Colonial Pipeline Co. has approved a 100,000 b/d expansion of Colonial’s main gasoline pipeline, originating in Houston and connecting Gulf Coast refineries with markets across Colonial’s system. Colonial will add the capacity to its Line 01 during first-quarter 2013.

BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. has let a contract to a unit of Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering & Construction Group for work related to the debottlenecking of the Forties Pipeline System crude degasification facilities at BP Exploration’s Kinneil Terminal in Scotland.

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP signed a memorandum of understanding with Mountaineer Keystone LLC (MK) to build a 42-mile, 16-in. OD Tygart Valley Pipeline natural gas gathering system, serving MK’s Marcellus shale development program in Northeast West Virginia.

The US Senate approved a bill that would extend the payroll tax cut into 2012 on Dec. 17 in a rare Saturday session, but with a provision that would require US President Barack Obama to act on the Keystone XL pipeline project’s cross-border permit application within 60 days of enactment.

The US Bureau of Land Management signed a decision amending the Ruby Pipeline Project’s right-of-way on Dec. 7, BLM’s Reno, Nev., field office announced on Dec. 13.

The US Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a proposed natural gas pipeline south of Rifle, Colo. Bargath LLC proposed constructing a buried line to gather gas from east of lower Divide Creek and move it to processing facilities in Parachute, BLM’s Silt, Colo., field office said in a Dec. 8 notice.

The US Senate moved quickly and unanimously approved federal pipeline safety legislation on Dec. 13 that the US House had passed by voice vote the previous day (OGJ Online, Dec. 13, 2011).

TexStar Midstream Services has launched a binding open season for its TexStar Crude Oil Pipeline LP, transporting Eagle Ford shale crude oil and condensate from various points in Frio, LaSalle, McMullen, and Live Oak counties, Tex., to NuStar’s North Beach Terminal in Corpus Christi.

Plains All American Pipeline LP is converting an existing Oklahoma liquefied petroleum gas pipeline to crude oil service. The pipeline, which extends from Medford, Okla., to PAA's oil terminal in Cushing, will provide initial throughput of 12,000 b/d of oil by January 2012 and will be expanded to 25,000 b/d by July 2012.

US President Barack Obama promised to block any effort to include a Keystone XL pipeline project approval provision in legislation to extend the payroll tax cut, which is due to expire at yearend.

US House Republicans joined their Senate colleagues on Dec. 2 in urging US President Barack Obama to reverse his Nov. 11 decision to delay acting on TransCanada Corp.’s cross-border permit application for the project until after the 2012 elections.

US Senate Republicans introduced legislation that would deem the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline federally approved 60 days after enactment if the Obama administration did not act. But several said they would rather see US President Barack Obama reverse his Nov. 11 decision to delay acting on TransCanada Inc.’s cross-border permit application for the project until after the 2012 elections.

BP PLC said two alternative pipeline projects are under consideration for the transport of natural gas from its giant Shah Deniz field in the wake of recent agreements signed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Investigation is ongoing regarding a natural gas release and fire on El Paso Corp.’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline in Panola County, Miss., near Batesville, the evening of Nov. 21.