MassiveIndustry

(Thu, 21 Feb 2019) New methanol plants under development in the United States are increasing natural gas consumption in the industrial sector. Methanol plants are among the most natural gas-intensive industrial end users and require natural gas both as a feedstock and for process heat. Three new plants expected to come online in 2019 and 2020 have a combined nameplate capacity of about 3.3 million metric tons per year (MMmt/y) and would increase total U.S. methanol capacity to 9.4 MMmt/y, or 25,600 metric tons per day (mt/d)—a 45% increase from the current U.S. capacity.

(Tue, 19 Feb 2019) A Federal Register Notice (FRN) was published on February 19, 2019 regarding proposed changes to the Petroleum Marketing Program. The ten surveys collect price and volume information to determine supply of and demand for crude oil and refined petroleum products.

(Fri, 15 Feb 2019) In December 2018, U.S. shale and tight plays produced about 65 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas (70% of total U.S. dry gas production) and about 7 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil (60% of total U.S. oil production). A decade ago, in December 2008, shale gas and tight oil made up 16% of total U.S. gas production and about 12% of U.S. total crude oil production.

(Thu, 14 Feb 2019) State-level estimates of natural gas processing plant capacity, throughput, utilization, and heat content are now available for 2017. Estimates show processing plant capacity and throughput each increasing by about 5% on a net basis for the Lower 48 states between 2014 and 2017.