CNG/LNG

CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Venture Global Thumbs Nose at Contracted Customers with New Ships
September 20, 2024September 20, 2024

We have no words (but we’ll try). Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorization to place the final three liquefaction blocks (7-9) into service in November 2023 (see Venture Global Gets FERC OK to Commission 3 Calcasieu Pass Trains). The other trains, 1-6, have been online for over two years!! However, the entire facility is not officially in commercial service, even though it has shipped over 200 cargoes. Venture Global claims it is still working out the kinks. And now it’s taking possession of two LNG cargo carriers (out of a total of nine planned) that it intends to use NOW to ship more LNG from CP to Germany (instead of selling to its contracted customers). How much longer will U.S. officials allow this mockery to continue? Read More “Venture Global Thumbs Nose at Contracted Customers with New Ships”
CNG/LNG | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | ESG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

EQT Provides MiQ-Certified LNG Cargo to Europe in World First
September 19, 2024September 19, 2024

In May, the socialists of the European Union (EU) adopted into law a new regulation aimed at tracking and reducing methane emissions within the energy sector (see MiQ Claims Its Cert the Only One to Meet New EU Methane Regs). The onerous new reg introduces new requirements for measuring, reporting, and verifying methane emissions. The reg mandates operators to measure emissions at the source and submit monitoring reports verified by independent bodies. If drillers, including those from the Marcellus/Utica, want to export LNG to any country that’s part of the EU (many M-U drillers export LNG to Europe), they must comply with these crazy new regs. According to MiQ, an independent methane emissions measurement and certification authority, its certification is the only one that satisfies the EU’s new regulation. EQT, the largest natural gas producer in the U.S. (exclusively working in the M-U), uses MiQ and is about to send an LNG cargo to Germany as a test of the MiQ certification system. It’s a worldwide first. Read More “EQT Provides MiQ-Certified LNG Cargo to Europe in World First”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | CNG/LNG | Industrywide Issues | Litigation

DC Circuit’s Radical Judges Signal Blocking LNG by Rail
September 19, 2024September 19, 2024

LNG rail car

A couple of far-left judges who sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (DC Circuit), one appointed by Joementia and the other by Lord Obama, threw verbal bombs at the idea of allowing LNG to be transported by rail cars. The two bought into the environmental hype about “bomb trains” and expressed their personally biased views that allowing LNG by rail would result in catastrophe. If their statements indicate anything, LNG by rail is as good as dead.
Read More “DC Circuit’s Radical Judges Signal Blocking LNG by Rail”
Chesapeake Energy | CNG/LNG | Energy Companies | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Chesapeake Energy Wants to Sell 10-15% of Its Production to Asia
September 18, 2024September 18, 2024

Chesapeake Energy has gone through some major changes over the past four years. In June 2020, Chessy declared bankruptcy (see Chesapeake Files for Bankruptcy – Debtors to Take Ownership). After Chessy exited bankruptcy, the new owners booted CEO Doug Lawler in April of 2021 (see Doug Lawler Out as CEO of Chesapeake Energy). Lawler tried to chart a new direction for the company by drilling for oil. That strategy was a disaster. The new board selected long-time Chesapeake CFO Dominic “Nick” Dell’Osso as the new CEO in October 2021 (see Chesapeake Makes it Official – CFO Dom Dell’Osso New CEO). Dell’Osso and the board refocused the company on drilling for natural gas, its first and original mission. According to comments made at a conference earlier this week, one of the markets Dell’Osso and his lieutenants have their eyes on is foreign LNG. Specifically, Chessy wants to sell 10-15% of its production to customers in Asia.
Read More “Chesapeake Energy Wants to Sell 10-15% of Its Production to Asia”
Baker Hughes | Chevron | CNG/LNG | ConocoPhillips | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Exporting | Exxon Mobil | Industrywide Issues | Meetings

O&G Execs Talk Harris Fracking Flip-Flop, LNG “Pause” at Gastech
September 18, 2024September 18, 2024

The Gastech Exhibition & Conference 2024 is happening this week in Houston, TX. It is a massive event with an estimated 50,000 attendees. Gastech bills itself as the world’s largest exhibition and conference for natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, climate technologies, AI, energy manufacturing, and low-carbon solutions. We’ve seen reports from the event that say big names in the oil and gas space are talking about important issues of the day, including Kamala Harris’ fracking flip-flop, Biden’s “pause” on new LNG approvals, and more. At first, it appeared Big Oil CEOs were giving Harris a pass, saying her flip-flop is legit—she won’t ban fracking, and we should all sing kumbaya as we coronate Kamala Queen. But then we read further… Read More “O&G Execs Talk Harris Fracking Flip-Flop, LNG “Pause” at Gastech”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

