A proposed Texas seaport had their MARAD terminal deepwater port license vacated.

Happy Wednesday!

We have been trying to keep up with offshore terminal industry, and where they are going to be located around the US (See our Blog on other Deepwater Seaports projects including details on Texas GulfLink, February 2025).   Well, we have an update on one planned off the coast of Texas, and it wasn’t good news. 

Did anyone happen to read the Oil & Gas Journal’s OGJ Daily Update Newsletter on August 17, 2026, their article titled, “Federal court voids Texas GulfLink license over agency’s ‘serious procedural errors’”?   The article goes on to speak on how a lawsuit from an environmental group caused a US Maritime Administration (MARAD) terminal deepwater port license for Sentinel Midstream LLC’s Texas GulfLink to be vacated by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit last week.   The Appellate court found MARAD didn’t take into consideration the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 which says in a nutshell pipelines cannot intersect or overlay, and unfortunately Enterprise Product Partners’ Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) and Sentinel Midstream LLC’S Texas GulfLink proposed pipelines overlap.  The vacated MARAD license has caused the license to be voided, nonetheless MARAD will have to take another look at the application and allow Sentinel Midstream a chance to correct the issues.  We wish Sentinel Midstream luck resolving their issues!  If you would like to read more of the Oil & Gas Journal’s article, please click the link:   Federal court voids Texas GulfLink over agency’s ‘serious procedural errors’ | Oil & Gas Journal.

Our team has experience in developing hydrocarbon storage facilities as well as helping you transport your hydrocarbons, so if you too would like to get a project going, we’re here to help!  Don’t forget to check out our ESC website or contact us via the email in the Blog!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive week!  Keep cool!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The Oil and Gas Journal’s article. **

Alaska’s North Slope has a long-time company striking oil!

Happy Tuesday!

We haven’t heard much from ConocoPhillips in a while. We have spoken on their various operations around ConocoPhillips North Slope over the years, see our Blogs on the details.  Well, We heard some good news on one of ConocoPhillips operations on State not Federal land.      

Did anyone happen to read the Oil & Gas Journal’s OGJ Daily Update Newsletter on August 13, 2026, their article titled, “ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Coyote 3SX project achieves first oil”?   The article goes on to speak on how ConocoPhillips Alaska has struck oil at their Coyote 3SX well at the Kuparuk River Unit (KRU) on the North Slope, and once fully operational it is anticipated to produce 12,000 barrels per day.   ConocoPhillips’ Coyote 3SX is located on a state leased land.   The project was allocated $800 million in the Fall of 2025, and they began building the operation in the beginning of 2026. ConocoPhillips’ project includes a pad, pipeline and 19-well drilling plan.  The Coyote 3SX project connects to their existing operations and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.   We will let you know, if we hear anything else on the North Slope in Alaska.  If you would like to read more of the Oil & Gas Journal’s article, please click the link:   ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Coyote 3SX project achieves first oil | Oil & Gas Journal.

Our team has experience in developing hydrocarbon storage facilities as well as helping you transport your hydrocarbons, so if you too would like to get a project going, we’re here to help!  Don’t forget to check out our ESC website or contact us via the email in the Blog!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive week!  Keep cool!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The Oil and Gas Journal’s article. **

 

USACE approves Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline.

Happy Monday!  Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog!  We hope you had an enjoyable weekend! Let’s get started!

You know we love an update to previous blogs, and we have been keeping tabs on Enbridge’s Line 5 for long while, and recently they had a setback in Michigan, nonetheless this important pipeline is in the news again. Enbridge received some good news on their pipeline which wasn’t a surprise ever since USACE sped up the review process when the current administration came into power (See our Blog in April 2025 for details). 

Did anyone see the Associated Press’s AP Afternoon Wire Newsletter on August 13, 2026, their article titled, “Feds issue Line 5 tunnel permit, call it ‘not contrary to the public interest”?  In the article, it speaks on how last week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) gave the green light for construction of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline.  In USACE’s review they found the pipeline was “not contrary to the public interest” nonetheless they noted the route of the pipeline would have harmful impacts on wildlife and historic locations and would have environmental impacts.  Now with USACE’s permit, the pipeline isn’t moving forward with construction anytime soon with the project on the state level being remanded back to the Michigan’s Public Service Commission for further review (see our Blog in early August for details).  We will try and keep you informed on anything else we hear on this important pipeline.  If you would like to read more of the article from the Associated Press, please click the link: Feds issue Line 5 tunnel permit | AP News.

If you would like help in looking into how to update your hydrocarbon transportation systems, contact us via email in the Blog and check out ESC's website for contact information!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great week! 

