Pipelines

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    Mass. Landowners Say Patriotic Duty to Oppose NED Pipeline

    The PatriotMDN is strongly in favor of property rights. “You don’t tell me I can’t allow drilling a shale well or a pipeline–and I don’t tell you that you must allow it.” That’s always been our guiding philosophy. It pains us when pipeline companies use eminent domain to force landowners to allow a pipeline to be built. Having said that, it’s a pipeline! It’s underground. Farmers can plant crops over top of it after it’s in the ground. After a few years, you’re hard pressed to even tell where the pipeline is buried! We say if there’s widespread opposition to pipelines in a given community, don’t bother building it there. However, if there’s a handful of holdout landowners (often driven by global warming insanity), eminent domain may be justified. Life is complex. These issues are complex. Again, forcefully using eminent domain against any landowner–even the stupid anti-drilling ones–pains us. We don’t like it. But eminent domain is part of our laws, created to benefit wider society. We spotted an article about some Massachusetts landowners who equate opposing Kinder Morgan’s Northeast Energy Direct pipeline with being patriotic, like the patriots from the original Boston Harbor Tea Party revolt. We had to laugh…
    Read More “Mass. Landowners Say Patriotic Duty to Oppose NED Pipeline”

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    Study: $546 Billion Needed in Gas/Oil/NGL Infrastructure by 2035!

    INGAAForget about drilling, infrastructure is where it’s at baby! That’s our words summarizing a new study just released by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA). The new study, titled “North American Midstream Infrastructure Through 2035: Leaning into the Headwinds” (full copy below) says the U.S. and Canada need to invest $546 billion (real 2015$) total over the 21-year period from 2015 to 2035–or $26 billion per year–in natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids infrastructure. Natural gas infrastructure includes “gathering and transmission pipelines, compressors, laterals, gas-lease equipment, processing, gas storage and liquefied natural gas export facilities” (NGI). Our tongue-in-cheek opening statement isn’t completely true. You need drilling or sooner or later you have no gas to flow through the infrastructure. However, for the time being, investors (and engineers and construction firms, etc.) need to pay attention to infrastructure buildout…
    Read More “Study: $546 Billion Needed in Gas/Oil/NGL Infrastructure by 2035!”

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    More on Cornerstone Pipeline – Batched Fluids, Connecting WV?

    Cornerstone PipelineLast week MDN updated you on progress (or lack thereof) for Marathon’s Cornerstone Pipeline project–a 50-mile liquids pipeline connecting several processing plants in Ohio to Marathon’s refinery in Canton (see Cornerstone Pipeline Slightly Delayed, Construction Begins in May). We now have even more details about the project after Marathon officials briefed area reporters. Among the interesting tidbits: at various times during the day the pipeline will batch fluids and flow either natural gasoline or condensate. Also, after the current plan is done and the pipeline is operational (this fall), Marathon hopes to explore connecting a couple of WV processing facilities to the pipeline–one in Moundsville and another in Natrium…
    Read More “More on Cornerstone Pipeline – Batched Fluids, Connecting WV?”

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    Lebanon County Judge Says Mariner East 2 Can Use Eminent Domain

    The last refuge of the desperate in Lebanon County, PA to stop new pipelines from being built is to use the courts to try and delay or stop both the Williams Transco Atlantic Sunrise or the Sunoco Logistics Partners Mariner East 2 pipelines. That refuge is now gone–at least for Mariner East 2. Last Thursday Lebanon County Judge Robert Eby ruled that yes, Mariner East 2 is an intrastate as well as interstate pipeline–giving it authority under PA state law to use eminent domain for those (very) few holdout landowners who refuse to bargain in good faith and simply want to stop the pipeline…
    Read More “Lebanon County Judge Says Mariner East 2 Can Use Eminent Domain”

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    Sunoco Tricks Radicalized Protester – Returns and Cuts More Trees

    Last week MDN told you about the daughter of a Huntingdon County, PA landowner radicalized by Big Green groups–as evidenced by her association with well known protesters previously arrested–who took to a tree on her mom’s property in order to illegally stop crews working on tree clearing for the Mariner East 2 pipeline (see PA Anti Literally Goes Up a Tree to Stop Mariner East 2 Pipeline). Even though she was breaking the law–and a judge’s order–local law enforcement couldn’t be bothered with climbing the tree to arrest her (see ‘Wackos in the Trees’ Protest Continues in Huntingdon County, PA). Nor, does it seem, did they arrest her after she came down on April 1. She stayed up a tree until April 1 because crews can no longer clear trees for fear of harming the threatened Indiana bat species that sometimes hangs out in those trees. Or at least, that’s what we thought. In a very clever move, tree clearing crews returned to the property this week, after April 1, and cleared more trees previously inhabited by the nutty landowner’s daughter. Don’t worry, they got permission…
    Read More “Sunoco Tricks Radicalized Protester – Returns and Cuts More Trees”

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    FERC Approves NJ Pipeline – More Marcellus Gas on the Way!

