Past
In 2008, TransCanada Corporation proposed a plan for the longest pipeline in North America, the Keystone XL Pipeline. With a starting point in Alberta’s Oil Sands, the Keystone XL Pipeline would carry the tar-sands crude through the Great Plains to the Gulf of Mexico, bringing an additional 830,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries.
The pipeline requires approval in two parts: upper and lower. While the upper portion of the pipeline requires U.S. State Department approval since the pipeline crosses an international border, the lower portion will need federal permits for approval. The approval process has been complicated, with environmental, safety and time concerns restricting the project.
Present
In January, President Barack Obama rejected the project, advising the decision was “not based on [the] merits of the pipeline,” but having a short deadline to make a decision on the project. He also cited the need to find a route that would avoid the Nebraska Sandhills region and Ogallala Aquifer, which provides water to eight U. S. states.
TransCanada has been working with the State of Nebraska since November 2011 to find alternate routes that will avoid the environmentally sensitive Ogallala Aquifer and Sandhills, stating it will be reapplying for permission to build the pipeline from Canada to Oklahoma using this alternate route.
Advocates in favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline, argue it will employ thousands of workers, deliver more oil to U.S. refineries in the Gulf of Mexico, reduce U.S. reliance on oil from the Persian Gulf and increase the amount of oil imported from Canada.
Future
While TransCanada pursues a new permit, it will proceed with building the southern portion of the pipeline, from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico. This portion is located entirely within the U.S. and therefore does not require U.S. State Department approval.
This 435-mile section of the pipeline is expected to produce several benefits including:
- Moving 700,000+ barrels of oil per day
- Generating approximately 4,000 jobs
- Reducing the large surplus of oil stored in Cushing, OK
With the decision to begin expansion in the south, it is expected pipeline construction will continue on at a steady pace, even during the reapplication process and while alternate route decisions are being made.
If the Keystone XL Pipeline moves forward as expected, U.S. crude imports from Canada could reach 4 million barrels per day by 2020, doubling what we currently import from the Persian Gulf.
Resources:
http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-01-18/obama-rejects-keystone-pipeline/52655762/1
http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/2012/03/04/keystone-pipeline-moving-forward/
http://www.isnetworld.com/~isn/blog/2011/12/09/the-current-status-of-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-lobbying-against-keystone-pipeline-201208007.html
http://facefwd.com/tag/oil-surplus
http://www.api.org/policy-and-issues/policy-items/keystone-xl/keystone-xl-pipeline.aspx
As our keynote speaker at the 2011 ISN Annual Users Conference, Dr. Robert Gates shares his perspective on key events in America’s history. He speaks about terrorist attacks and the ongoing overseas conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and provides insight on the strengths and weaknesses of other powerful countries. He shares stories from his time at the Pentagon and the White House, where he served under both Republican and Democratic presidents. His message is realistic but encouraging, reminding the audience that although the United States has made mistakes in the past, it is a nation with the ability to overcome obstacles.
Welcome to the 2011 ISN Annual Users Conference. At this conference we will be previewing ISN 10.0, the latest version of ISNetworld, scheduled to be released December 2011. We look forward to providing this more intuitive and user-friendly version of ISNetworld to you and your company. These updates have been made to ensure all subscribers can easily navigate the system, while also maximizing the additional benefits included in an ISNetworld subscription. 
At the ISN Annual Users Conference, Doug Slitor, Acting Chief of the Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs, is presenting the new regulations and best practices for offshore operators and contractors as previously set forth by BOEMRE. BOEMRE, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, was reorganized on October 1 into two separate entities: the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Mr. Slitor explains the function and scope of these new bureaus’ work.
Welcome to ISN’s 2011 Annual Users Conference. The ISN Annual Users Conference is an opportunity for Owner Clients, contractors, and other industry entities to come together and discuss best practices in contactor health, safety, and procurement. Owner Clients are sharing information on how their company uses ISNetworld to track and manage contractor compliance in industry breakout sessions. As every Owner Clients grades and use the system differently, each discusses the criteria to grade their contractors and the most important items in prequalification.
