(Atlanta, TX) PowerTeam Services announced recently to buy two subsidiaries of Houston's CenterPoint Energy Inc. for $850 million.

PowerTeam will buy CenterPoint's Miller Pipeline and Minnesota Limited units, which provide underground pipeline construction and repair services. 

"The sale is a key achievement in our ongoing strategic focus to strengthen our balance sheet and improve our business risk profile and earnings quality pursuant to increased relative contribution of our core utility businesses," Scott Prochazka, president and CEO of CenterPoint Energy, said in a statement.

"PowerTeam's combination with Miller Pipeline and Minnesota Limited creates a powerful platform with nationwide scale to continue to safely and reliably serve customers, provide enhanced career opportunities for employees, and capitalize on significant growth opportunities in the utility and energy infrastructure industry," said Brian Palmer, CEO of PowerTeam, who will serve as CEO of the combined company.

(Houston, TX) — ExxonMobil Corporation filed an application on Jan. 13 with the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council to construct and operate the LaBarge Carbon Capture Project approximately 33 miles northeast of Kemmerer beginning in August.

The company plans to build a fully operational carbon-capture, sales and disposal project adding equipment at the Shute Creek Gas Plant in Lincoln County, and at the CO2 Sales Facility in Sweetwater County, constructing a CO2 disposal well in Lincoln County and building a 9-mile CO2 pipeline in Lincoln County.

The Shute Creek Gas Plant and CO2 Sales Facility are on ExxonMobil property and the CO2 disposal well and pipeline will be located on Bureau of Land Management property. Construction is anticipated to begin the third quarter of 2020 and be completed by the end of 2022. Construction manpower is anticipated to peak at an estimated 388 workers in August and September 2021.

A hearing regarding the application is scheduled for April 9 in Kemmerer.

Monthly average employment for construction jobs is expected to peak at 388. The project, once completed, is expected to have 11 permanent full-time jobs.

(Tulsa, OK) — Vacuworx is pleased to announce an increased presence in the Gulf Coast area with the promotion of Paul Raines from Production Manager to Regional Service Manager.

Raines is a service-oriented professional with the technical know-how, problem-solving abilities and organizational skills to ensure the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Factory trained and certified to inspect, service and repair all makes and models of Vacuworx lifting equipment, he has been strategically deployed north of San Antonio as Vacuworx anticipates current and future needs tied to growth potential in South and West Texas and throughout the Gulf Coast region.

Raines’ new role revolves around first-call resolution as he responds to service inquiries and provides front-line support to Vacuworx customers calling in over the phone and operating in both the oil and gas pipeline and construction-related fields. His primary duties include troubleshooting and resolving any service-related issues in a time-sensitive manner, at the same time performing safety checks and calibrating equipment for optimal performance.

Raines started his career with Vacuworx in 2007, and worked four years in the machine shop helping develop a plug-and-play wiring harness allowing for quicker coupling with host equipment. From there, he was deployed to take service calls in the field and later back in the shop as his range of responsibilities grew. For the past two years, he has been focused on managing new assemblies of Vacuworx lifting systems, from the heavy-duty RC Series to the compact and versatile PS 1 and SL 2.

“This position will allow us to answer more service calls in an even shorter amount of time,” said Justin Hendricks, General Manager. “The amount of time it takes for a technician to reach the job site will be decreased exponentially. In turn, we are creating more positive experi- ences to develop lasting relationships with customers who have zero room for any downtime.”

“By increasing our overall mobility, we can be more responsive to our customers in Texas, the Permian Basin and throughout the Gulf Coast region,” said Randy Hayes, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Accounts. “It is all part of our aim to offer a world-class experience. Having a local presence from a service perspective is a definite competitive advantage.”