    In a positive sign for the now-delayed PennEast Pipeline that is scheduled to run from Wilkes-Barre, PA to Trenton, NJ, yesterday the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Williams’ $116 million Garden State Expansion Project in New Jersey. Why is it a good sign for PennEast? Because the project is being built to help connect gas that will come through the yet-to-be-built PennEast Pipeline to a yet-to-be-built (but approved in January) pipeline in New Jersey–the Southern Reliability Link pipeline (see Southern NJ NatGas Pipeline Approved by State BPU). FERC wouldn’t approve the Garden State Expansion Project unless it believes it will also approve the PennEast, plain and simple. That’s sure to give THE Delaware Riverkeeper a real bad case of heartburn…
    Read More “FERC Approves NJ Pipeline – More Marcellus Gas on the Way!”

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    Ohio EPA Seeks Comments on New Permits for Compressor Stations

    The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has just issued a series of draft general permits for compressor stations in the state and is inviting public comment. Currently each compressor station and the operations surrounding such a station are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in the Buckeye State. The general permits (plural) would create a template–a standard that everyone must meet–to streamline the process. Sounds reasonable. That is, until you dig into the requirements. We haven’t gone through the various draft general permit documents ourselves, but the radicals at the Environmental Defense Fund have–and they like what they see. Which means it’s bad for the oil and gas industry…
    Read More “Ohio EPA Seeks Comments on New Permits for Compressor Stations”

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    Utica Event: OH Landowners Will Lose $6.5B in 5 Yrs, NEXUS May Get Nixed

    4/17/16 NOTE: Spectra Energy contacted MDN to express concerns that our headline leaves the wrong impression. A Spectra spokesman commented: “The story, particularly the headline, portrays the NEXUS Gas Transmission project as being canceled.  This is untrue; NEXUS filed a Certificate Application with the FERC in November of 2015 and has consistently met its regulatory milestones since that time. The project is on schedule and we anticipate FERC issuing its approval to proceed in the second-half of 2016, thereby allowing us to achieve our in-service date of late 2017.” MDN does not mean to imply the project won’t happen–the speaker at the conference we reported on is the one saying that. We’re simply reporting what she said, which we found newsworthy. Spectra takes issue with the opinion that the project may get canceled–they are committed to building it. We have modified the shorter headline that did say “NEXUS Nixed” to say “NEXUS May Get Nixed” to be more accurate. We regret any wrong impression it may have left. Make no mistake, MDN hopes NEXUS happens! We’re rooting for it!

    On Wednesday, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and ShaleDirectories.com co-hosted the Utica Upstream conference at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. By all accounts we’ve read, it was an excellent event. (Note: ShaleDirectories is partnering with Sourcewater to present UpStream PA 2016 in State College on April 19). We spotted several articles about Utica Upstream, and all of them focused totally, or in part, on the presentation made by Maria Cortez of energy research firm/consultant Wood Mackenzie. Cortez was clearly the bell of the ball. Among her observations on Wednesday: Ohio landowners will lose $6.5 billion in lost income in the next five years thanks to the drilling slowdown; drillers will buy out other drillers at a rapid pace this year and next; the Utica needs at least 11 rigs to keep production at current levels (right now they’re running 11!); some 150-250 drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) will be the focus for drillers for the time being; and the NEXUS pipeline likely will NOT get built. But wait, there’s more!…
    Read More “Utica Event: OH Landowners Will Lose $6.5B in 5 Yrs, NEXUS May Get Nixed”

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    NJ Residents “Get Rowdy” in Opposition to NY-NJ Pilgrim Pipeline

