Pennsylvania Permitting Plummets As Natural Gas Producers Pull Back
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
(October 1, 2019) — Still under pressure from investors to throttle back spending in the face of low natural gas prices, Pennsylvania shale gas drillers pulled 23% fewer permits for new wells in August compared with 2018 and 14% fewer permits compared with July, writes S&P Global Platts.
Energy Transfer to Acquire SemGroup in $5-Billion Deal
Monday, September 30, 2019
(September 30, 2019) — Energy Transfer LP (Dallas) has a merger deal in place to acquire SemGroup Corp. (Tulsa) in a stock and cash transaction valued at about $5 billion, which includes assumption of debt. The transaction is expected to close late this year or early next year, subject to the approval of SemGroup stockholders and regulatory approvals.
Saudi Production Outage Sends Global Crude Oil Prices Soaring
Thursday, September 26, 2019
(September 26, 2019) — The Energy Information Administration (EIA) writes that the Sept. 14 attack that damaged the Saudi Aramco Abqaiq oil processing facility and the Khurais oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia caused Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices to experience their steepest single-day increase in a decade Sept. 16. The Abqaiq facility is the world’s largest crude oil processing and stabi- lization plant, with a capacity of 7 MMbbld, or about 7% of world oil output capacity.
NPGA Opposes ASHRAE Proposal For Unvented Heater Standard
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
(September 25, 2019) — The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports that over the last few years it has joined other fuel gas industry partners to oppose an “extremely stringent sizing criteria” for unvented heaters that was proposed for ASHRAE (American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) 62.2—Standard for Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality for Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
Canadian Association Issues Weather Emergency Advice
Monday, September 23, 2019
(September 23, 2019) — As Atlantic Canada grappled with the effects of heavy rainfall and power outages in early September, the Canadian Propane Association (CPA) and propane retailers encouraged Canadians to take safety precautions and issued flood safety tips for propane users to keep themselves safe during difficult weather conditions.
35% Decline In Onshore Well Production
Monday, September 23, 2019
IHS Markit, noting it had harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to assess, automate, and predict the future production of each of the nearly one million producing oil and gas wells in its North American data- bases, is forecasting rapid onshore oil-production decline rates, with existing wells falling by 35% over the next 12 months. This compares with base declines of 5% to 14% for most petroleum systems globally during the same period—and a base decline rate of less than 15% a decade ago in the U.S.
National Resolution Opposing Sen. Sanders’ Climate Plan Passed
Monday, September 23, 2019
(September 23, 2019) — The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) passed a resolution introduced by Railroad Commission of Texas chairman Wayne Christian urging the federal government to oppose presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) version of the Green New Deal.
Global LPG Market Seen Reaching $359.32 Billion By 2025
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
(September 17, 2019) — The global LPG market was valued at $277.93 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $359.32 billion by 2025, notching a 3.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to a new report by Zion Market Research. The firm observes that rapid urbanization and enhanced purchase parity among populations in emerging economies are key factors driving the LPG market.
35% Decline In Onshore Well Production Predicted
Monday, September 16, 2019
(September 16, 2019) — IHS Markit, noting it had harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to assess, automate, and predict the future production of each of the nearly one million producing oil and gas wells in its North American data- bases, is forecasting rapid onshore oil-production decline rates, with existing wells falling by 35% over the next 12 months. This compares with base declines of 5% to 14% for most petroleum systems globally during the same period—and a base decline rate of less than 15% a decade ago in the U.S.
Expanding NGL Markets Likely To Affect Producer Decisions
Monday, September 16, 2019
(September 16, 2019) — Expanding markets for natural gas liquids produced in the Appalachian Basin should provide an extra financial incentive for natural gas producers in the region to maintain robust production in the long term, although concerns over low gas and NGL prices continue to dominate short-term planning, writes S&P Global Platts.