(Houston, TX) Air Products recently announced its largest-ever investment in the United States in winning a long-term onsite business model supply agreement for a project with Gulf Coast Ammonia (GCA) in Texas City, Texas. Air Products will build, own and operate (BOO) its largest-ever steam methane reformer (SMR) to produce hydrogen which will be connected to and extend, to approximately 700 miles, its existing and the world’s-largest hydrogen pipeline system in the Gulf Coast; BOO an air separation unit (ASU) to supply nitrogen; and will own and operate a steam turbine generator to supply power and other utilities to GCA’s new world-scale ammonia production plant. 

“This is an exciting project that we are very proud to have won. When all facets of this project are combined, it sets a new high for Air Products’ investment—$500 million—for one project in the United States. This project will showcase Air Products’ core strengths and capabilities supplying hydrogen from an SMR and nitrogen from an ASU, and leverages our core industrial gas strengths in many ways,” said Seifi Ghasemi, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Air Products. 

Ghasemi added, “In addition to this being our largest-ever U.S. investment, the project also sets other Air Products’ milestones. It will feature the largest SMR we have ever built and will operate, the largest per-day amount of hydrogen supplied to a single customer under one contract, and it increases the size and supply capacity of Air Products’ extensive hydrogen pipeline system in the Gulf Coast, which is the world’s largest. This is all successfully combined under a long-term contract for a project located in the United States.”  

“The project will meet or exceed all industry standards for the safe production of ammonia, applies world-class technology in production and storage, and will be the largest single train ammonia synthesis loop in the world when completed. We look forward to working with Air Products as a reliable, long-term supplier of high-quality feedstock to our facility,” said Ken Koye, president and chief executive officer of GCA. “GCA is investing $600 million in Texas City and creating new employment opportunities for Galveston County residents in the Texas City Reinvestment Zone.”

The pipeline segment of the project, which will transport hydrogen to Texas City, is targeted for onstream in the second half of 2021, with the remainder of the facilities expected to be in commercial operation in early 2023.

The approximately 175 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) SMR will include the addition of over 30 miles of hydrogen pipeline from Texas City to Baytown, to be connected to Air Products’ Gulf Coast Pipeline system. The GCA project will use approximately 270 mmscfd of hydrogen from the SMR and Gulf Coast Pipeline. The hydrogen production plant will feature the latest technology to maximize energy efficiency and reduce emissions and includes optimal heat integration, which in turn lowers feedstock consumption. The plant configuration and deployed technologies support Air Products’ sustainability goals of reducing energy consumption and emissions.

(Houston, TX) As President, Mr. Collins will assume day-to-day leadership of CECO Pipeline Services.

Mr. Collins is a seasoned leader with significant experience working in the oil & gas industry, operating efficiently at scale, and delivering value to shareholders.

Before joining CECO Pipeline Services, Mr. Collins held the role of VP, Construction Management with TRC Companies, Inc. He has also held senior and executive level positions for the last 30 years with various oil & gas related companies such as Universal Pegasus International, NextEra Energy Resources and Spectra Energy.

Mr. Collins holds an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

"We are excited to have Monty join our team at CECO Pipeline Services," stated Richard Hotze, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of CPSC. "His extensive leadership experience in the oil & gas sector and operational background will be of tremendous benefit, and his proven track record of delivering on production and costs will be invaluable as we advance the Company's business strategies."

(Denver, CO) Outrigger Energy II (“Outrigger”) announced recently that it has entered into a long-term definitive gas gathering and processing agreement with XTO Energy, Inc. (“XTO”) to service XTO’s production in Williams County, ND. The gathering system will comprise a 70-mile, 20- and 24-inch diameter, rich gas pipeline originating in eastern Williams County and terminating at a new 250 MMcfd cryogenic gas processing plant located west of Williston, ND. Plans are also underway for a plant expansion of up to an additional 200 MMcfd, for total gas processing capacity of 450 MMcfd.

Outrigger will construct, own and operate the cryogenic processing plant and gathering system. The high efficiency plant features ethane recovery and rejection capabilities that will provide direct market access to the Northern Border Pipeline system for residue gas and the ONEOK NGL pipeline system for natural gas liquids. Future NGL fractionation facilities may be added to provide finished NGL products for local markets.