    Yesterday MDN reported on the antics of anti-fossil fuelers in New York in their quest to stop an oil pipeline from Albany to New Jersey (see NY Antis Attempt to Stop Pilgrim Pipelines with Local Bans). Antis in NY aren’t the only ones up in arms over the Pilgrim Pipeline project. A “rowdy” group of New Jerseyites are also miffed and want their county government to put the kibosh to the pipeline plan…
    Read More “NJ Residents “Get Rowdy” in Opposition to NY-NJ Pilgrim Pipeline”

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    NY Antis Attempt to Stop Pilgrim Pipelines with Local Bans

    “Whoa, take ‘er easy there, Pilgrim.” – John Wayne in the movie “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962) In November, MDN told you about Pilgrim Pipeline Holdings, developing an East Coast pipeline to carry refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and jet and aviation fuel northbound from Linden, New Jersey to Albany, New York (178 miles). In addition, a second Pilgrim pipeline will carry crude oil from Albany south to NJ and other locations. Two pipelines, side by side, liquids flowing through them in different directions (see Will Pilgrim Pipeline be Allowed to Settle in the NY World?). Anti fossil fuel nutters who infest New York State are, however, attempting to block both pipelines by using a 107 year-old law and local bans. Will the antis succeed yet again?…
    Read More “NY Antis Attempt to Stop Pilgrim Pipelines with Local Bans”

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    Cornerstone Pipeline Slightly Delayed, Construction Begins in May

    In the middle of March MDN brought you the news that Marathon Petroleum was saying they would begin construction on the Cornerstone Pipeline “in the next several weeks”–meaning by the beginning of April (see Cornerstone Liquids Pipeline Set to Begin Construction in E Ohio). The timeline has been moved back a month. Marathon officials are now saying construction won’t begin until May. Cornerstone is a $250 million, 50-mile liquids pipeline being built by Marathon from the MarkWest cryogenic processing plant in Cadiz (Harrison County, now owned by Marathon), northwest connecting to M3’s fractionator plant in Scio (also in Harrison County) and M3’s cryogenic processing plant in Leesville (Carroll County) before terminating and connecting to Marathon’s refinery in Canton, OH (see Marathon Petroleum’s Newly Announced “Cornerstone” Utica Pipeline). The pipeline will carry, at various times, crude oil, condensate and natural gasoline. No reason was given for the delay…
    Read More “Cornerstone Pipeline Slightly Delayed, Construction Begins in May”

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    RFK Jr Invokes Religion at Anti-Pipeline Rally in Albany, NY

    A group of around 200 anti-fracking activists–or fractivists–protested at the steps of the New York State Capitol Building in Albany, NY yesterday. They were there nominally to protest Gov. Cuomo’s inevitable cave to allow the Constitution Pipeline to be built across the eastern portion of the state. However, the language from the speakers–in particular from the rather nutty Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (i.e. “Junior”)–was instructive. These people are fossil fuel haters–and their speeches dripped with their irrational hatred for all fossil fuels. Junior called fossil fuels “the dirtiest fuels from hell,” and then he called so-called renewable energy “patriotic fuels from heaven.” Some of you have laughed and poked fun at MDN, some of you have written us in anger, some have even unsubscribed when we have commented in the past on the hysterical and irrational antics of anti-fossil fuelers, pointing out that their belief in man-made global warming is religious and faith-based and NOT rooted in science. Junior’s own words yesterday are 100% vindication of our position. He couches the debate over fossil fuels in religious language. We were, and always have been, right about anti-drillers. The vast majority of antis don’t oppose drilling because of “water contamination” or “air pollution” or “methane migration” or any of a hundred other red herring excuses. They object because they fervently choose to believe in global warming, with no scientific evidence whatsoever, making all fossil fuels “evil” in their twisted worldview…
    Read More “RFK Jr Invokes Religion at Anti-Pipeline Rally in Albany, NY”

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    Mountaineer Gas Files App to Build $45M Pipeline Expansion in WV

    Mountaineer GasWest Virginia’s largest natural gas LDC (local distribution company) is Mountaineer Gas–with 220,000 customers, 450 employees and servicing 49 of WV’s 55 counties. Mountaineer Gas maintains close to 6,000 miles of pipeline. They’d like to add another 56 miles of pipelines to that number. Mountaineer has filed an application with the WV Public Service Commission to build a $45 million expansion of their distribution network in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties (the eastern panhandle of WV). Why? To deliver more Marcellus Shale gas to industrial customers who want to build manufacturing plants in the region. There is some natural gas in the area now–but not nearly enough. The new lines, which are not high pressure transmission lines but low pressure distribution lines, would bump up the volume of gas and deliver it to locations where new plants want to build. Local economic development people are excited as this provides a foundation for long-term growth in the region. Below are the details of Mountaineer’s application, along with a copy of the official paperwork they’ve filed with the WV PSC…
    Read More “Mountaineer Gas Files App to Build $45M Pipeline Expansion in WV”

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    PennEast Spins FERC Delay as a Good Thing – Optimism or Denial?

