The Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA), which outgoing Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) established a week earlier, approved an agreement with Enbridge Energy LP on Dec. 19 to build a multi-use utility tunnel which will include a new crude oil and products pipeline beneath the waters of the straits between Lakes Michigan and Huron. Source: News
Sens. Coons, Flake introduce revenue-neutral carbon tax legislation
US Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced a bill on Dec. 20 which would establish a public carbon dividend trust fund to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies to reduce harmful pollution. Source: News
ExxonMobil, Imperial axe WCC LNG project
ExxonMobil Canada Ltd. and Imperial Oil Ltd. have withdrawn their proposal for the WCC LNG project in British Columbia. Source: News
Baker Hughes: Canada sees dramatic 43-rig drop week over week
Canada’s dramatic 43-rig drop for the week ended Dec. 21 is the latest in a downward trend for the country. Source: News
Colo. agency broadens rule requiring 1,000 ft setbacks from schools
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission unanimously broadened a requirement that oil and gas operations be located at least 1,000 ft from schools and child care centers on Dec. 18. Source: News
Congress should end newly relaxed LNG export regulation
Sensible regulatory change by the US Department of Energy should be followed by legislation killing the changed regulation. Source: News
Ecopetrol farms in to Saturno block in Brazil's presalt region
Ecopetrol SA has reached an agreement with Shell and Chevron to farm in to the Saturno block in Brazil’s presalt region. Source: News
EPP, Enbridge launch open season for Seaway expansion
Seaway Crude Pipeline Company LLC launched a binding open season to gauge shipper support for expanded crude oil capacity on its existing system originating in Cushing, Okla. and extending to the Texas Gulf Coast area. Source: News
Wolf Midstream launches open season for Big Spring to Midland line
Wolf Midstream Partners LLC, Dallas, launched a binding open season for crude oil transportation commitments for the proposed Gray Wolf Crude Connector, a new pipeline to serve the Midland basin. Source: News
Maryland, 8 more AGs join lawsuit against Mid-Atlantic seismic tests
Attorneys general from nine Mid-Atlantic coastal US states are joining environmental and other organizations’ lawsuit against the federal government for issuing incidental harassment authorizations to five geophysical contractors seeking to conduct the first offshore oil and gas seismic tests in the region since the 1980s. Source: News