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!
Under Construction Pipelines: Outlook 2023 by Rextag
According to Globaldata, 196,130km of planned and announced trunk oil and gas pipelines are anticipated to become operational globally between 2023 and 2030. This consists of 113,099km of planned pipelines that have identified development plans, and 83,031km of early-stage announced pipelines currently under conceptual study, expected to receive development approval. Based on Global Energy Monitor's 2023 data, Africa and the Middle East account for 49% of the global oil transmission pipeline construction, valued at US$25.3 billion. The report indicates these regions are currently constructing 4,400 km of pipelines with an investment of US$14.4 billion. There are plans for an additional 10,800 km at an approximate cost of US$59.8 billion.
Grand Prix Pipeline Will Be Completely Owned by Targa: To Buy Remaining Stake For $1.05 Billion
On January 3, Targa Resources Corp asserted that it is purchasing the remaining stake for $1.05 billion in cash from BlackstoneInc's energy unit in its Grand Prix NGL Pipeline that it does not already own. Targa, which is going to acquire a 25% stake from Blackstone Energy Partners, purchased 75% interest in the pipeline last year when it repurchased interests in its development company joint ventures from investment firm Stonepeak Partners LP for almost $925 million. The Stonepeak agreement also included 100% interest in its Train 6 fractionator in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and a 25% equity interest in the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline. Grand Prix has the capacity to transfer up to 1 MMbbl/d of NGL to the NGL market hub at Mont Belvieu. The same day Targa maintained the price of the Blackstone Energy Partners agreement, which is anticipated closing in the first quarter of 2023, representing roughly 8.75 times Grand Prix's valued 2023 adjusted EBITDA multiple.
Ensign’s Assets Are Acquired by Marathon for $3 Billion
Marathon Oil Corp. closes the acquisition of Ensign Natural Resources’ Eagle Ford assets for $3 billion cash, according to the company’s release on December 27. The purchase includes 130,000 net acres (99% operated, 97% working interest) in acreage adjacent to Marathon Oil’s existing Eagle Ford position. Ensign’s estimated fourth-quarter production will average 67,000 net boe/d, including 22,000 net bbl/d of oil.
Williams Buys MountainWest Pipeline System for $1.5 Billion
On December 15, Pipeline giant Williams made a deal to purchase MountainWest Pipelines Holding Co. from Southwest Gas Holdings Inc. for almost $1.5 billion including debt. Williams is paying $1.07 billion in cash and assuming $0.43 billion of debt to buy MountainWest, which comprises approximately 2,000 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline systems mainly situated across Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Shell's Midstream Assets in TX and LA (Gulf area)
On October 19, Shell USA completed the almost $1.96 billion acquisition of the master limited partnership. The company paid $15.85 in cash for every common unit representing limited partner interests in SHLX not held by Shell USA or its affiliates. A subsidiary of Shell USA has 269,457,304 SHLX common units or roughly 68.5% of SHLX common units.
Earthstone Expands Due to Acquisition of Titus’ Delaware
Earthstone Energy Inc., based in Texas, announced the transaction on June 28: the acquisition of Titus Oil&Gas which will raise production in the Delaware Basin by 26%. The $627 million acquisition fills the Permian Basin in Eddy and Lea counties, N.M. with 86 net locations on 7,900 net acres of leasehold, while it is not clear how much of the leasehold might be on federal acreage It is Earthstone’s seventh acquisition since 2021, a span that includes the closing of approximately $1.89 billion in acquisitions in the Permian Basin. The purchase of Titus Oil & Gas Production LLC and Titus Oil & Gas Production II LLC, privately held companies backed by NGP Energy Capital Management LLC, is estimated at $575 million in cash and it is the equivalent of $52 million in stock (3.9 million shares of its Class A common stock based on the June 24 closing price). Titus shared that its net production in June was 31,800 boe/d. The company had reserves of approximately 28.9 MMboe. Earthstone is sure its net production will increase, at the midpoint, by 20,500 boe/d (65% oil) in the fourth quarter.
