Global Oil, Gas Project Sanctioning Set To Recover
Thursday, October 1, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated global oil and gas project sanctioning this year and will cause total committed spending to drop to around $53 billion from 2019’s $190 billion, Rystad Energy projects. Postponed plans will, however, cause the total worth of final investment decisions (FIDs) to double next year and exceed pre-pandemic levels already from 2022.

Offshore commitments are now expected to reach $34 billion in 2020, down from 2019’s $101 billion. Onshore sanctioning is likely to fall to $19 billion this year from $89 billion last year.
Enbridge to Resume Operation of East Segment of Line 5
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Enbridge (Calgary, Alberta, and Lansing, Mich.) will restart the east segment of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac after receiving authorization from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and approval from the Michigan Circuit Court.
Ribbon-Cutting Event To Highlight Alternative Fuel Success
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Alliance AutoGas (AAG; Asheville, N.C.), a national coalition of businesses providing the fuel, technology, and ongoing support to autogas fleets across the country, and AAG founder, Blossman Gas, will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new refueling station in Kingsport, Tenn., Sept. 29, 2020.
Canadian Propane, Butane Inventories Show Strength
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Canada’s primary underground propane inventories increased by 14.2% In August to begin September at 2336.6 Mcm, the equivalent of 14.7 MMbbl, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a good-sized month-to-month gain of 290.0 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks were up markedly, with an additional 1042.8 Mcm, or 80.6%, on hand.
U.S. Energy Markets Are Rebalancing, But Remain Fragile
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
According to the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) August 2020 Monthly Statistical Report and Q3 2020 Industry Outlook, the U.S. returned to being a net energy exporter in August despite disruptions from Hurricane Laura and ongoing uncertainty over the pandemic. Higher demand and less supply translated into lower crude oil inventories, further demonstrating the gradual rebalancing of the market.
U.S. Manufacturers Show Gain In Use of Natural Gas, HGLs
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Preliminary results from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) 2018 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) available Sept. 17, show that the consumption of energy by manufacturers in the U.S. has continued to increase since its 2010 low. Natural gas and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs) led the growth, together accounting for more than half of the sector’s energy consumption in 2018. The U.S.
Mid-Month to Mid-Month: Where Are Propane Prices Headed?
Thursday, September 17, 2020
History would show that propane prices usually rise with the beginning of heating season and the onset of fall and winter. However, in the more recent history, prices have fallen into a category putting them at the lowest prices of the year as blustery weather takes hold. So far, how does this year compare?
ThompsonGas Strengthens Propane Footprint in Minnesota
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
ThompsonGas (Frederick, Md.) confirmed Sept. 8 that it had acquired Pirkl Gas Inc., a propane provider based in Owatonna, Minn. Terms of the deal were not provided.
Pirkl’s customers and employees are welcomed into the ThompsonGas family. ThompsonGas is committed to serving the residential, commercial, and agricultural customers who have valued the Pirkl’s presence and service in the area for 61 years.
PERC Releases New Propane Safety Resources for Construction Industry
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), in observance of Construction Safety Week, released a collection of resources to help support the construction industry's ongoing commitment to safety.

The new resources include a variety of safety tips related to propane-powered light construction equipment and resources that construction professionals and safety advocates can download and use within their own organizations.

Some of the safety tips include:
Fossil Fuels Account For 80% Of Energy Production, Consumption
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Fossil fuels, or energy sources formed in the Earth’s crust from decayed organic material, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal, continue to account for the largest share of energy production and consumption in the U.S., according to the Sept. 14 U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Energy Review. In 2019, 80% of domestic energy production was from fossil fuels, and 80% of domestic energy consumption originated from fossil fuels.
DCP Midstream Joins Global Lighthouse Network
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The World Economic Forum announced Sept. 14 that DCP Midstream (NYSE: DCP) is one of 10 new additions to its Global Lighthouse Network, a community of world-leading companies that have succeeded in the adaptation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution at scale.

Of the 54 total sites and companies with the World Economic Forum’s Lighthouse designation, DCP Midstream is one of only five companies in North America and is the only U.S.-based oil and gas company to receive this distinction for its technological innovation.
Service Contracts Signed for Propane-Powered Microturbines
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Capstone Turbine Corp. (Van Nuys, Calif.), a leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, said Sep. 10 that Optimal Group Australia, Capstone's exclusive Australian distributor, recently signed a 2 MW 5-year factory protection plan (FPP) with a remotely located Oceana-based mineral water bottling facility.
Energy Transfer Completes Lone Star Express Pipeline Expansion
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Energy Transfer (Dallas) announced Sept. 1 the completion of its Lone Star Express Pipeline NGL expansion project, which was a major part of the company’s 2020 capital program. The expansion adds more than 400,000 bbld of NGL capacity out of the Permian and Delaware Basins in Texas.

The project was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule.
Energy North Group Expands Into Upstate N.Y. Market
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Energy North Group (ENG; Lawrence, Mass.) confirmed Sept. 1 that it has expanded into the Upstate New York energy market. ENG is involved in both wholesale energy distribution and retail operations in New England.

Since 1981, ENG has delivered branded and unbranded gasoline and diesel, and continues to grow its Haffner’s proprietary brand. Product will be pulled from the Albany, Marcy, Newburgh, Rochester, and Syracuse terminals in Upstate New York.
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.