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the Associated Press’ article. **

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their STEO: Global Energy Security Data and it is now available on their website.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their STEO: Global Energy Security Data; it is now available from the EIA website. 

Check out the STEO: Global Energy Security Data by clicking the link: Short-Term Energy Outlook - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website!  We are always here to help you out with your next project to transport your hydrocarbon liquids!

Have a safe and relaxing weekend! 

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly Reports for STEO and Densified Biomass, are all now available on their website!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly Reports for STEO and Densified Biomass Report for week ending August 14, 2026, they are now available from the EIA website. 

Check out what happened in the Monthly Short Term Energy Outlook by clicking the link: Short-Term Energy Outlook - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened in the Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report by clicking the link: U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website!  We are always here to help you out with your next hydrocarbon project to move your product or help you reduce your emissions!  You may reach us by the email in the Blog!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

Have a relaxing weekend! 

U.S. EIA Weekly Updates for Petroleum & Other Liquids, Natural Gas, and Coal are all now available!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Reports for Petroleum and Other Liquids, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, Natural Gas, and Coal for the week ending August 14, 2026, are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report by clicking the link: Weekly Petroleum Status Report - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update by clicking the link: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report by clicking the link: Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report - EIA.

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report Supplement by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/beta/naturalgas/weekly/supplement/.

See what happened last week in Coal Markets Report by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/markets/.

See what happened last week in Weekly Coal Production by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/production/weekly/.

We are always here to help you out with your next project to move your hydrocarbons or to update your equipment to help reduce your emissions!  Connect with us through the Blog email or give us a call: 281-901-5554!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

Well, we hope you survived the first week back to school and are ready for a little fun!  Have a relaxing weekend!  Keep cool!

We hope to see you next week for another week of ESC News Blog! Bye!

A distillate pipeline heading for California?

Happy Thursday! 

Did anyone happen to read MSN on August 11, 2026, they had an article from The Wallstreet Journal titled, “An oil refiner that fled California is back –with a giant pipeline from Texas”?  In the article, it speaks on how Phillips 66 and its partners, Kinder Morgan and HF Sinclair, have authorized funding to build the Western Gateway Pipeline which is a $5 billion venture connecting the Texas Panhandle to Arizonia with final destination in the Inland Empire region of Southern California the route is expected to cover around 900-miles.  The Western Gateway Pipeline will be using 500-miles of a current Kinder Morgan’s distillate pipeline which will reverse its current flow, and the other 400-miles will be a newly constructed pipeline with a connection in the Phoenix, Arizonia region.  The Western Gateway Pipeline is expected to be operational in 2029 bring much needed distillate fuels to the region.  We wish the Western Gateway Pipeline luck getting its federal, state and local approvals, we will let you know if we hear anything else on this venture.  If you would like to read more of the article from The Wallstreet Journal published on MSN, please click the link: An oil refiner that fled California is back—with a giant pipeline from Texas.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website or contact us via the email in the Blog, if you have a hydrocarbon liquids project you would like to see get off the ground or you would like to see what’s under your feet to help with your emissions!  

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the article on MSN. **

U.S. MMA’s BBG3 oil and gas lease sale has generated over $82-million.

Happy Wednesday!

Well, we love an update!  We spoke about the BBG3 offshore lease sale back in July when the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (currently part of the U.S. Marine Minerals Administration (MMA)) posted to stakeholders of the upcoming sale, see our Blog for details.  Well, looks like we have some results from the sale today, August 12^th, 2026. 

Did anyone happen to receive the News Release from the U.S. Department of the Interior on August 12, 2026, their News Release titled, “Interior Advances American Energy Dominance with   Third Gulf of America Lease Sale”?  In the release from the U.S. Department of Interior, the Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) held their MMA’s Lease Sale Big Beautiful Gulf 3 (BBG3) today in New Orleans and they published the results.  The U.S. MMA received winning bids for almost 60 blocks covering over 330,000 acres in the Gulf for a value of $82,689,756.  Today’s lease sale is number 3 out of 30 of the proposed offshore lease sales which are now regularly scheduled yearly and expected to happen in March and August (See our previous blogs on details of the lease sales).  We will let you know, if we hear anything else from the MMA on anymore scheduled lease sales.  If you would like to read more of the U.S. Department of Interior’s News Release, please click the link: Interior Advances American Energy Dominance with Third Gulf of America Lease Sale | U.S.Department of the Interior.

