Velocity to build second SCOOP crude pipeline

Velocity Midstream Partners LLC wholly owned subsidiary Velocity Central Oklahoma Pipeline LLC will build a second oil pipeline through the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP), delivering to storage at Cushing, Okla., and CVR Refining LP’s Wynnewood, Okla., refinery. Source: News


Watts, Brown to head SOCO International unit

Mike Watts and Jann Brown will head a new business development group at SOCO International PLC, London. They most recently have been joint chief executive officers of Magna Energy Ltd., which they cofounded with private-equity backing to pursue upstream opportunities in South Asia. Source: News


MARKET WATCH: NYMEX crude oil for March dips below $53/bbl

Light, sweet crude oil prices settled Jan. 30 below $53/bbl as traders and analysts adjusted to news that the US rig count as of Jan. 27 was at its highest since November 2015 according to weekly statistics kept by Baker Hughes Inc.   Source: News


Olson reintroduces bill to reform Endangered Species Act process

US Rep. Pete Olson (R-Tex.) reintroduced legislation to reform listings under the Endangered Species Act by eliminating arbitrary deadlines that he said limit the US Department of the Interior’s ability to prioritize listing petitions properly. Source: News


Appraisal set for field off Philippines

A subsidiary of Nido Petroleum Ltd., Perth, will drill an appraisal well aimed at extending the productive life of Galoc oil field on Block C1 of Service Contract 14 offshore the Philippines. Source: News


Murkowski, gas groups express concerns over a depleted FERC

US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.) and two national natural gas trade associations separately expressed their concerns over the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s no longer having enough members for a quorum once Chairman Norman Bay leaves on Feb. 3. Source: News


NEB restarts Energy East, Eastern Mainline hearings

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) will restart its hearing on TransCanada Corp.’s Energy East crude pipeline from the beginning. The new hearing panel assigned Jan. 9, 2017, to review the Energy East and Eastern Mainline applications has voided all decisions made by the previous panel. These decisions will be removed from the official hearing record. […]


Gilgen takes vice-president, treasurer post at MPLX GP

Peter Gilgen, assistant treasurer of Marathon Petroleum Corp., has been appointed vice-president and treasurer of MPLX GP LLC, the general partner of MPLX LP, effective Feb. 1.   Source: News


EP Energy, Wolfcamp Drillco enter Permian drilling JV

A subsidiary of EP Energy Corp., Houston, has entered into a drilling joint venture with private capital investor Wolfcamp Drillco Operating LP to fund future crude oil and natural gas development in its Wolfcamp program in the Permian basin.  Source: News