Author: Shiloh

By Alex Mills

Texas produces a lot of energy: oil, natural gas, wind, solar and electricity. Texas also uses a lot of energy.

The events during February 2021 and the summer of 2023 stretched electric generating capacity in Texas to the max.

Even though Texas leads the nation in net electricity generation with 50,622 thousand megawatt hours, according to the Energy Information Administration, the state has experienced periods of high demand as the population and economy expand.

Now, the entire nation is watching how Texas will respond to these challenges.

“We’re the test case for the country. (The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) is looking to us, (the Department of Energy) is looking to us, everybody’s looking to Texas to manage through this,” said Will McAdams, a member of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Board of Directors met Tuesday and ERCOT Chief Executive Officer Pablo Vegas said this summer electricity demand surpassed the previous daily record (80,000 megawatts) 49 times, and the immediate challenge is to prepare for the coming winter.

Natural gas, which currently generates 47%, continues to show…
 

By Alex Mills

The conflict in Israel and Gaza has had little impact on global oil supplies and prices this week. Brent crude, which is traded on the international exchange, closed at $85 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate closed at $83, which is a small change since last week.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its International Energy Outlook (IEO) 2023 with projections that global energy consumption will increase through 2050.

“Global population growth, increased regional manufacturing, and higher living standards push growth in energy consumption beyond advances in energy efficiency,” according to EIA’s projections.

“IEO2023 fills an important niche among global outlooks by focusing on a plausible but sober assessment of global energy trends through the first half of the century,” said EIA Administrator Joe DeCarolis. “There is considerable uncertainty in the energy landscape over the next 30 years, and the IEO provides a set of policy neutral baselines that will help guide sound decision-making.”

EIA said the residential and industrial sectors will experience the fastest growth. Global consumption of liquid fuels (petroleum) increases through…
 

Octobewr 11, 2023 — Battery experts at The University of Texas at Austin have shed new light on a critical issue facing battery components commonly used in electric vehicles.

Over time, particles that make up nickel-based cathodes in these batteries tend to crack, limiting the life cycle of the battery and raising safety issues. The prevailing theory saw this as an inevitable problem caused by the natural expansion and contraction of the particles that occurred during the battery’s natural process for delivering power.

But, in a newarticle published recently in Joule, the UT team found that unstable electrolytes – the material that serves as the transport medium for ions in the battery reaction – and their high level of reactivity with the cathode are the culprit of this phenomenon.

“We found that the electrolyte reacting with the cathode surface leads to the increased crack formation,” said Arumugam Manthiram, a professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering who led the research. “Unfortunately, the whole field has been misled…
 

Emerging economies are expected to support overall demand, IEA’s latest medium-term market report says, with new LNG supply likely to ease market strains after 2025

October 11, 2023 — After a decade of unprecedented expansion, growth in global demand for natural gas is expected to slow in the coming years as consumption declines in mature markets, according to the IEA’s new medium-term forecast.

Global gas demand is on course to grow by an average on 1.6% a year between 2022 and 2026, down from an average of 2.5% a year between 2017 and 2021, says the Gas 2023 Medium-Term Market Report. The report notes that the advent of the global energy crisis in 2022, triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has ushered in a different era for global gas markets after their decade of strong growth between 2011 and 2021.

Overall gas demand from mature markets in Asia Pacific*, Europe and North America peaked in 2021, and is forecast to decline by 1% annually through to 2026, according to the report. An accelerated rollout of renewables and improved energy efficiency are among the key drivers behind the downward trend for natural gas in these markets. For Europe, the loss of piped gas from Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine, pressed governments to seek alternative solutions to maintain energy security.

Decreasing demand in mature markets across the world – a collection of countries that represents almost half of global gas consumption – means that growth will be highly concentrated in fast-growing Asian markets as well as some gas-rich economies in the Middle East and Africa. China alone is expected to account for almost half of the total growth in global gas demand between 2022 and 2026, drawing on the fuel to serve its industrial production, power sector and urban areas.

An increase in the amount of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity coming online is expected to affect market dynamics in 2025 and 2026 by easing some of the tightness and unlocking price sensitive demand. Global LNG capacity is expected to expand by 25% between 2022 and 2026, with the United States consolidating its position as the world’s largest LNG exporter through the construction of new liquefaction plants. Growth in LNG supply signals a shift to a more globalised gas marketplace, which will improve resiliency and the ability of suppliers and consumers to respond to supply and demand shocks.

