U.S. Energy Trade Balance Still Dominated by Crude Oil, Imports Shrinking According to Census Bureau
Monday, October 29, 2018
(October 29, 2018) — During the past decade the U.S trade gap for energy products has narrowed, observes the Energy Information Administration (EIA). From 2003 to 2007, the value of energy imports was about 10 times greater than the value of exports. By 2017, however, imports were only about 1.5 times greater than exports, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Crude Oil Largest U.S. Petroleum Export in First Half Of 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Crude oil surpassed hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs) such as propane and butane to become the largest U.S. petroleum export, with 1.8 MMbbld of exports in the first half of 2018, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports. U.S. oil exports rose 787,000 bbld, or nearly 80%, from the first half of 2017 to the first half of this year and set a new monthly record of 2.2 MMbbld in June. Much of this crude went to destinations in Asia and Oceania such as China, South Korea, and India. Europe was the second-largest market for U.S.
Winter Seen Bringing Cold to Some, Drought Relief to Others
Monday, October 15, 2018
(October 15, 2018) — The upcoming winter season will feature unique El Niño conditions, according to DTN, a provider of insights, information, and decision-support solutions in agriculture, energy, commodity and financial analytics, and weather-sensitive industries. DTN meteorologists are anticipating El Niño will wreak havoc and cause sudden and dramatic changes in weather conditions throughout the season.
Toronto-Based Superior Plus Buys United Liquid Gas Co.
Monday, October 8, 2018
(October 8, 2018) — Superior Plus Corp. (Toronto) has acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of United Liquid Gas Co. (UPE; Reno, Nev.), which operates under the trade name United Pacific Energy. United Pacific Energy is an independent wholesale propane and butane distributor in California. The acquisition will be funded by drawing upon Superior Plus Corp.’s credit facility and is anticipated to close this quarter.
BLM Finalizes New Rule Revising 2016 Venting, Flaring Rulemaking
Thursday, October 4, 2018
WASHINGTON (October 4, 2018) — The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a final rule that revises the 2016 Waste Prevention Rule, also known as the venting and flaring rule. The new rule, which included a 60-day public comment period, is aimed at reducing unnecessary burdens on the private sector and restore proven regulations at a time when investment in federal onshore oil and gas is skyrocketing.
ONEOK to Expand LPG System, Provide More Permian Takeaway
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
ONEOK Inc. (Tulsa) on Sept. 10, 2018 said it plans to invest about $295 million to expand its West Texas LPG Ltd. partnership, otherwise known as West Texas LPG, whose pipeline system provides natural gas liquids takeaway capacity to Permian Basin producers.
Diesel Remains Dominant in Commercial Vehicle Market
Monday, October 1, 2018
(October 1, 2018) — Commercial vehicles will continue to run on diesel fuel for the foreseeable future, according to new research from the business information provider HIS Markit. Sixty-six percent of new medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles sold in the U.S. will be fueled by diesel—diesel and diesel hybrid—through 2040 compared to nearly 80% today, per findings released in September in the consultancy’s Reinventing the Truck study.
Pipelines Critical to Safely Delivering Michigan Energy
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
(September 19, 2018) — The American Petroleum Institute (API) highlighted the energy industry’s commitment to safety and the important role pipelines play in the life of every Michigan resident at an August U.S. Senate Commerce Committee field hearing on pipeline safety in the Great Lakes region.
Ray Energy Opens New Rail, Truck Terminal in Hampton, NY
Monday, September 17, 2018
Just in time for the winter heating season, Troy, N.Y.-based Ray Energy has commissioned its new propane rail and truck terminal in Hampton, N.Y. The 21-acre, Washington County facility is located near the New York-Vermont border. It features a 16-spot rail siding with an operational capacity of 28 railcars, and on-demand switch ing provided by the Vermont Railroad. Ray Energy’s railcar mover provides the ability to offload 16 cars a day.
Session To Focus On "A Time of Transition In The Americas"
Monday, September 10, 2018
Production of propane is going through what Argus Media calls a “Golden Age,” spearheaded by strong growth on the back of shale gas development in the U.S. The surge in production is having impacts around the world, especially throughout the Americas, where proximity and easy access to North American supply flows make for a heady cocktail of market evolution and growth.
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U.S. Sets New Record for NGL Production, Ties Record for Oil
Monday, September 10, 2018
(September 10, 2018) — The American Petroleum Institute’s (API) latest monthly statistical report shows the U.S. set a record for the production of natural gas liquids in July, producing 4.4 MMbbld. July also saw the nation tie its record for crude oil output at 10.7 MMbbld.
