This year’s unseasonably cool summer in parts of the eastern United States and a natural gas supply glut brought on by the country’s shale production boom are continuing to put downward pressure on natural gas prices, as evidenced byNGI’s August Bidweek Survey. The national spot gas average for the month dropped 21 cents from July to average $3.45/MMBtu.
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Pressure Mounts to Tighten Rail Tank Car Standards
Pressure is mounting inside and outside Washington, DC, for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to order the retrofit or phase-out DOT-111 tank cars that are used to transport crude oil and ethanol by rail. Proponents of the effort note that a number of the tank cars involved in the fiery crash of tanker cars carrying Bakken crude in Quebec earlier this month were DOT-111 cars.
Northeast Leads ‘Free Fallin’ July Bidweek
With screen prices at a three-month low it’s no surprise that July bidweek came in a bit soft.NGI’s National Spot Gas Average for July bidweek came in at $3.66, a 48-cent decline from June 2013, but 94 cents higher than the July 2012 bidweek average.
Industry Brief
A fire in February that killed one person and destroyed a city block in Kansas City, MO, was caused by the “accidental ignition of natural gas vapors that accumulated” inside a restaurant, according to a report by the Kansas City Fire Department. Pilot lights had been left on at JJ’s restaurant despite warnings from crews investigating a nearby gas line rupture, and the fire began in the kitchen with “heat from an open flame or smoking materials” listed as the heat source (see Daily GPI, Feb. 22). However, the report did not assign blame as to what caused the Missouri Gas Energy pipeline to explode. The report was compiled by the city, the city fire department, the police department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Missouri Public Service Commission and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are conducting separate investigations.
New York Attorney General Sues Feds Over Shale Rules
Following through on his threat (see Shale Daily, May 31), New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued the federal government Tuesday for not conducting a full environmental review of proposed regulations for Marcellus Shale development in the Delaware River Basin.
PG&E Pipe Blast Probe Shifts to Corrosion, Leak Records
The focus of public speculation on the cause of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s (PG&E) Sept. 9 transmission pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA, shifted last Friday inside the pipe to the possibility of corrosion-causing microbes that can go undetected within older gas pipelines. And on Monday news reports of PG&E’s leak history caused the utility to issue a statement defending the thoroughness of its transmission pipeline maintenance and safety checks.
Natural Gas to Overtake Oil, Says Industry Veteran Steffes
Natural gas is on track to become the world’s dominant fuel in the next 10 years as intercontinental pipelines crisscross countries and producers unlock the energy inside untold amounts of shale, a Houston-based consultant said Thursday.
Natural Gas to Overtake Oil, Says Industry Veteran Steffes
Natural gas is on track to become the world’s dominant fuel in the next 10 years as intercontinental pipelines crisscross countries and producers unlock the energy inside untold amounts of shale, a Houston-based consultant said Thursday.
Gros Cacouna Terminal Plans Benefit From Regulatory, Supply Developments
Costs are rising but the leading entry in the race to place new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals just inside Canada along the St. Lawrence Seaway is poised to enter construction, thanks to favorable regulatory and supply developments.
Regulatory, Supply Developments Boost Gros Cacouna Terminal
Costs are rising but the leading entry in the race to place new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals just inside Canada along the St. Lawrence Seaway is poised to enter construction, thanks to favorable regulatory and supply developments.