Natural Gas and Oil Pipelines

Our attorneys have been representing companies in the oil and gas industries for more than 25 years. We are actively involved in federal and state regulation matters and have extensive experience with pipeline and storage development projects, both domestic and international. Our work in this area includes litigation, regulatory proceedings, market enforcement and compliance, project development, acquisitions and mergers, power supply, environmental compliance, finance and client counseling.

Facts About Our Practice

• Involved in energy infrastructure projects of all types, including matters relating to oil and natural gas storage and pipeline installations throughout North America, the Middle East and Russia.
• Represented Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and the owners of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), the nation's largest crude oil pipeline, on more than 75 matters since 1988 and remain outside counsel for Alyeska and TAPS on a wide variety of pipeline matters.
• Attorneys have substantial experience in rates and rate design, including market-based and incentive rates.
• Represented a natural gas storage company in all facets of FERC regulation.
• Represented an interstate natural gas pipeline on mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; marketing affiliate rules compliance; government environmental permits and rights of way; natural gas storage matters; creditors' rights and related tariff issues; and SEC compliance.
• Includes the former general counsel of a major West Coast interstate natural gas pipeline, where he oversaw Securities and Exchange Commission compliance, marketing affiliate rule compliance, U.S. Department of Transportation safety compliance and complex commercial arrangements. Also includes the former acting director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission office responsible for oil pipeline regulation and special pipeline rates. 

Representative Engagements

• Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.: Represent Alyeska and the owners of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) on a wide range of energy, environmental, regulatory and corporate matters. Also represented Alyeska in negotiations and litigation with a telecommunications service provider regarding the service provider's breach of a multi-year, $100 million service contract, as well as a promissory estoppel dispute, resulting in dismissal of all claims. 
• Enstor Operating Company, LLC: Represent Enstor, a natural gas storage operator, and its numerous affiliates, in rate, certificate and rulemaking proceedings before FERC, as well as on a wide range of transactional matters, including the negotiation of service agreements with its storage customers and interconnection agreements with interstate pipelines.
• Chugach Electric Association, Inc.: Represented Chugach in the acquisition of long-term natural gas supplies (525 billion cubic feet of gas from four separate producers) and in proceedings to provide direct interconnection with gas producers.
• PPM Energy, Inc.: Represent PPM, a natural gas and electricity marketer, in regulatory and transactional matters involving natural gas purchase and sale and transportation agreements.
• Represent interstate and intrastate pipelines before state and federal regulatory agencies in administrative and judicial proceedings, including certificate, rate and rulemaking proceedings.
• Represent large LDC shippers in contested interstate pipeline FERC proceedings.
• Represent pipeline manager of major producer in Clean Water Act criminal proceedings and shareholder derivative action arising from allegations arising from the largest oil spill on Alaska’s North Slope.
• Drafted and negotiated natural gas purchasing and transportation agreements on behalf of sellers and purchasers of gas, including hedging price terms and capacity release and assignment provisions.
• Represent a pipeline company in dual federal and state administrative proceedings and related litigation regarding the company's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for treated ballast-water discharges at its marine terminal.
• Represented a pipeline company in Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking proceedings to develop hazardous air pollutant "Maximum Achievable Control Technology" standards for the largest marine terminal in the United States.
• Represented oil and gas producer in defending against Clean Water Act criminal proceedings arising from alleged leak from underwater oil pipeline.
• Represented a pipeline company in its conversion from state to federal regulation.