New tactics from US Republicans designed to win approval for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline system are unlikely to find success in 2012, according to a recent poll of Hydrocarbon Processing readers.

The US House of Representatives last week passed an energy bill that would wrest control of the permit away from President Barack Obama.

However, the bill's fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate is much less certain.

Of Hydrocarbon Processing readers, 57% say they believe Obama and Senate Democrats will be able to thwart Republican efforts.

The other 43% predict Republicans to ultimately find success in gaining 2012 approval.

Obama denied the Keystone XL permit in January, citing an arbitrary deadline from Republicans.

The president asked TransCanada to reapply with an alternate route to avoid the Sand Hills in Nebraska, an important aquifer in the region.

The administration would then consider approving a new application in early 2013, according to media reports.

TransCanada has said it plans to reapply, but noted last week that its timeline for starting up the project (assuming approval) had been delayed until 2015 due to the lengthy permit process.

The proposed system would result in a 1,700-mile oil pipeline stretching from Canada to Texas, carrying nearly 1 million bpd of oil.

To see more details on this poll as well as access prior Hydrocarbon Processing poll results, click here.

(Editor’s note: Polls are where we at Hydrocarbon Processing gather industry sentiment on significant issues of the day. Visit the HP home page to weigh in on our latest poll regarding proposed bans on Iranian oil.)