Apache Corp. (Houston) has confirmed its discovery of a significant new resource play, the Alpine High, on acreage it owns in the southern portion of the Delaware Basin, primarily in Reeves County, Texas. The company estimates hydrocarbons in place are 75 Tcf of rich gas and 3 Bbbl of oil in the Barnett and Woodford formations alone. Apache also sees significant oil potential in the shallower Pennsylvanian, Bone Springs, and Wolfcamp formations.
Global oil demand growth is slowing at a faster pace than initially predicted, the newly released Oil Market Report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) tells subscribers. For 2016, a gain of 1.3 MMbbld is now expected, a downgrade of 0.1 MMbbld from the agency’s previous forecast due to a more pronounced third-quarter slowdown. Momentum eases further to 1.2 MMbbld in 2017 as underlying macroeconomic conditions remain uncertain.
Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp. (Houston) have entered into a merger agreement under which the two companies will combine in a stock-for-stock transaction. The merger will create one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America with a value of about $127 billion. Enbridge president and CEO Al Monaco will serve as president and CEO of the combined company. Greg Ebel, Spectra president and CEO, will
With the Obama administration temporarily shutting down construction of one segment of the Dakota Access Pipeline, American Petroleum Institute president Jack Gerard and North America’s Building Trades Unions president Sean McGarvey are underscoring the benefits of increased energy infrastructure and the negative impact of administration action on the rule of law, American workers, and consumers.
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has launched Propane Equipment Dealer Point, an online search tool that allows commercial landscape contractors to find the nearest knowledgeable dealers of propane-powered mowers. Propane equipment dealers can also sign up—free of charge—to be listed as a propane equipment dealer on Dealer Point.

 

Invitations have been extended to propane industry members to play in Trinity Containers’ Golf Fore Education Tournament Oct. 1 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C. The event precedes the start of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) fall board of directors meeting. All proceeds benefit the National Propane Gas Foundation (NPGF) Scholarship Fund.
Pennsylvania’s natural gas production volume trended upward in 2015, according to the newly released Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 2015 Oil and Gas Annual Report. In 2015, more than 4.6 Tcf of natural gas was produced in the Keystone State compared to about 1 Tcf in 2011. Currently, Pennsylvania is reported to be the second-largest supplier of natural gas in the nation.
Far from being threatened by recent weak prices, the status of the U.S. as an emerging energy superpower has solidified in 2016, weakening OPEC’s grip over the oil market along with Russia’s influence over Europe’s gas supplies, writes The National Interest magazine.
Phillips 66 Partners LP (Houston) has reached an agreement to acquire a natural gas liquids logistics system in southeast Louisiana from Chevron (San Ramon, Calif.). The system includes about 500 miles of pipelines and a storage cavern connecting multiple fractionation facilities, refineries, and a petrochemical facility.
Chicago, Illinois-based Energy Distribution Partners (“EDP”) is pleased to announce that Elizabeth (Beth) Autore and Michelle Roe have joined the company. Autore joins as General Manager for Autore Oil and Propane in Cedarville, Michigan, and Roe joins as General Manager for Shute Oil & Propane in Rudyard, Michigan. Both companies provide propane and other fuels to residential, commercial and agricultural customers in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula.
Coloradans are reported to have likely gathered sufficient signatures to qualify two anti-hydraulic fracturing initiatives for the November ballot. One, Initiative 75, gives cities the authority to ban the 60-year-old wellstimulation practice, while the other, Initiative 78, would expand setbacks around hydraulic fracturing sites to at least 2500 feet.
Despite increases in crude oil prices since the start of the year, employment in oil and natural gas extraction and support activities continued declining from levels reached in the fall of 2014, just prior to the onset of falling oil prices, reports the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The total rig count, including both oil-directed and natural gas-directed rigs, has declined even more sharply—from nearly 1800 rigs in the fall of 2014 to a weekly low
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC), and 47 additional U.S. oil and natural gas industry trade associations are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work with the industry on its recent information-gathering request, allowing for a better and more thorough understanding of oil and natural gas operations.
Inter Pipeline Ltd. (Calgary) said Aug. 8 it had entered into an agreement to acquire the shares of the Williams Co. Inc.’s and Williams Partners LP’s (Tulsa) Canadian natural gas liquids midstream businesses for a cash payout of $1.35 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter and is subject to approval under the Competition Act and other customary closing conditions.
GENERATORS. Briggs & Stratton Corp. has introduced its premium line of Briggs & Stratton Fortress standby generator systems, which is replacing its GE Generator Systems line. The new models range in size from 10 kw to 60 kw, to fit a variety of needs. The Fortress line runs on propane or natural gas and comes with a six-year warranty on parts, labor, and travel.
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Safety consultant Eric Leskinen has joined P3 (Portsmouth, N.H.) as executive vice president. He will focus on product development and growing the consulting business within the firm’s propane sector.
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has published its 2017 budget plan for public comment. The plan includes the probable costs of all programs, projects, and contracts as well as a recommended assessment rate sufficient to cover costs. After public review and comment, PERC must submit the spending plan to the secretary of energy and to Congress. The blueprint is available for viewing at propanecouncil.org/uploadedFiles/2017_Budget_for_Public_Comment.
Propane trading edged higher Thursday during a week when oil first fell into a bear market, then jumped sharply higher after a big drop in gasoline inventories. Propane spot prices at the Mont Belvieu markets gained a quarter cent and 0.375 cents compared to the Monday email Update, while deals in the Group (Conway, Kan.) also advanced three eights of a cent.
Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) has loaded its first two vessels with polymer-grade propylene (PGP) for export at the Enterprise Hydrocarbons Terminal (EHT) along the Houston Ship Channel, adding a new service at the facility. The company said it is expecting an increase in the number of PGP export cargos in response to growing international demand.
The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) and the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will host a free propane autogas vehicle technician training course Oct. 18-20 at Lawson State Community College in Bessemer, Ala. The course is designed for professional, experienced automotive technicians and automotive trainers seeking to learn about propane autogas vehicles.
Those attending this year’s STN Expo July 23-27 in Reno, Nev. had their first opportunity to view and drive Blue Bird Corp.’s (Fort Valley, Ga.) new Vision Gen 4 propane bus and the company’s new Vision CNG bus. “At Blue Bird we have an unwavering commitment to be the best in passenger safety and total cost of ownership, as well as robust service and support,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Bluebird.
Proposed fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards would increase fuel economy and reduce diesel consumption in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) comments. Unlike light-duty vehicles, which have been subject to fuel economy standards since the 1970s, the first phase of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle standards was recently implemented, starting with model year 2014. The proposed Phase 2 standards, issued jointly by the U.S.