Potential Deal for $5 Billion: Tug Hill and Quantum Energy Seek Sale
Undisclosed industry sources said that THQ Appalachia I LLC (Tug Hill and Quantum Energy) is seeking a sale of the U.S. natural gas producer for more than $5 billion, including debt. Mainly operating in the Marshall and Wetzel counties in West Virginia, THQ Appalachia has net production of around 760 MMcf/d. Despite volatility in commodity markets which has made the valuation of energy producers tougher, THQ Appalachia is anticipating more than $5 billion due to the worth of its existing production and the possible value of its undeveloped acreage, the sources said on June 17. Additionally to purchasing THQ Appalachia, possible bidders in the sale process also have the opportunity to buy XcL Midstream, the pipeline firm that moves the company’s gas to market and has the same CEO as in Tug Hill. If the same buyer chooses to purchase XcL, the deal consideration will increase further. However, the anonymous sources admitted that the sale depends on the market conditions and is not guaranteed since Tug Hill and Quantum could ultimately decide to retain some or all of THQ Appalachia and XcL’s assets. Tug Hill and Quantum refused to comment on these statements and XcL did not respond to a comment request.
Crude oil pipelines in North America: a current perspective
Being the main means of transferring crude oil around the world, pipelines rapidly route oil and its derivative products (gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil, and heavier fuel oils) to refineries and empower other businesses. The U.S. and Canada solely make North America a major oil hub for more than 90,000 miles of crude oil and petroleum product pipelines, which are connected to more than 140 refineries daily processing about 20 million barrels of oil. Compared to 2010, U.S. crude oil production has increased more than twice: from 5.4 to 11.5 million barrels a day. Therefore, newly produced oil obliged energy companies to expand their pipeline networks, but it has only increased by 56%. According to the latest data, Plains manages the largest pipeline network across the U.S. and Canada (its diameter is at least 10 inches) which is the 14,919-mile network that spans from the northwestern tip of Alberta down to the southern coasts of Texas and Louisiana. The place where all these various spreading pipeline networks carry crude oil is refineries, where it is transformed into different petroleum products. Gulf Coast (PADD 3) possesses several refineries with the largest throughput in North America that process more than 500,000 barrels per day. Not only does the development of new pipelines give a plethora of opportunities for economic growth but also it remains a contentious issue in Canada and the U.S., with the cancellation of the KeystoneXL pipeline emblematic of growing anti-pipeline sentiment. In 2021, only 14 petroleum liquids pipeline construction plans were completed in the U.S., which is considered the lowest amount of new pipelines and expansions ever since 2013. Anti-pipeline sentiment did not come out unexpectedly as leaks and spills in just the last decade have resulted in billions of dollars of damages. From 2010 to 2020, the Pipelineand Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reported 983 incidents that resulted in 149,000 spilled and unrecovered barrels of oil, even five fatalities, 27 injuries, and more than $2.5B in damages.
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.
Pine Wave Energy and Silver Hill Reached an Agreement Over Haynesville Assets — Deal is Sealed
Looks like Pine pulled the plug on its properties in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and Harrison and Panola counties, Texas. Which includes a total of 12,500 acres and ownership interests in 10 operated wells with a production capacity of 100 million cubic feet per day along with 18 miles of naturalgas gathering pipelines. Did Pine just give up on Haynesville?
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 for TC Energy in Midwest US to cost $800 million
TC Energy splurged $0.8 billion on the project that targets emissions. Well, sorta. According to the idea, existing lines of the ANR Pipeline Company will be expanded to serve markets in the #Midwestern US and simultaneously updated to reduce discharge by 30,000 metric tons CO2e per year - equivalent to removing almost 7000 cars from the road annually. Remarkable goals. With the current timeline, the project will be fully operational by the end of 2025, thanks to long-term transportation agreements secured by ANR.
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.