A state-owned Chinese oil major has been caught violating provincial and local environmental laws. The size of the fine incurred however, points to evidence that these mega energy companies still have more sway within the country than local laws and government officials tasked to enforce those laws. Late last week, Chinese media reported that… Keep reading →
Petrochemicals
Sign up and get Breaking Energy news in your inbox.
We will never sell or share your information without your consent. See our privacy policy.When supplies of dry US natural gas swelled several years ago as companies honed their shale resource development skills, gas prices dramatically declined hitting a low of about $2 per million BTU. This caused natural gas producers to shift drilling operations into more liquids-rich areas and adjust their production more toward oil, which fetched higher… Keep reading →
Energy News Roundup: Musk on Utility Death Spiral, Shell Shelves $6.5Bn Petchem Project and New Methane Emission Regulations
By Jared AndersonTesla and SolarCity’s Elon Musk told utility executives at the Detroit auto show that utilities and solar power can get along just fine. “Rive’s cousin and SolarCity investor Elon Musk sought to assuage such fears further at the Detroit auto show. Speaking about utilities’ role in the future of the energy mix, he said: ‘Long-term,… Keep reading →
Plans to turn Philadelphia city into an “energy hub” where natural gas from the Marcellus Shale would be pumped, processed, exported and used as fuel by manufacturers, were given a high-profile sales pitch at a one-day conference in the city last Friday. The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Philadelphia Energy Solutions, a local refiner,… Keep reading →
It’s not just doctors and scientists that need STEM education. America’s shifting economy is demanding more trained workers in many different sectors. See how Travis Brooks got the hands-on education he needed to become a technician at the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery. Visit The Atlantic to learn more.
Energy News Roundup: Is Opec Toothless? Hedge Fund to Buy Hess Energy Trading & Sasol Approves $8.1B Ethane Cracker
By Jared AndersonThis article reevaluates Opec’s power to control the global oil market and focuses on a political scientist’s research that suggests the cartel’s strength has been overblown for years. “But a closer look at OPEC’s real influence over the oil market suggests that we’re making a huge mistake about its global power, says Brown University political… Keep reading →
Energy News Roundup: Russia Says Show me the Money, The Great Lego Hypocrisy & Daimler Sells Tesla Stake
By Jared AndersonNatural gas supply negotiations between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Nagtogaz appear to be inching closer to a deal. In fact, the two sides have agreed on a price of $385 per thousand cubic meters, but payment details now appear to be a sticking point. “If the Ukrainians have the money, then the documents will be signed. If not,… Keep reading →
Energy Quote of the Day: Saudi Aramco Putting $40B of Its ‘Money Where Its Mouth Is”
By Jared AndersonSaudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company plans to invest $40 billion over the next decade to maintain oil production capacity at 12 million barrels per day, while doubling natural gas output. The Kingdom faces a dilemma with much of its associated gas already being consumed by the oil sector for enhanced recovery, the power generation sector… Keep reading →
The US oil and gas industry has seen tremendous growth over the past several years, following a period of low oil prices and declining production. And job growth in the sector reflects a robust and growing need to both replace retiring workers and fill new positions. Forbes’ latest rankings of the 15 most valuable college… 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 →