A Federal Court of Appeals decision that effectively threw out government approval of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project has left the future of the project in limbo. The government of Canada, which as of August 31 is the owner of the Trans Mountain Pipeline, maintains that the expansion project will be built, but it remains uncertain as to when.
The result of a combined lawsuit involving First Nations groups, cities and others opposed to the expansion of the pipeline through British Columbia, the Court of Appeals decision found that the National Energy Board did not adequately consult First Nations during the approvals process. It also found that not enough consideration had been given to concerns regarding the impact of increased tanker traffic on marine mammals on the B.C. coast.
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau told reporters that the government was reviewing the decision, but that he expected to continue to push forward on the project. Morneau stated that the Liberal government inherited a flawed review process, and that the government needs to ensure the project proceeds in the right manner.
In response to the decision, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley declared that her province will withdraw from the federal climate plan until Trans Mountain moves forward.
"The combined result of the actions taken by the Harper government, the current federal government, the National Energy Board and the Federal Court of Appeal means that the current state of affairs in Canada is such that building a pipeline to tidewater is practically impossible," Notley stated. "As a result, our ability to transport our most profitable commodity is subject to the whims of the White House and the U.S. government. Let's not kid ourselves. This is a threat to Canadian sovereignty and Canadian economic security."
Notley said that without the jobs and benefits that come from receiving fair value from Canadian resources, the country will be unable to transition to a lower carbon economy and build a better society.
"I spoke to the Prime Minister and told him that Ottawa must take the following actions. First, the federal government must immediately launch an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Even more importantly, Ottawa must immediately recall an emergency session of Parliament to assert its authority and fix the NEB process as it relates to this project to make it clear that marine matters have been and will be dealt in a different forum," Notley said. "Then Ottawa needs to roll up its sleeves and continue its work to protect our coast and improve consultation and accommodation relating to Indigenous peoples in the way they deserve. Our sovereignty and our economic security depend on it. If the federal government acts boldly and gives this crisis the attention it deserves, construction can restart early in the new year. This needs to happen. Because today's decision by the courts should put fear in the heart of any government or investor who wants to export non-renewable resources directly from Canada - including, I might say, LNG on the west coast. We cannot accept - no one in Canada should accept - that the only way to sell Canada's resources is through the U.S. No other country on earth would accept this and Canada shouldn't either, especially when we are doing it to ourselves. It is ridiculous."
B.C. Premier John Horgan, whose government has opposed the Trans Mountain Expansion, praised the ruling.
"This case has been led by First Nations asserting their rights. We joined the case to defend British Columbia's interests, and to highlight the risks to the province's environment and economy. Many British Columbians have been saying that this project would create serious risks to our coast. Today, the court has validated those concerns," he said. "The court has found that consultation with First Nations was inadequate, and that the process failed to consider the risks of marine tanker traffic. These are very serious issues for the federal government to address."
FortisBC has entered into its first term supply agreement to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Top Speed Energy Corp. to export to China. This term supply agreement is an unprecedented development in Canada's LNG export industry and was made possible by the completion of the Tilbury LNG expansion project in Delta, B.C. earlier this year.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) must decide whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Kitimat LNG Expansion Project, located at Bish Cove, near Kitimat, British Columbia.
Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Wes Jickling as the organization's next Chief Executive, effective August 6, 2019. The appointment aligns with COSIA's updated strategic plan, focused on accelerating environmental performance through collaborative action and innovation, while sharing its story with Canadians and beyond.
Encana Corporation wholly owned subsidiary Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc. has signed an agreement to sell its natural gas assets in Oklahoma's Arkoma Basin to an undisclosed buyer. Total cash consideration to Encana under the transaction is $165 million. The agreement is subject to ordinary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and other adjustments and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019.
Campaigns that attack Alberta's energy interests will be investigated through a public inquiry launched by the provincial government.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed Central Ridge Exploration Drilling Project, located approximately 375 kilometres east of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the Atlantic Ocean.
A few days after signing a foundation agreement with a key customer, Woodfibre LNG has received a major permit needed to move forward with construction on its site near Squamish, B.C.
