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.