“After their heyday between 2011 and 2021, the world’s gas markets have entered a new and more uncertain period that is likely to be characterised by slower growth and higher volatility – and could lead to a peak in global demand by the end of this decade,” said Keisuke Sadamori, IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security. “Different trends are playing out across different regions, with demand declining in mature markets but continuing to grow in emerging and developing economies. We expect a substantial increase in new LNG capacity coming online in the years ahead, which should ease some of the tightness and security of supply concerns that markets have been experiencing since Russia started withholding supplies in 2021.”

While gas prices decreased …
 

October 9, 2023 — The Railroad Commission of Texas has submitted comments in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service (Service) proposal to designate a huge swath of waters in the Gulf of Mexico – approximately 28,270 square miles – as expanded critical habitat for the Rice’s whale without sufficient data. The zealous proposal may lead to major limitations when transporting oil and gas products, which in turn would have an alarming and negative effect on the economy of Texas.

The Gulf Coast is vital to Texas being the leading state for energy exports, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, as well as petroleum and coal product exports. A study by American Petroleum Institute found that increased exports of LNG could support between 220,000 and 452,000 more jobs for the U.S. labor market and add up to $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040.

Restricting energy activity in the Gulf of Mexico will impact the supply of crude oil, petroleum products, and liquified natural gas when there’s no scientific evidence to support a vast habitat that spans from Texas to Florida…
 

By Alex Mills

Natural gas production and consumption in the U.S. set a record in 2022, and it is on its way to set a new record this year.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the U.S. Department of Energy revised its 2022 data this week stating “dry natural gas production was the highest for any year on record, dating back to 1930.”

Domestic dry natural gas production in 2022 averaged 99.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d), which is 5.3% higher than 2021 of 94.6 bcf/d.

Texas, the leading producing state, had the largest increase, rising from 23.5 bcf/d in 2021 to 25.3 bcf/d in 2022, an increase of 7.8%, according to EIA.

Deliveries of natural gas to consumers increased also, rising 5.5% from 75.8 bcf/d to 80 bcf/d in 2022.

Natural gas exports increased for the eighth consecutive year to a new record 18.9 bcf/d, which was 10.6 bcf/d more than imports making the…
 

October 2, 2023 — As part of ERCOT’s reliability-first approach to grid operations, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to stakeholders today to increase operating reserves, adding up to an additional 3,000 MW for the winter 2023-2024 peak load season.

“Our request to procure capacity in advance of winter is part of our continued commitment to maintain grid reliability and resiliency,” said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas. “ERCOT is not projecting energy emergency conditions this winter season, but we want to be prepared and ensure all available tools…
 

By Alex Mills

Even though crude oil and natural gas production in the U.S. is on a record-setting pace, a majority of the oil companies that participated in a recent survey see positive and negative economic factors impacting future business activity.

The Dallas Fed Energy Survey’s business activity index released this week surveyed 147 oil and gas companies during Sept. 13-21 that revealed the industry continues to witness rising operating costs, but crude oil and natural gas prices are beginning to reverse many negative opinions.

“Firms reported rising costs for an 11th consecutive quarter,” according to the Dallas Fed. “Among oilfield services firms, the input cost index remained positive but declined from 41.2 to 33.4. Among E&P firms, the finding and development costs index edged up from 14.9 to 18.3. Additionally, the lease operating expenses index was essentially unchanged at 25.6.”

While drilling activity has declined during the past year, crude oil prices are up.

Drilling activity is down 20% since September 2022, according to the Baker Hughes Rotary Rig Count. The U.S. rig count…
 

September 22, 2023 — The Railroad Commission of Texas assessed $1,632,973 in fines involving 417 enforcement dockets against operators and businesses at the Commissioners’ Conference on Tuesday.

By Alex Mills

Saudi Arabia’s decision to reduce its oil supply has played a significant role in firming oil prices globally, and it has been in direct conflict with the wishes of President Joe Biden.

Biden has publicly stated – some even considered it a demand – that oil supplies should increase in an effort to soften prices. He even went to Saudi Arabia, a long-standing friend of the U.S. and a leading oil producing country, last year to make his case for lower oil prices.

However, his trip was a dismal failure and relations between the two countries continue to erode.

Saudi Arabia decreased – not increased – oil production twice this year: once in the spring for 1.6 million barrels per day and another 1 million barrels per day in the summer.

The disagreement over oil production is just one aspect of the changes in relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia….
 

