30 September 2014: Oil and gas industry announcements

CNG

Pennsylvania’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) board has approved a project seeking a private partner to develop clean burning compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling stations at public transit agencies around the state that would also provide public access to the facilities. Barry J. Schoch, PennDOT Secretary and P3 Board Chairman said, ‘this is a tremendous opportunity for PennDOT and its transit agency partners to team with the private sector to take advantage of the state’s natural gas resources, save money and improve our environment. This is another example of the options we now have to expand or improve services because Governor Corbett signed the P3 law.’

Through the project, the private partner will design, build, finance, operating and maintain CNG filling states at up to 37 transit facilities. Each fuelling site must provide access to CNG for public transit and other CNG vehicles alike. In addition, PennDOT will enter into a CNG supply contract with the selected partner as well as purchase agreements with each of the transit agencies. PennDOT would receive a portion of the fuel sales revenue, with the money being returned to transit agencies to assist with future capital projects. To kick off the project, PennDOT will release a Request for Qualifications to solicit interested parties and expects to invite qualified teams to submit proposals early next year. A project team could be selected in summer 2015.

DNV GL

To meet the growing demand in the region, DNV GL has now opened a new office in Malaysia. The official opening of the office coincided with the company’s celebration of a double milestone: 150 years of proud service history as a world leader in classification and technical assurance services and its first year as a newly merged company.

Elisabeth Torstad, CEO, DNV GL Oil & Gas said, ‘according to the OECD, growth in the emerging Asian economies is expected to be a robust 6.9% for the 2014 – 2018 period. Registering a 6.4% growth in Q2 of 2014, Malaysia has a well diversified economy, with major contributors coming from export driven service and manufacturing industries as well as the mining and agricultural sectors. The country is a key driver of offshore investments and is building substantial offshore infrastructure. Adopting strategies for sustainable development, the Malaysian government plans to develop an energy efficient, diversified and sustainable energy mix for the future. All of which offers a very positive outlook for DNV GL. We’ve been in Malaysia for over 30 years and our commitment stays firm.’

Dominion

Dominion has welcomed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval to site, construct, and operate the Cove Point LNG liquefaction and export project. Diane Leopold, President, Dominion Energy said, ‘we are pleased to receive this final approval that allows us to start constructing this important project that offers significant economic, environmental and geopolitical benefits. This order is based on more than two years of thorough, exhaustive analysis by FERC along with numerous other federal and state agencies. It also reflects a robust public input process. Dominion is dedicated to constructing a safe, secure, environmentally compatible and reliable export facility.’

Dominion must review and accept the order. Upon completion of that review, the company expects to file an implementation plant describing how it will comply with the conditions set forth in the order. Dominion expects to ask the FERC for a ‘Notice to Proceed’ at that time and plans to begin construction when the notice is received. This process, from Dominion review through FERC’s notice, is expected to take several weeks.

The construction of the export project, which is estimated to cost between US$ 3.4 billion and US$ 3.8 billion, will create thousands of skilled construction jobs, 75 permanent jobs and an additional US$ 40 million in annual tax revenue to Calvert County. Other economic benefits included millions of dollars of new revenues for Maryland and the federal government as well as a reduction in the nation’s trade deficit by billions of dollars annually.

Piedmont Natural Gas

The American Gas Association (AGA) has presented Piedmont Natural Gas Chairman, President and CEO, Thomas E. Skains with its 2014 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his many significant contributions to the natural gas industry. AGA, which represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver natural gas to more than 68 million customers throughout the US, presented the award to Skains at the association’s annual Executive Conference.

AGA President and CEO, Dave McCurdy described Skains as ‘a visionary industry leader whose commitment to fostering cohesion, collaboration and consensus has helped develop the most unified natural gas industry in decades. Tom’s dedicated service and leadership has advanced critical issues that have benefitted not just the natural gas industry and our customers but the nation as a whole, including raising awareness about the environmental and energy efficiency benefits of natural gas, assisting low income natural gas customers, and encouraging innovative rate designed that help enhance system integrity and expand natural gas service to more of America’s homes and businesses. We are honoured to present him with the 2014 AGA Distinguished Service Award.’

Edited from various press releases by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/30092014/oil-gas-industry-announcements-30-september/