Archive for March, 2015

BP motion to block Alabama Gulf oil spill claims jury trial denied

BP motion to block Alabama Gulf oil spill claims jury trial denied

Alabama Gulf oil spill trial can be heard by jury A judge says Alabama’s Gulf oil-spill-damage claims under the federal Oil Pollution Act can be heard by a jury. BP had moved to block a jury trial for the state, saying that neither the Oil Pollution Act nor admiralty law provides the right to a […]

Tesla Motors unveils new product – likely a battery – next month

Tesla Motors unveils new product – likely a battery – next month

Tesla Motors stock up 3 per cent following announcement Tesla Motors says it will reveal a new product next month, but it’s not a car. CEO Elon Musk tweeted Monday that “a major new Tesla product line” will be revealed April 30. Tesla shares rose 3 per cent to $190.60 after the tweet. Musk said […]

Crude oil trains: BNSF to slow trains, increase inspections

Crude oil trains: BNSF to slow trains, increase inspections

Safety concerns increased for crude oil trains following explosive derailments BNSF has started taking additional safety measures for crude oil shipments because of four recent high-profile derailments in the U.S. and Canada, the railroad said Monday. Under the changes, BNSF is slowing down crude oil trains to 35 mph in cities with more than 100,000 people […]

US Mexico climate deal: Climate change goals aligned

US Mexico climate deal: Climate change goals aligned

US Mexico climate deal will see countries harmonize efforts, policies in climate change goals The United States and Mexico agreed to a joint task force on climate policy co-operation last week after Mexico announced its emissions will peak by 2026. Mexico anticipates the county’s emissions will then fall 22 per cent below “business as usual” […]

Texas to Mexico pipeline funding secured

Texas to Mexico pipeline funding secured

BlackRock, First Reserve invest $900M in Texas to Mexico pipeline  Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company Pemex has signed an agreement giving two investment funds a 45 per cent stake in a Texas to Mexico natural gas pipeline in exchange for $900 million. The Los Ramones pipeline will transport natural gas from Texas to Mexico and is […]

US Arctic drilling: DOE advisory council pushes for exploration

US Arctic drilling: DOE advisory council pushes for exploration

US Arctic drilling concerns include fragile environment, recent mishaps The U.S. should immediately begin a push to exploit its enormous trove of oil in the Arctic waters off of Alaska, or risk a renewed reliance on imported oil in the future, an Energy Department advisory council says in a study to be released Friday. The U.S. […]

National energy strategy for America? TRC’s Ryan Sitton is on it…

National energy strategy for America? TRC’s Ryan Sitton is on it…

Global economy needs $48 trillion of investment by 2035. Sitton says national energy strategy will help America markets Does America need a national energy strategy, a game plan to wrest control of  oil markets from the Saudis and establish a new global leader in all things energy? Ryan Sitton says, Yes. The newly minted Texas Railroad Commissioner hopes to knit together […]

Oil prices up: Air strikes in Yemen lead supply disruption fears

Oil prices up: Air strikes in Yemen lead supply disruption fears

Oil prices up 5 per cent Oil prices rose sharply on Thursday as mounting tensions in Yemen got traders worried that the flow of crude from the Persian Gulf region could be disrupted. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states launched strikes on key military installations in Yemen. They aim to oust Shiite rebels who forced […]

North Dakota drill rig count to drop below 100

North Dakota drill rig count to drop below 100

North Dakota drill rig count below 100 for the first time in 5 years The North Dakota drill rig count in the state’s western oil patch has slipped below 100 for the first time in five years due to the sagging price of crude. There were 98 rigs drilling in North Dakota on Wednesday. That’s […]

US crude oil export ban should be lifted – Rice University study

US crude oil export ban should be lifted – Rice University study

Ending US crude oil export ban won’t raise domestic gasoline prices Lifting the 40-year-old US crude oil export ban on would have far-reaching effects on pricing, energy security and energy sector investment, according to new research from the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston. The study, “The […]