Thune, Klobuchar Introduce Bill To Update EIA Supply Report
Saturday, October 28, 2017
(October 27, 2017) — U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have introduced legislation sought by the propane industry to improve the accuracy, monitoring, and reporting of propane stocks and days of supply by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports the bill would require, not later than 30 days after enactment, “that any data published relating to days of supply of propane inventories in the United States include a calculation of the volume of exports of propane.”
Rice University Scientists Produce Filter to Reclaim Fracturing Water
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
(October 24, 2017) — A new filter produced by Rice University scientists has proven able to remove more than 90% of hydrocarbons, bacteria, and particulates from contaminated water produced by hydraulic fracturing operations at shale oil and gas wells. The work, by Rice chemist Andrew Barron and colleagues, turns a ceramic membrane with microscale pores into a super-hydrophilic filter that “essentially eliminates” the common problem of fouling.
Propane People "In The News"
Friday, October 20, 2017
(November 24, 2017) — Cavagna North America Inc. (Somerset, N.J.) recently promoted two senior managers. Peter Dwyer has been named vice president of sales and business development of the LPG division, and David S. Ellis has been promoted to vice president of sales and business development of the Compressed Gas division.
North Dakota Natural Gas Output Hits Record High
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Argus Media reports that North Dakota’s natural gas production reached a record high in July 2017, tracking higher crude oil output. Gas production averaged 1.88 Bcfd, 1.3% higher from June and up 10.5% from July 2016, according to the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.
Sierra Club Accuses EPA of Failing To Respond to Its FOIA Requests
Friday, September 29, 2017
The Sierra Club said Sept. 18, 2017 it is taking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to court to hold the agency accountable for its failure, under administrator Scott Pruitt, to respond to basic Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests within the timeline required by law, or to provide estimates of when such requests might be addressed. The environmental group has led a suit with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Overtime Rule Victory; Now Tax Reform Tops NFIB Priority List
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
(September 20, 2017) — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is applauding a decision by a federal judge in Texas to strike down the Department of Labor’s overtime rule, which the association asserts would have overburdened small businesses with heightened labor expenses by making millions of workers qualify for overtime pay. In an expedited summary judgement, the ruling made permanent the temporary injunction the court had imposed last November.
Ohio Natural Gas Output Rises 16% Year on Year
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
(September 19, 2017) Ohio’s horizontal shale wells produced 4,044,072 bbl of oil and 388,560,451 Mcf of natural gas over the second quarter of this year, reports the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). While crude production was 17% lower year over year, natural gas production climbed more than 16%.
BP Makes Major Discovery in New Mexico’s Mancos Shale
Friday, September 15, 2017
In August 2017, BP said it had brought online a highly productive natural gas well in the Mancos Shale, highlighting the potential of the New Mexico field to be a significant new source of U.S. natural gas supply. Early production rates at the well in San Juan County are the highest achieved in the past 14 years within the San Juan Basin, a large oil- and gas-producing area covering southwest Colorado and northeast New Mexico that includes the Mancos Shale. The well achieved an average 30-day initial production rate of 12.9 MMcfd per day.
Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania Rank as Top Energy Suppliers
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
(September 11, 2017) — The Energy Information Administration (EIA) ranks Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and North Dakota as the top five net suppliers of energy in 2015. Overall, 12 states produced more primary energy than they consumed, while 38 states and the District of Columbia were net recipients of energy.
U.S. Will Have Buffer Against Severe Weather Events As Oil Exporter
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
(September 11, 201) — As a net oil exporter, the U.S. will have a larger buffer against any extreme weather events, as seen with Hurricane Harvey, notes Paul Sheldon, senior oil analyst at S&P Global Platts Analytics’ Pira Energy. According to the latest Pira Energy August 2017 special report, the U.S. is set to become a net oil exporter by 2023, as rising shale liquids output continues to outpace oil demand growth.
Propane Products "In The News"
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Product ADD 082017(August 24, 2017) — MOBILE FLEET FUELER. Advanced Digital Data Inc. (ADD Systems) has introduced the new Raven Companion and Raven Fleet Fueler mobile, pocket-sized products to help streamline the delivery process and to make it more efficient and error-free. The Raven Companion works with the Raven Tablet mobile solution to bring the functionality of the tablet to the hand of the driver on a small Android device.
