Topping Off...
Thursday, September 24, 2015
…Northern Tier Energy LP (Tempe, Ariz.) said Sept. 17 that its St. Paul Park, Minn. refinery will be taking the No. 2 crude unit down for unplanned maintenance. As a result of the maintenance, Northern Tier expects crude oil throughput for the third quarter will average between 86,000 and 90,000 bbld…
Open Season Extended for Utica Marcellus Texas Pipeline
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI; Houston) has extended the binding open season for its proposed Utica Marcellus Texas Pipeline (UMTP) project to review shipper comments and interest, as well as to solicit additional commitments. The project would transport natural gas liquids and condensate produced in the Utica and Marcellus basins to delivery points along the Texas Gulf Coast, including connecting to a Kinder Morgan dock located along the Houston Ship Channel.
Canadian Propane Inventories Climb 8.5% in August
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Canadian underground propane inventories in August grew 8.5% to record a month-over-month gain of 126.5 Mcm, according to the National Energy Board (NEB). As of Sept. 1, stocks stood at 1611.2 Mcm, the equivalent of 10.2 MMbbl. Compared to a year earlier, however, volumes were off 165.6 Mcm, or 9.3%.
Roush Develops Extended-Range Autogas Fuel Tank for Ford E-450
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Roush CleanTech (Livonia, Mich.) has developed an extended-range fuel tank for the Ford E-450 chassis that allows transit agencies to make fewer trips to the pump. With 64 usable gallons of propane autogas, the new tank holds 56% more fuel than the standard 41-usable-gallon tank option. Roush CleanTech expects most customers will purchase the new larger-sized tank since it provides more range in addition to higher fuel cost savings.
USDA Awards Grants to 21 States for Biofuel Infrastructure
Thursday, September 24, 2015
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Tom Vilsack said Sept. 10 that 21 states will receive grants through the agency’s Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to supply more renewable fuel to U.S. drivers. Since inaugurating the program in May, the Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency received applications requesting more than $130 million, outpacing the $100 million that is available.
Study Outlines More Capacity For New England Natural Gas
Thursday, September 24, 2015
New Englanders could have saved about $3.7 billion in wholesale electricity costs during the 2013-2014 Polar Vortex winter had the proposed Northeast Energy District Project (NED) been in service, according to a study by ICF International (Fairfax, Va.) commissioned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC, a Kinder Morgan Inc. (Houston) company.
Phillips 66, Spectra Energy to Strengthen DCP Midstream
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Houston-based Phillips 66 and Spectra Energy, 50/50 joint venture owners of DCP Midstream LLC (Denver), have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to contribute assets to strengthen DCP Midstream. The transaction is expected to provide DCP with a stronger balance sheet and increased financial flexibility, and position the company to grow through commodity price cycles.
Hammond Replaces Diesel School Buses with Autogas
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Twenty new school buses fueled by cleanburning, less-expensive propane autogas began operation with the new school year in Canada’s Parry Sound area on routes operated by Hammond Transportation (Bracebridge, Ont.). Family-owned Hammond has served Ontario’s school bus, charter bus, and motor coach needs in the Muskoka, Parry Sound, Simcoe, Haliburton, and Algonquin areas since 1944.
Michigan Propane Industry Rallies Against Natural Gas Expansion
Thursday, September 24, 2015
The Michigan Propane Gas Association (MPGA) is building support for its fight against state legislation that would allow natural gas service to expand into so called “unserved” or “underserved” areas using ratepayer funds, reports the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). MPGA has launched a major grass-roots effort to hinder the progress of H.B. 4303.
U.S. Propane Stockpiles Reach All-Time Recorded High
Thursday, September 24, 2015
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that primary U.S. propane and propylene inventories reached 97.7 MMbbl as of Sept. 11, the highest level in the 22 years that EIA has collected weekly inventory statistics. In the first six months of 2015, propane and propylene stocks were 24.3 MMbbl higher on average compared to the same period in 2014. In the past year, nearly all of the increase in volumes occurred in the Gulf Coast region, PADD 3.
Mid-Month to Mid-Month: Propane Strengthens
Monday, September 21, 2015
The energy industry remained focused on the global glut of crude oil and refined products at press time, and increasingly below-breakeven production prices in a lower-demand environment. Forecasters were calling for the period of market imbalances to extend longer than expected.