Sage Geosystems Inc. (Sage), a geothermal baseload and energy storage company, today announced groundbreaking results and data from their full-scale commercial pilot confirming the performance of its energy storage system that can provide short- or long-duration storage (EarthStore™). Further, the results show Sage’s technology is cost-competitive with lithium-ion batteries, pumped storage hydropower, and natural gas peaker plants. Sage will present their energy storage pilot results tomorrow at the PIVOT 2023 conference.

Landmark Results

Short- and Long-Duration Storage. The field results from 2022/2023 and extensive data analysis performed in 2023 confirmed Sage can provide 18 hours or more of storage capacity to effectively generate baseload energy 24/7 when paired with solar or wind generation. The field results also demonstrated that Sage can alternatively provide high-powered, short-duration power (load-following) during peak demand. Both storage intervals, long- and short-duration, enhance grid reliability with stable power output. In addition, the heat from the formation expands the fluid downhole and improves round trip efficiency (RTE).

The Sage data sets were obtained by pumping in and flowing back water from their well to gauge capacity and power duration. No induced seismicity was measured either during fracturing or subsequent pumping operations.

Sage’s energy storage design is ready to scale and is not geographically limited. In addition, it can be used in newly drilled wells and in existing oil and gas wells. The flexibility of their storage for both short- and long-durations can provide optimally timed flows to move energy from a time of day (or week or longer) where the demand is low to another time when the demand is high.

Cost Competitive LCOS (Levelized Cost of Storage). Of even more significance, the results showed, based on LCOS, that Sage’s energy storage can provide power at a cost that is lower than lithium-ion battery storage and traditional pumped storage hydro. It also is competitive with natural gas peaker plants, providing a cleaner option for providing ancillary services…
 

September 19, 2023 — The University of Texas at Austin is joining with the Cockrell School of Engineering to partner with the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center to focus on energy security to form what the partnership calls “a preeminent center for studying and applying energy technology.

“Through the new partnership, the center will be able to expand its curriculum and offer a more robust variety of student programs and events.”

In addition, UT announced the appointment of Michael Webber, professor of mechanical engineering, as the center’s new engineering academic director. An internationally reknowned energy expert, Webber holds the John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in Engineering and teaches and conducts research on the convergence of engineering, policy and commercialization.

Gene Shepherd, founder and CEO of VTX Energy Partners LLC, is the center’s new engineering co-chair. A member of the center’s executive council and of Cockrell’s Engineering Advisory …
 

By Alex Mills

The Biden administration threw up another road block in the future of oil production in the U.S. this week when it canceled oil leases in the Arctic National Petroleum Reserve.

The cancellation follows a host of recently released negative proposals, rulemakings and actions aimed at making life more difficult for American oil and natural gas producers.

The Interior Department is canceling leases sold in a January 2021 auction of parcels in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s Coastal Plain that was mandated by Congress in 2017 to offset revenues lost because of a tax reduction.

Congress also passed legislation last year urging the approval of similar lease sale, the ConocoPhillips Willow project, in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

The Interior Department received criticism from lawmakers in Washington who said the administration has unfairly targeted future domestic oil production while criticizing domestic producers for rising prices.

Critics also point out that the administration released an estimated 180 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last year in an effort to manipulate crude oil markets downward. Oil prices did decline for a few months, but they are rising again approaching $90 per barrel. The Energy Information Administration forecast this week oil prices will continue to rise as supply will not be able to keep pace with demand.

The release of the oil from …
 

September 13, 2023 — From the US Energy Information Administration:

U.S. ethane production reached a new monthly record of 2.7 million barrels per day (b/d) in April 2023, continuing the upward trend that started in 2013, according to data from our Petroleum Supply Monthly. Increased natural gas and ethane production in the Permian Basin, which spans Texas and New Mexico, drove the national increase.

U.S. ethane production rose because of increased natural gas production. Ethane, which serves mainly as a petrochemical feedstock, is recovered along with other natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs) at natural gas processing plants as raw natural gas from wells is processed to meet natural gas pipeline specifications. Marketed natural gas production, in which we include both dry natural gas and NGPLs before they are separated out, also set records this year. For the first half of the year (1H23), U.S. marketed natural gas production averaged 111 billion cubic feet per day, a record high.

