Blog
Since days when shale oil and gas technologies were discovered, the U.S. energy industry has been evolving more rapidly than ever before. Many changes are amazing especially when you put them on an industry map. At Rextag not only do we keep you aware of major projects such as pipelines or LNG terminals placed in service. Even less significant news are still important to us, be it new wells drilled or processing plants put to regular maintenance.
Daily improvements often come unnoticed but you can still follow these together with us. Our main input is to “clip it” to the related map: map of crude oil refineries or that of natural gas compressor stations. Where do you get and follow your important industry news? Maybe you are subscribed to your favorite social media feeds or industry journals. Whatever your choice is, you are looking for the story. What happened? Who made it happen? WHY does this matter? (Remember, it is all about ‘What’s in It For Me’ (WIIFM) principle).
How Rextag blog helps? Here we are concerned with looking at things both CLOSELY and FROM A DISTANCE.
"Looking closely" means reflecting where exactly the object is located.
"From a distance" means helping you see a broader picture.
New power plant added in North-East? See exactly what kind of transmission lines approach it and where do they go. Are there other power plants around? GIS data do not come as a mere dot on a map. We collect so many additional data attributes: operator and owner records, physical parameters and production data. Sometimes you will be lucky to grab some specific area maps we share on our blog. Often, there is data behind it as well. Who are top midstream operators in Permian this year? What mileage falls to the share or Kinder Morgan in the San-Juan basin? Do you know? Do you want to know?
All right, then let us see WHERE things happen. Read this blog, capture the energy infrastructure mapped and stay aware with Rextag data!
Enbridge agreed to acquire the Tres Palacios gas storage facility in Texas for $335 million
Enbridge acquired Tres Palacios natural gas storage facility in Texas for $335 million, adding approximately 35 Bcf of natural gas storage to their portfolio. The facility uses salt caverns for storage and has a gas header pipeline system that spans 62 miles and links to 11 major gas pipelines. Crestwood Equity Partners LP intends to divest its interests in Tres Palacios by the second quarter.
U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines Infrastructure Overview by Rextag
The U.S. natural gas pipeline network is a complex system of pipelines that transport natural gas from production areas to consumers across the country. The pipeline network consists of three main types of pipelines: gathering pipelines, transmission pipelines, and distribution pipelines. Gathering pipelines are small-diameter pipelines that transport natural gas from production wells to processing facilities or larger transmission pipelines. Transmission pipelines are large-diameter pipelines that transport natural gas over long distances, sometimes across multiple states. Distribution pipelines operate at low pressure and are located in or near urban areas. They are often referred to as "utility pipelines" because they are typically owned and operated by local gas utility companies.
$5 Billion Returns for ConocoPhillips’ Shareholders as Prices Grow
Shareholder’s payout target was increased by 50% after the largest U.S. independent oil producer surpassed Wall Street’s earnings estimates on growing energy prices, said Houston-based Conoco Phillips Co. on Aug. 4. Due to Western sanctions on major producer Russia throttling energy supply amid a rebound in demand from pandemic lows, oil and gas #prices have soared. Crude has been trading more than 25% higher since the start of the year and results also benefited from high natural gas prices. Meanwhile, shares were down a fraction, to $91.03, in early trading but are up about 26% year to date. Conoco Phillips stated, that the average price obtained for a barrel of oil and gas accelerated 77% from a year earlier to $88.57. The company acknowledges that it has not hedged any of its oil and gas sales to make the most of higher market prices. The capacity of 1.69 million boe/d was in line with Wall Street estimates, however, the company expected the current quarter’s output would be between 1.71 million and 1.76 million boe/d.
Magellan Reported Volume Changes on Its LongHorn and BridgeTex Pipelines
According to a July 28 report, Magellan Midstream Partners LP stated that the volumes in the last quarter on the Longhorn and BridgeTex pipelines that carry crude from the Permian Basin to Houston dropped dramatically since shippers likely exported barrels, meanwhile, refined product volumes grew on pandemic demand recovery. Volumes on the 450-mile (724-km) Magellan’s wholly-owned Longhorn crude oil pipeline from West Texas to Houston averaged approximately 200,000 bbl/d in the three months ended June 30 in contrast with 260,000 bbl/d in the same period the year before. A joint venture, the BridgeTex crude pipeline from the Permian to Magellan’s East Houston terminal dropped to 215,000 bbl/d from virtually 315,000 bbl/d in the year-ago period. However, volumes on the most prominent common carrier refined products pipeline system in the U.S. increased 3% partly because of pandemic demand recovery. Income from oil storage plunged as a steeply risen-in-price market made holding barrels less attractive and following contract expirations while operating expenses grew $28 million.
Growing Export of US Crude Oil Is Expected to Set Record This Quarter
On 27 June, the analysts at Kpler spread the word that the exports of crude oil from the U.S. Gulf Coast could break a record 3.3 MMbbl/d this quarter as Europe has regard to U.S. crude which can outweigh sanctioned Russian oil. Due to Washington's decision to release 180 MMbbl of oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, U.S. exports have increased in the last three months, as it has flooded the domestic market. Exports to Europe are anticipated averaging approximately 1.4 MMbbl/d this quarter, about 30% higher than the year-ago quarter, meanwhile, export to Asia is set to decrease to less than 1 MMbbl/d. Despite that the U.S. has lost about 1 MMbbl/d of refining capacity since 2020, it also boosted exports thanks to the government’s intervention to back crude supplies which has had consequences in growth in exports. Throughput via the Port of Corpus Christi has grown by more than 150,000 bbl/d and has become 1.86 MMbbl/d. Nevertheless, Port of Houston exports also have been increasing since the third quarter of last year, they remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Inconvenient Time for Canadian Crude: US Gulf Coast Is Glutted
Canadian heavy crude, being deeply discounted for several years due to a lack of pipelines, is eventually trading like a “North American” grade, moving in tandem with U.S. sour crudes sold on the GulfCoast thanks to Enbridge’s expansion of its 3 pipeline late last year. Meanwhile, the Gulf is full of sour crude over Washington’s largest-ever release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) that will amount to 180 MMbbl during six months, trying to tame exorbitant fuel prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The market is flooded with millions of barrels of sour crude from storage caverns in Louisiana and Texas. At the world’s biggest heavy crude refining center, U.S. Gulf Coast, heavy grades like Mars and Poseidon are languishing. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, Canada exports around 4.3 MMbbl/d to the United States, whereas until last year demand to ship crude on export pipelines increased capacity, leaving barrels bottlenecked in Hardisty.
