Oil pipeline rates must be just and reasonable and may be challenged by their customer shippers and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA). FERC has observed through monitoring that some oil pipelines continue to receive rate increases under the primary process used to adjust oil pipeline rates – the … Continue reading
The reporting in late June of the Commerce Department’s private rulings that authorized two companies to export condensate has ignited discussions regarding the real prospect of changes in U.S. oil export policy. Industry participants reportedly have viewed the Commerce Department rulings as “a major opening for the U.S. energy industry, and not simply a technical tweak to … Continue reading
On June 18, 2014, the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources (“Committee”) passed in a 12-10 bi-partisan vote a bill that would approve TransCanada’s application to build Keystone XL pipeline, which has been pending government approval for years. A recent cause for further delay in the approval process sprang from the February 2014 Nebraska … Continue reading
U.S. HAS SECOND HIGHEST OIL/PETROLEUM LIQUIDS PRODUCTION IN 25+ YEARS: The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. Field Production of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products has been the highest since March 1986 in recent months. In March 1986, 10,664 million barrels/day were produced – in November 2013, 10,632 million barrels/day and in January 2014, 10,578 million … Continue reading
ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION FEBRUARY 2014 SHORT-TERM ENERGY OUTLOOK ANALYZES UNCERTAINTIES IN GLOBAL OIL & OTHER LIQUIDS SUPPLY: On February 11, 2014, the Energy Information Administration issued its February 2014 Short-Term Energy Outlook, including a Special Analysis Supplement titled “Uncertainties in the Short-Term Global Petroleum and Other Liquids Supply Forecast” which discusses the uncertainties underlying the … Continue reading
NC JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON ENERGY POLICY EXPLORES LNG AND IN-STATE OIL & GAS EXPLORATION: Among the issues addressed during the February 4, 2014 meeting of the North Carolina Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy were (1) the current state of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and facilities and (2) the progress of the NC Mining … Continue reading
The Dodd-Frank Act has significantly affected the energy industry, with the ultimate implications of the Act’s reforms remaining to be seen. Recent discussion has surrounded Section 1504’s requirement that companies disclose the type and total amount of payments made to foreign (and the U.S.) governments in connection with projects for the commercial development of … Continue reading
In the last several weeks, the European Union’s investigation into potential manipulation of oil benchmark pricing has illuminated the global impact of activity in the energy markets and related policy development. The EU investigation, headed by the European Commissioner for Competition, is looking into whether there has been coordinated and collusive manipulation of benchmark … Continue reading