Prelude: a new era for LNG?
Shell has sounded the trumpets and declared Prelude, the world's largest floating LNG vessel, as "a new era for the LNG industry." Ross McCracken blogs.
Unlikely humanitarians - shippers returning to Libya face a tough moral dilemma
Increasingly, Libyan shipowners are receiving calls to assist unseaworthy vessels carrying migrants heading for Europe, shipping sources say. Eklavya Gupte investigates.
U.S. crude oil production forecast expected to reach record high in 2018
(Tue, 25 Jul 2017) In EIAâs latest <em>Short-Term Energy Outlook</em> (STEO), total U.S. crude oil production is forecast to average 9.3 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2017, up 0.5 million b/d from 2016. In 2018, EIA expects crude oil production to reach an average of 9.9 million b/d, which would surpass the previous record of 9.6 million b/d set in 1970.
World Oil Transit Chokepoints
(Tue, 25 Jul 2017) World chokepoints for maritime transit of oil are a critical part of global energy security. About 61% of the world's petroleum and other liquids production moved on maritime routes in 2015. The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca are the world's most important strategic chokepoints by volume of oil transit.
California wholesale electricity prices are higher at the beginning and end of the day
(Mon, 24 Jul 2017) Comparisons of January through June electricity prices over the past three years suggest a growing premium for day-ahead hourly prices in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) energy market for certain morning and evening hours relative to prices for midday hours.
U.S. fuel ethanol production continues to grow in 2017
(Fri, 21 Jul 2017) Through the first six months of 2017, U.S. weekly ethanol production averaged 1.02 million barrels per day (b/d), an increase of 5% over the same period in 2016
Mexico conducts its first natural gas pipeline capacity open season
(Thu, 20 Jul 2017) As part of a series of ongoing energy reforms, Mexicoâs National Center for Natural Gas Control (CENAGAS) recently conducted the first open season to auction capacity rights on the countryâs natural gas pipeline grid.
One in eight U.S. homes uses a programmed thermostat with a central air conditioning unit
(Wed, 19 Jul 2017) Programmable thermostats are designed to help manage energy use, but most of the U.S. households with these controls do not choose to program their thermostats. Based on information collected through EIAâs Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) for 2015, only 12% of the nationâs 118 million households had a central air-conditioning unit that is actually controlled using the programmed thermostat.
Recent LOOP Sour rally evidence of persistent, global sour shortage: In the LOOP
The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port received no imports of Saudi Arabian or Iraqi crudes by mid-July, and prices for grades such as LOOP Sour have gone up.
US methanol bearish ahead of H2 capacity expansion in Texas
The expected startup of new US methanol capacity during the second half of the year is prompting a bearish outlook for some market participants heading into the third quarter.