A Colorado federal judge ruled that regulators failed to consider the “social cost of carbon” associated with a coal development project proposed by Arch Coal. The project’s future economic benefits were estimated as part of the project review process, but failing to estimate potential negative environmental impacts caused from burning coal left the reviewers remiss… Keep reading →
Gas-to-liquids plants that is. Facilities that convert natural gas into liquid transportation fuels like diesel and gasoline have become potentially attractive given current ample US natural gas supply and the fuel’s comparatively low price compared with other regional markets around the world. This attractively-priced feedstock has already spurred a spate of chemical plant expansions and… Keep reading →
Traditional and social media universes have been buzzing as analysts and market observers digest the recent US crude oil export news. The Wall Street Journal was accused of writing a misleading headline stating the US “loosened” the crude oil export ban. This may be a bit nitpicky, but the broad US crude oil export ban… Keep reading →
Ever since new natural gas resources have become available as a result of horizontal hydraulic multi-stage fracking, there have been many attempts to quantify how beneficial these new resources are to the U.S. economy. Since natural gas is often used for power production and as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry, it makes sense to… Keep reading →
The Rockies Express (REX) natural gas pipeline, originally designed to transport gas from production centers located in the western US, has reversed some of its flow capacity in the opposite direction as a result of booming gas production from eastern shale resources like the Marcellus. Initially, a lateral pipeline extension will ship moderate gas volumes… Keep reading →
Gazprom and CNPC look set to sign a 30-year, 38 billion cubic meter per year supply deal this week at price between $350 and $400 per 1,000 cubic meters. “The deal has been on the table for over 10 years, as Moscow and Beijing have negotiated back and forth over price, the gas pipeline route,… Keep reading →
A Russian natural gas supply cutoff to Ukraine due to unpaid bills in the amount of $3.51 billion – which could occur next month – would also indirectly impact the European Union. Over half of Russia’s gas exports to Europe transit the Ukraine. A recent Bloomberg article draws the conclusion that it will be extremely difficult for Europe… Keep reading →
It appears increasingly likely that Russia’s Gazprom will finally ink a long-term natural gas supply deal with Chinese national oil company CNPC next week, although price negotiations continue, as they have for over a decade. China is set to receive greater volumes of gas from Turkmenistan – and recently met with the country’s President Gurbanguly… Keep reading →
As Russian president Vladimir Putin prepares to visit China, state-controlled Gazprom looks to be putting the finishing touches on a long-awaited gas supply contract to China. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than a decade, with price reportedly being the main sticking point. Chinese companies reluctant to pay European prices for Russian natural gas held… Keep reading →
Hawaii has long been plagued by high electricity costs due to the need to import feedstock – predominantly fuel oil and some coal – which is why the prospect of producing more of its own power is attractive. But renewables require energy storage to help balance loads during the ebb and flow of consumption, so… Keep reading →
