Crude ‘manipulated’ in scheme, CFTC says

Obama orders government to buy alternative fuel vehicles

Posted on May 25, 2011 at 7:00 am by Staff in Politics/Policy, Social

President Barack Obama directed federal agencies to buy more hybrid and electric cars under a plan that will require the government to purchase only alternative fuel vehicles by 2015. More »

Eagle Ford’s calling card: Help wanted

Posted on May 25, 2011 at 6:53 am by Vicki Vaughan in Natural gas, Shale, Social, Workforce

Drilling in the Eagle Ford shale formation in south-central Texas has brought about a wave of hiring, with thousands of jobs being added. More »

FuelFix Newslinks |05.25.11|

Posted on May 25, 2011 at 6:43 am by Tom Fowler in General

Gasoline in decline. Goldman masters oil. CFTC claims manipulation. Gov’t goes alt-fuel. More »

Louisiana lawmakers ask Feinberg to keep offices open

Posted on May 25, 2011 at 6:27 am by Associated Press in Gulf oil spill

Legislative leaders say the closure of three claims offices could increase frustrations against the Gulf Coast Claims Facility and would be a disservice to those still struggling to recover from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. More »

TCEQ: Turning up refinery flares could fix Houston’s air

Posted on May 25, 2011 at 12:13 am by Matthew Tresaugue in Refining

Small changes in the use of open flames, or flares, to burn off pressurized gases at oil refineries and chemical plants could help improve Houston’s air quality, a new study suggests. More »

Houston-based El Paso Corp. is splitting in two

Posted on May 24, 2011 at 11:49 pm by Tom Fowler in Natural gas, Pipelines, Shale

Natural gas pipeline giant El Paso Corp. will spin off its growing exploration and production business into a stand-alone public company, a move that has long been anticipated by analysts and investors. More »

Finally: Gas prices decline (for now)

Posted on May 24, 2011 at 10:01 pm by Vicki Vaughan in Social

Motorists can count themselves lucky. The price of gasoline has fallen this month, running counter to the usual pattern that sees higher prices as Memorial Day approaches. But prices soared so high this spring that the bit they’ve come down isn’t making much of a difference to some drivers. More »

Environmentalist questions safety of hydraulic fracturing, cost of natural gas

Posted on May 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm by Staff in Hydraulic fracturing, Natural gas, Politics/Policy

Author and anti-drilling activist Adrian Kuzminski believes the methane emitted from natural gas wells has the potential to pollute watersheds. Kuzminski said natural gas is effectively an “extension of oil,” because of the environmental problems it may cause. More »

Oil rises near $100, pump prices fall again

Posted on May 24, 2011 at 3:12 pm by Associated Press in Crude oil

Benchmark crude added $1.89 to settle at $99.59 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Retail gasoline prices fell for a 12th straight day to an average of $3.828 per gallon. More »

U.S. hits more foreign firms with Iran sanctions

Posted on May 24, 2011 at 3:06 pm by Associated Press in Middle East

Petróleos de Venezuela is among the seven companies facing penalties for supplying or transporting refined petroleum products to Iran. PDVSA will be barred from any U.S. government contracts, U.S. import-export financing and export licenses for sensitive technology. More »

Russian court upholds Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s conviction

Posted on May 24, 2011 at 2:34 pm by Associated Press in Legal issues

The decision means the former Yukos chief, once Russia’s richest man, will remain in prison until 2016. He was convicted in December of stealing tens of billions of dollars’ worth of oil from Yukos and laundering the proceeds, a ruling that drew international condemnation. More »