Preparing Bobtails for Winter: A Year-Round Job
Thursday, October 3, 2013
While some propane marketers are now preparing their bobtail trucks for the upcoming winter, Jim Krzywicki’s trucks are already done. Krzywicki, operations manager for Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil Co. (Atkinson, N.H.), starts preparing the trucks for winter earlier. A lot earlier.
He begins preparing his trucks the day after the previous winter ends.

“Things you do to prepare for winter you should be doing year-round for preventive maintenance,” said Krzywicki, who has been with Palmer Gas/Ermer Oil for 37 years.
Vehicle Barrier Protection Among New NFPA 58 Edition Updates
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committee’s work was complete last January for the 2014 edition of NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. The NFPA 58 committee had finished the document, and the appeals process had begun. By April, the committee had acted on all of the changes from the appeals process and finalized the document. The 2014 edition of NFPA 58 was set for publication in early September.
PHMSA Seeks Comments On Railcar Safety Proposals
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administra­tion (PHMSA) is seeking public comment to further enhance the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail tank cars, including the DOT 111 tank car, a type of non-pressure railcar commonly used in North America.
UTSA Research Integral to Eagle Ford Shale Impact
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Ongoing research at the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development (UTSA) is serving as the preeminent resource to state and local officials in forecasting the evolving economic impact of the Eagle Ford Shale. Eagle Ford is a 50-mile-wide by 400-mile long formation running from South Texas to the east.
Court to Review Bans On Hydraulic Fracturing
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
New York State Petroleum Council executive director Karen Moreau is welcoming a decision by New York’s Court of Appeals to hear from local landowners and oil and natural gas representatives who stipulate that bans on hydraulic fracturing in Middlefield and Dryden are standing in the way of needed economic investment, reports the American Petro
Excel Industries Partners With Metro Lawn for Conversions
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Excel Industries Inc. said Aug. 30 it had entered into an agreement with Metro Lawn for propane conver­sions of its Hustler turf equipment and BigDog mowers. Metro Lawn, a division of AmeriGas, provides fuel system kits certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board for Kawasaki engines.
Record-High Corn Production Seen By USDA in 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
U.S. corn growers are expected to produce a record-high 13.8 billion bushels of corn in 2013, according to the August “Crop Production” report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The forecast production is up 28% from drought-hit 2012. NASS notes the early planting season this year was not favorable for corn growers, who were hampered by abnormally wet and cold spring weather.
Chicago Students Ride to School in Blue Bird Buses
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Students in Chicago are riding in environmen­tally friendly propane autogas school buses thanks to local school bus contractor Sunrise Transportation. The Blue Bird Corp. Vision buses are providing lower fuel and maintenance costs and reducing the fleet’s carbon footprint. A key hand-over ceremony was held Aug. 28 attended by Chicago officials and representatives of Blue Bird, Central States Bus Sales, the Propane Education & Research Council, AmeriGas, and Chicago Clean Cities.
BLM Fracturing Rule Undermines State Authority
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Western Energy Alliance (WEA), in comments submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding its second draft of a proposed rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing and well construction on federal lands, are calling the rule unnec­essary and a move to undermine state authority.
A Taste For Acquiring
Thursday, September 12, 2013
When you buy a propane company, you are really buying a book of customers. Those customers don’t see themselves as buying propane just from a company, however. They buy from people, namely employees.
World Autogas Market
Thursday, September 12, 2013
‘Helping the Right People Make the Right Decisions’
TEPPCO Case 6 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
FERC Approves Settlement
In Long-Running TEPPCO Case

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a settlement favorable to the propane industry in a long-running TEPPCO rate case. The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) notes the May 31 judgment caps more than a year of effort to ensure just and reasonable rates on the pipeline, and that through the agreement the industry will enjoy rate certainty for shippers for the two-year duration of the agreement.
Sunoco Exports 6 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Energy Transfer Affiliates Move
Forward with Exports-Imports

Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (Philadelphia), an affiliate of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP, has secured long-term, fee-based agreements with Shell Trading (US) Co. (STUSCO, Houston) to proceed with an LPG export/import project. STUSCO has committed to the project, known as Mariner South, as an anchor customer.
Williams Bluegrass 6 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Williams, Boardwalk, Form Joint
Venture for Bluegrass Pipeline

Williams (Tulsa) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (Houston) have formed a joint venture to continue the development of the Bluegrass Pipeline, a project that would transport NGLs from the Marcellus and Utica shale plays to the petrochemical and export complex on the U.S. Gulf Coast, as well as the developing petrochemical market in the Northeast U.S.
Enterprise ATEX 6 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Enterprise Hosts Open Season
For ATEX Express Pipeline

Enterprise Products Partners LP (Houston) is hosting a binding open season through July 11 to determine shipper support for transporting propane to Mont Belvieu on the partnership’s Appalachia-to-Texas ATEX Express Pipeline. ATEX currently has long-term contracts in place for ethane transportation to Mont Belvieu. The addition of propane service will not affect Enterprise’s contractual obligations with existing ATEX ethane shippers.
BP Carson 6 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
BP Completes Sale of Refinery,
Retail Assets to Tesoro Corp.
Inventory 6 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Propane Inventories Gain 1.9 MMbbl

Total U.S. inventories of propane increased 1.9 MMbbl the week ended May 31 to stand at 47 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “This Week in Petroleum” report. The agency notes the nation’s stocks as of that reporting period the nation’s stocks were 10.9 MMbbl, or 18.8%, lower than during the same period a year ago.
Energy Importance 6 3
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Importance of Onshore Energy
Development Reinforced at Hearing

Witnesses at a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing May 22 stressed the importance of onshore energy development for economic and job growth and energy security. The hearing outlined four bills that would streamline government red tape and expand development of U.S. onshore oil, natural gas, and renewable energy resources as part of an all-of-the-above approach to energy production.
Scott Rigell 5 13
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
House Bill Calls for Drilling
Off Coast of Virginia

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) has introduced the Virginia Jobs and Energy Act (H.R. 1782) to open the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Virginia for energy development. Original cosponsors of the bill include Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Robert Hurt (R-Va.), and Morgan Griffith (R-Va.). Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and the state’s U.S. Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, have signaled their support of similar legislation.
Transboundary 5 13
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Witnesses Stress Importance
Of Transboundary Agreement

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources in late April was examining steps needed for implementation and a legislative hearing on the Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act (H.R. 1613). The legislation would implement the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Agreement by lifting the current moratorium on drilling in the Western Gap area of the Gulf of Mexico.