    We understand the value of a healthy, optimistic attitude. We consider ourselves to be a “glass half full” rather than “glass half empty” type of people. But we’re also realists. Last week the builders of the proposed PennEast Pipeline–a $1.2 billion, 114-mile, 36-inch diameter pipeline that will deliver approximately 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Marcellus gas fields of northeastern PA to locations in southeastern PA and across the border to Trenton, NJ–received what we considered bad news. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) told PennEast they would extend the amount of time they are taking until December of this year, rather than August, to complete their Environmental Review. And FERC won’t issue their final decision on authorizing the project until March 2017–at the earliest. PennEast had requested FERC wrap it all up by this August–an 8-month delay. In our book, that’s mildly bad news. But yesterday PennEast issued a press release saying the FERC announcement is an “important milestone,” almost lauding FERC for moving so quickly given a plateful of pipeline applications–even though it means the PennEast project now won’t be completed until 2018 instead of 2017. Is this a “glass half full” optimistic attitude? Or self-deluding denial? We can think of many reasons why it’s a manifestly bad thing that FERC has delayed–not the least of which is are multiple lawsuits sure to be launched by the radicals at THE Delaware Riverkeeper…
    Read More “PennEast Spins FERC Delay as a Good Thing – Optimism or Denial?”

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    Hypocrites Protest “Fracked Gas Infrastructure” in Hudson Valley

    We spotted a story from the Hudson Valley area of New York State–close enough to New York City that it’s infested with anti-drilling liberals–that caught our attention for a couple of reasons. It’s a story of about a protest held yesterday in Peekskill, NY. The protest was against Spectra Energy’s work on their Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) pipeline project. From all appearances, four protesters showed up for the protest–and yet it got big news treatment. Most Sundays there are more than four people who show up at MDN HQ for lunch (when our kids come home to visit). The local newspaper hasn’t ever shown up to cover these momentous (for the Willis household) events. Perhaps if we held up a big banner outside that says “Welcome Home Children” the local news outlets would arrive and cover it? But we digress. The other aspect of the story that caught our attention is the admission by one of the protesters that they not only oppose the AIM project–they oppose all “fracked gas infrastructure” projects. She is demanding that NY “transition to safe, clean, renewable energy, which is wind, water and solar.” That is, the protesters are animated and motivated by an irrational hatred of all fossil fuels. How did the protesters arrive at their protest? Driving cars that burn fossil fuels riding on tires made from petroleum products and sitting on seats made from plastic (a petroleum product) wearing clothes on their bodies and shoes on their feet made from petroleum products. Holding up signs objecting to…petroleum products…
    Read More “Hypocrites Protest “Fracked Gas Infrastructure” in Hudson Valley”

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    ‘Wackos in the Trees’ Protest Continues in Huntingdon County, PA

    Yesterday we told you about a Big Green effort to stop tree clearing for the Mariner East 2 pipeline in Huntingdon County, PA–about a young woman who climbed 40 feet up a tree to sit in a tree house so crews could not cut down the trees around her (see PA Anti Literally Goes Up a Tree to Stop Mariner East 2 Pipeline). She’s still “up a tree.” Looks like her publicity stunt worked because starting today crews can’t legally cut any more trees for fear of hurting an Indiana bat. (We say it’s more than bats that are batty in Huntingdon County.) The young woman’s mother, who happens to own the property and the trees, was arrested approaching the cutting crews (after being told by a judge to stay away) because, she says, she feared they would cut a tree close to her blithering idiot daughter and hurt her. There’s also another nutter up a tree on the property. Even though the tree climbers prevented harvesting of a few trees, Sunoco Logistics, the builder of the pipeline, says it’s no big deal–they got almost all of the trees cut they needed to and come fall it won’t take long to nip the last few. Here’s how anti-drilling PBS (funded in part with taxpayer dollars) reported the ongoing “tree-sit,” as they call it…
    Read More “‘Wackos in the Trees’ Protest Continues in Huntingdon County, PA”