Dave Keanini, Outrigger’s CEO, stated, “We are grateful XTO has entrusted Outrigger to build a gathering system with substantial capacity and state-of-the-art facilities that will assist XTO with execution of its significant development plans in Williams County. Routing of the gathering line will provide other Williston Basin operators access to much needed gathering and cryogenic processing capacity. Moreover, this additional midstream capacity for gas production north of the Missouri River allows the State of North Dakota to make strides towards its goal of minimizing gas flaring in the Basin. Over the last six years, the Outrigger team has achieved an excellent track record of project execution, safe and reliable operations and customer service in the Delaware, Midland, Powder River and DJ Basins, and we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to do the same in North Dakota.”

(Wall, NJ) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Adelphia Gateway project and affirmed the need for reliable pipeline infrastructure to serve constrained markets.

“We are pleased FERC approved the Adelphia Gateway project and issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity,” said Steve Westhoven, President and Chief Executive Officer of New Jersey Resources, the parent company of Adelphia Gateway. “This is a critical next step in our efforts to provide clean, low-cost natural gas to customers in the Greater Philadelphia region.”

The Adelphia Gateway project will convert 50 miles of an existing 84-mile pipeline from oil to natural gas. The northern 34 miles of the pipeline were previously converted to deliver natural gas in 1996. After the purchase of Interstate Energy Company and the existing pipeline from Talen Generation, LLC are finalized, the northern zone will continue to operate to serve two natural gas-fired generation facilities in Lower Mount Bethel Township, PA. Once all the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, work to convert the lower 50 miles of the pipeline from oil to natural gas will begin.

Adelphia Gateway currently expects work to be complete and the project to be placed into service in 2020. The natural gas supply delivered through the Adelphia Gateway pipeline will serve customers in the Greater Philadelphia area and is estimated to provide economic benefits of approximately $677 million over the first 15 years it is in service.

The pipeline will supply natural gas to Kimberly-Clark’s mill in Chester, PA, enabling the global personal care company to replace its existing on-site coal-fired co-generation power plant. By switching to a natural gas-fired generation power plant, Kimberly-Clark expects to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from the facility by 50 percent.

(Columbus, OH) -- Columbia Gas is proposing construction on a new $135 million pipeline to be built in central Ohio.

The company says a new supply of gas is needed in order to keep providing reliable service to old and new customers in the region.

The project, which is called the Columbus Northern Loop project, is designed to bring natural gas from pipelines east of where supplies are plentiful to areas north and west of Columbus.

The company says several other recent projects have already been finished, which have set the stage for the Northern Loop project.

A company spokesperson says the project will cost $135 million, but could not offer any further breakdown regarding exact costs, stating that the project is in the early planning stages.

The final phase is currently in the planning stages and will run from southern Delaware County to southwest Union County, where it will connect to the existing gas distribution system.

Another part of the initiative, called the Marysville Connector project, is designed to bring natural gas to Union County.

Columbia Gas says it will meet with property owners, public officials and other community members during the construction.

Crews are planning to conduct land surveys and meet with property owners to gather information regarding where the new line could be located.

In using this information, the company will develop several possible routes for the pipeline.

Members of the public will have the chance to review the plans and offer input that will help decide the final route.,

The company says it hopes to have approval for the complete project secured by 2021. Construction would start in 2022 and the gas lines would go into service sometime during that same year.

(Virginia Beach, VA) More natural gas infrastructure may be on the way in Virginia as plans move forward for a major new plant in Charles City County.

Privately financed natural gas plant known as C4GT is driving a recent application by Virginia Natural Gas to construct 24.1 new miles of pipeline, build two new compressor stations and expand an existing facility in Ladysmith.

The new infrastructure, said Virginia Natural Gas media relations manager Rick DelaHaya, is “required for Virginia Natural Gas to meet its legal obligation to provide the facility a pathway to source clean and reliable natural gas.”

