This story was updated at 10:25 a.m. CDT.
CALGARY, Alberta/WASHINGTON—A court in Nebraska on Aug. 23 affirmed an alternative route in the Midwest state for TC Energy Corp.’s Keystone XL oil pipeline in the latest chapter in the nearly 10-year legal fight over the Canada-to-Texas pipeline.
Keystone XL would ship 830,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude from the oil marketing hub of Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Neb., but has been subject to years of delay because of fierce environmental and landowner opposition.
The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the alternative route that was approved by the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC), TC Energy said in a statement. This was not the preferred route of the company.
The PSC in November 2017 did not approve TC Energy’s preferred route, and instead granted an alternative route that shifted it closer to an existing pipeline right-of-way down the eastern side of the state.
That had prompted landowners and indigenous groups to sue on the grounds the PSC could only greenlight an application that was made to it.
Nebraska’s Supreme Court ruled against that argument, finding the PSC did have the power to approve a route that TC Energy, formerly known as TransCanada, had not applied for.
“The Supreme Court decision is another important step as we advance towards building this vital energy infrastructure project,” said Russ Girling, TC Energy’s CEO said in a statement.
Opponents of the pipeline vowed to continue fighting to stop it going ahead.
“Today’s ruling does nothing to change the fact that Keystone XL faces overwhelming public opposition and ongoing legal challenges and simply never will be built,” said Ken Winston, attorney for the Nebraska Sierra Club.
Recommended Reading
US Drillers Add Most Oil Rigs in a Week Since November
2024-02-23 - The oil and gas rig count rose by five to 626 in the week to Feb. 23
Tech Trends: Halliburton’s Carbon Capturing Cement Solution
2024-02-20 - Halliburton’s new CorrosaLock cement solution provides chemical resistance to CO2 and minimizes the impact of cyclic loading on the cement barrier.
US Drillers Cut Oil, Gas Rigs for Second Time in Three Weeks
2024-02-16 - Baker Hughes said U.S. oil rigs fell two to 497 this week, while gas rigs were unchanged at 121.
E&P Highlights: Feb. 16, 2024
2024-02-19 - From the mobile offshore production unit arriving at the Nong Yao Field offshore Thailand to approval for the Castorone vessel to resume operations, below is a compilation of the latest headlines in the E&P space.
Sinopec Brings West Sichuan Gas Field Onstream
2024-03-14 - The 100 Bcm sour gas onshore field, West Sichuan Gas Field, is expected to produce 2 Bcm per year.