Fuss over "missing" 800,000 barrels: 'Get over it,' says IEA official
Has the hoo-ha over 800,000 "missing barrels", flagged by the IEA, gone too far? Platts Vandana Hari investigates.
Wind adds the most electric generation capacity in 2015, followed by natural gas and solar
(Wed, 23 Mar 2016) Wind, natural gas, and solar made up almost all new electric generation capacity in 2015, accounting for 41%, 30%, and 26% of total additions, respectively, according to preliminary data. The data also show a record amount of distributed solar photovoltaic capacity was added on rooftops throughout the country in 2015. The trend of wind, natural gas, and solar additions making up most new capacity is likely to continue in 2016.
Annual Coal Report 2014 (final data)
(Wed, 23 Mar 2016) The Annual Coal Report (ACR) provides annual data on U.S. coal production, number of mines, productive capacity, recoverable reserves, employment, productivity, consumption, stocks, and prices. All data for 2014 and prior years are final.
Trends in U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Upstream Costs
(Wed, 23 Mar 2016) Average 2015 well drilling and completion costs in five onshore areas decline 25% and 30% below their level in 2012
Albanian Eagle LNG eyes first gas in 2020
Eagle LNG is hoped to be part of the solution to the Balkan region's dreadful record of gas interconnection and offer a cheaper, more flexible alternative to competing projects.
Wind and Solar Data Projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration: Past Performance and Planned Enhancements
(Tue, 22 Mar 2016) In an effort to improve EIA's approach to providing accurate, comprehensive data, and useful projections for policy analysis, EIA has conducted a review of its historical data and projections of capacity, generation, and cost projections for wind and solar technologies. While EIA's internal processes and engagement with stakeholders are both continuing, this paper shares some early findings of EIA's current review of our wind and solar data and projections, focusing in part on some of the issues that have been publicly raised by EIA's critics.
Wells drilled since start of 2014 provided nearly half of Lower 48 oil production in 2015
(Tue, 22 Mar 2016) U.S. crude oil production from the Lower 48 states from new wells (drilled since the start of 2014) made up 48% of total U.S. crude oil production in 2015, up from 22% in 2007. Production from new wells has grown as advances in horizontal drilling and completion techniques led to growth in oil production from low-permeability tight reservoirs.
In Canada, a battle brews over pipelines, power lines: Fuel for Thought
With the from Alberta-USGC crude export pipeline unlikely to be built, the opportunity is ideal for Canada's provinces to join hands and hasten efforts to open up oil export outlets.
As coal stockpiles at power plants rise, shippers are reducing coal railcar loadings
(Mon, 21 Mar 2016) Coal stockpiles at electric generating facilities totaled 197 million tons at the end of 2015, the highest level since June 2012 and the highest year-end inventories in at least 25 years. More than 40 million tons of coal were added to stockpiles at electric generating facilities from September-December, the largest build during that timespan in at least 15 years. In addition to relatively low overall electricity generation, coal-fired electricity has recently been losing market share to natural gas and renewable generation.
Should steelmakers beware the ides of March?
With scene-setting worthy of the great Bard himself, our very own soothsayers, Peter Brennan, Sebastian Lewis and Chris Davis deliver their predictions for steel markets across the globe.