Simmons Exits Energy Solutions Business
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Simmons Foods Inc. (Siloam Springs, Ark.) reported on Sept. 1, 2020 that it had sold its propane business to MFA Oil Co. Simmons Energy Solutions is a small propane supply company with locations in Decatur, Ark., and Jay, Okla. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Hurricane Laura Narrowly Misses Critical Energy Infrastructure
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
In late August, Hurricane Laura made landfall near Lake Charles, La., as a Category 4 storm after gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico. Sustained winds of 150 mph were recorded and storm surge caused widespread power outages, lost water service, shredded homes, and extensive infrastructure damage.
DUC Well Inventory Will Support U.S. Fracking Into 2020
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
The recovery of fracking operations in the U.S. is happening in large part due to an unusually high inventory of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs), which is strong enough to sustain the current level of fracking deep into 2021 without the industry adding more rigs to expand drilling, a Rystad Energy analysis shows. After DUCs run out, rig activity in the five key oil regions needs to be in the 280-300 range to maintain flat oil output.
University of Pittsburgh Turns To Propane-Powered Shuttle Buses
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
As of July 1, 2020, the University of Pittsburgh has a new partner to shuttle students around campus. The Pittsburgh Transportation Group is now operating the University’s campus shuttles using an all-new fleet of 20 propane-powered shuttle buses equipped with passenger-counting technology and Wi-Fi.
Oilfield Services and Equipment Job Losses Exceed 100,000
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
U.S. oilfield services and equipment (OFS) lost approximately 2600 jobs in August according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the lowest total since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs in August and the unemployment rate fell to 8.4%.
ThompsonGas Acquires Northern California's Associated Propane Co.
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
ThompsonGas (Frederick, Md.) has acquired Associated Propane Co. (Petaluma, Calif.), a propane provider in Northern California. ThompsonGas is proud to welcome Associated’s customers and employees to the ThompsonGas family, and are committed to serving the residential, commercial, and agricultural customers who have valued Associated Propane Co.’s service in the area for more than 60 years.
Iowa Farmers, Suppliers Should Anticipate Increased Propane Demands
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Aug. 28 urged farmers and agribusinesses to start evaluating how much propane they’ll need to meet grain drying and home and livestock heating demands this fall and winter. The derecho that swept through Iowa on Aug. 10 created many unknowns for this year’s harvest. Propane users should anticipate, and suppliers should make plans to accommodate, increased propane demands this fall.
Winter Predictions for Coming Heating Season
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
For the United States, The Old Farmer’s Almanac for winter 2020-2021 predicts that recent warming trends will dominate in the eastern and northern parts of the U.S. in the coming months, with below-normal average temperatures limited to the western portion of the nation. Most of Canada will have a cold and snowy winter. Rising temperature trends may mean that the winter will not bring extreme cold, but instead, it will be closer to normal.
Operation BBQ Relief Supports Lake Charles Community
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Following the wrath of Hurricane Laura, Operation BBQ has deployed to Lake Charles, La., to provide hot, barbecue meals to families and first responders affected by the storm. This is Operation BBQ Relief’s 69th deployment since 2011 to support those in need following natural disasters.
U.S. Rig Count Holds Steady
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
The Baker Hughes rig count dated Aug. 28 shows no change in the total U.S. count of 254 rigs. Oil rigs were down by three to 180, while gas rigs were up three to 72, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at two.

The rig count is down 650 rigs from last year's count of 904, with oil rigs off by 562 units, gas rigs down 90, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at two.
Canada’s rig count decreased by two rigs from the week prior to 54, with oil rigs down one to 19, gas rigs down one to 35, and the miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at zero.
Speakers Announced for National Clean Energy Week Symposium
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) has announced its first round of confirmed congressional speakers for the 2020 Policy Makers Symposium, which goes virtual this year and expands to an entire week. U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE), and Congressmen Sean Casten (D-IL), John Curtis (R-UT), and Paul Tonko (D-NY) will deliver keynote addresses during the week’s programming, set for Sept. 21-25.
CVSA Releases 2020 Operation Safe Driver Week Results
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Operation Safe Driver Week, held from July 12 to 18, was the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) first enforcement initiative of the year. It was delayed as a result of the postponement or cancellation of other enforcement campaigns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, 3681 enforcement officers from 55 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions interacted with 29,921 commercial motor vehicle drivers.
Pandemic Accelerates Adoption of New Technology
Monday, August 31, 2020
(August 31, 2020) — There has been much talk about consumers and business owners adopting new technology during the pandemic. Two recent surveys offer data that backs that up.
Superior Plus Expanding Propane Footprint in the Northeast
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Superior Plus Corp. (Toronto) has announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Rymes Propane and Oil, a retail propane and heating oil distribution company based in New Hampshire. The aggregate purchase price is approximately $159 million (U.S.), before adjustments for working capital. Superior anticipates drawing on its credit facility to fund the amount of the purchase price due on closing.
Petroleum Markets Gradually Improving
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
According to data released Aug. 20 in the American Petroleum Institute’s July 2020 Monthly Statistical Report (MSR), U.S. petroleum markets continued to gradually improve in July with inventories backing down from record highs and demand posting its third consecutive monthly increase since April,
Residential Cost of Propane Compares Well
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports that the Department of Energy (DOE) recently released its annual representative average costs for five different residential energy sources. The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene. The costs, which will become effective Sept.
Canadian Propane, Butane Inventories Climbed in July 2020
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Canada’s primary underground propane inventories rose 39.7% in July to begin August at 2046.6 Mcm, the equivalent of 12.9 MMbbl, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a strong month-to-month gain of 581.2 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks were up a staggering 976.5 Mcm, or 91.3%.
Rig Counts Post An Increase
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Baker Hughes Rig Count for the week ended Aug. 21 shows the U.S. increased by 10 to reach 254 rigs. Oil rigs were up 11 to 183, and gas rigs down one to 69, while miscellaneous rigs unchanged at a total of two.

Looking at year-over-year, the U.S. rig count is down 662 rigs from last year's count of 916, with oil rigs 571 units lower, gas rigs off by 93, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at two. The offshore rig count is unchanged at 13, and down by 15 year-over-year.
Battleground State Voters Support U.S. Energy Leadership
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Aug. 18 released new polling conducted by Morning Consult that shows two-thirds of voters in key battleground and other states would be more likely to vote for candidates who support access to natural gas and oil produced in the U.S. The polling also shows an overwhelming majority of voters prioritize American energy security and believe it is important for the U.S. not to rely on foreign energy sources.
Phillips 66 Bay Area Refinery To Become Renewable Fuels Plant
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Phillips 66, a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company, plans to reconfigure its San Francisco refinery in Rodeo, Calif., to produce renewable fuels. The plant would no longer produce fuels from crude oil, but instead would make fuels from used cooking oil, fats, greases, and soybean oils.
API Welcomes Alaska Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
The American Petroleum Institute (API) issued the following statement Aug. 17, in response to the Department of Interior’s approval of the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. The announcement follows a 2017 congressional mandate requiring the program, which will determine where and under what terms and conditions leasing will occur in the 1.56 million-acre Coastal Plain within the 19.3 million-acre ANWR.