U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) set a new all-time record high in December, averaging 9.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). The results in December were more than three times higher than the reduced export levels of last summer. Marcellus/Utica gas played a key role in those exports.
Read More “U.S. LNG Exports Set New Record High in December”
Anti-fossil fuel zealots including THE Delaware Riverkeeper are attempting to convince the Biden administration to block the now fully permitted and authorized LNG export terminal New Fortress plans to build on the New Jersey shore of the Delaware River in Gibbstown. They’re hoping they can appeal to Biden’s parochial concerns for his home state of Delaware, hoping to scare an old man with dementia into blocking LNG ships from transiting the Delaware River by lying about safety issues.
Read More “Antis Hope to Convince Biden Admin to Block Dela. River LNG Exports”
Last year dozens of contracted U.S. LNG export cargoes got canceled during the pandemic (see US LNG Export Cargoes Canceled as Coronavirus Destroys Demand and May NatGas Deliveries to US LNG Plants Lowest Since Last October). In late June the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted it would be third or fourth quarter 2021 before the U.S. would achieve the same level of exports as the all-time high levels of 1Q20 (see EIA Says U.S. LNG Exports Fall by Half in 2020, Recovery Late 2021). The outlook for LNG exports has suddenly and dramatically changed, for the better.
Read More “Big LNG Rebound Coming in Early 2021, Asia Demand Way Up”
David Blackmon is an independent energy analyst/consultant based in Mansfield, TX. Blackmon is a Forbes contributor and has a 39-year career in the oil and gas industry, most of it in public policy and managing regulatory and legislative issues for various companies, including Burlington Resources, Shell, El Paso Corporation, FTI Consulting and LINN Energy. Blackmon has been around the block a few times and understands not only the technical aspects of our industry, but the politics as well. He recently peered into his crystal ball and predicted what lies ahead (i.e. challenges) for the O&G industry in 2021, including a “regulatory onslaught” from Joe Biden…
Read More “Blackmon’s Predictions for Oil & Gas Industry in 2021”
The five voting members of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) met in early December and voted 4-0 (one abstention) to approve a 1,300-foot-long pier in Gibbstown, NJ which will be used to load LNG tankers (see DRBC Does Right Thing, Approves NJ LNG Export Terminal). One of the “yes” votes was from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Following withering criticism from radical environmentalists, Murphy has flip-flopped and now says he opposes the LNG export terminal–after he voted in favor of building it.
Read More “NJ Gov. Murphy Flip-Flops, Wants to Block Dela. River LNG Terminal”
Miracles never cease! The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) met yesterday and voted to approve a 1,300-foot-long pier in Gibbstown, NJ to load LNG tankers. Reaction by anti-fossil fuel zealots was swift, predictable, and hilarious. They’re claiming loading LNG onto ships is somehow more dangerous than the old DuPont dynamite factory that used to exist at the same location. They’re also calling the leftist Democrat governors of PA, NJ and DE “climate deniers.” Too funny!
Read More “DRBC Does Right Thing, Approves NJ LNG Export Terminal”
Over the years we’ve sometimes heard from readers, or read comments from trade associations, making the argument that by exporting our natural gas we are raising the price of natgas domestically. Shouldn’t we keep all the gas for ourselves and keep prices low (see Big Chemical Continues to Lobby Trump Admin to Limit LNG Exports)? The latest group to make that argument are propane retailers. They claim the Mariner East pipeline to Marcus Hook that flows propane to Marcus Hook where it gets exported is causing higher prices for propane dealers in PA. Is that true?
Read More “Shortsighted: Propane Dealers Complain About Marcus Hook Exports”
The first of 10 LNG (liquefied natural gas) mini-trains at Kinder Morgan’s Elba Island, Georgia export facility went online in December of last year (see Elba Island Finally Exported First Marcellus LNG Cargo on Friday). Since that time, the other nine trains have come online one at a time, with the last unit going into service in August (see Final Elba Island LNG Train Goes into Service – All 10 Now Online). As happens with these facilities, each year the owner/operator will take units offline for maintenance. Some of Elba’s 10 trains are offline for maintenance right now, but not all of them.
