Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about half of current U.S. crude oil production

(Tue, 15 Mar 2016) Even though hydraulic fracturing has been in use for more than six decades, it has only recently been used to produce a significant portion of crude oil in the United States. This technique, often used in combination with horizontal drilling, has allowed the United States to increase its oil production faster than at any time in its history. Based on the most recent available data from states, EIA estimates that oil production from hydraulically fractured wells now makes up about half of total U.S. crude oil production.

Total electricity sales fell in 2015 for 5th time in past 8 years

(Mon, 14 Mar 2016) Total electricity sales in 2015 fell 1.1% from the previous year, marking the fifth time in the past eight years that electricity sales have fallen. The flattening of total electricity sales reflects declining sales in the industrial sector and little or no growth in sales to the residential and commercial building sectors, despite growth in the number of households and growth in commercial building space.

Crude oil shipments by rail from Midwest to coastal regions decline

(Fri, 11 Mar 2016) The movement of crude by rail within the United States, including within Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts, reached a high of 928,000 barrels per day (b/d) in October 2014, with most of the shipments originating in the Midwest and going to the East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf Coast regions. Since October 2015, crude-by-rail volumes have declined as production has slowed, as crude oil price spreads have narrowed, and as more pipelines have come online.

Algeria Country Analysis Brief

(Fri, 11 Mar 2016) Algeria is the leading natural gas producer in Africa, the second-largest natural gas supplier to Europe, and is one of the top three oil producers in Africa.

U.S. ethanol exports reach highest level since 2011

(Thu, 10 Mar 2016) U.S. exports of fuel ethanol reached their highest level in four years in 2015, totaling 844 million gallons, a slight increase from 2014 and second only to the 1.2 billion gallons exported during 2011. U.S. imports of ethanol, which totaled 73 million gallons in 2014, also increased in 2015, reaching a total of 92 million gallons. The United States remained a net exporter of fuel ethanol for the sixth consecutive year and exported the fuel to 35 different countries in 2015.

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