Ethane production in the Texas Inland region and New Mexico areas that include the Permian Basin accounted for 60% of U.S. ethane production during 1H23, slightly higher than the 58% share in 1H22. Ethane production in these two districts averaged 1.5 million b/d in 1H23, a 10.3% (0.1 million b/d) increase from 1H22. Ethane production during 1H23 in other U.S. refining districts…
 

September 12, 2023 — As researchers around the world race against time to develop new strategies and technologies to fight climate change, a team of scientists at the University of Houston is exploring one possible way to directly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment: Negative emissions technologies (NETs).

Mim Rahimi, assistant professor of environmental engineering at UH’s Cullen College of Engineering is leading the development of an emerging NET called electrochemical direct ocean capture (eDOC), which helps the ocean cleanse itself of harmful carbon dioxide. The concept is detailed in a paper published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.

“Electrochemical direct ocean capture amplifies the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon, sidestepping the expensive sorption process typical in many current strategies,” Rahimi said. “The promise of eDOC is undeniable, but scaling it, optimizing costs and achieving peak efficiency remain challenges we’re actively addressing.”

Earth’s carbon dioxide is stored in the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere…
 

September 11, 2023 — The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 820 original drilling permits in August 2023. The total includes 710 to drill new oil or gas wells, 8 to re-enter plugged wellbores and 92 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for total original drilling permits in August 2023 is:  162 oil, 55 gas, 560 oil and gas, 30 injection, and 13 other permits.

In August 2023, Commission staff processed 876 oil, 264 gas and 399 injection completions for new drills, re-entries….
 

September 6, 2023 — ERCOT electricity demand versus supply reached a critical level about 7:45 Wednesday night when reserves dropped to below 1,750 MWs and the grid operator called an Energy Emergency Alert Level 2 (EEA 2) as ERCOT set a new September peak record on Wednesday of 82,705 MW.

The next step, Level 3, would have meant…
 

September 6, 2023 — ERCOT has issued a Conservation Appeal for today, September 6, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Due to continued high temperatures, high demand, low wind, and declining solar power generation this evening, operating reserves are expected to be low into the evening hours.

This Conservation Appeal is part of ERCOT’s Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS), alerting the public of grid conditions.

ERCOT is not in emergency operations, and controlled outages are not needed at this time. Texans can monitor current and extended grid conditions, along with other dashboards, on the ERCOT website here….
 

September 6, 2023 — Houston-based Tellurian Inc. announced Wednesday an agreement with Baker Hughes to supply eight main refrigerant compression packages for Phase 1 of the Driftwood LNG project.

The agreement secures a delivery schedule for the eight LM6000PF+ gas turbines, main refrigerant compressors and control units required for Phase 1.

Tellurian said the action increases Driftwood’s ability to “achieve…
 

By Alex Mills

Production of crude oil, natural gas, wind, and solar are expected to set new records in the United States this year, and preliminary numbers indicate each sector is on course.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the Department of Energy released data this week showing U.S. crude oil production averaged 12.5 million barrels per day (b/d) from January to July compared to 11.9 million b/d during the same period last year, the previous record. Add in natural gas liquids for total field production of 18.7 million b/d compared to 17.5 in 2022.

Dry natural gas production from January to May rose to average 15,462 billion cubic feet surpassing the previous record of 14,494 billion cubic feet during the same period in 2022.

Crude oil and natural gas have been net exporters since 2019, meaning the U.S has exported more product than it has imported.

LNG exports from facilities based in Texas and Louisiana continue to grow.

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity is set to expand by 16%, or 23 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), by the end of 2024 compared with 2022, according to EIA. In the first seven months of 2023, three countries—Germany, the Philippines, and Vietnam—began importing LNG for the first time. By the end of next year, EIA expects Antigua, Australia, Cyprus, and Nicaragua to start importing LNG.

“Over the past 10 years (2013–22), global LNG import capacity—called regasification capacity—has grown by 49% (45.8 Bcf/d) to reach 140.0 Bcf/d across 48 countries,” EIA stated. “By the end of 2024, we expect 55 countries to have LNG regasification terminals with a combined capacity of 163 Bcf/d.”

So far this year, fossil fuels account for 79% of the energy mix compared to 13% for renewables and 8% for nuclear.

Wind became the largest energy source in the renewable category in 2019 outpacing hydro-electric power, and it has been growing each year. Wind consumption in the U.S. during the first five months was 1,772 trillion British thermal units (Btu) compared to 962 trillion Btu for hydro-electric. Solar consumption was 826 trillion Btu compared to 743 during the same period in 2022….