EQM Midstream to boost Appalachia gathering

  • Spanish Market: Natural gas
  • 19/03/19

Pennsylvania-based EQM Midstream Partners will boost its Appalachia natural gas gathering capacity by up to 66pc with its acquisition of Hornet Midstream and a majority interest in Eureka Midstream.

The two gathering systems flow about 1.6 Bcf/d (45mn m³/d) of gas, adding to EQM's existing Appalachia footprint of 2.4 Bcf/d of firm contracted gathering capacity.

EQM, which spun off from top US natural gas producer EQT last year, will pay a total of $1mn to acquire Hornet and secure a 60pc interest in Eureka in an agreement with a fund managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners. The payment includes $860mn in cash and about $170mn of assumed debt.

Eureka Midstream is a 190-mile (306km) header pipeline system in Ohio and West Virginia. Hornet Midstream is a 15-mile system in West Virginia that interconnects with Eureka. The assets have interconnections with multiple interstate pipeline systems and provide access to four processing plants as well as EQM's lines. The systems flow about 67pc dry-gas and 33pc rich gas.

The midstream assets will complement EQM's existing gathering and transmission system, allowing it to add to its scale and facilitate new commercial opportunities, the company said.

Independent producer EQT in February 2018 separated its midstream business from its production operations, creating EQM. EQM's system includes about 700 miles of high-pressure gathering lines and 950 miles of interstate transmission pipeline.


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23/04/24

USGC LNG-VLSFO discount to steady itself

USGC LNG-VLSFO discount to steady itself

New York, 23 April (Argus) — The premium for US Gulf coast (USGC) very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) to LNG is expected to linger but not widen this spring, maintaining interest in LNG as a bunkering fuel. US Gulf coast LNG prices slipped from a premium to a discount to VLSFO in March 2023 and have remained there since. The discount surpassed 200/t VLSFO-equivalent in January (see chart). Both LNG and VLSFO prices are expected to remain under downward pressure due to high inventories, which could keep the current LNG discount steady. The US winter natural gas withdrawal season ended with 39pc more natural gas in storage compared with the five-year average, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Henry Hub natural gas monthly average prices dropped below $2/mmBtu in February, for the first time since September 2020, Argus data showed. The EIA expects the US will produce less natural gas on average in the second and third quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024. Despite lower production, the US will have the most natural gas in storage on record when the winter withdrawal season begins in November, says the EIA. As a result, the agency forecasts the Henry Hub spot price to average less than $2/mmBtu in the second quarter before "increasing slightly" in the third quarter. EIA's forecast for all of 2024 averages about $2.20/mmBtu. US Gulf coast VLSFO is facing downward price pressure as demand falls and increased refinery activity signals a potential supply build . Rising Gulf coast refinery activity was likely behind some of the drop in prices. Gulf coast refinery utilization last week rose to 91.4pc, the highest in 12 weeks and up by 0.9 percentage points from the prior week. US Gulf coast suppliers are also eyeing strong fuel oil price competition from eastern hemisphere ports such as Singapore and Zhoushan, China, importing cheap Russian residual fuel oil. In general, LNG's substantial discount to VLSFO has kept interest in LNG for bunkering from ship owners with LNG-burning vessels high. The EIA discontinued publishing US bunker sales statistics with the last data available for 2020. But data from the Singapore Maritime & Port Authority, where the LNG–VLSFO discount widened to over $200/t VLSFOe in February, showed Singapore LNG for bunkering demand increase 11.4 times to 75,900t in the first quarter compared with 6,700t in the first quarter of 2023 and 110,900t for full year 2022. By Stefka Wechsler US Gulf coast LNG vs VLSFO $/t VLSFOe Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India’s Chhara LNG terminal faces commissioning delay


23/04/24
23/04/24

India’s Chhara LNG terminal faces commissioning delay

Mumbai, 23 April (Argus) — Indian state-owned refiner HPCL's 5mn t/yr Chhara LNG import terminal is again facing delays in receiving and unloading its commissioning cargo, a market source told Argus . Fender failure at the terminal has caused problems in berthing the LNG vessel. The fender acts as a buffer or cushion between the ship hull and the dock, and prevents damage as a result of contact between the two surfaces. HPCL on 22 April issued a tender offering the commissioning LNG cargo , which is onboard the 160,000m³ Maran Gas Mystras. The vessel is currently laden offshore the terminal and ready to redeliver to another Indian LNG terminal on 25-30 April, according to HPCL. The company is seeking bids at a fixed price, and custom duty has already been paid by the firm. Indian firm Gujarat State Petroleum (GSPC) facilitate HPCL's purchase of the cargo on 26 March, with the cargo for delivery over 9-12 April. HPCL has put up the commissioning cargo for auction, and it can be discharged from any alternative port in India. LNG terminals closer to Chhara include Indian state-controlled importer Petronet's 17.5mn t/yr Dahej, Shell's 5.2mn t/yr Hazira or state-owned gas distributor Gail's 5mn t/yr Dhabol LNG terminal. HPCL also has not awarded a tender that is seeking another early-May delivery cargo , which closed on 19 April. Commissioning of the Chhara LNG terminal has been delayed since September 2022 owing to pipeline issues. The terminal is the country's eighth LNG import facility, which would lift total regasification capacity to 52.7mn t/yr from 47.7mn t/yr currently. The pipeline runs from the terminal and connects the city gas distribution network from Lothpur to Somnath district in Gujarat. There has been a delay in opening the pipeline as it passes through the eco-sensitive zone of the Gir wildlife sanctuary for 25.816km, a government document shows. The facility was completed in February, but is set to be closed from 15 May-15 September ahead of the completion of a breakwater facility , which is required to ensure safe LNG tanker berthing during India's monsoon season. No specific timeline has been given for building the breakwater, but the terminal will be able to operate year-round once it is completed. By Rituparna Ghosh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