According the BOEM’s BBG3 oil and gas lease sale some of the winners today were some of the usual suspects including Murphy Exploration & Production Company – USA, BP Exploration & Production Inc., Shell Offshore Inc., and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. as well as other companies, please see the link to see who else were successful in the lease sale: sphighbd.pdf.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your liquid product efficiently and with less of a carbon footprint, contact us via the email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great week.

**Disclaimer: Please see the News Release from the U.S. Department of Interior for specific information. **

 

Another Gulf Coast LNG project has started early federal review process.

Happy Tuesday!

We love an update and well this fits the bill.  We blogged in the beginning of the year on Coastal Bend LNG starting to line up their ducks with them choosing their contractors (See out Blog in January on details)!  Well, they are continuing lining things up for their project.  Let’s see how. 

Did anyone happen to read Storage Terminals Magazine’s Weekly Newsletter on August 10, 2026, their article titled, “Coastal Bend LNG Begins FERC Permitting Process for Texas Export Terminal”?   In the article, it speaks on how Coastal Bend LNG has requested the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to begin their federal regulatory review of their project, and their application is expected to be filed the beginning of next year.  The Coastal Bend LNG will be a low emission facility expected to be built on the Texas Gulf Coast.  The facility is planning on having four liquefaction trains, LNG storage tanks, an exporting terminal with respective equipment, as well as being constructed to collect its emissions for carbon capture and sequestration.  Coastal Bend LNG and their contractors will be continuing pursuing their permits and customers leading to their final investment decision (FID).  We wish Coastal Bend LNG luck continuing lining their ducks up in a row.  If you would like to read more of Storage Terminals Magazine’s Weekly Newsletter’s article, please click the link: Coastal Bend LNG begins FERC permitting process for Texas export terminal.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely, and with less of a carbon footprint or just find out what is underneath your feet to help reduce emissions contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great rest of your week!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read Storage Terminals Magazine’s article. **

U.S. SPR lowest in over forty years.

Happy Monday! Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog.

You know we like to keep up with the happenings at the Department of Energy and especially the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).  We have been blogging on the U.S. SPR, and how they were making five rounds of deals for their Emergency Exchange Program, after trying to refill it the last couple years, and made it to around 415 million barrels.   Well, looks like the SPR has made a new low in over forty years. 

Did anyone happen to read MSN on August 10, 2026, they had an article from The Independent titled, “US oil reserve just hit a low not seen since 1983”?   In the article, it speaks on how the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve has lowered to a level not seen in over forty years, 1983.  The SPR new level is 298.7 million barrels with more to be released as to the agreements made for the Emergency Exchange Program since early in the year.  The release was due to the request from the countries belonging to the International Energy Agency to stabilize prices, after the start of the U.S. Israel’s military action against Iran.  According to the article’s sources the SPR may reduce to 70 million barrels and still function properly, nonetheless part of the reserve’s oil is unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances or scheduled maintenance.  Well, if we hear anything else on the U.S. SPR, we will let you know.  If you would like to read more of the article from The Independent published on MSN, please click the link: US oil reserve just hit a low not seen since 1983.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website or contact us via the email in the Blog, if you have a hydrocarbon liquids project you would like to see get off the ground or you would like to see what’s under your feet to help with your emissions!  

We hope you have a wonderful evening! Keep dry!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the article on MSN. **

 

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly Reports for Petroleum Marketing and others, are all now available on their website!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly Reports for Petroleum Marketing, and others for week ending August 7, 2026, they are now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened in the Petroleum Marketing Monthly by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/marketing/monthly/.

See what happened in the Wholesale Electricity and Natural Gas Market Data by clicking the link: Wholesale Electricity and Natural Gas Markets data.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website!  We are always here to help you out with your next hydrocarbon project to move your product or help you reduce your emissions!  You may reach us by the email in the Blog!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

Good luck preparing the kids for back to school.  Have a relaxing weekend! 

U.S. EIA Weekly Updates for Petroleum & Other Liquids, Natural Gas, and Coal are all now available!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Reports for Petroleum and Other Liquids, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, Natural Gas, and Coal for the week ending August 7, 2026, are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report by clicking the link: Weekly Petroleum Status Report - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update by clicking the link: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report by clicking the link: Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report - EIA.

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report Supplement by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/beta/naturalgas/weekly/supplement/.

See what happened last week in Coal Markets Report by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/markets/.

See what happened last week in Weekly Coal Production by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/production/weekly/.

We are always here to help you out with your next project to move your hydrocarbons or to update your equipment to help reduce your emissions!  Connect with us through the Blog email or give us a call: 281-901-5554!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

It’s Back to School Tax-Free weekend here is Texas, hence get out and get some cool clothes and school supplies for you and your kids.  Good luck getting ready for school!  We hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend!  Keep cool!