Competitive Market Boosts Truck Driver Pay and Benefit Packages
Monday, September 10, 2018
(September 10, 2018) — Data from the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) latest Driver Compensation Study shows driver pay has climbed as rising demand for transportation services has increased competition for increasingly scarce drivers. “This latest survey from more than 100,000 drivers shows that fleets are reacting to an increasingly tight market for drivers by boosting pay, improving benefit packages, and offering other enticements to recruit and retain safe and experienced drivers,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello.
Enterprise, American Midstream Enter Agreement for Processing Plant Stake
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) and Houston-based American Midstream Partners LP have entered into an agreement under which American Midstream may elect to purchase a 25% interest in Enterprise’s Pascagoula natural gas processing plant. The purchase option is subject to conditions, including American’s completing modifications to facilities on its High Point pipeline system that will provide incremental natural gas volumes with access to the Pascagoula plant.
NWE Propane’s Discount to Naphtha Smallest in 7 Months
Friday, September 7, 2018
(September 7, 2018) — Large propane cargos have narrowed to their smallest discount against cif (cost, insurance, freight) Northwest Europe (NWE) naphtha cargos since late January, driven by strengthening propane prices and a relatively flat naphtha market, S&P Global Platts reports. On Aug. 20, large cif NWE propane cargos were assessed at $556 a metric tonne, while cif NWE naphtha cargos were at $622.50 a tonne, placing the spread between the two at minus $66.50 a tonne, the smallest gap since Jan. 19 this year.
Autogas Hybrid Technology Showcased at Sustainable Fleet Conference
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Alliance AutoGas (AAG) showcased leading edge autogas hybrid technology at the 2018 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo Aug. 22-23 at the Durham, N.C. Convention Center. AAG engineers have designed an autogas electric hybrid to be introduced to the market with the 2017 Ford Fusion. The 2.0-liter, fourcylinder vehicle will provide additional torque, reduced emissions, and better fuel economy due to the innovative hybrid system.
With Cyberattacks Inevitable, Energy Sector Eyes Response
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Cyberattacks on U.S. energy systems have become unavoidable, and enough have been successful that the sector and its regulators are increasingly focused on mitigation, response, and recovery, reports S&P Global Platts. Within the past six months, news has surfaced that hackers breached an industrial control system at a U.S. power plant, infiltrated a third-party data system used for scheduling gas flows on pipelines, and broke into email accounts at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Green Truck Summit 2019 Joins With Fleet Tech Congress
Thursday, August 30, 2018
NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, is expanding available educational opportunities during the Work Truck Show 2019 by offering a new option for those attending the Green Truck Summit and Fleet Technical Congress sessions. The events will be held concurrently at the JW Marriott Indianapolis March 5.

The Work Truck Show runs March 5-8 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, with education sessions on March 5, and the exhibit hall open March 6-8.
Trade: Chinese Importers Taking Spot Cargos from Middle East
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
S&P Global Platts writes that Chinese importers are snapping up spot LPG cargos offered by Middle East producers and have refrained from taking U.S. tonnes as China prepares to impose a 25% tariff on U.S. propane and butane imports in an escalating trade war between the two nations.
BP to Take a New Stand in the U.S.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
The oil giant, British Petroleum (BP), is set to spend $10.5 billion (U.S.) for thousands of acres of land containing 4.6 billion barrels of oil and gas in the United States. It will mop-up BHP Billiton’s shale operations in Texas and Louisiana in the largest deal in 20 years, in hopes it will be transformational for the business.
Japan Steps Up U.S. LPG Purchases; Fallout from Sino-U.S. Trade Conflict
Monday, August 27, 2018
Reuters reports that Japanese utilities and industrial companies are snapping up U.S. cargos of LPG that are seeking a new home after Chinese buyers started to shun them amid an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing. Taking in fuel that would otherwise be heading for China means Japanese imports of U.S. LPG are set to stay strong after already hitting record levels earlier this year.
Maxed-Out Export Infrastructure To Strand U.S. LPG This Winter
Monday, August 27, 2018
(August 27, 2018) — The growth of U.S. LPG exports will outpace terminal capacity this winter, constraining shipments, according to ESAI Energy’s webinar U.S. Growing Pains to Upend LPG Trade & Demand, and as reported by Oil-Voice. The export constraint will temporarily cause scarcity in Asia and in the international market, driving up LPG prices relative to naphtha and causing feedstock switching in the petrochemical sector. Meanwhile, stranded LPG in the U.S.
ArcLight Acquires Midstream Assets Of Enbridge’s Midcoast Operating LP
Monday, August 27, 2018
Boston-based ArcLight Capital Partners has acquired Midcoast Operating LP from Enbridge Inc. (Calgary) for about $1.1 billion in cash. Midcoast owns and operates three natural gas gathering and processing systems in Texas and Oklahoma; a long-haul NGL transmission system delivering from multiple supply areas, including the Denver-Julesburg and Permian basins to Mont Belvieu; and a marketing and logistics business.