FERC Gives Eagle LNG Extra 5 Yrs to Build Jacksonville Facility
September 17, 2024September 17, 2024

In September 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its blessing to Eagle LNG to build a small LNG export facility project at a site on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida (see FERC Grants Final Approval to Jacksonville, FL LNG Export Plant). Some of the gas that will feed it will come from the Marcellus/Utica. FERC’s blessing in September 2019 came with a deadline to build the facility by September 2024. In July, Eagle said it could not meet the deadline and asked FERC to extend it by another five years (see Eagle LNG Seeks Extension to Build Jacksonville LNG Export Facility). Last week, FERC agreed to extend the project an extra five years. Read More “FERC Gives Eagle LNG Extra 5 Yrs to Build Jacksonville Facility”
Berkshire Hathaway | CNG/LNG | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland

Cove Point LNG to Pay $60M per Year PILOT to Calvert County, MD
September 12, 2024September 12, 2024

Cove Point LNG is an LNG export facility located in Lusby (Calvert County), Maryland. It is one of the most technically advanced and environmentally sensitive LNG facilities in the world. We recall as Dominion Energy was building the facility, environmental wackos uttered shrill warnings of habitat destruction coming for the Chesapeake Bay (where it’s located) should the facility go into production (see Green Groups Ask DC Judge to Stop Construction at Cove Point LNG). Nothing of the kind ever happened. The current owners of Cove Point, Berkshire Hathaway Energy (yes, that Berkshire, owned by Warren Buffett), just signed a deal paying Calvert County $60 million PER YEAR in lieu of property taxes, a “payment in lieu of taxes” or PILOT agreement. The local community and county commissioners could not be more delighted with the money and how Cove Point benefits the community. So much for all of the false claims by the wackos. Read More “Cove Point LNG to Pay $60M per Year PILOT to Calvert County, MD”
CNG/LNG | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Toby Rice – U.S. has Vital Role in Massive, Unmet LNG Demand
September 11, 2024September 11, 2024

The RealClear Media Group has a suite of online publications that are just terrific. Among them is RealClearEnergy. Back in June, RealClearEnergy hosted the Energy Future Forum in Washington, D.C. Among the luminaries speaking (or being interviewed) was Toby Rice, CEO of the country’s largest natural gas producer, EQT Corporation. Toby addressed the role of the U.S. in meeting “massive” demand for LNG across the planet. Toby was in his element. We’ve previously called Toby our country’s LNG evangelist. He certainly shared his zeal and vision for the role of LNG in the coming decades (and it ain’t just a “transition” fuel). Read More “Toby Rice – U.S. has Vital Role in Massive, Unmet LNG Demand”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

DOE: Biden “Pause” (Ban) on Approving LNG Exports Still in Effect
September 11, 2024September 11, 2024

In January, Joementia announced he would “pause” any approvals for new LNG export plants (currently 17 requests in the pipeline) for at least one year while his people fart around pretending to figure out how to measure global warming as a new consideration for whether or not to approve such projects (see White House Makes it Official – Biden Declares War on LNG Exports). It was a purely political move aimed at currying favor with the radical left. In March, 16 state Attorneys General filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to end the pause, which is causing their states economic harm (see 16 States Sue Biden Admin Over Pause in LNG Export Approvals). On July 1, a federal judge in Louisiana agreed with the states and ordered Biden-Harris to resume issuing permits for new LNG export facilities (see Federal Judge Orders Biden DOE to Resume Issuing LNG Export Permits). In August, Biden-Harris appealed the judge’s decision, hoping to continue blocking new LNG approvals (see Bidenistas Appeal Court Decision, Seek to Continue LNG Approval Ban).
Read More “DOE: Biden “Pause” (Ban) on Approving LNG Exports Still in Effect”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Litigation

DC Circuit Rulings are Harming the U.S. LNG Export Industry
September 10, 2024September 10, 2024

The liberal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a string of rulings this year that have greatly damaged the country’s LNG export industry. Those rulings, if left unchallenged, put future LNG growth in this country in doubt. So says energy expert David Blackmon, writing for the Forbes magazine website. The D.C. Circuit has been coloring WAY outside the lines by using White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) criteria for what should be included in environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Read More “DC Circuit Rulings are Harming the U.S. LNG Export Industry”
CNG/LNG | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Boston LNG Import Terminal is Poster Child for Bad U.S. Policies
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