(Wall, NJ) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Adelphia Gateway project and affirmed the need for reliable pipeline infrastructure to serve constrained markets.

"We are pleased FERC approved the Adelphia Gateway project and issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity," said Steve Westhoven, President and Chief Executive Officer of New Jersey Resources, the parent company of Adelphia Gateway. "This is a critical next step in our efforts to provide clean, low-cost natural gas to customers in the Greater Philadelphia region."

The Adelphia Gateway project will convert 50 miles of an existing 84-mile pipeline from oil to natural gas. The northern 34 miles of the pipeline were previously converted to deliver natural gas in 1996. After the purchase of Interstate Energy Company and the existing pipeline from Talen Generation, LLC are finalized, the northern zone will continue to operate to serve two natural gas-fired generation facilities in Lower Mount Bethel Township, PA. Once all the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, work to convert the lower 50 miles of the pipeline from oil to natural gas will begin.

Adelphia Gateway currently expects work to be complete and the project to be placed into service in 2020.The natural gas supply delivered through the Adelphia Gateway pipeline will serve customers in the Greater Philadelphia area and is estimated to provide economic benefits of approximately $677 million over the first 15 years it is in service.

The pipeline will supply natural gas to Kimberly-Clark's mill in Chester, PA, enabling the global personal care company to replace its existing on-site coal-fired co-generation power plant. By switching to a natural gas-fired generation power plant, Kimberly-Clark expects to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from the facility by 50 percent.

The FERC process is designed to determine public convenience and necessity for the construction or extension of natural gas facilities. As part of the application review, FERC evaluates a variety of factors, such as market demand, environmental impact and safety. FERC Staff previously completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Adelphia Gateway project, citing its design poses no significant environmental impact and is the preferred path forward for the project.

A nearly 45-mile crude oil pipeline that would run from Memphis to Marshall County, Mississippi, is being proposed by a joint venture of Plains All American Pipeline and Valero Energy Corp.

The pipeline, named the Byhalia Connection, would connect two existing crude oil pipelines: the Diamond Pipeline that supplies the Valero Memphis Refinery with crude oil and the Capline Pipeline that runs between Illinois and the Gulf Coast.

The currently proposed route has the pipeline start near North Rivergate Road in South Memphis. It would then snake south into Mississippi and go east into the Hernando area. The pipeline would then cross Interstate 55 before traveling through DeSoto County and going into Marshall County, south of Collierville.

Karen Rugaard, manager of communications and public affairs for Plains All American Pipeline, said the proposed route comes after months of discussions with local leaders and landowners, but added that it could change. Byhalia will hold open houses about the pipeline starting in January.

“We feel good about this proposed route at this point in time,” Rugaard said.

Under Byhalia’s current project timeline, construction is slated to start in the second half of 2020. The pipeline would then be in service in the second half of 2021.

(Tuxpan, Mexico) Mexico plans to shortly launch a young for the development of a pure gasoline pipeline between the Tuxpan port on the eastern coast to Cancun and Merida on the Yucatan peninsula, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at his common information convention recently.

The brand new pure fuel pipeline is aimed toward enhancing the electricity era within the standard vacationer cities within the space, together with Cancun, based on Mexico’s president.

Mexico’s pure gasoline demand rises with extra pure gasoline-fired energy vegetation; however, the nation’s fuel manufacturing cannot sustain with rising demand. Mexico imports loads of pure gasoline from the USA, with American pure fuel exports to Mexico at a record high.

(Wentzville, MO) MoGas is considering an expansion of the capacity of its natural gas pipeline system to approximately 200,000 dekatherms per day (Dt/day) from its current capacity of 125,000 Dt/day.

Based on the timing of required permitting and construction activities, MoGas expects that the natural gas pipeline expansion would be operational in the fourth quarter of 2020.

