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European nations are increasing electricity generation using no-carbon sources

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

Penetration rates of no-carbon generation have increased from 50% to 56% in recent years in Europe, as European Union countries work towards renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions targets. Increasing levels of renewable generation, along with nuclear generation, mean that many European countries generate a large share of electricity from no-carbon sources.

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Russia looks beyond West Siberia for future oil and natural gas growth

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

Russia was the world's largest producer of crude oil (including lease condensate) and the world's second-largest producer of dry natural gas in 2013. Most of Russia's crude oil and natural gas production occurs in West Siberia, a part of central Russia that stretches from the northern border of Kazakhstan to the Arctic Ocean. However, new technologies, growing Asian markets, and Western sanctions have the potential to shift the regional balance of Russian oil and natural gas production in the long term.

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Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction prices continue to rise

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

September 3 marked the 25th auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program covering nine states primarily in the northeastern United States. Allowance prices for this auction were $4.88, marking the third consecutive auction that prices were at or above $4 per short ton of CO2

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Panama Canal expansion will allow transit of larger ships with greater volumes

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

Ships carrying crude oil and petroleum products are limited by size restrictions imposed by several of the main thoroughfares of maritime navigation: the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Malacca. These size restrictions provide another way to classify the large tankers that carry most of global crude oil and petroleum product trade.

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What is the electric power grid, and what are some challenges it faces?

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Energy in Brief

Image of National Power Grid, courtesy of MicrosoftÂ® EncartaÂ® Encyclopedia

Last Updated: September 16, 2014 The U.S. power grid is the electrical system that connects electricity producers and consumers by transmission and distribution lines and related facilities. It has evolved into three large interconnected systems that move electricity around the country. Mandatory reliability standards have been developed by the electric power industry and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure coordinated electric system operations. FERC is an independent federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil, and electricity. The process of transporting electricity Getting electricity from power generating stations to our homes and workplaces is a challenging process. To ensure the stability of the entire power grid, electricity must be produced at the same time it is used as large quantities of electrical power cannot be stored effectively. High-voltage transmission lines, which are often seen hanging between tall metal towers along the highway, are used...

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Oil tanker sizes range from general purpose to ultra-large crude carriers on AFRA scale

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

The global crude oil and refined product tanker fleet uses a classification system to standardize contract terms, establish shipping costs, and determine the ability of ships to travel into ports or through certain straights and channels. This system, known as the Average Freight Rate Assessment system, was created by Royal Dutch Shell six decades ago, and is overseen by the London Tanker Brokers' Panel, an independent group of shipping brokers.

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NETL Gas Migration Study to Advance Understanding of Responsible Oil and Natural Gas Development

Posted by U.S. Dept. of Energy

in U.S. Dept. of Energy

NETL Gas Migration Study to Advance Understanding of Responsible Oil and Natural Gas Development

President Obama’s “All-of-the-Above” energy strategy focuses on safely and efficiently developing America’s natural resources, and emphasizes that energy must be produced in a responsible and sustainable manner. Today, a study released by the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory provides further clarity on responsible development that both furthers America’s energy security and environmental stewardship. It does not speak broadly to all cases of hydraulic fracturing, and is a limited study focused around specific wells in Pennsylvania.

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New petroleum technology revitalizes Powder River Basin oil production

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

The Powder River Basin, well-known for its abundant coal supply, is experiencing a turnaround in oil production. Production has rebounded from a low of 38,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2009 to 78,000 bbl/d during first-quarter 2014. Although U.S. oil production growth is occurring primarily in the Bakken, Eagle Ford, and Permian Basins, the Powder River Basin is among other regions of the country that have also benefitted from the application of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

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Natural gas storage deficit to five-year average continues to narrow

Posted by U.S. Energy Information Administration

in Today in Energy

Storage injections have continued to outpace the five-year (2009-13) average this summer, with inventories as of September 5 at 2,801 billion cubic feet, according to data from the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. The winter of 2013-14 led to a large drawdown in inventories, with stocks ending March 2014 almost 1 trillion cubic feet lower than the five-year average and at their lowest end-March level since 2003. Relatively higher weekly net injections into storage reduced that deficit to 463 Bcf as of September 5.

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FE-Funded Study Released on Key Factors Affecting China Shale Gas Development

Posted by U.S. Dept. of Energy

in U.S. Dept. of Energy

FE-Funded Study Released on Key Factors Affecting China Shale Gas Development

As many people know, over the past decade the United States has experienced a shale gas revolution that has beneficially transformed its energy landscape. In witnessing this transformation, other nations with significant shale resources are understandably interested in pursuing the responsible development of their domestic reserves, and achieving for their people accompanying economic, energy security and environmental benefits.

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