Richard Nemec began writing for NGI in 1995 and has 30 years experience in the energy industry. He holds BA from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and a MA in journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; and completed MBA courses at Northwestern's Evening Graduate School of Management.
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Articles from Rich Nemec
Booming NatGas Picture Not Without Risk, Industry Analyst Says
The shale boom does not come without risks, but it is presenting some major potential economic benefits for the United States if the industry and the nation can negotiate the “riskier parts of commercial commodity management,” according to ConocoPhillips Marketing Analysis Director Jim Duncan, who spoke at the LDC MidContinent Gas Forum in Chicago Monday.
Enterprise Offering Capacity on Bakken-to-Cushing Oil Pipeline
Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners LP on Thursday kicked off a binding open season for capacity on its proposed crude oil pipeline from the Williston Basin in North Dakota to the hub at Cushing, OK. The open commitment period will close Oct. 17.
Idaho Oil/Gas Panel Delays E&P Drilling Request
Houston-based Alta Mesa Holdings LP, a privately held exploration and production (E&P) company, had its plans for pursuing some E&P activity in Idaho slammed by the state oil/gas regulators Thursday. The state sided with federal authorities who contend their mineral rights will be shortchanged by what Alta Mesa is proposing to do.
Mexico Energy Reforms Called ‘Golden Opportunity’ for California
Mexico reforms signed into law in August by President Enrique Pena Nieto are critical steps for the energy sector to welcome an influx of foreign investment, offering a “golden opportunity” for California with its location and historic ties, state energy officials said on Tuesday.
NGV Growth (or Lack of) Claims Debated
Contrary to recent business media reports and auto industry sales research, natural gas vehicle (NGV) growth, at least in the fleet trucking sector, is robust and not the lackluster picture that is being painted, according to officials with NGVAmerica, a Washington, DC-based trade association.
North Dakota In Rail Emergency, Governor Tells Feds; Crude v. Corn
While crude oil from North Dakota moves increasingly by rail, Gov. Jack Dalrymple on Thursday told a federal transportation panel field hearing in Bismarck that his state is suffering from inadequate rail service for its multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry.
Wyoming Poised for Energy Growth, Energy Chief Says
Wyoming’s oil and natural gas sector is ready to grow, particularly on the oil side, with the increase in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), the state’s chief energy regulator told NGI’s Shale Daily on Wednesday.
PG&E to Appeal Ruling of $1.4B San Bruno Pipe Fines
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) said Wednesday it will ask state regulators to review two regulatory judges’ recommendations that combined would assess $1.4 billion in penalties against the San Francisco-based utility for its failings leading to a natural gas transmission pipeline rupture and explosion four years ago in San Bruno, CA.
Quake Response Shows Safety Improvements, PG&E Says
With California Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday requesting that the three-county South Napa earthquake area be designated as a disaster area by the Obama administration, officials for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) are calling the combination utility’s coordinated quake response an indicator of how far it has come in improving its safety and emergency responsiveness.
Industry Brief
Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) fuel and fueling station developer Clean Energy Fuels Corp. at the end of last month was granted a natural gas export approval from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to cover Canada, Mexico and other free trade agreement (FTA) nations. A Clean Fuels spokesperson told NGI the Newport Beach, CA-based company has no intention of getting into the full-scale LNG export business, although it is working on a containerized LNG project that involves the gas utility in Hawaii (see Daily GPI,April 10). Such shipments to another state such as Hawaii do not require DOE authorization. Clean Energy is negotiating with two Canadian trucking companies that plan to switch their fleets to run on LNG, and the DOE export authorization is a means for fuel supplier to serve the Canadian market. The DOE authorization is for a two-year period covering LNG shipments by truck, rail, barge or other waterborne vessel up to a combined total supply equivalent of 100 Bcf.