We hope to see you next week for another week of ESC News Blog!

MMA proposing changes to Arctic Exploratory Drilling regulations.

Happy Thursday!

We have an announcement from U.S. Department of Interior’s newly restored Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) and looks like they will be making at least some of the rules for offshore oil and gas leases.  Last August the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) made some changes on how they use the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Outer Continental Shelf for the Gulf of America (Mexico), (See our Blog at the end of the month for details) and streamlined approvals for new oil and gas leases.  Well, looks like drilling in the Arctic has changes coming.  Let’s dig in. 

Did anyone happen to receive the U.S. Department of Interior’s News Release on August 6, 20265, their News Release titled, “Department of the Interior Proposes Targets Updates to Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule to Advance American Energy Dominance”?  In the release, it speaks on how Department of Interior’s Marine Minerals Administration has posted in the Federal Registrar for possible changes for exploratory drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf which the Obama Administration enacted a decade ago.  The goal is to streamline federal regulations to get America drilling in the Arctic again, and to incorporate the innovations for exploratory drilling.  Some of the requests from the DOI is in regard to updating conditions for Arctic OCS blowout preventer (BOP) real-time monitoring, adding new conditions to the BSEE’s regulations, as well as amend segments of the BOEM’s Exploration Plan (EP) and others.  If you would like to see the suggested changes in the Federal Registrar and make comments; please click the link: Federal Register:: Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf.  We let you know, if we hear anything else from the MMA.  If you would like to read more of the U.S. Department of Interior’s News Release, please click the link: Department of the Interior Proposes Targeted Updates to Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule to Advance American Energy Dominance | U.S. Department of the Interior.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your liquid product efficiently and with less of a carbon footprint, contact us via the email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

**Disclaimer: Please see the News Release from the U.S. DOI for exact information. **

Solar energy reached 3-terawatts this year.

Happy Wednesday!

You know we embrace all energy because we like out air-conditioning and lights.  In spite of people’s thoughts on different types of energy, one type has reached new heights!  Solar! Let’s see what harnessing the sun has done for the grids around the world.   

Did anyone happen to read the Energy Connects Newsletter on August 3, 2026, they had reprinted an article from Bloomberg titled, “The world crossed a major solar milestone. No one noticed.”?   In the article, it speaks on how the world passed a significant moment in regard to solar power; the world produced 3-terawatts, and we didn’t even see it.  Solar energy has been around for a while and it reached 100 GW back in the early 2010s, about a decade later the world hit 1-terrawatt and this year it hit 3-terawatts of solar power.  The build out of solar is happening not only in developed countries where initially their governments subsidized the costs, it is happening in undeveloped ones as the equipment has become less expensive to install.  It is expected to reach almost 10 terawatts in another decade as more countries add it to their grids.  Unfortunately, there will be a time the world will reach the top plateau for growth for this type of energy unless batteries are added to grids to harness the solar energy produced to use later in the day.  Well, this is good news for all the grids who have solar energy tied to it.  If you would like to read more of the Energy Connects reprinted Bloomberg article, please click the link: The World Crossed a Major Solar Milestone. No One Noticed.

If you would like help looking into how to transport your hydrocarbon product, contact us via the email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read Energy Connects article. **

Port Freeport had their ribbon-cutting ceremony for their Harbor Channel Improvement Project.

Happy Tuesday!

We love keeping up on the happenings at ports along the Gulf Coast.   Port Freeport had something to celebrate last month.  They have completed modernizing the channel.    

Did anyone see the Port Freeport’s Announcement on August 3, 2026, they have an announcement titled, “07/30/2026 Freeport channel milestone expands vessel access, strengthens U.S. supply chains”?   The announcement is in regard to an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Press Release on Port Freeport in regard to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project last week with federal, state, and local dignitaries present to applaud the Port’s accomplishment.  The Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project has dredged to lower the channel and widen it to allow larger vessels to enter the waterway and navigate more safely, as well as made improvements on the upper turning basin.  The project has taken over a decade to complete, after its initial approval by Congress in mid-2010s.  The port project is another example of how public-private partnerships work, and they have been leading the innovative projects at Texas ports.  Congratulations, Port Freeport on a job well-done!  If you would like more information from the announcement on Port Freeport, please click the link: 07/30/2026 Freeport channel milestone expands vessel access, strengthens U.S. supply chains.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely, and with less of a carbon footprint from your terminal, contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great rest of your week!  

**Disclaimer: Please see the Port Freeport and the U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers' Press Release for specific details. **