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 →
IEA’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report called for Opec to maintain current production levels of around 30 mmb/d amid developed world demand resurgence that has depleted OECD oil inventories by 1.5 mmb/d in the last three months of 2013, the steepest quarterly decline since 1999. “At this time of year, when the global oil market… Keep reading →
Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu took over as head of the influential Senate Energy Committee yesterday, as outgoing Chairman Ron Wyden took the lead role at the Senate Finance Committee, which was vacated when Max Baucus was confirmed ambassador to China. “Landrieu confirmed that her signature bill to expand the amount of federal offshore oil-and-gas royalty… Keep reading →
Although yesterday’s EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report recorded a smaller draw than analysts expected – 262 Bcf declined from storage, but expectations were around 271 Bcf – and the March NYMEX gas futures contract decreased in price as a result, storage remains historically low and the need to replenish it during injection season could… Keep reading →
A 30-megawatt offshore wind pilot project will use 5 floating turbines to generate electric power routed back to the mainland in Coos Bay, Oregon. “We’re not as anxious to commercialize it, but it’s still worth getting the projects into the water and testing them,” said Belinda Batten, director of the Northwest National Marine Renewable… Keep reading →
The EIA’s Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report showed the largest inventory draw since the EIA started tracking the data in 1994. However, the withdrawal was slightly underwhelming, as analysts anticipated an even larger natural gas storage draw down resulting from increased heating needs during the recent extreme cold that blanketed much of the country. As… Keep reading →
Coal, renewables, nuclear and decreased year-on-year electricity demand are all eating into US natural gas-fired power generation. Increased installed wind power capacity played a major role, as developers rushed to achieve project eligibility ahead of scheduled end-2012 PTC expiration, according to Genscape data. “Year-to-date gas-fired generation continues to trail 2012 by 13%. It has lost… Keep reading →
Natural gas inventories, or the volume of gas periodically injected, stored and withdrawn in various parts of the US, is a major price determinant. Storage dynamics also vary significantly by region, from production centers with ample salt cavern storage capacity to demand centers like the northeast where cold winters require utilities to maintain enough supply… Keep reading →