Over the years, we’ve written many posts about the Everett LNG import terminal near Boston (see our stories here). Everett LNG plays a key role in keeping the lights on and the furnaces belching heat throughout New England (see Everett LNG’s Key Role in Keeping the Lights on in New England). The Everett terminal has 3.4 Bcf of LNG storage capacity and plays a crucial role in stabilizing gas supplies in New England. Everett can supply up to 35% of regional gas demand on peak winter days — and is typically used to fill supply gaps during high-demand periods or when regional gas systems are under significant stress. Everett is also a poster child for what’s wrong with American energy policy. Read More “Boston LNG Import Terminal is Poster Child for Bad U.S. Policies”
CNG/LNG | Energy Companies | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Shell

Shell Says Venture Global Wrongfully Earned $3.5B from CP LNG Sales
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

Shell is putting numbers to the gross transgression of Venture Global in screwing over its contracted customers for LNG shipments. Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorization to place the final three liquefaction blocks (7-9) into service in November 2023 (see Venture Global Gets FERC OK to Commission 3 Calcasieu Pass Trains). The other trains, 1-6, have been online for over two years. However, the entire facility is not officially in commercial service, even though it has shipped over 200 cargoes! Venture Global claims it is still working out the kinks. Shell and Venture’s other customers say horse manure! Shell says Venture Global has wrongfully earned $3.5 billion from selling cargos from long-term contracts on the spot market instead. PAY UP, Venture Global! Read More “Shell Says Venture Global Wrongfully Earned $3.5B from CP LNG Sales”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Research

Good News! U.S. LNG Exports On Track to More Than Double by 2028
September 4, 2024September 4, 2024

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), North America’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity is on track to more than double between 2024 and 2028, from 11.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023 to an astonishing 24.4 Bcf/d in 2028! That is, if all the projects currently under construction begin operations as planned. However, that increase includes not just exports from the U.S. but also from Canada and Mexico. Yes, somehow, magically, countries like Canada and Mexico, where Big Green thought it held an iron grip, will soon begin to export LNG (some of it U.S. molecules).
Read More “Good News! U.S. LNG Exports On Track to More Than Double by 2028”
CNG/LNG | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | New Fortress Energy | Regulation

Biden-Harris Betrays Big Green, OK’s LNG Exports for New Fortress
September 4, 2024September 4, 2024

In January, Joementia announced he would “pause” any approvals for new LNG export plants (currently 17 requests in the pipeline) for at least one year while his people fart around pretending to figure out how to measure global warming as a new consideration for whether or not to approve such projects (see White House Makes it Official – Biden Declares War on LNG Exports). It was a purely political move aimed at currying favor with the radical left. In March, 16 state Attorneys General filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to end the pause, which is causing their states economic harm (see 16 States Sue Biden Admin Over Pause in LNG Export Approvals). On July 1, a federal judge in Louisiana agreed with the states and ordered Biden-Harris to resume issuing permits for new LNG export facilities (see Federal Judge Orders Biden DOE to Resume Issuing LNG Export Permits). In August, Biden-Harris appealed the judge’s decision, hoping to continue blocking new LNG approvals (see Bidenistas Appeal Court Decision, Seek to Continue LNG Approval Ban). And just like that (because it’s an election year), Biden-Harris reversed course and yesterday approved exports for an LNG project in Mexico, a project that will export U.S. molecules. Read More “Biden-Harris Betrays Big Green, OK’s LNG Exports for New Fortress”
CNG/LNG | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania | UGI Energy Services

UGI Seeks to Store LNG in Trailers in Scranton Suburb During Winter
September 3, 2024September 3, 2024

UGI, a diversified energy company with midstream (pipeline) operations in the Marcellus and one of PA’s largest utility companies, wants to store trailers of LNG in the parking lot of a storage facility near Scranton, PA, and is seeking a zoning variance to do so. UGI needs extra supplies of natural gas to inject into its utility system during peak periods in the winter months. The company says it will be a temporary situation. Read More “UGI Seeks to Store LNG in Trailers in Scranton Suburb During Winter”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Freeport LNG Goes Offline for the Umpteenth Time, Then Restarts
August 30, 2024August 30, 2024

Up/down, up/down, up/down, up/down… We can’t count how many times the Freeport LNG export facility has come online to go offline again, with the cycle repeating (see our MANY stories about the uneven Freeport here). It’s become kind of a joke. Except, it’s no joke. Freeport is (still, for now) the country’s second-largest LNG export plant, with a capacity to liquefy 2.1 Bcf/d (billion cubic feet per day) of natural gas. Some of that gas comes from the Marcellus/Utica, which is why we care about the upness and downness of this facility. It’s happened again. The facility went offline on Wednesday, but yesterday, it had begun to come back online. Read More “Freeport LNG Goes Offline for the Umpteenth Time, Then Restarts”