Surprise news for Russia’s largest oil company

Today the Kremlin announced that commodities trader Glencore, and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund are buying a 19.5% stake in Russia’s largest oil company, Rosneft.

Tax breaks announced for pipeline leak detection in North Dakota

The State of North Dakota yesterday introduced Bill 1349 that proposes tax breaks on leak detection, leak protection and monitoring equipment using the modified accelerated cost recovery system depreciation method.

Tesoro acquires Western Refining for $6.4 Billion

San Antonio, Texas-based, Tesoro will assimilate Western Refining in an all-stock transaction.

Texas: A reminder that an operator has little control over when a third-party can damage a pipeline

The Oct. 31 opinion of U.S. District Judge Sim Lake of the Southern District of Texas is a reminder of the accident when a Weeks Marine barge hit and ruptured Contango Operator’s natural gas pipeline on February 24, 2010 while dredging off Louisiana.

Theft caused a fuel leak in Costa Rica

Pipeline fuel theft is an activity with high economic, environmental and human consequences. In 2017, Costa Rica has had several pipeline incidents due to pipeline product theft events.