Exporting

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    US Exports Now 2.4% of NatGas Production, Heading for 11% in 2019

    A sharp MDN reader recently brought to our attention some exciting news. The only export facility currently in operation is Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass facility. In July Sabine Pass (in southwestern Louisiana, right on the border with Texas) exported 2.19 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of American-produced natural gas to other countries. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that in May (most recent month available) the entire production of natural gas in the U.S. was 89.5 Bcf/d. When you run the math, you find that Cheniere alone, with that one facility, exported 2.4% of all U.S. natgas production. The EIA published an article yesterday (below) that predicts the U.S. will become a net exporter of natural gas–exporting more than we import–THIS YEAR. EIA also predicts by the end of 2019 we will be exporting 9.5 Bcf/d of natural gas. If overall production stays about the same, which is a pretty safe guess, that means we will be exporting 10.6% of the natgas we produce, to other countries. Amazing! Of course, production may increase as prices increase, so that 10.6% may be under 10%. But you get the idea. With just LNG exports alone an important new market is opening up over the next two years for our shale gas. One of those export facilities coming online (later this year) is Cove Point, Maryland, which will be exporting Marcellus/Utica gas…
    Read More “US Exports Now 2.4% of NatGas Production, Heading for 11% in 2019”

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    Nova Scotia’s Bear Head LNG Sees Surge of Interest

    For the past few years, MDN has tracked the progress of an LNG export plant planned for the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, the Bear Head LNG project (see our Bear Head LNG stories here). Of all the Canadian LNG export projects, Bear Head seems to have the most momentum. The project has received most of the necessary permits it needs to proceed. In fact, an official from the project says it is “shovel-ready” and can begin at any time. However, they aren’t ready to begin quite yet. The reason we track the project is because the most probable source of natural gas to feed the plant would come from the Marcellus Shale via the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline, converted to be bidirectional (see FERC Approves Atlantic Bridge Project for New England/Canada). However, the recent uptick in interest in Bear Head is not coming from the Marcellus, but because another LNG project on Canada’s West Coast was canceled last week. That has gas producers in Western Canada expressing interesting in piping their gas cross-country to the Bear Head project…
    Read More “Nova Scotia’s Bear Head LNG Sees Surge of Interest”

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    France Commits Energy Suicide – No New Oil & Gas Exploration, Ever

    Click chart for a readable version – France’s energy mix (as of 2013)

    MDN editor Jim Willis had the pleasure of visiting France in 2006. It is a breathtakingly beautiful country. Jim found the French people to be personable and easy to deal with (contrary to the popular myth they are arrogant and hate Americans). But hey, that was just one guy’s experience. Maybe you have had a different experience? We’ve written about France’s on again, off again frack ban over the years (see our stories about France here). You won’t have to worry about whether or not France will ever allow fracking. Beginning this fall, the country will stop issuing ANY/ALL permits to drill for ANY/ALL oil and gas–conventional, shale, doesn’t matter. France says it will “transition” to “environmentally-friendly energy.” You know, like solar and wind–even though discarded solar panels are about the same thing as disposing of nuclear waste (an ecological disaster). But appearances are everything for French President Emmanuel Macron and his certifiably-insane government. France currently (as of 2013) gets 44.5% of its energy from oil and gas, the single largest block of energy powering the country. Nuclear is second, at 41%. Wind and solar? Together they make up less than 1% of France’s energy supply! Why is France’s energy suicide an MDN story, other than Jim’s walk down memory lane? Because it’s easy to predict that France will not be able to operate on 100% renewable energy. Not now, not in our lifetime. It is a fact. If France doesn’t allow oil and natural gas exploration INSIDE their country, they will need to import oil and gas from OTHER countries. Enter the Marcellus/Utica with plenty of gas via LNG exports to sell. This is a tip to producers reading MDN to begin negotiating now to sell your gas to France. They’re going to need it…
    Read More “France Commits Energy Suicide – No New Oil & Gas Exploration, Ever”

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    Big Chemical Continues to Lobby Trump Admin to Limit LNG Exports

