FERC has been shifting the terminology used to describe electricity consumers from “ratepayers” to “customers,” which better reflects current realities in the evolving utility industry. “The journey away from “ratepayer” starts when thinking about the utility as a provider of energy efficiency, demand response and other demand-side management techniques. When the utility is partly in… Keep reading →
A fire at the Motiva refinery – the largest in the US – took more than half its capacity offline for at least two weeks. “The fires come on top of a nagging vibration problem with a key pipe in the plant’s biggest crude distillation unit, or CDU, that is expected to keep it running… Keep reading →
The price of West Texas Intermediate crude had risen for five consecutive days as of yesterday afternoon – “the longest stretch of gains since April” – on news of escalating unrest in Egypt, as Brent hit a four-month high. A police crackdown on protests in Egypt has left more than 500 dead. [Bloomberg] Iran has… Keep reading →
By Patti Domm U.S. refineries are expanding their diesel-production capacity, not so much for truckers in the U.S., but for drivers in places like Mexico City and Santiago, Chile. Already running at their highest levels in six years, U.S. refineries are finding strong demand for diesel fuel, used widely in cars outside of the United… Keep reading →
The US House of Representatives (or more accurately, House Republicans, joined by a handful of Democrats) has passed legislation approving the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline to bring Canadian crude to US markets, in what House Democrats are calling a “largely symbolic” move. The bill would sidestep the requirement that pipeline company TransCanada obtain State Department approval… Keep reading →
Technological advancements in oil and gas drilling have rejuvenated the US and Canadian onshore oil and gas sectors, but above-ground risks may impede rapid production growth.
Widespread use of drilling techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in shales and other geologic formations have shifted the outlook for North American natural gas supply, and proved more applicable to onshore oil production, as well. Keep reading →
