FMCSA Publishes Start Date for Hours of Service Modifications
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially published modifications to Hours of Service (HOS) regulatory provisions on June 1, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports. Motor carriers and drivers can implement the modifications starting September 29, 2020.
2020’s Oil Demand Recovery Slower; 2021 Demand Downgraded
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Rystad Energy (Oslo, Norway) continues to update its weekly COVID-19 reports that calculate the effect of the novel coronavirus on global fuel markets. Its more frequent updates have resulted from recent developments, with travel restrictions, quarantine obligations, and new government policies being announced daily around the globe.
U.S. Customers Experience Longer Power Outages in 2017, 2018
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Interruptions in electricity service, caused by many factors including weather, vegetation patterns, and utility practices, vary in frequency and duration across the nearly 3000 electric distribution systems in the U.S., the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports. In 2018, power outage durations for these electricity users averaged 5.8 hours per customer.
U.S. Rig Count Continues to Decline
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
According to the latest Baker Hughes rig count, the U.S. rig count has declined by 17 rigs from last week to 301 rigs. Oil rigs fell by 15 to 222; gas rigs lost two to fall to 77; and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at two.

The current U.S. count is down 683 rigs from last year’s 984, with oil rigs down 578, gas rigs down 107, and miscellaneous rigs up two to two.
The U.S. offshore rig count is unchanged from last week, at 12, but is down 11 year-over-year.
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Guidance
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) recently reported on the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Small Business Administration’s (SBA) release of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application and clarifying guidance on the process. The application and guidance include measures to reduce compliance burdens for borrowers, which include:

• Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles.
NAHB Sees Promising Signs For Housing
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
As parts of the U.S. reopen while the country is still struggling to mitigate the COVID-19 virus, the National Association of Homebuilder’s (NAHB) chief economist Robert Dietz foresees that some sectors of the U.S. economy will have a greater potential to rebound faster than others. The NAHB forecast is based on housing being a leading sector in the recovery because housing was underbuilt entering into this government-imposed recession and low interest rates will help support demand.
Gault Family Cos. Acquires Fellow Connecticut Operation
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
The Gault Family Cos. in Westport, Conn., has acquired the full-service energy business of Quinoco Energy Services in Bristol, Conn. Terms of the acquisition were not released.

Quinoco, founded in the late-1800s, is a marketer of propane, fueloil, and HVAC services. It operates 32 vehicles from its three operating locations in the western half of Connecticut.
MAN to Supply Engines to Hartmann LPG Tankers
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
MAN Energy Solutions has won the contract to supply individual liquid gas injection propane (LGIP) dual-fuel engines for three 5000-m3 LPG tankers currently under construction by CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering in Shanghai for Hartmann Carriers, a German shipping company. Each newbuilding will receive a propulsion package with one 5S35ME-LGIP engine, an alpha controllable pitch propeller, PTO, and propulsion control system.
The “Great Shut-in” Hits North America
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
IHS Markit expects U.S. oil producers to halt production by 1.75 MMbbld, while Canada is projected to cut production by 500,000 bbld as the “Great Shut-in” takes hold. A result of the collapse in oil prices, the consultancy projects these cuts due to operating cash losses, lack of demand and storage capacity, and an unwillingness to sell resources at the very low prices available since the onset of the COVID crisis.
Active Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted for 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
According to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
OSHA Publishes New COVID-19 Enforcement Guidance
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised two enforcement memorandums: (i) increasing in-person inspections at all workplaces; and (ii) reinstating workplace illness recordkeeping and reporting requirements for COVID-19. OSHA stated that the revisions were appropriate as states and localities reopen, reports the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).
FMCSA Begins Crash Preventability Determination Program
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced the start of the Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP). Under this program, if you have an eligible crash that occurred on or after August 1, 2019, you may submit a Request for Data Review (RDR) with the required police accident report and other supporting documents, photos, or videos through the agency’s DataQs website.
Canadian Propane and Butane Inventories Soared In April
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Canada’s primary underground propane inventories increased 59.9% in April to 659.4 Mcm, the equivalent of 4.2 MMbbl, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a month-to-month gain of a whopping 247.1 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks increased 1.5 Mcm, or 0.2%.
Offen Petroleum and Bosselman Agree to Terminate Acquisition Agreement
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Offen Petroleum (Commerce City, Colo.), an independent fuel distributor, Bosselman Energy (Grand Island, Neb.), a fuel distributor, and Bosselman Carriers LLC, a fuel transportation company, announced May 19 that they have mutually agreed to end their agreement pursuant to which Offen would have acquired Bosselman.

The pending agreement was announced March 11, 2020, and was set to close in April 2020.
Annual PERC Retail Propane Sales Report Due
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Time is running short for propane marketers to submit their 2019 Retail Propane Sales Report. Due on June 1, the sales report is conducted by ICF on behalf of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). It is undertaken to determine the odorized propane sales to end-use sectors for the calendar year 2019 and is the only source of state-level end-use sector sales information for odorized propane.
Record Liquid Fuels Inventory Builds Expected
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
As efforts to contain the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continue to lead to rapid declines in petroleum consumption around the world, the production of liquid fuels globally has changed more slowly, leading to record increases in the amount of crude oil and other petroleum liquids placed into storage in recent months. In its May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects global inventory builds will be largest in the first half of 2020.
U.S. Gas Production Thought to Hit Bottom in November
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced oil and gas producers to slash budgets and reduce drilling activity, which in the U.S. always affects future hydrocarbon output as existing fields naturally decline. Operators also shut some producing oil fields, halting in turn their associated gas output. Rystad Energy estimates that U.S. gas production (Lower 48 States excl. Gulf of Mexico) will reach its lowest point in November, at 82.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) before a gradual slow recovery begins in 2021.
Latest Crop Report Shows Promise
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop progress report for the 2020 planting season continues to show cause for optimism. As of May 17, 80% of the corn had been planted compared to 44% in 2019. The current year’s planting is 9% ahead of the five-year average of 71%.

Emerged corn percentages are also increasing compared to 2019. The total percentage of emerged corn was at 43% as of May 17, a strong 19% above the prior week’s 24%, and bettering the five-year average of 40%.
Drivers’ Hours Of Service (HOS) Final Ruling
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revised the hours of service (HOS) regulations to provide greater flexibility for drivers subject to those rules without adversely affecting safety.
Interactive Site Offers Educational Games, Activities For Children
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is sharing an interactive online activity center for parents and caretakers of preschool and young school age children looking for fun learning opportunities while much of the country is keeping safe at home.

The site, PropaneKids.com, includes games, activities, and science experiments for children that are designed to reinforce the importance of propane safety and education with a focus on the farm.
Mid-Month to Mid-Month: May Nudges Propane Prices Upward
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Nearly half of global demand for butane and propane comes from the residential and commercial sectors, with more than one-third of the supply of these fuels being sourced from oil refineries, according to Btu, writes Natural Gas Daily. But, following a sharp drop in crude oil demand tied to the coronavirus pandemic, refinery runs have dwindled and, by extension, so has production of butane and propane. Unlike oil, though, demand persists for the NGLs and is supporting prices.
Largest U.S. Rig Count Collapse is Already Here—When Will It Bottom Out?
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the largest horizontal rig count collapse ever recorded in the U.S., according to a Rystad Energy analysis of Baker Hughes data. The total horizontal oil rig count fell below 270 rigs last week, a 57% decline from the peak of 624 rigs seen in mid-March 2020. Horizontal gas drilling was down to 70 rigs last week, which is 54% below the previous peak seen in June 2019.