Although natural gas prices already increased this year more than many expected – largely due to weather-related demand and inventory draws – business opportunities for energy infrastructure projects that use natural gas as feedstock remain attractive. Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms could be particularly well placed to benefit from a medium-term “mega cycle,” according… Keep reading →
The US has gone from a net chemical importer in 2011 to an exporter with anticipated export revenue of almost $30 billion by 2018, thanks in large part to comparatively cheap natural gas and power prices. “US groups such as ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, Chevron and Phillips 66 are among the leaders in investing in new… Keep reading →
US oil-directed drilling rigs reached 1,443 last week, which is the highest level recorded since Baker Hughes separated its oil and gas rig counts in 1987. “One could argue that all of the increase in the oil rig count this week was because of the Permian,” James Williams, president of WTRG Economics in London, Arkansas,… Keep reading →
US natural gas in storage could reach a symbolic low this week. Extreme cold throughout the country is sending heating demand soaring, which is sucking gas from storage at record levels. “Natural gas in underground storage hasn’t dropped below 1 tcf since 2003, but the latest EIA report showed inventories on February 14th at 1.4 tcf and… Keep reading →
Many Americans lack knowledge on key energy issues, which could be problematic when they vote later this year for congressional representatives who will shape the country’s energy policies. “What is the solution to this ongoing problem of voters not having sufficient energy knowledge? It is information. Women and men need to understand both sides of the… Keep reading →
For many utilities there is a razor-thin difference in the price of electricity generated by natural gas and by coal. Slight changes in fuel price can produce dramatic swings in production costs, creating market opportunities for utilities with both gas- and coal-fired assets. Utilities considering new gas-fired assets have several options. Key among them is… Keep reading →
GE CEO Jeff Immelt said the company is researching technology that could use carbon dioxide instead of water for hydraulic fracturing operations. GE is reportedly putting an additional $10 billion through 2020 into its “ecoimagination” budget, which focuses on energy solutions including high efficiency natural gas turbines, “CNG In a Box,” wind turbine manufacture and… Keep reading →
High vapor pressures can increase the flammability of crude oil and Bakken grades were determined to have higher pressures than several other common international grades refined in the US, which raises rail transport safety questions. “Given the recent derailments and subsequent reaction of the Bakken crude in those incidents, not enough is known about this… Keep reading →
A group of Stanford University researchers published the results of a methane leakage study on February 14 in Science that found volumes of the potent greenhouse gas released from US oil & natural gas development and infrastructure exceeds EPA estimates. “According to the new research, all told, the U.S. leaks about 14 million metric tons… Keep reading →
Shale gas revolution will result in cleaner electricity generation mix Coal is slowly retreating as natural gas and renewables gain market share in the electric power generation. That is old news. What is new is the accelerating speed in a sector not known for moving fast. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Energy Outlook projections,… Keep reading →