Study Finds 10.3 Million U.S. Jobs Supported by Energy
Monday, August 21, 2017
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a study that finds the natural gas and oil industry supported 10.3 million U.S. jobs and added $1.3 trillion to the nation’s economy in 2015. The study found that jobs supported by the energy industry grew by 500,000 since 2011 and showed that all 50 states, whether producing or non-producing, continued to benefit from the industry.
Energy Infrastructure Must Keep Pace with Growing Production
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Railroad Commission of Texas chairwoman Christi Craddick in July 2017 led a discussion with industry experts on the importance of keeping the development of the nation’s energy infrastructure on pace with thriving domestic oil and natural gas production. The discussion took place at the Aspen Institute’s 2017 Global Energy, Economy, and Security Forum in Aspen, Colo.
U.S. Crude Production Forecast To Reach Record High in 2018
Thursday, August 17, 2017
(August 17, 2017) Total U.S. crude oil production is forecast to average 9.3 MMbbld in 2017, up 0.5 MMbbld from 2016, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook. In 2018, EIA expects production to reach an average of 9.9 MMbbld, which would surpass the previous record of 9.6 MMbbld set in 1970. EIA projects that most of the growth in U.S. oil production through the end of 2018 will come from tight rock formations within the Permian region in Texas and from the Federal Gulf of Mexico.
Connecticut Proposes Heating Fuel Fees for Conservation
Monday, August 7, 2017
The Hartford Courant reports that state officials are proposing that the 44% of Connecticut households that use fuel oil and propane for home heating be charged an additional energy conservation fee. Robert Klee, commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, told the newspaper that the amount of the proposed fee has yet to be determined. He said money generated from such charges would be put into a special fund to pay for energy conservation and efficiency programs.
NCTCOG Issues RFP for Alt Fuel Vehicle Platforms
Monday, July 31, 2017
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is coordinating a bulk purchase procurement on behalf of several local governments for several alternative fuel vehicle platforms, including propane and electric or plug-in hybrid electric technologies. Responses from authorized vehicle dealers in Texas are being sought through a request for proposals (RFP).
NPGA and Hazmat Transporters Remove Satellite Tracking Provision
Friday, July 28, 2017
Washington, DC (July 28, 2017) — The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), working with other hazardous material transporters, has succeeded in removing an expensive satellite tracking technology mandate provision from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authorization legislation. The first draft of H.R. 2825 released by the House Homeland Security Committee contained a provision weakening the statutory ban on DHS that prevents it from mandating the installation of satellite tracking technologies on trucks transporting hazardous materials.
API Welcomes Reconsideration Of 2016 Emissions Rule by EPA
Friday, July 21, 2017
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has reiterated its support for cost-effective regulation that targets emissions of volatile organic compounds—which provide the accompanying benefit of methane emissions reductions—for natural gas operations. API’s comments came at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearing on its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) rule where the agency received testimony on extending compliance deadlines to allow it to revisit NSPS regulations finalized in 2016.
Senate Bill Seeks to Remove Barriers on Exports of LNG
Thursday, July 13, 2017
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has introduced the License Natural Gas (LNG) Now Act to remove barriers placed on U.S. exporters so they can quickly access the market and meet the global demand for natural gas. The legislation would revamp the current system put in place by the Department of Energy decades ago and establish market growth of U.S. exports without delays.
FMCSA Proposes Steps to Ease Truck Driver Shortage
Monday, July 10, 2017
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in June 2017 issued two proposals aimed at responding to a national shortage of qualified truck and bus drivers. The proposed processes would simplify obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for many individuals and reduce administrative expenses for both the driver applicant and state driver licensing agencies.
Thomas Built and Agility Team For School Bus Market Push
Monday, July 10, 2017
(July 10, 2017) — Thomas Built Buses (High Point, N.C.) has formed a strategic partnership with Agility Fuel Solutions (Costa Mesa, Calif.), a provider of highly-engineered and cost-effective propane autogas solutions for the school bus market. Through the partnership,Thomas Built Buses and Agility will provide propane technologies to the school bus market.
Michigan Attorney General Calls For Shutdown of Line 5 Pipeline
Monday, July 10, 2017
Following a review of an alternatives analysis study, Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette, who is widely expected to run for governor next year, is calling for a timeline for closing the Line 5 pipeline that runs under the Straights of Mackinac. The straits are where lakes Huron and Michigan meet. Line 5, a 645-mile pipeline built in 1953, runs from Superior, Wis. to Sarnia, Canada and transports about 540,000 bbld of light crude oil and natural gas liquids.