Enterprise, Chevron Agreements Support Offshore Crude Oil Port
Thursday, September 12, 2019
(September 12, 2019) — Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) and Chevron USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corp. (San Ramon, Calif.), have signed long-term agreements supporting the development of Enterprise’s Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) in the Gulf of Mexico.
Pennsylvania Recruitment Program Gets $50,000 in PERC Funding
Monday, September 9, 2019
(September 9, 2019) — The Pennsylvania Propane Foundation has been awarded $50,000 by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) for its GeneratioNext Energy Pros initiative, a workforce development program designed to connect students and graduates of technical schools with potential employers in the propane industry.
Expected Refinery Run Rate Decline First In A Decade
Friday, September 6, 2019
(September 6, 2019) — U.S. gross inputs to refineries, also known as refinery runs, have increased each year since 2009, most recently reaching a record-high of 17.3 MMbbld in 2018, reports the Energy Information Administration (EIA). However, based on the agency’s monthly refinery-run data through May and the forecast for the remainder of 2019, EIA expects refinery runs to decline and average 17.0 MMbbld this year.
Pinnacle Propane Buys West Gas Service Co.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
(August 30, 2019) — Pinnacle Propane (Georgetown, Texas) has acquired West Gas Service Co., a central Texas residential and commercial propane distributor. The transaction marked Pinnacle Propane’s sixth acquisition since the company itself was acquired by Netherlands-based SHV Energy in July 2017.
Partnership Releases Inaugural Report on Emissions Progress
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
(August 28, 2019) — The Environmental Partnership, an initiative of U.S. natural gas and oil producers, has released the first of what is planned to be an annual report high- lighting the industry’s progress in reducing emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds. The report contains updates on the partnership’s three performance programs, as well as its growth from just over 20 participants at launch to now counting 65 companies that represent more than 80% of the top natural gas producers in the U.S.
Produce Natural Gas, Store Carbon Dioxide
Monday, August 26, 2019
(August 26, 2019) — New research at the University of Texas at Austin shows that injecting air and carbon dioxide into methane ice deposits buried beneath the Gulf of Mexico could unlock vast natural gas energy resources while helping fight climate change by trapping the carbon dioxide (CO2) underground.
Targa Commences Service On Grand Prix NGL Pipeline
Friday, August 23, 2019
Targa Resources (Houston) said Aug. 8 that its Grand Prix NGL pipeline has commenced full operations, capping a list of significant growth projects. The pipeline, which runs from the Permian Basin in West Texas to Mont Belvieu, is consistently flowing between 150,000 bbld to 170,000 bbld.
12-Year Cylinder Requalification Proposed by PHMSA
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
(August 20, 2019) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking calling for a return to a 12-year cylinder requalification period after hydrostatic, aka volumetric expansion, testing, reports the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).
Altus Acquires Stake in Shin Oak NGL Pipeline
Friday, August 16, 2019
(August 16, 2019) — Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) and Altus Midstream Co. (Houston) have closed a deal that will have Altus Midstream acquire a 33% equity interest in an Enterprise Products subsidiary that owns the Shin Oak natural gas liquids pipeline. The 658-mile Shin Oak Pipeline transports growing NGL production from multiple basins, including the Permian, to Enterprise’s fractionation and storage complex in Mont Belvieu.
ONEOK To Expand NGL, Natural Gas Infrastructure
Friday, August 16, 2019
(August 16, 2019) — ONEOK (Tulsa) has reported plans to expand natural gas and natural gas liquids infrastructure between now and 2021, including the construction of a 200-MMcfd upgrade of the Bear Creek natural gas processing plant and related infrastructure in the Willison Basin.
$4.5 Trillion Cost Seen for Decarbonizing Power Grid
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
(August 14, 2019) — New analysis by Wood Mackenzie finds that the transition to a 100% renewable U.S. power grid will need an investment of up to $4.5 trillion over the next 10 to 20 years. The Edinburgh, Scotland-based global consultancy estimates that about 1600 gigawatts (GW) of new wind and solar capacity would be needed to produce enough energy to replace all fossil fuel generation in the U.S.