    Although we understand self-interest and wanting to protect one’s profit margin, we continue to be distressed that some of the biggest chemical companies in the world (meaning in the U.S.) are still actively trying to block approvals for more LNG export facilities. Why? They want the natural gas they buy (in very large quantities) to be as cheap as possible. In April, Big Chemical–companies like Dow Corning, BASF, Eastman Chemical and others–via their trade association Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) launched an effort to try and persuade Energy Secretary Rick Perry and the Trump Administration to create barriers to exports of natural gas, ’cause you know, it’s “America First” now baby, and we want that gas all to ourselves (see Big Chemical Selfishly Wants to Block NatGas Exports). Even though last week was “Energy Week” at the White House, and Trump announced even more LNG exports on the way (to South Korea), the IECA is still keeping up the pressure. They sent another letter warning that more LNG exports will put Trump’s agenda of more American jobs in danger…
    Read More “Big Chemical Continues to Lobby Trump Admin to Limit LNG Exports”

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    President Trump Unveils 6 Energy Initiatives, Half Involve NatGas

    This week has been “Energy Week” at the White House, and yesterday President Trump (we just love saying that, “President Trump”) announced six new initiatives not to just make America energy independent, but to make America energy dominant. We love that too! Energy DOMINANT. Throughout the world. Number one. One of the six initiatives in Trump’s plan was the announcement that Sempra Energy is in negotiations with South Korea to sell them our LNG (liquefied natural gas, see more on that below). That’s a good thing! No doubt some of the gas heading to the Korean peninsula will come from the Marcellus/Utica. Another of the six initiatives announced yesterday is approval for two applications to export LNG from Louisiana. And a yet another initiative involves more offshore drilling for oil and gas. So half of the initiatives announced somehow impact or relate to natural gas (two of which also impact Marcellus/Utica). Here’s the full list of six initiatives announced yesterday in a speech by President Trump…
    Read More “President Trump Unveils 6 Energy Initiatives, Half Involve NatGas”

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    Marcellus Shale Threatens to Bankrupt European Petchem Industry

    In reading a fascinating story about European chemical plant giant Ineos, the article took an unexpected turn when it said Ineos, indeed all of Europe’s petrochemical industry, is “vulnerable as never before because of the shale oil and gas boom in the US, which has made energy costs there just a fraction of those in Europe.” The article specifically names and credits the Marcellus with producing feedstock that is far cheaper than can be found in Europe–and chemical plants are now choosing to relocate and manufacture their products in the U.S. rather than Europe. The inescapable conclusion: if the United Kingdom (and Europe) refuses to frack, they’re hosed. Ineos, which has figured this out, has “quietly” purchased “some interesting onshore fracking licences” in the UK, and they intend to use them…
    Read More “Marcellus Shale Threatens to Bankrupt European Petchem Industry”

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    Goldboro LNG Export Plant on the Hunt for Marcellus Assets

    Just last week MDN told you that Pieridae Energy has signed a labor agreement to build the Goldboro LNG export facility along the shore of Nova Scotia, Canada (see Update on Goldboro LNG – Labor Agreement Signed to Build). The U.S. Dept. of Energy approved the plant for exporting to non-free trade agreement counties in February 2016, an indication that Marcellus/Utica gas will flow to the plant (see Goldboro LNG Project Gets Final DOE Approval – Good for Marcellus). As we’ve previously pointed out, gas to feed this new export facility will likely come from the Marcellus/Utica via the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. However, Goldboro can also get gas from TransCanada’s pipeline system–sourced from Western Canada. A Reuters story provides new details about Pieridae Energy’s plans for the project. Pieridae CEO Alfred Sorensen told Reuters the company is not just looking to buy gas on the open market, but looking to buy a driller or assets (leased acreage someone else is drilling on), to feed the plant. Pieridae is looking at both Western Canada AND in the Marcellus. The other tidbit we glean from the story is that the plant will cost on the order of $7.3 billion to build–the first time we’ve seen a number associated with the project… Read More “Goldboro LNG Export Plant on the Hunt for Marcellus Assets”

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    Update on Goldboro LNG – Labor Agreement Signed to Build

    We’ve kept an eye on several LNG export projects along the Eastern shore of Canada (most of them in Nova Scotia) for some time. Why? Because they’re a huge potential market for Marcellus and Utica Shale gas. One of those projects, in Nova Scotia, is the Goldboro LNG project from Pieridae Energy. The U.S. Dept. of Energy approved the plant for exporting to non-free trade agreement counties in February 2016 (see Goldboro LNG Project Gets Final DOE Approval – Good for Marcellus). In August 2016, Honeywell announced it was selected to provide the Goldboro project with automation and safety systems and serve as the integrated main automation contractor (see Signs of Life in Canadian Goldboro LNG Export Project). And in October, Pieridae signed a labor contract to build the plant (see Pieridae Energy Signs Labor Contract to Build Goldboro LNG). That labor contact, originally signed in October, was recently ratified by a 85% of the union members expected to work on the project. It is yet another milestone along the way to building the Goldboro LNG plant… Read More “Update on Goldboro LNG – Labor Agreement Signed to Build”