MoGas owns an approximately 263-mile FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipeline system serving the St. Louis area and central Missouri, which delivers natural gas to both investor-owned and municipal local distribution systems. MoGas has pipeline receipt and delivery interconnects with Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (REX), Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (PEPL) and Enable Mississippi River Transmission, LLC (MRT).

“We are conducting this open season to solicit shipper interest for firm transportation service to the MoGas MRT interconnect in the east, as well as delivery points in the western portion of our system. Through our receipt points, MoGas shippers have access to natural gas produced in the Rocky Mountain, Marcellus, Arkoma and Gulf Coast regions,” said Rick Kreul, President of MoGas Pipeline, LLC. “Depending on interest, MoGas may install a parallel pipeline, or ‘looping,’ in the northwestern part of our system to provide up to 75,000 dekatherms per day of additional capacity from the REX and PEPL interconnections. We are also open to discussions on further expansions of capacity at similar rates if shippers show interest.”

(Tulsa, OK) – Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.  announced today a supplemental open season to solicit additional commitments for transportation volume on the western leg of its refined petroleum products pipeline system in Texas. Binding commitments are due from interested customers by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Dec. 20, 2019.

Magellan is in the process of expanding the capacity of its west Texas refined products pipeline system to approximately 175,000 barrels per day (bpd) from its current capacity of 100,000 bpd. In addition, the partnership is currently building a new refined products terminal in Midland, Texas.

Based on the timing of current construction activities, Magellan expects both the west Texas refined products pipeline expansion and new Midland terminal to be operational in mid-2020.

Magellan’s west Texas pipeline system primarily transports gasoline and diesel fuel to demand centers in Abilene, Midland/Odessa and El Paso, Texas as well as New Mexico. The pipeline system also can access markets in Arizona and Mexico via connections to third-party pipelines.

Subject to the results of the supplemental open season launched today, Magellan is considering the addition of another 25,000 bpd of capacity on the west Texas pipeline, for a total capacity up to 200,000 bpd, which could be operational by the end of 2021.

Citing growth and the need for additional space, Bass Engineering has built and moved into a 24,000-square-foot building in Longview, TX. The company, which provides cathodic protection services and materials to oil and gas pipeline production companies, among other industries, had been at 3200 Brentwood Rd., for more than 50 years. The company relocated to 5944 Lou Galosy Way on Nov. 1, 2019.

The new headquarters has enough space for the company’s employees, as well as classrooms for continuing education on pipeline compliance, among other topics. The property offers an outdoor lab equipped with buried pipelines and cathodic protection equipment, to provide hands-on training. Also included are retail space for customers and a drive-through warehouse.

Changes to the proposed route of a major north-south natural gas pipeline that will pass through eastern Avoyelles Parish has extended the period for public comments. The path in Avoyelles brings the pipeline through the Simmesport, Odenburg and Woodside areas along the Atchafalya River basin. Currently, there are at least two other pipelines in Avoyelles, one in Ward One/Fifth Ward and another in Bunkie.

With new drilling techniques there are more productive natural gas wells in the United States, resulting in the need for more pipelines to feed into the new natural gas international distribution center in Lake Charles.

Property owners and other concerned citizens must submit their comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by Nov. 15. Those who commented prior to the changes do not need to refile their comments.

The Delta Express Pipeline will begin in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana and pass through all or parts of Franklin, Catahoula, Concordia, Avoyelles, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes.

The project involves the construction of a liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Plaquemines Parish and two parallel 42-inch-diameter pipelines in a 285-mile-long right of way through the 14 affected parishes.

A FERC informational packet notes that most proposed route changes are less than a half mile from the original route with the largest change being about two miles to the west in Richland Parish.

The FERC release noted that newly affected landowners may have already been contacted by Delta LNG.

(College Station, TX) – Advanced Geodetic Surveys, Inc. of Damon, TX is among the top 100 companies from around the world selected for the 15th annual Aggie 100 which honors the fastest-growing companies owned or operated by former students of Texas A&M University. AGS was recognized as number 26 with a compound annual growth rate of 68.26%. The Aggie 100 is founded and sponsored by the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University.