TC Energy Corporation has entered into an agreement to sell its U.S. midstream assets held by its subsidiary, Columbia Midstream Group, to UGI Energy Services, LLC, a subsidiary of UGI Corporation, for approximately US$1.275 billion (Cdn$1.7 billion). The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019 subject to closing adjustments and customary regulatory approvals.
Pacific Oil and Gas Ltd. and Canbriam Energy Inc. are pleased to announce that PO&G has completed the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of Canbriam.
TAG Oil Ltd. is pleased to report the annual and fourth quarter results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. Notably, the Company was successful in increasing its revenue by 40% to $33.2 million along with a 33% increase in operating netbacks to $40.90 per boe for FY2019.
ValvTechnologies, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacturing of zero-leakage severe service isolation valve solutions, announced that it has met the requirements of American Petroleum Institute (API) 641 through third party witnessed testing.
Shell announced that it has sold its Foothills sour gas assets to Pieridae Energy Limited, an experienced Canadian operator. The assets include three distinct sour gas plants (Waterton, Jumping Pound and Caroline) and the gas fields which feed them. Combined, they produce approximately 29,000 barrels per day of natural gas, natural gas liquids and condensate.
Pacific Oil & Gas Limited wholly-owned subsidiary Woodfibre LNG has signed a binding LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with BP Gas Marketing Limited, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of BP Plc, for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from PO&G's Woodfibre LNG export facility in Squamish, British Columbia.
Siemens Water Solutions successfully installed and started up a Zimpro wet air oxidation (WAO) system at a global petrochemical company's olefins plant in the Southern U.S.
Water conservation, efficient tailings management and responsible mine reclamation are becoming increasingly important for mines to ensure their license to operate. Spearheaded by the launch of the new Metso VPX filter for tailings dewatering, Metso introduces its comprehensive tailings management concept to enable and support environmentally and economically sustainable mining.
NETZSCH Pumps North America, LLC, experts in solutions designed specifically for difficult pumping applications, announces it is celebrating its 50th anniversary in business. As a mid-sized, family-owned German company, NETZSCH manufactures machinery and instrumentation with worldwide production, sales, and service. The global company began its North America operations as a one-person office 50 years ago, and has since grown to more than 180 employees, with over $75 M in revenue for its three North American business units, Analyzing & Testing; Grinding & Dispersing; and Pumps & Systems. NETZSCH marked the milestone year with a gala celebration, held May 11, 2019 at the historic SunnyBrook Ballroom in Pottstown, PA.
Fluor Corporation announced that Stork, part of Fluor's Diversified Services segment, together with its consortium partners, was awarded a 4-year framework agreement for plant turnaround services by Ecopetrol S.A. for its Barrancabermeja and Cartagena refineries in Colombia. The Colombia-based consortium includes Stork as the international lead partner, Rampint as the local partner in Barrancabermeja and Servimant as the local partner in Cartagena. The agreement also includes two extension options for an additional two years each. Both refineries supply fuel to meet Colombia's national and export product needs. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the second quarter of 2019.
Ritchie Bros. has conducted its third Edmonton, AB auction of the year, selling 7,400+ equipment items and trucks for CA$72+ million (US$54+ million).
LNG Canada and its prime contractor, JGC Fluor BC LNG JV, announced the launch of YOUR PLACE, a province-wide workforce development program aimed at attracting, recruiting, training, supporting and employing women to work in the construction trades on the LNG Canada Project.
Ritchie Bros., the world largest industrial auctioneer, will host one of the largest pipeline construction equipment auctions ever, selling more than 4,700 items over two days at its site in Columbus, OH. Every single item in the auction will be sold without reserve.
As electrical machinery evolves and matures at an exponential pace - alongside increasingly available power grids to supply them - the oil and gas (O&G) landscape is witnessing major change. This is a positive shift as electrification not only meets ever tougher demands for lower global emissions, but also ticks boxes for improving O&G's availability and reliability. What's more, alongside greater productivity for operators, it adds up to greater safety for plant workers and the wider public too.
The Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (EPAC) is disheartened with the federal government's rejection of the proposed Senate amendments to Bill C-69.
Canada's oil sector is missing a significant opportunity to benefit from the global commodity price and finally receive fair market value for Canadian resources, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers' (CAPP) 2019 Crude Oil Forecast, Markets and Transportation report.