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    Dominion 1Q17 – Updates on Cove Point, Atlantic Coast Pipe & More

    Yesterday midstream and utility giant Dominion issued its first quarter 2017 update. Along with the update Dominion held an earnings call. On that call we learned new information about both the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project, Dominion’s Cove Point LNG export project, and a plethora of other projects, including natgas-fired power plants and more pipelines in the works. Dominion CEO Tom Farrell shared the exciting news that Cove Point is now 89% complete and will be “in service” later this year. As for Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Dominion has now purchased 80% of the materials they will need to build it. Farrell said the pipeline will be online in the second half of 2019. Another six pipeline projects are underway (at a cost of $700 million)–with five of the six due to be done THIS YEAR. Dominion is a happening company. Below are extracts from the earnings call, the 1Q17 update (with financials), and the newest PowerPoint slide deck used during the earnings call…
    Read More “Dominion 1Q17 – Updates on Cove Point, Atlantic Coast Pipe & More”

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    Big Chemical Selfishly Wants to Block NatGas Exports

    Big Chemical–companies like Dow Corning, BASF, Eastman Chemical and others, via their trade association, have launched a war to try and block American-made natural gas from getting exported to other countries. The reason? They want the natural gas they buy (in very large quantities) to be as cheap as possible. They recently sent a letter (copy below) to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry asking Perry to create barriers to exports of natural gas, ’cause you know, it’s “America First” now baby, and we want that gas all to ourselves. Strumming the patriotic heartstrings, the the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) says keeping all the gas here will grow more American jobs–and The Donald loves jobs for Americans. These are the same companies that, at the drop of a hat, left our shores and built plants in other countries. To play the patriotic “keep it all home” card is disgustingly hypocritical…
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    India Complete’s World’s Biggest Cracker; M-U Gas to Feed It

    Dahej petrochemical complex in Gujarat

    India’s largest private sector company, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), said yesterday the company has just commissioned the world’s largest and most complex ethane cracker plant, in India. And they did built it in record time–less than three years. MDN has covered RIL in the past–the company invests in Marcellus drilling (see our RIL stories here). The reason that RIL’s brand new cracker in India is news here in the Marcellus/Utica is because it will import ethane from the U.S. Gulf Coast. At least some of the ethane getting liquefied and loaded onto ships in the Houston Ship Channel comes from the Marcellus/Utica via the ATEX (Appalachia to Texas) ethane pipeline (see Marcellus/Utica Ethane Heads to India via Texas on Samsung Ships). While we have not read that any of the ethane exported from the Marcus Hook facility near Philadelphia has gone to India, we think it’s a pretty safe bet that at some point, it will…
    Read More “India Complete’s World’s Biggest Cracker; M-U Gas to Feed It”

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    Williams Responds to Tired Old Claim Atlantic Sunrise Exports Gas

    Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline map – click for larger version

    One of the arguments anti-pipeline advocates are attempting to use to slow down the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project in Pennsylvania is to argue there aren’t enough Federal Energy Regulatory (FERC) Commissioners to listen to them complain. When FERC Chairman Norman “cry baby” Bay left in a huff on Feb. 3, FERC was left with just two (out of five) active Commissoners (see FERC Commissioner Norm Bay Targets M-U on Way Out the Door). On Bay’s last day on the job, he and the other two active Commissioners voted to approve the Atlantic Sunrise project (see Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Final Approval by FERC). When a project is authorized, the very first tactic in the anti playbook is to challenge it. But unfortunately (for the antis), nobody’s home to hear them. That is, there aren’t enough Commissioners to hear their protest and make a decision to reverse their previous decision. Thing is, if they did hear the complaining of antis and decided their original decision was just fine, the antis then move on to filing an appeal in court. But antis can’t “pass go and collect $200” (i.e. go to court) until/unless FERC first refuses to “re-hear” their decision. Antis in Lebanon County have filed with FERC, hoping there will soon be a quorum to consider their complaint against Williams and Atlantic Sunrise. One of their main arguments is a very old argument–that most of the gas that will head south will be exported. Williams took time to swat that one away, once again…
    Read More “Williams Responds to Tired Old Claim Atlantic Sunrise Exports Gas”

