Oil/Gas Pipelines
U.S. Court Cancels Permit for Keystone XL
The Keystone XL pipeline project suffered another setback after a U.S. court ruled against a key permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowing new energy pipelines to cross bodies of water.
Court Rulings Enhance Canadian Pipeline Outlook
Two Canadian court rulings since the start of the year may go a long way toward breaking bottlenecks that have stalled pipeline construction and expansion projects over the past decade.
Underground Construction and Related Industries Respond to Coronavirus
While much of North America hunkers down to wait out the coronavirus pandemic, essential workers at companies throughout the underground construction industry are continuing to deliver vital services to customers.
TC Energy Proceeds with Keystone XL After Alberta Commits $1.1 Billion
Construction on the Keystone XL pipeline could begin as early as this week after the Alberta government committed more than $1 billion to the project.
Phillips 66: Red Oak, Liberty, ACE Pipelines Deferred by Cost Cuts
Phillips 66 said the Red Oak Pipeline, Sweeny Frac 4 and Liberty Pipeline projects have all been deferred by cost-cutting efforts. A final investment decision on ACE Pipeline also was postponed.
Mariner East Pipeline Construction Suspended in Pennsylvania
New construction on the Mariner East pipeline project is being temporarily suspended after Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered all "non-life-sustaining businesses" in the state shut down as coronavirus cases continue to rise, Energy Transfer said.
Electro Scan Completes Trial Project for new Pipeline Inspection Technology
Electro Scan announced that it has completed a trial project of its new pipeline inspection technology with Sydney Water, Australia’s largest water utility.
HammerHead Unveils Small-Pipe Extractor, Installation Systems
HammerHead Trenchless is introducing a small-pipe extractor for removing old steel gas service lines and installing new plastic pipe in one step.
Corrosion Blamed for 2018 Canadian Pipeline Blast
An explosion and fire in 2018 along an Enbridge Inc natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia was caused by corrosion, Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said on Wednesday.
API Issues New Pipeline Safety and Sustainability Standard
The American Petroleum Institute (API) today issued a new standard for pipeline inspectors to enhance safety and sustainability during pipeline construction.
ONEOK to Expand Elk Creek Pipeline
ONEOK has announced plans to expand two of its natural gas pipelines by the end of Q1 2020, including the Elk Creek Pipeline.
Eversource to Acquire Columbia Gas of Massachusetts Assets for $1.1 Billion
Eversource Energy announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Massachusetts natural gas assets of Columbia Gas for $1.1 billion from NiSource.
Peru Gas Workers Unearth Centuries of History in Lima's Soil
For nearly two decades, workers for a company building gas lines across Peru’s capital have found themselves unearthing a treasure trove of history.
New Record for Gas Main Relining
With rehabilitation of a 620-foot-long segment of 42-inch-diameter gas main last summer, New Jersey contractor Progressive Pipeline Management (PPM) broke its own world record for the largest size natural gas pipe to be rehabilitated with Starline cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liner.
Ameren Illinois Plans Natural Gas Pipeline Upgrades
Ameren Illinois said it will replace 12 miles of aging natural gas pipeline in two Illinois locations for a combined cost of $64 million as part of its planned system upgrades around the state.
Texas Railroad Commission Adopts New Pipeline Safety Rules
The Railroad Commission (RRC) of Texas has adopted new natural gas pipeline safety rules regarding the type of natural gas distribution pipelines that are allowed to be installed.
INGAA President and Industry Veteran Don Santa Announces Retirement
After nearly two decades leading the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), Don Santa announced today that he will retire from the organization effective February 15, 2020.
2020 Outlook and Utility & Communications Construction Update
The United States construction market is steady and growing slightly amidst the second-longest period of sustained economic expansion since 1964. Despite fears of an impending slowdown, FMI Research projects that construction put-in-place will increase year-over-year by slightly less than 1 percent in 2019 (down from 3 percent in 2018).
Ohio Power Siting Board Approves Natural Gas Pipeline Route
The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has approved a route for Duke Energy’s Central Corridor natural gas pipeline following a review of the company’s application and hearings on the 14-mile project.
Minnesotans Show Support for Line 3 Pipeline Replacement
A grassroots organization supporting the Line 3 replacement project said it has helped generate comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) from nearly 7,500 people around the state who are in favor of the crude oil pipeline.
FERC Approves Chesapeake Utilities Pipeline Expansion
Chesapeake Utilities has announced that FERC has issued an order approving the Company's proposed Del-Mar Energy pipeline project.
Jesse Jackson Joins Push for Natural Gas Pipeline to Illinois Town
Not all pipeline activists are fighting against more construction. Rev. Jesse Jackson has joined local leaders in calling for extension of natural gas service to a low-income township south of Chicago.
Ohio Power Siting Board Approves Natural Gas Pipeline Route
The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has approved a route for Duke Energy’s Central Corridor natural gas pipeline.
New York Governor Threatens to Revoke National Grid License
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has given gas utility company National Grid 14 days to supply gas to over 1,100 customers or he will revoke the company’s license to operate.
Report Blames R.I. Winter Gas Outage on Low Pipe Pressure
Rhode Island public utilities regulators say a natural gas outage that affected more than 7,000 customers last winter was caused by low pressure in a pipeline.
New Jersey Gas Utility Pipeline Project Named Project of the Year
A $900 million gas main upgrade project responsible for upgrading over 500 miles of gas lines has been named as Project of the Year by the Project Management Institute - New Jersey Chapter.
City Hit By Explosions A Year Ago Sees Gas Leak, Evacuations
A gas leak forced the temporary evacuation last week of hundreds of residents from a Massachusetts city still reeling from a destructive series of gas explosions and fires a year ago.
Though Challenging, HDD Intersect Project is Effective Solution
Directionally drilled intersects – two drill units drilling pilot holes from opposite ends of a planned bore path that intersect – are not unusual today, but hardly could be described as routine. The complexities of an intersect and consequences of failure deter most horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors from entering this highly specialized market.
Lineal Delivers $3.9 Million Project to Camber Energy
Camber Energy's recently acquired Lineal Industries subsidiary has been awarded a new contract for reconstruction of a 2,000-foot section of natural gas pipeline in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Texas Implements New Pipeline Safety Regulations
Texas’ natural gas utilities need to be ready for two new state pipeline safety programs: filing incident reports within one-hour of an accident, and removing underground cast-iron pipe by Dec. 31, 2021, used for natural gas delivery to end-use customers.

- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes