據Oil & Gas Journal網站7月21日報道 美國原定于2021年啟動的管道項目正面臨來自不確定的需求前景、漫長的法庭訴訟和監管審查的巨大挑戰。雖然一些已經在建的項目正在推進，但根據ESAI能源的北美觀察報告，約270萬桶/天的新管道項目將被推遲。

由于法律層面原因，達科他州57萬桶/天的Access管道（DAPL）及其計劃擴建受影響。報告稱，隨著其他輸油管道的滿負荷，DAPL的關閉將造成瓶頸，從而導致對鐵路的更多依賴和巴肯原油價格的走弱，這反過來又會對由于疫情的影響而關閉的生產造成不利影響。

在對延期項目的總結中，該報告顯示，盡管DAPL正面臨因環境許可而可能關閉的局面，但由于COVID-19導致經濟狀況惡化，將向庫欣輸送更多巴克肯原油的35萬桶/天的Liberty石油管道在3月被推遲。由于北達科他州管道外運量不足，預計鐵路運輸原油將增加約30-35萬桶/天。該報告進一步得出結論，部分減少的巴肯原油產量可能無法恢復，該盆地將在2020年減少約27萬桶/天，2021年將再下降6.5萬桶/天。

ESAI能源分析師Elisabeth Murphy表示：“達科他州準入的不確定結果將對巴肯產生連鎖反應，比如資本被轉移到其他更容易進入市場的盆地。如果不增加鉆井平臺和壓裂人員的支出，巴肯油田將面臨更困難的時期，以抵消下滑，使產量恢復到2019年的水平。”

吳恒磊 編譯自 Oil & Gas Journal

原文如下：

ESAI: 2.7 million b/d US crude pipeline capacity delayed in 2021

Pipeline projects in the US that were slated for startup in 2021 are facing huge challenges from an uncertain demand outlook, lengthy court battles, and regulatory review. While some projects already under construction are moving forward, about 2.7 million b/d of new takeaway will be postponed, according to ESAI Energy’s North America Watch report.

The most noteworthy is the potential loss of the 570,000 b/d Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and its planned expansion due to legal hurdles. A shutdown DAPL will create bottlenecks as other pipelines fill up, resulting in more dependency on rail and weaker prices for Bakken crude, the report said. This in turn will adversely impact production that had already been shut in due to the impacts of COVID-19.

In its summation of postponed projects, the report shows that while DAPL is facing a potential shutdown due to environmental permitting, the 350,000 b/d Liberty pipeline that would deliver more Bakken crude to Cushing was deferred in March due to deteriorating economic conditions resulting from COVID-19. The lack of pipeline takeaway from North Dakota is expected to result in an increase in crude-by-rail of some 300,000–350,000 b/d. The report further concludes that some curtailed Bakken production may not be brought back, and the basin will decline by roughly 270,000 b/d on an annual basis in 2020 and by a further 65,000 b/d in 2021.

“An uncertain outcome for Dakota Access will have knock-on effects for the Bakken, such as capital being diverted to other basins that have better access to markets,” said Elisabeth Murphy, analyst at ESAI Energy. “Without spending on more rigs and frac crews, the Bakken will have a more difficult time offsetting decline and getting production back up to 2019 levels.”