge and stay there for 10 hours, creating a danger to himself and those around him…
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Marcellus Gas Heading North: Canadian Pipeline Gets “Green” Light

Seems like today is midstream day on MDN. Many of our stories revolve around pipelines and processing plants, including our lead about MarkWest (be sure to give it a read). Here’s an interesting story about a pipeline project in Canada that has a Marcellus tie-in. Enbridge Gas Distribution wants to expand their natural gas pipeline in the Toronto area, spending upward of C$686 million to do it. The “greens” of Canada (garden variety fossil fuel-hating anti-drillers) objected. The greens’ objection #1: If we just turn our thermostats down low, we won’t need the extra gas. The Ontario Energy Board said: Nope. Not buying that one. Objection #2: This pipeline will bring in that evil, nasty, fracked Marcellus Shale gas and kill us all because it pollutes water (in the U.S.) and releases fugitive methane into the atmosphere (global warming, heeelp!). Again, the Ontario Energy board said: Nope. Not buying that one either.

Below is the full story about the pipeline. Embedded in it is the response by the calm, wise heads from the Ontario Energy Board to the greens, responding to them on the shale gas issue:
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NEXUS Pipeline Route Through Stark County, OH

Last week MDN told you about the proposed Ohio route of the planned NEXUS Gas Transmission natural gas pipeline, a $1.5 billion project that will run from Ohio to Michigan and eventually to Canada–delivering Utica Shale gas to Midwestern markets (see OH Route of Proposed NEXUS Gas Pipeline Revealed). Ever so gradually more pieces of the puzzle are falling into place on where, exactly, the pipeline will run. In a Stark County, OH article, for example, we learn the strategy is to use existing power line rights of way and the new pipeline will likely cross through Washington, Nimishillen, Marlboro and Lake townships in Stark on its way from Kensington–where the new M3 Midstream gas processing plant is almost ready to go online.

Here’s the Stark County piece of the NEXUS pipeline route puzzle:
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OH Route of Proposed NEXUS Gas Pipeline Revealed

Last September MDN told you about a new $1.5 billion Utica Shale natural gas pipeline that would run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually into Canada, delivering Utica Shale gas to Midwestern markets (see New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced). The project is called the NEXUS Gas Transmission (NGT) pipeline and is being built by DTE Energy, Enbridge amd Spectra Energy. Since the pipeline was announced, we’ve had precious few details on the proposed route. Until now…
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Nexus NatGas Pipeline to Run Through Akron/Canton Area

Last September MDN told you about a newly announced major Utica Shale natural gas pipeline that would run from Ohio through Michigan and into Canada (see New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced). The project, called the Nexus Gas Transmission system, is a joint venture between DTE Energy, Spectra Energy and Enbridge. Although details of its planned route have still not been disclosed, the Akron Beacon Journal is reporting the pipeline will run through several communities in the Akron-Canton area.

An update on the project from the Beacon Journal:
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Surprise! EcoNuts Object to Proposed Utica Shale Pipeline

On Tuesday MDN brought you the news of a major new Utica Shale gas pipeline that will be built from Ohio through Michigan and into Canada by DTE Energy, Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp (see this MDN story). It didn’t take long for anti-drillers, like EcoWatch, to announce their opposition.

This is what passes for news on MSNBC:

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New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced

Three companies have formed a joint venture to build a new Utica Shale pipeline from Ohio through Michigan and eventually into Canada, delivering Utica Shale gas to Midwestern markets. The three companies are DTE Energy—a Detroit-based energy company, Enbridge—Canada’s largest natural gas distribution company, and Spectra Energy—one of North America’s largest pipeline companies and a member of the Fortune 500 list. The partners plan an open season to lock in customers for the new pipeline later this year. The pipeline won’t be built and in service until late 2015 at the earliest.

From the joint press release issued this morning:

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Enbridge Building a Pipeline from Southern PA Marcellus Shale to Chicago

Canadian oil and gas pipeline company Enbridge has announced plans to build a pipeline from the Marcellus Shale in Southern PA to the Chicago area.

From the Enbridge press release*:

Enbridge Inc. today announced it intends to develop a natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline from the Marcellus Shale in Southern Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia to markets in the Midwestern United States.

The proposed pipeline is currently targeted to deliver into existing NGL infrastructure in the Chicago area including the Aux Sable facility which processes gas from Alliance pipeline and fractionates NGLs from various supply sources. Additional NGL fractionation capacity is available at the plant.

“The Chicago area has substantial markets to accommodate the large volumes of NGLs that are expected to be associated with future Marcellus production. Other NGL markets, including Ontario, can also be accessed from Chicago utilizing existing infrastructure. This proposed pipeline will provide an excellent long term solution for development of this promising play, as it will enable NGL production to grow unconstrained for many years,” said Stephen J.J. Letwin, Executive Vice President, Gas Transportation & International, Enbridge Inc.

“Enbridge has extensive knowledge and expertise in the areas of NGL fractionation, transportation and marketing. With this proposed pipeline, we are uniquely positioned to help Marcellus producers obtain greater value for their future NGL production” Mr. Letwin said.

Enbridge will develop, construct, own and operate the planned NGL pipeline. The Company is currently evaluating various routing and market alternatives and anticipates moving forward with an open season in the second quarter 2010.

*Enbridge (Mar 22) – Enbridge Announces Plans to Hold Open Season for Proposed Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline from Marcellus Shale to Chicago