The American Petroleum Institute launched a voluntary program that initially will concentrate on reducing wellhead emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds, and ultimately will try to improve other environmental conditions at operations across the US. Twenty-six participating companies will begin to implement the program starting Jan. 1, 2018, API said. Source: News

Saskatchewan has departed from the approaches of neighboring provinces and the government of Canada with a climate-change strategy lacking carbon taxation. Environment Minister Dustin Duncan introduced a plan he called “broader and bolder than a single policy such as a carbon tax.” He said it will “achieve better and more meaningful outcomes over the long […]

The US Department of Transportation said its Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration plan to rescind a requirement that electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes be used on certain rail tank cars. The American Petroleum Institute welcomed DOT’s Dec. 4 announcement. Source: News

Dana Petroleum Ltd. has brought its Western Isles development on stream in the UK North Sea after project partners invested about $2 billion on the project involving Harris and Barra oil fields in 540 ft of water nearly 100 miles east of the Shetlands. Source: News

Lebanon will require that the workforce of its prospective oil and gas industry be 80% Lebanese. Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil said in a news conference in Beirut that the requirement is part of legislation to be submitted soon to the Cabinet, according to Lebanese press reports.  Source: News

Canada Kuwait Petrochemical Corp., a joint venture of Pembina Pipeline Corp. and Petrochemical Industries Co. KSC, has let a contract to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. to provide front-end engineering design services for a proposed 1.2 billion-lb/year grassroots, integrated propane dehydrogenation and polypropylene complex in Sturgeon County, Alta. Source: News

The light, sweet crude oil contract for January delivery fell nearly 90¢ but held above $57/bbl on the New York market Dec. 4 while Brent crude oil for February fell more than $1, setting below $63/bbl—its biggest single-day decline since early October. Source: News