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    Dominion Cove Point to Begin LNG Exports to India in Jan 2018

    Since early 2013 all of the LNG export capacity at the coming Cove Point LNG facility (on the shore of Maryland) has been spoken for–by India and Japan (see Dominion’s Cove Point LNG Facility Achieves Important Milestones). Cove Point is scheduled to go online late this year, with shipments heading to India beginning in January 2018. GAIL India, the state-owned entity contracted with Dominion/Cove Point for LNG from the plant, has known about the coming date for the past four years. They will need numerous ships to ferry Cove Point LNG to India. So GAIL put out the word several years ago for companies to build nine ships total–to handle LNG exports from both Cove Point and Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass facility, along the Gulf Coast. One of the requirements for the project is that three of the nine has to be built in India–“Made in India”. They got no takers, and so now GAIL is scrambling to try and lease ships for the “short term” (3-4 years) so they can begin shipping on time…
    Read More “Dominion Cove Point to Begin LNG Exports to India in Jan 2018”

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    Marcus Hook Propane Exports Heat Up

    Marcus Hook

    Over the past five years the U.S. has flipped from being a net importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane and butane), to being a net exporter. Why? Yep–shale drilling. Most of the LPG getting exported goes from the Gulf Coast. However, Sunoco Logistics’ Marcus Hook terminal near Philadelphia is now online and has, over the past 12 months, begun to make a big impact on the LPG export market. RBN Energy, with some of the best analysts in the business, recently turned their analytic eye on LPG in the northeast and provided a very interesting update on what’s happening at Marcus Hook. How much LPG is being exported–and where is it going?…
    Read More “Marcus Hook Propane Exports Heat Up”

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    American Shale Gas Selling for Over $7/Mcf to Overseas Buyers

    A Bloomberg article caught our eye. It says natural gas being exported by Cheniere Energy (in southern Louisiana) is being sold to counties like Mexico, Japan and Jordan for over $7 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). Why is that significant and how is it related to the Marcellus/Utica? It’s significant because gas right now is selling in the U.S. for an average of around $3/Mcf. In some places, like the Marcellus/Utica region, it sells for much less. Yesterday gas sold at the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 4 Marcellus trading hub sold for $2.61/Mcf. If producers can sell their gas overseas at double the price–happy days are here again! How does that relate to the Marcellus/Utica? Some of the gas being sold by Cheniere comes from the Marcellus/Utica. And later this year, Dominion will have finished and will power up their massive LNG export facility in Cove Point, Maryland. When that happens, 100% of the gas exported will go to two countries: Japan and India. And it will likely be sold for prices like Cheniere is seeing–around $7/Mcf. That is really good news for the producers who have signed contracts with Cove Point…
    Read More “American Shale Gas Selling for Over $7/Mcf to Overseas Buyers”

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    Another Review Completed for Canadian Bear Head LNG Project

    For some time we’ve tracked the progress of an LNG export plant planned for the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, the Bear Head LNG project. Of all the Canadian LNG export projects, Bear Head seems to have the most momentum. The project has received most of the necessary permits it needs to proceed. But it’s not been without its bumps along the way (see Bear Head LNG Export Plant: Bad News & Good News). Where will the gas come from to feed the plant? One source is likely to be Marcellus Shale coming via the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline, converted to be bidirectional (see FERC Approves Atlantic Bridge Project for New England/Canada). But LNG Limited, the builder of Bear Head LNG, is not putting all of its eggs in one basket. They don’t want to leave the fate of their plant to the flakes of New England who may end up blocking Spectra Energy’s efforts to move more Marcellus into the region. So LNG Limited is also working on a plan to bring western Canadian gas to Nova Scotia (see Canadian Bear Head LNG’s Long-Shot Plan to Get Gas). One more piece of the larger pie to build the plant just fell into place, earlier today. Transport Canada’s TERMPOL Review Committee has completed a review of the Bear Head project and issued a report. The TERMPOL report is a technical review of marine terminal systems and transshipment sites. Technical stuff, lots of recommendations. The bottom line is that Bear Head said they’ll do what’s in the report and the project continues to be very real and on track…
    Read More “Another Review Completed for Canadian Bear Head LNG Project”