AGS has been providing its clients with unparalleled value and service since 1991.  A leader in the survey equipment sales and rental industry, AGS has found success by continuing to put client needs and quality of service above all else.  President of AGS Todd Traylor, a 1991 A&M graduate, gives credit to the entire AGS team for building a family-like atmosphere that creates customer loyalty.  “Our team goes out of their way to put customers first, which has allowed us to become one of the fastest-growing companies in our industry.  We are appreciative to the McFerrin Center of Entrepreneurship for recognizing the hard work that owner PJ Meyers has been doing for years, and for naming AGS to the Aggie 100.  We are also appreciative to our customers that value the quality service and competitive advantages we offer them.”  In addition to Traylor, AGS is also represented by fellow Aggie Doug Arnold, Class of 2009, who serves as an Account Manager.

The 100 Aggie-owned companies with the highest compound annual revenue growth from 2016 to 2018 were recognized at a formal celebration at the Hall of Champions at Texas A&M University’s Kyle Field on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. The honorees were joined in celebration by family, friends, employees, faculty, administrators, current students, and fellow entrepreneurs.

“As we mark the 15th Crystal Anniversary of the Aggie 100 program, we celebrate our success by raising up the newest class of Aggie 100 honorees. Knowing how each member company of the Class of 2019 has overcome their own adversities to reach astounding levels of growth and prosperity, we dedicate this significant milestone to the excellence exhibited by our newest additions to the Aggie 100 family” said Blake Petty, Director of the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship.

(SAN ANTONIO, TX) EPIC Crude Holdings, LP announced that it is opening a third Open Season for its EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline (the “Crude Oil Pipeline”). The Open Season will commence at 8 AM CDT on October 28, 2019 and will end on December 17, 2019 at 5 PM CST. The Crude Oil Pipeline successfully closed its first Open Season on July 26, 2018 and its second Open Season on September 28, 2018.

The Crude Oil Pipeline runs parallel to the EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline (the “Y-Grade Pipeline”) that extends from Orla, Texas to the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas and includes terminals in Orla, Saragosa, Crane, Wink, Midland, Upton, Hobson and Gardendale, with connectivity to the Corpus Refining market as well as multiple terminals in the Port of Corpus Christi for export access. The Crude Oil Pipeline services the Delaware, Midland and Eagle Ford Basins.

EPIC began interim crude operations in August, utilizing the 24-inch Y-Grade Pipeline, which can ship up to 400 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBbl/d) and stretches from Crane, Texas to terminals in Corpus Christi and Ingleside. Once the planned 30-inch Crude Oil Pipeline is completed in Q1 of 2020, EPIC will have initial capacity to transport 600 MBbl/d. The Crude Oil Pipeline is expandable to transport up to 900 MBbl/d.

The EPIC Crude Export Dock in Corpus Christi is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019 and will be capable of loading Aframax tankers that carry up to 750 MBbl. Additionally, EPIC is constructing a second crude export dock to be complete by the third quarter of 2020 and with a capability of loading Suezmax tankers that carry up to 1,000 MBbl.

(Casper, WY) Bridger Pipeline LLC has launched a dedicated website for information about its planned expansion across three states. The site, www.bridgerexpansion.com went live last week.The website has information on the proposed expansion in Wyoming, North Dakota and Montana and includes preliminary route maps, contact information for landowners, FAQs, and a link for the public, media and public officials to ask questions of the company. Bridger Pipeline is expanding in Wyoming with a 20-inch crude oil pipeline from Hulett to Guernsey. The new pipeline in Wyoming will be called “Equality” and run about 191 miles.

The expansion in North Dakota and Montana is a 16-inch crude oil pipeline from Johnson Corner, ND to Baker, MT. The new line will be called “South Bend” and run about 137 miles.

The Equality Pipeline is scheduled to be operational in the third quarter of 2020. The South Bend Pipeline is scheduled to begin operations in mid-2021.