Gasoline

A Gulf Coast refined products export terminal that was reactivated to take advantage of the shale oil boom has loaded its first cargo, operator Enterprise Products Partners LP said Tuesday.

As an option for fleet operators turned off by high up-front costs of switching off of diesel or gasoline, two firms in the West have come up with a leasing alternative for long-haul liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered tractor trailers.

Mercedes-Benz is providing DHL Express Mexico with Sprinter compressed natural gas (CNG)-gasoline bifuel vehicles. DHL previously said it is satisfied with the performance of the 15 MB Sprinter model, which first was deployed in November in Mexico City. The vans are part of a 218-vehicle delivery from the auto manufacturer’s Mexico arm, including 181 Sprinters, 32 Vito vans and five Smart cars. DHL reported its overall investment was about US$10.5 million. The four-cylinder, 1.8-liter natural gas engines represent “the first natural gas-powered Sprinter fleet in the Americas,” according to DHL.

While natural gas prices have recovered to nearly $4/MMBtu, the National Energy Board (NEB) said Thursday that Canadian natural gas producers are undertaking minimal natural gas drilling as current prices do not cover the full costs of developing most natural gas prospects and U.S. shale development continues to displace Canadian gas exports.

A monumental shift in global oil demand and supply growth — with North America’s surging supplies exceeding earlier expectations — is redefining the industry and should transform international trade over the next five years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Friday.

Computers are prone to viruses and sometimes crash, but Americans mostly like the computer industry. However, the yo-yo nature of gasoline prices is something they can’t abide, according to a recent Gallup poll that found the oil and gas industry and the federal government have the “least positive images” among Americans, just like they did a year ago.

The House last week overwhelmingly passed legislation to exempt commercial end-users from margin requirements and ease regulations for affiliate transactions.

As gasoline prices flirt with the $4/gallon level, the Senate majority is preparing to square off with Republicans over stripping major producers’ oil and natural gas subsidies.

As gasoline prices flirt with the $4/gallon level, the Senate majority is preparing a showdown with Republicans over rescinding major producers’ oil and natural gas subsidies.