Railroad

With subfreezing temperatures on the way, natural gas forward prices strengthened during the trading period from Nov. 3 to 8, according to NGI’s Forward Look. Price swings were relatively modest at the front of the forward curve when compared with recent weeks, likely because the drop in temperatures is expected to be short lived. The…

Natural gas futures reversed sharply lower early Thursday as reports of a tentative labor agreement removed the looming threat of major rail system disruptions. After jumping 83.0 cents higher in the previous session, the October Nymex contract was off 55.5 cents to $8.559/MMBtu at around 8:50 a.m. ET. The steep sell-off came amid reports early…

An affiliate of German power company Uniper SE said it has successfully completed tests to move liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail in specialized tank cars, bringing the mode of transporting the fuel one step closer to wider use across the world. Rail logistics company Vtg AG carried out initial trials on behalf of Uniper’s…

According to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), the state’s preliminary April crude oil production averaged 1.6 million b/d, up from nearly 1.2 million b/d in April 2012. The preliminary production figure for April is 48.2 million bbl, up from 35.9 million bbl in April 2012.

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) Chairman Barry Smitherman plans to run for Texas attorney general (AG) next year, but only if current AG and fellow conservative Greg Abbott does not seek re-election.

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) Chairman Barry Smitherman plans to run for Texas attorney general (AG) next year, but only if current AG and fellow conservative Greg Abbott does not seek re-election. An AG’s office headed by Smitherman would be pro-drilling and a staunch opponent of federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation.

Production of oil, natural gas and condensate continues trending upward in the Eagle Ford Shale, according to Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) data. During the first four months of this year, daily oil production surpassed that seen in 2012 and daily production of natural gas nearly met the 2012 level.

As another sign that the railroad sector is a growing potential transportation market for natural gas, Canadian National Railway (CN) has ordered four liquefied natural gas (LNG) tenders from Vancouver, BC-based Westport Innovations Inc., the first of which are to be delivered later this year. A tender is a car behind the locomotive that carries the fuel.

Changing the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) to more accurately reflect its duties as lead regulator over the state’s oil and natural gas industry and to provide more oversight over the elected members proved more difficult than some had thought, and the legislation died Tuesday in a state House committee.