TotalEnergies to fully own Malaysian gas firm SapuraOMV


23/04/24
23/04/24

TotalEnergies to fully own Malaysian gas firm SapuraOMV

Singapore, 23 April (Argus) — TotalEnergies has signed an agreement to acquire Sapura Upstream Assets' 50pc stake in Malaysian private gas producer and operator SapuraOMV, which will take TotalEnergies' total stake to 100pc. The acquisition will cost $530mn, subject to closing adjustments, with closing expected to take place in the second half of this year, said TotalEnergies. This latest deal follows a previous agreement that TotalEnergies signed in January with Austrian firm OMV to acquire its 50pc interest in SapuraOMV. This means TotalEnergies will own 100pc of SapuraOMV once both transactions are completed. "Following the transaction with OMV announced two months ago and this new transaction with Sapura Upstream Assets, TotalEnergies will have full ownership of SapuraOMV and become a significant gas operator in Malaysia," said TotalEnergies' chairman and chief executive officer Patrick Pouyanné. "The SapuraOMV assets are fully in line with our strategy to grow our gas production to meet demand growth, focusing our portfolio on low-cost and low-emission assets," he added. SapuraOMV in 2023 produced 500mn ft³ of gas, which was used to feed the Bintulu LNG plant operated by state-controlled Petronas, as well as 7,000 b/d of condensates. SapuraOMV holds 40pc and 30pc operating interests, respectively, in blocks SK408 and SK310, which are offshore Sarawak, Malaysia. Block SK408's Jerun gas field, which could hold up to 84.9bn m³, is on track to start up in the second half of this year. SapuraOMV also has interests in exploration licences in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, where there was a discovery on block 30 last year, with estimated resources of 200mn-300mn bl of oil equivalent. TotalEnergies holds interests in two production sharing contracts in Malaysia. It in June last year signed an agreement with Petronas and Japanese trading firm Mitsui to jointly develop a carbon capture and storage project in Malaysia as well as assess maturing depleted fields and saline aquifers for storage. The firms hope to develop a CO2 merchant storage service to help industrial customers in Asia decarbonise. By Prethika Nair Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Australia’s Tamboran agrees NT gas sales deal


23/04/24
23/04/24

Australia’s Tamboran agrees NT gas sales deal

Sydney, 23 April (Argus) — Australian independent Tamboran Resources has signed a long-term gas sales agreement with the Northern Territory (NT) government for supplies from the Beetaloo joint venture's (BJV) proposed Shenandoah South pilot project. The binding deal for 40 TJ/d (1.07mn m³/d) on a take-or-pay basis from Shenandoah South in the onshore Beetaloo sub-basin of the NT equates to a total 131.4PJ (3.5bn m³) and begins in January-June 2026, running for nine years with an option to extend 6½ further years to 2042, Tamboran said on 23 April. This represent about two-thirds of the NT's present gas requirements and is conditional on the BJV entering a binding transportation agreement with pipeline operator APA for the planned 35km Sturt Plateau Pipeline , as well as reaching a final investment decision (FID) for Shenandoah South. Tamboran has a working interest of 47.5pc in Shenandoah South, which is aiming for a FID mid-year, following Canadian independent Falcon Oil and Gas' decision to reduce its participation from 22.5pc to 5pc in March to reduce its cost exposure to the project. BJV is operated by Tamboran, which holds a 50:50 interest in the Tamboran B2 joint venture with privately-held Daly Waters Energy controlled by US billionaire Bryan Sheffield. The BJV also holds a 10-year, 36.5 PJ offtake deal with Australian utility Origin Energy signed in 2022. The NT is dependent on gas-fired power generation. Continuing supply problems at Italian oil firm Eni's offshore Blacktip field has it currently sourcing gas from Australian independent Santos' depleting Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea and the onshore Mereenie joint venture . Tamboran is aiming in the long term to develop its proposed 6.6mn t/yr Northern Territory LNG project , for which it is aiming to complete initial engineering this year. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Balticconnector gas pipe recommissioned after rupture


22/04/24
22/04/24

Balticconnector gas pipe recommissioned after rupture

London, 22 April (Argus) — The Finland-Estonia Balticconnector gas pipeline has been re-commissioned, with commercial flows starting at the beginning of today's gas day. There were renominations for 12.5GWh of flows towards Finland and 78.2GWh in the opposite direction for today as of early afternoon, suggesting net flows towards Estonia of around 66GWh. Finnish demand remains relatively low, while stocks at Finland's Inkoo LNG terminal need to be mostly depleted before the upcoming arrival of a new cargo on 26 April. The Balticconnector was taken off line on 8 October following a rupture caused by a dragging anchor . The system operators of Finland and Estonia said at the time that the pipeline could return in April at the earliest, meaning the initial timeline set out for repairs has been met. The recommissioning of the Balticconnector could allow Finnish prices to realign with those in the Baltic markets now that the two areas are connected again. During the Balticconnector's absence, Finland was entirely reliant on LNG deliveries to Inkoo, meaning prices were highly volatile and frequently held significantly above prices further south. Price differentials reached a peak of nearly €58/MWh ($62/MWh) in mid-January as a cold snap caused Finnish power-sector gas demand to soar while stocks at Inkoo were relatively low. That said, the basis between the two markets has narrowed significantly since mid-March, and the Finnish price has on several days held lower than in the Baltics ( see graph ). By Brendan A'Hearn Finnish vs Estonian-Latvian prices Oct 2023-present €/MWh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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