FERC Begins Enviro Reviews for 2 Key Southeast Pipeline Projects
Two major Kinder Morgan pipeline projects that will flow Marcellus/Utica molecules in the southeastern U.S. have taken a big step forward at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The two projects are Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Mississippi Crossing (MSX) Project and Southern Natural Gas/Elba Express’ South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) Project. The 2.1-Bcf/d MSX and 1.3-Bcf/d SSE4 projects will move more Marcellus/Utica gas into Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina (see Kinder Morgan Projects to Boost Deep South Access to M-U Gas). FERC announced last week that the agency is now working on an environmental impact statement (EIS) for both projects, inviting comments on environmental issues that may affect them. Read More “FERC Begins Enviro Reviews for 2 Key Southeast Pipeline Projects”
Earlier this week, NextDecade Corporation announced it had reached a final investment decision (FID) to move forward with construction of Train 4 at its Rio Grande LNG export facility in Brownsville, Texas, within the Port of Brownsville. Rio Grande LNG is being developed on a 984-acre site along the Brownsville Ship Channel, approximately 3 miles east of Port Isabel. The expected LNG production capacity of Train 4 is 6 MTPA (million tonnes per annum, which translates to roughly 0.8 Bcf of natural gas used per day), bringing total expected LNG production capacity under construction at Rio Grande LNG to approximately 24 MTPA (3.2 Bcf/d). 
According to the Financial Times (of London), the world’s biggest oil and gas companies are cutting jobs, slashing costs, and scaling back investments at the fastest pace since the coronavirus market collapse, as executives brace for a prolonged period of lower crude prices. The reason for the cuts is low oil prices, which FT says have hit the U.S. shale industry “particularly hard.” There is no denying that the price has steadily sunk to new lows each month over the past year. However, we now appear to be entrenched in the $60s, although that could change. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Glenfarne, Gunvor sign 20-year LNG supply deal as project nears investment decision; NATIONAL: Oil rises on Trump warning to Russia; U.S. natural gas settles lower ahead of storage data; Congressional hearing highlights how natgas is key to energy affordability; Dessler “unhinged” at CO2/Climate Optimism Report (“doomism” under siege); Phillips 66 considers buying US LNG, hires staff in new push; INTERNATIONAL: Norway premier holds fast to fossil fuels; Does OPEC want a price war?; IEA prepares to walk back predictions of peak oil and gas demand; Bangladesh becomes LNG’s hottest story; China starts buying US-sanctioned Russian gas, defying Trump. 
Two weeks ago, Marietta, OH, officials, including the city’s Republican mayor, law director, water superintendent, and a majority of city council members, asked the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Oil and Gas Chief Eric Vendel to deny a permit application from DeepRock Disposal Solutions for the Stephan #1 injection well, which would be the company’s fifth injection well in the area (see 
It took eight years and untold legal fees (on both sides) before a tiny 3.4-mile, 8-inch natural gas pipeline under the Potomac River was finally built and went online in July (see 
Despite a “public outcry” (of 13 people), the Chesapeake City (Virginia) Council voted 6-3 in July to approve a compressor station for Virginia Natural Gas (see 
Newly elected Republican Congressman Rob Bresnahan defeated incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright in last November’s election to represent Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, located in the northeastern corner of the state. Bresnahan hit the ground running, particularly in addressing energy issues. His district includes Wayne and Pike counties, where landowners have had their right to drill for natural gas seized by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Bresnahan introduced a bill in June that would heighten DRBC accountability and oversight. We call it putting the DRBC on a short leash (see 
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its latest monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) yesterday. The STEO is the agency’s monthly best guess about where energy prices and production will head in the next 12 months. In this latest assessment, EIA dropped its estimates for the Henry Hub spot price for 2025, again. The agency expects the HH spot price to average $3.50 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025, $0.10 lower than last month’s forecast (and $0.20 below the prediction from two months ago). EIA kept its 2026 forecast the same, predicting the gas price will average $4.30/MMBtu. 
Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new guidance (a relaxation of regulations) to streamline its New Source Review (NSR) permitting process. The relaxed regs are designed to accelerate the construction of essential power generation and manufacturing facilities. EPA’s action provides flexibility to begin certain building activities that are NOT related to air emissions, such as installing cement pads, before obtaining a Clean Air Act (CAA) construction permit. More common-sense solutions from the Trump administration to address a completely screwed up regulatory state. 
The International Gas Union (IGU), Snam, and Rystad Energy partnered (as they have in the past) to produce and release the annual Global Gas Report 2025 (full copy below). Natural gas demand rose globally by 78 billion cubic meters (1.9%) in 2024, reaching 4,122 billion cubic meters (bcm), and is expected to continue growing in 2025 by 71 bcm (1.7%), according to the report. Observed trends suggest global energy demand is expected to follow an upward trajectory over the next decade, especially leading up to 2030. Power consumption is expected to surge in China and India, thus driving an increase in natural gas demand, positioning Asia as the key driver of global energy demand, supported by growth in North America. 
Last November, Williams officially filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build an expansion of its mighty Transco pipeline system in the southeastern U.S., a project called the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (see 
We have a second “producer does a deal to buy (not sell) LNG” story today. ConocoPhillips, a huge oil-focused driller, announced a deal to buy 1.0 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Rio Grande LNG project. How does this news tie into the Marcellus/Utica? It doesn’t do so directly, but it does so indirectly. First, this deal shows that EQT is not the only driller to move into the role of LNG trader. Others are now doing it, too. A trend? Second, EQT signed its own deal with Rio Grande for 1.0 MTPA of LNG just last week (see