The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC) is expressing extreme disappointment with the decision by the Trudeau government to not accept the full slate of amendments for Bill C-69 proposed by the Senate following lengthy consultation with Canadians.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health, safety, and environment of Canadians. The Government enforces laws that protect Canada's air, water, and natural environment, and we take this responsibility very seriously.
It is now clear the federal government is ignoring the Senate and the will of Canadians, damaging the country's economic future by not accepting the package of amendments the Senate proposed to Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
A landmark gift from Pembina Pipeline Corporation is ensuring working landscapes across the Canadian Prairies also work for conservation. Its $1-million investment in Ducks Unlimited Canada's (DUC) Revolving Land Conservation Program will protect approximately 2,000 acres (809 hectares) of important wetland habitat. At the same time, communities across Alberta and Saskatchewan will benefit from a host of environmental benefits. The joint announcement was made and celebrated by Pembina and DUC at a ceremony held at one of DUC's conservation project sites located east of Camrose.
CIRCOR Industrial Valves, a leader in designing and manufacturing flow control technology, features its commitment to ONE CIRCOR, ONE Solution, an initiative to provide the right solution for each customer by effectively drawing on the technical capabilities of CIRCOR's trusted brands, like Leslie Controls, Spence, RTK, Nicholson, and more. With a broad range of products to match to requirements and the technical expertise to design optimized systems for specific customer applications, CIRCOR engineers and provides integrated critical steam solutions for process industry, oil and gas, district energy and power systems.
Newly released estimates from satellite data show global gas flaring increased by 3 percent in 2018 to 145 billion cubic meters (bcm), which is equivalent to the total annual gas consumption of Central and South America.
Pulse Oil Corp. is pleased to announce the key findings of Pulse's enhanced oil recovery ("EOR") study.
Encana Corporation has provided an update on its share buyback program and disclosed its intention to execute a substantial issuer bid (SIB) to fulfill its previously announced 2019 share buyback. In addition, the Company signed an agreement to exit China, strengthened its production outlook for the second quarter of 2019 and reiterated its original capital investment plan.
Canadian oil sands production is set to enter a period of slower annual production growth compared to previous years. Nevertheless, total production is expected to reach nearly four million barrels per day (mbd) by 2030 - nearly one million more than today, according to a new 10-year production forecast by business information provider IHS Markit.
Canada's next federal government has an opportunity to help define a strategic, long-term vision for the growth of Canada's oil and natural gas sector, one that promotes jobs and a healthy economy for all Canadians, while being part of the solution to meet growing global energy demand with responsibly developed energy, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
Parliamentarians need to support Bill C-69, as it was amended by the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, according to the leaders of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC), and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
nVent Electric plc has introduced a new standardized design for its nVent RAYCHEM Mineral Insulated (MI) heating units; industry-leading equipment designed to provide superior freeze protection and process temperature maintenance for high-power, high-exposure industrial heat-tracing applications. The new heating units ensure greater operational reliability and corrosion resistance in harsh environments.
Canadian Natural Resources Limited has entered into an agreement, subject to regulatory approval, to acquire substantially all of the assets of Devon Canada Corporation , for a cash purchase price of C$3.775 billion (subject to closing adjustments), with an effective date of January 1, 2019 and a targeted closing date of June 27, 2019.
AltaGas Ltd. has celebrated the grand opening of its Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET), located in Prince Rupert, British Columbia - the first marine export facility for propane in Canada. The facility began introducing propane feedstock in mid-April, and the first shipment departed the terminal on May 23, 2019 bound for Asia.
With a focus on generating increased free cash flow, the updated Husky Energy five-year plan shows reduced capital spending to achieve an annual average of $3.15 billion for 2019 - 2023 versus the previously planned 2018 - 2022 annual average of $3.5 billion. Total capital spending over the 2019 - 2023 five-year period is reduced by about $1.7 billion, with total free cash flow before dividends expected to reach $8.7 billion at a flat $60 US WTI planning price.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) must decide whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Tilt Cove Exploration Drilling Project, located 300 kilometres southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
PetroShale Inc. has announced its results for the first quarter of 2019, including a production rate averaging 5,036 boe/d, up by 52 percent from 2018, and increased revenue from year to year.
