IEA is unlikely to extend emergency fuel release, survey shows

FX Energy to plug wells at site of NW Mont. spill

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:54 pm by Associated Press in Accidents, Crude oil, Environment

A newly discovered oil spill in northwestern Montana went unreported for a month before a neighboring landowner complained to the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, federal regulators said Monday. More »

Cheniere to spend $6 billion to expand La. LNG terminal

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 12:27 pm by Associated Press in Natural gas

Houston-based Cheniere Energy Partners LP says it will spend $6 billion to modify its liquified natural gas terminal in southwestern Louisiana to export natural gas. More »

More mergers seen among E&Ps following BHP-Petrohawk deal

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:39 am by Brett Clanton in Natural gas, Oil field services

With oil prices high, natural gas prices steady, the economic environment improving and growth options limited, oil and gas companies may soon be on the hunt for more acquisitions, said one industry analyst. More »

Range Resources fires back in N. Texas water dispute

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:01 am by Tom Fowler in Environment, Hydraulic fracturing, Legal issues, Natural gas, Oil field services

Parker County residents Steven and Shyla Lipsky have sued Range Resources for allegedly contaminating their well water with natural gas. The company is filing a counterclaim, saying the couple and a Flower Mound environmental engineer conspired to create false test results. More »

WSJ: BP to restart ultracracker unit at Texas City refinery

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:52 am by Dan X. McGraw in Crude oil

According to a Wall Street Journal article online, BP said today that it plans to bring the Ultracracker unit to Texas City back to normal operations. More »

Analyst: Weather a poor excuse for Texas power problems

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:30 am by Tom Fowler in Electricity, Social, Weather

State and federal officials have said cold weather was truly the culprit behind massive power plant failures in February that led to rolling blackouts for millions of Texans. One analyst says that explanation doesn’t quite cut it. More »

Natural gas producers facing deep skepticism

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:21 am by Jennifer A. Dlouhy in Natural gas, Politics/Policy, Shale

Energy producers have been working hard to convince lawmakers, power utilities and manufacturers that natural gas is both inexpensive and abundant. But lawmakers and would-be industrial consumers still aren’t buying. More »

Peabody’s second quarter earnings rise 38 percent

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:16 am by Associated Press in Coal

Peabody Energy Corp., the world’s biggest private-sector coal producer, said today its profit rose 38 percent in the second quarter and predicted further improvement for the rest of the year. More »

FuelFix Newslinks |07.19.11|

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:10 am by Tom Fowler in General

Gulf lease sale on track for December. NYT responds to shale story critics. Barnett air study unclear. More »

Oil rose above $97 as U.S. crude supply drop expected

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:09 am by Associated Press in Crude oil, Politics/Policy

Oil prices rose above $97 a barrel today amid expectations U.S. crude supplies dropped last week, a sign demand may be improving. More »

Vt. judge denies bid to keep nuke plant open

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:54 am by Associated Press in Environment, Nuclear

A federal judge said Monday he would not order that Vermont’s only nuclear plant be allowed to remain open while a lawsuit to determine its long-term future plays out. More »