Save Passamaquoddy Bay
3-Nation Alliance

Alliance to Protect the Quoddy Region
from LNG Development

Another big idea falls through (Aug 30) — Cape Breton Post, Sydney, NS

[Keltic Petrochemical's] was also not the first proposal for a petrochemical industry in the region though nothing else had gotten that far along. Now, with the end of the Goldboro [LNG] hopes and the recent decision not to further develop the Sable gasfield, the notion of an energy-based economy for the region – which at one time also included ambitions for offshore exploration and development support from Strait area ports – has pretty well evaporated.

What the king of natural gas forecasting says about future prices (Aug 31) — Seeking Alpha

In the US, the reason for the lower price forecast is simple: natural gas producers are still drilling, despite low prices.

In Canada, King’s reasoning for even lower prices than the US include one that I have been speaking about for months:

• increased pipeline capacity in the US that makes domestic gas very portable, and has opened up new markets (the Northeast US and California) for previously stranded Rocky Mountain gas in the US – the mainstream Canadian media have not reported on this – and the amount of Canadian gas that is being displaced by this – at all.

Webmaster’s Comments: There are over 30 new pipeline and pipeline expansion projects just to bring natural gas to the Northeast. As a result, supply and prices in the Northeast will even out with the rest of the US.

Takes of marine mammals incidental to specified activities; taking marine mammals incidental to operations of a [liquified natural gas terminal] — TradingMarkets.com

SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the Northeast Gateway Energy BridgeTM LP (Northeast Gateway or NEG) and its partner, Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin), to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, small numbers of marine mammals during operation of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in the Massachusetts Bay for a period of 1 year.

DATES: This authorization is effective from August 31, 2010, until August 30, 2011.

Anti-LNG port group set meeting — The Providence Journal, Providence, RI

A community advocacy group calling itself the Congress of Councils will hold a meeting next week to discuss how Rhode Island communities can work together to oppose a proposed floating liquefied natural-gas terminal in Mount Hope Bay.

Confirmed speakers include Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, Save The Bay executive director Jonathan Stone, and Evan Smith, executive director of the Newport and Bristol County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, according to a news release from the Congress of Councils. Political candidates running for statewide and federal offices along with members of the General Assembly representing Bay areas are also invited.

Rhode Island Congressional delegation raise concerns with Weaver's Cove LNG project (Aug 31) — LNG Law Blog

Earlier this month members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation wrote to FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff expressing their concern with the planned Weaver's Cove LNG import project. In their letter, available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP04-36, the Members of Congress also invited Chairman Wellinghoff and the other FERC commissioners to meet with the delegation and to tour the site proposed for the Weaver's Cove LNG project.

Gubernatorial candidates put forth plans in Newport — Middletown Patch, RI

On environmental/energy issues the candidates were more often in agreement than not. No one favored the Hess LNG proposal. [Red emphasis added.]

FERC pre-filing process not applicable to Cameron LNG re-export proposal (Aug 31) — LNG Law Blog

Yesterday FERC notified Cameron LNG, LLC that the Commission's pre-filing procedures and review process are not applicable to the company's proposal to modify its facility to allow re-exports of foreign-sourced LNG.

Webmaster’s Comments: Yet another US LNG re-export project. Freeport LNG in Texas was the first US LNG re-export terminal to be permitted. This is more proof that additional US LNG imports are not needed — more bad news for Calais LNG and Downeast LNG.

Companies seek unconditional OK for LNG terminal (Aug 30) — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK

The companies that own the liquefied natural gas terminal at Nikiski want the federal government to extend their export license by two years, without any conditions on that extension.

A group of Democratic lawmakers, several citizens and Gov. Sean Parnell, who filed late comments, asked the Energy Department to guarantee local needs are met before exports continue.

Gas pipeline developers sue Oregon land officials (Aug 31) — Portland Business Journal, Portland, OR

The developer of a proposed 234-mile natural gas pipeline has filed a federal lawsuit against two Oregon land officials the developer claims are improperly using state law to delay the project.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court, pits Pacific Connector against Louise Solliday, director of the Oregon Department of State Lands, and Richard Whitman, director of the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.

