The US Department of Defense recently announced its latest round of annual jet fuel contracts and the bill came to almost $4 billion. That’s down about 20 percent from the last time the DOD awarded similar contracts and the military can thank cheaper crude oil for the discount. The US Air Force conversion from military-specific… Keep reading →
The US Air Force just completed an initiative to convert all of its bases from military-specific grade jet fuel to a civilian grade – Jet A with additives – that will save millions of dollars in annual fuel costs and allow the Air Force to purchase fuel from a much wider pool of suppliers. This… Keep reading →
Converting natural gas to liquid fuels using Fischer-Tropsch conversion is not a new idea but it has always been a big one, meaning it has always required very large and expensive production facilities. Royal Dutch Shell and South Africa’s Sasol have been the industry leaders in Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) for decades but their existing GTL plants… Keep reading →
It’s been a little over two years since Delta Airlines took the plunge into the refining business as part of its fuel cost control strategy. The refinery posted a $19 million profit in the third quarter, but has run into problems complying with the renewable fuel standard. The refinery was reconfigured to maximize jet fuel… Keep reading →
A new study using flyover methodology found methane emissions from oil and gas development activity in Colorado’s Front Range exceed estimates by regulators. “These discrepancies are substantial,” said lead author Gabrielle Petron, an atmospheric scientist with NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. “Emission estimates or ‘inventories’ are… Keep reading →
Today’s quote is actually a reader comment made in response to a news tidbit we featured in a recent morning roundup about the US Navy turning seawater into fuel. We remarked the piece was a bit light on details, so one of our readers helped fill in the technical aspects that, as he puts it,… Keep reading →
The US Defense Logistics Agency yesterday announced a slew of major contracts for the purchase of jet fuel. The contracts are valid through April 30th 2015 and the money will come from fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. Fifteen different companies – ranging from the world’s largest international oil companies including supermajors ExxonMobil and Shell… Keep reading →
The last video in a 3-part series from the Advanced Biofuels Association features a San Francisco-based company that’s making renewable diesel fuel in Brazil and renewable jet fuel that is being tested by the US military and commercial airlines. Amyris is training yeast to produce hydrocarbons instead of alcohol. A common challenge cited by all… Keep reading →
Google and private equity firm KKR are investing $400 million, including equity and debt financing, in six solar power plants being built by a subsidiary of Japan’s Sharp Corp. The projects have a combined capacity of 106 megawatts and should begin operating by January. [Reuters] The Tennessee Valley Authority is retiring eight units at three… Keep reading →
That global oil demand hit record levels last year is not breaking news. But the US Energy Information Administration highlighted an important trend today, one that features in conversations about the future of energy consumption perhaps less frequently than it should. Demand growth in Asia, Central and South America and other regions has been strong enough… Keep reading →