$690 Million Deal Moves Ahead: Crescent Energy to Complete Purchase of EP Energy's Uinta Assets
Crescent Energy closed the acquisition of Uinta Basin assets in Utah that were previously owned by EP Energy for $690 million, a few hundred million dollars below the original price. The accretive deal increases Crescent's Rockies position and adds significant cash flow and a portfolio of high-quality oil-weighted undeveloped sites. In addition to its acquired Uinta assets, Crescent's pro forma year-end 2021 provided reserves totaled 598 million boe, of which 83% was developed, 55% was liquid, and its provided PV-10 was $6.2 billion.
As Countries Shun Russian Crude, Canada Plans to Boost Its Oil Exports
Canada is looking at ways to increase pipeline utilization to boost crude exports as Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian oil At the moment, oil exports from Canada to the U.S. are approximately 4 million barrels of oil per day, with a portion reexported to other countries. At the end of 2021 Canadian oil companies exported a record amount of crude from the U.S. Gulf Coast, mostly to big importers India, China, and South Korea. And this will only increase in the future.
Major: Ameredev II Oil Producer to be Sold for $4 Billion by EnCap
In light of the conflict in Ukraine, buyout firms are currently scurrying to make cash from the U.S. crudeprices reaching their highest level since 2008. And one of the largest privately-owned US-based oilproducers may be up for sale. EnCap Investments looks to sell its portfolio company Ameredev II for over $4 billion including debt. It’s important to note, however, that both EnCap and Ameredev II alike are staying tight-lipped on the matter.
Continental Resources Raises Dividends Following a Quarter of Profit
The future of shale is looking bright: economic recovery and a spike in travel lifted oil prices to multi-year highs, helping Continental Resources to a fourth-quarter profit that exceeded Wall Street expectations. Coming off such a high note, the company plans to increase its dividend rates by 15% to 23 cents per share!
Delays Are Finally Over: Enbridge Reports Strong Third Quarter 2021
Enbridge Inc. finally delivered on several of its long-overdue promises, including the $4 billion Line3 Replacement project. Which consisted of replacing an existing 34-inch pipe with a new 36-inch one for 13 miles in North Dakota, 337 miles in Minnesota, and 14 miles in Wisconsin. Midstream companies, in general, had a stunning Q3. It was the first quarter in two years that no midstream index members cut their dividends.
Expansion Is The Goal: Ironwood II Completes Asset Merger And Assumes Management of Nuevo Midstream Dos’ Eagle Ford Assets
Ironwood Midstream expanded its operations in the Eagle Ford region through its merger with Nuevo Midstream. Thanks to this, Ironwood II has increased its crude oil and natural gas throughput capacities in the famous shale to approximately 400,000 bbl/d and 410 MMcf/d, respectively. With 390 miles of pipelines, the company manages 245,000 acres of dedicated land.
Restructuration is in a full-speed: Comstock to sell Bakken for $154 million
Comstock Resources decided to go through with asset divestment, selling its Bakken Shale actives for $150M to Northern Oil and Gas. The proceeds from these sales will be reinvested by Comstock Resources Inc. into the Haynesville Shale, at which point the company may acquire additional leasehold and fund drilling activities starting in 2022. Meanwhile, Northern clearly gunning for the pack leading position in the Texas shale play, but whether they succeed or not is remains to be seen.
There is a new guy on the block: Penn Virginia rebrands to Ranger Oil
Penn Virginia announced a rebranding to Ranger Oil on 6 Oct. following the close of the Lonestar acquisition. This Texas oil & gas giant reinvents itself anew, shifting its energy development in the lone star state towards safer and more efficient oil and gas operations. The company's consolidated assets now amount to over 140,000 net acres strategically positioned in the Eagle Ford play of south Texas, making it one of the biggest players. It is anticipated that the full rebranding will be complete by the year-end of 2021. For the full rundown of the situation visit our blog.
The growth of the U.S. oil and gas industry in 2022 will come from smaller companies and private businesses
Forecast: Bank of America expects to see a major bump in US crude oil production in 2022. Such growth from a non OPEC member will impact world oil market balances in times of tight supplies. Still, crude prices should hold well above $70/bbl next year and could, potentially, jump as high as $100/bbl. By 2022, oil output is expected to grow by 800,000 bbl/d, and more than half of that growth will come from #privately-held producers. For a more in-depth analysis of the forecast check out our blog.
A major U.S. shale oil producer is looking to start a land selloff in the lone star state
Pioneer Natural resources is looking to divest properties in the lone star state. According to Rextag, Pioneer’s Delaware assets on sale have a trailing 12 month production of just over 22 MBOE against a total Permian Basin production of almost 212 MBOE. (The sale, if it happens, will effectively lead to a 10% decrease of Pioneer’s asset base in terms of the previous year's production.)