In the lawsuit, Pacific Connector says regulation of pipeline projects is strictly the domain of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

But before granting a permit for construction, the Department of State Lands is requiring the pipeline developers to obtain signatures from about 220 landowners whose property may be affected.

Without that permit, the state Department of Land Conservation and Development will not review whether the project is consistent with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act — a requirement to getting certification from federal regulators, according to the lawsuit.

How the U.S. natural gas ETF (UNG) lost 23% in August — ETF Daily News, Manchester, NH

Even if demand for natural gas surges–and some of the legislation making its way through Washington makes that seem likely–it will have a hard time keeping up with a rapidly-expanding global supply of the fuel. The last month has seen several massive discoveries of natural gas, including previously uncovered fields in Israel and Australia.

The discovery of natural gas in regions not known as traditional energy hot spots has convinced investors that supplies will be ample for the foreseeable future, adding further downward pressure to prices [see UNG's Insurmountable Obstacle].

Webmaster’s Comments: The US is drowning in its own natural gas, and overseas shale gas discoveries — along with massive world LNG liquefaction capacity — reduces demand for exporting US natural gas, increases US natural gas supplies even further, and further reduces the need for the US to import LNG. This is all bad news for Downeast LNG and Calais LNG.

Beaten-up natural gas enters September on shaky footing (Aug 31) — MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures, wrapping up their worst month in more than two years, are entering the historically weak month of September dogged by confusion over production.

Prices stumbled 23% loss in August, their largest monthly decline since July 2008. That tops oil's 9% drop for the month. Read more in Futures Movers.

Extreme quantities of natural gas avails may produce unintended consequences — Gerson Lehrman Group

Gas directed rig count is holding up because producers need to drill recently acquired leases, not because gas is needed.

In fact, an excellent case can be made for low gas prices all the way through 2015 and then not rising much after that.

'Supply dragon' keeps natural gas in the doldrums — Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, AB

"… If anything, the latest U.S. natural gas supply data are showing signs of accelerating thanks to a gas rig count which has refused to die," he says. [Red, yellow, & bold emphasis added.]

US opens the door on shale bed gas development (Aug 31) — Metal Miner

The US has certainly put the cat among the pigeons of the natural gas world!

In the US, an API report advised that thanks to the arrival of shale gas since the middle of the last decade the United States has a future supply of natural gas of over 2,000 Tcf. At current consumption rates, this is enough natural gas to supply the nation for the next hundred years. This is an increase of more than 35% in just the last 5 years and it is rising every year as new resources are qualified. [Red, yellow, & bold emphasis added.]

Liquefied natural gas facilities: Obtaining approval of alternative vapor-gas dispersion models (Aug 31) — TradingMarkets.com

SUMMARY: This advisory bulletin provides guidance on the requirements for obtaining approval of alternative vapor-gas dispersion models under Subpart B of 49 CFR part 193.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issues federal safety standards for siting liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Those standards require that an operator or governmental authority control the activities around an LNG facility to protect the public from the adverse effects of thermal radiation and flammable vapor-gas dispersion. Certain mathematical models and other parameters must be used to calculate the dimensions of these so-called "exclusion zones."

After carefully considering the information provided in the Original FRPF Report, Supplemental FPRF Report, and NASFM MEP Report, PHMSA is issuing further guidance on the standard for obtaining approval of alternative vapor- gas dispersion models, particularly the requirement for validation by experimental test data. That guidance is based on the MEP's three-stage process for evaluating such models, but includes modifications to address the concerns of other stakeholders, including NASFM and FERC.

Dearth of LNG carriers to keep spot rates high in 2010 — Lloyd's List [Paid subscription required]

SPOT charter rates for liquefied natural gas carriers are set to continue increasing for the rest of this year due to a growing shortage of LNG carriers and rising demand for spot gas cargoes, says a leading shipowner and shipbroker.According to Golar LNG Energy chief executive Oscar...

Webmaster’s Comments: US LNG developers claim importing LNG would lower natural gas prices. This news indicates an increased price in LNG transportation, adding to the cost of importing LNG.

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