Read More “Kinder Morgan’s Elba Island LNG Partially Down for Maintenance”
We were wrong. In August MDN told you that the tenth and final mini-train had gone online at Kinder Morgan’s Elba Island, Georgia LNG export facility (see Final Elba Island LNG Train Goes into Service – All 10 Now Online). That the tenth mini-train had gone online was correct, no issue there. What was incorrect was that all ten mini-trains are now online and working. Such is not the case.
Read More “One of Elba Island’s 10 LNG Trains Remains Offline 6 Mos Later”
We’ve written plenty about a plan by New Fortress Energy to build an LNG liquefaction plant in Bradford County, PA (northeastern part of the state), and then haul the LNG from the plant via specially-outfitted trucks and rail cars to a transloading dock/port facility New Fortress plans to build at an old DuPont dynamite factory site in New Jersey, on the banks of the Delaware River. What we didn’t know, until now, is that the old DuPont site will also function as a transloading facility for LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas (i.e. propane).
Read More “Fortress Truck/Rail Terminal on Dela. River to Export LPG in 2021”
Last week the U.S. Dept. of Energy announced it has extended the terms of seven long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorizations through 2050. One of the facilities receiving an extension is the Cove Point LNG export facility in Maryland, a facility that exports 100% Marcellus molecules.
Read More “DOE Approves Cove Point, Six Other Plants to Export LNG Thru 2050”
Eagle LNG Partners built and maintains a smallish LNG facility in Maxville, Florida (suburb of Jacksonville). Since early 2018, Eagle LNG has loaded hundreds of ISO and trailers loads from their Maxville LNG facility for Crowley Maritime and other customers (see Eagle LNG Celebrates 100th LNG Bunkering at Port of Jacksonville). Eagle is spreading its wings. Earlier this week the company announced it has entered into a long-term agreement to provide a turn-key U.S. natural gas solution for the Barbuda Ocean Club in Barbuda, West Indies.
Read More “Marcellus/Utica LNG Heading to Barbuda, West Indies?”
The price of natural gas trading at the Henry Hub terminal in southern Louisiana, the national benchmark price used for NYMEX futures contracts, has been on a rocket ship ride up over the past two days. Two days ago the price added $0.12 in a single day (see Louisiana LNG Begins Moving Again, Forecast Colder, Gas Price Jumps). Yesterday the price added *another* $0.11, passing the $3/Mcf mark for the first time in over a year.
Read More “NYMEX NatGas Price Breaks $3/Mcf Thanks to LNG Shipments”
There is a battle underway by Big Green groups in Pennsylvania to unduly influence, pressure, and bully a quasi-governmental agency, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), into overturning a legally permitted LNG export facility planned for the New Jersey shore of the Delaware River by New Fortress Energy (NFE).
Read More “NJ LNG Export Terminal Pits Green Politics vs. Established Law”
Last week MDN told you about a barge sinking in a shipping channel in Lousiana that had contributed to a big drop in the price of natural gas (see Sunken Barge in LA Helps Fuel $0.22 One-Day Drop in NatGas Price). That barge is still stuck on the bottom, blocking traffic to the Cameron LNG facility. In addition to trouble for Cameron in the Calcasieu Ship Channel, a semi-submersible rig ran aground in the Sabine Bank Channel, blocking LNG traffic to and from Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG terminal.
Read More “More Shipping Channel Troubles for Gulf Coast LNG Exports”
We think we’ve spotted a potential new export market for northeastern Pennsylvania natural gas. New Fortress Energy (NFE) issued a joint announcement yesterday with the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) to say NFE will build LNG infrastructure and new gas-fired power plants in The Philippines. The two signed a “memorandum of understanding” (MOU).
Read More “Philippines Taps New Fortress for LNG Infrastructure, Power Plants”