Pennsylvania environmental regulators suspended all permit work for Energy Transfer LP after the company failed to comply with an October order following an explosion of the Revolution natural gas pipe in the western part of the state in September.
The company said the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) action on Feb. 8 did not affect operation of any pipeline that is in service or construction where permits have already been issued.
Energy Transfer said it is “committed to bringing the Revolution project into full compliance with all environmental permits and applicable regulations.”
Revolution is a gas gathering pipeline that feeds into Energy Transfers’ Rover gas pipeline and Mariner East NGL pipes. The explosion occurred on Sept. 10.
In October, the DEP ordered Energy Transfer to “stabilize disturbed areas” of Revolution and “prevent further erosion from the construction area.” The DEP, however, said the company “had not fulfilled the terms of the order and was not progressing toward compliance.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement the suspension will affect the in-service date for Revolution, which is currently not in service, and the Mariner East 2 pipeline. Part of Mariner East 2 went into service at the end of December.
The governor said there are 27 approvals currently under review by DEP for Mariner East 2. He said Revolution will remain closed until full compliance has been achieved.
Analysts at Height Capital Markets in Washington said they do not expect the suspension to delay the full startup of Mariner East 2 or 2X.
Officials at Energy Transfer were not immediately available to say when the remaining part of Mariner East 2 or 2X would enter service. In the past, the company said 2X would enter service in the second half of 2019.
fMariner East 1, meanwhile, remains out of service after the discovery of a sinkhole near the pipe in January. The pipe was also shut in March due to sinkholes.
Energy Transfer started work on the $2.5 billion expansion of Mariner East in February 2017 and had planned to finish the new 350-mile pipeline in third-quarter 2017.
But completion was delayed by work stoppages by state agencies due to permit violations and other problems, including release of drilling fluids into waterways and the discovery of sinkholes.
Recommended Reading
Seatrium Awarded Contract for FPSO Bound for Guyana’s Stabroek
2024-05-17 - The topsides fabrication and integration contract will be for the FPSO Jaguar, bound for the Whiptail Field in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana for Exxon Mobil.
Third Suriname Find for Petronas, Exxon Could Support 100,000 bbl/d FPSO
2024-05-17 - A recent find offshore Suriname in Block 52 by Petronas and Exxon Mobil could support a 100,000 bbl/d FPSO development, according to Wood Mackenzie.
US Drillers Add Oil, Gas Rigs for First Time in Four Weeks: Baker Hughes
2024-05-17 - The oil and gas rig count rose by one to 604 in the week to May 17.
BPX Looks to Ramp US Production Over 60% by 2030
2024-05-16 - BPX Energy is looking to boost its U.S. production over 60% by 2030 as it considers bringing online a fourth processing facility in the Permian by mid-year 2025, Clark Edwards, the company’s vice president of development, said during SUPER DUG in Fort Worth.
Empire Petroleum’s Williston Drilling Program Identifies New Zones
2024-05-16 - Empire Petroleum provided updates on its Williston Basin development drilling program in its first quarter 2024 earnings results.