Low Oil Prices Prompt Selloff
Monday, September 21, 2015
The collapse of oil and gas prices has forced French oil major Total to sell off assets in the North Sea to cut costs. Total, which has been operating in the U.K. since 1962, will offload some gas pipelines to U.S.-based private equity firm Arc Light Capital’s North Sea Midstream Partners in a £585-million deal. The deal includes the Frigg pipeline and Shetland Island Regional Gas Export System, as well as the St. Fergus gas terminal.
Fossil Fuel Reduction Cut From California Climate Bill
Monday, September 21, 2015
Legislation that would have required slashing California fossil fuel use under a measure before state legislators has been dropped from a key climate change bill. Gov. Jerry Brown and other lawmakers cut a major portion of the state’s plan to fight climate change and amend S.B. 350. The bill’s original markup called for a 50% reduction of petroleum-based fuels by 2030.
U.S. Propane Inventories Grow By 1.1 MMbbl
Monday, September 21, 2015
Primary U.S. propane stocks the week ended Sept. 11 increased by 1.1 MMbbl to reach 97.7 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Sept. 16 “This Week in Petroleum” report. As of that reporting period, inventories stood 20.3 MMbbl, or 26.2%, higher than a year ago. East Coast, Midwest, and Rocky Mountain/West Coast volumes all rose by 0.3 MMbbl, while the Gulf Coast was 0.2 MMbbl higher, EIA said.
Enterprise Completes Second Segment of Aegis Ethane Pipeline
Monday, September 21, 2015
Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) has completed construction of the Beaumont, Texas to Lake Charles, La. segment of its Aegis pipeline, which is now ready to deliver ethane to additional Gulf Coast petrochemical facilities. The new 48-mile segment, along with the initial 60-mile segment currently in service, provides ethane supplies to petrochemical facilities between Mont Belvieu and Lake Charles.
Mexico Crude Swaps Likely To Provide Economic Benefits
Monday, September 21, 2015
Under licenses approved by the Bureau of Industry and Security, an office within the U.S. Department of Commerce that administers export controls on crude oil, volumes of crude produced in the U.S. and Mexico up to an approved volume cap will be exchanged. These swaps will likely involve U.S. light, sweet crude, such as the growing output from shale formations in the U.S. and Mexican heavy sour crude, notes the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Pembina Places $650 Million Of New Assets Into Service
Monday, September 21, 2015
Pembina Pipeline Corp. (Calgary) has commissioned several projects within its Gas Services and Conventional Pipeline businesses, placing about $650 million worth of assets into service. Pembina has commissioned 260 MMcfd of new processing capacity and pipeline infrastructure in Alberta and Saskatchewan for a combined capital investment of about $320 million, which represents a 7% savings versus the original project budget.
Propane Council of Texas Hosts Safety Training Program
Monday, September 21, 2015
The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) is hosting a two-day propane safety training program for the state’s emergency responders at the Brayton Training Field in College Town Sept. 28-29. The fire field, operated by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), hosts more than 45,000 emergency responders from across the state for the council’s training.
DOE Announces $11 Million For Alternative Technologies, Deadline Oct. 8
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy Department announced $11 million in available funding to support development and demonstration of innovative alternative technologies for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, designed to help reduce U.S. reliance on gasoline, diesel, and oil imports. The funding opportunity includes two areas including the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration.
Phillips 66, Spectra Energy to Strengthen DCP Midstream
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Houston-based Phillips 66 and Spectra Energy, 50/50 joint venture owners of DCP Midstream LLC (Denver), have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to contribute assets to strengthen DCP Midstream. The transaction is expected to provide DCP with a stronger balance sheet and increased financial flexibility, and position the company to grow through commodity price cycles.
Honors For Global LPG Innovation
Thursday, September 3, 2015
The World LPG Association’s World Forum’s Global Technology Conference (GTC) is known for featuring the latest innovations in the use of propane, and this year’s conference is no exception. The World Forum takes place Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, and during GTC on Sept. 29, Mark Walls of the Southwest Research Institute will be announced as the 2015 WLPGA Innovation Award winner.
PERC Names Chief Marketing Officer
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Dennis Vegas has joined the staff of the Propane Education & Research Council as its new chief marketing officer.