.The Texas Energy Report

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.The Texas Energy Report

Save the Dates: RRC Hosts Regulatory Forums in Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Houston and Midland: News Release

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) will host one-day Regulatory Forums throughout the state this spring.

  • January 22, 2020 — Corpus Christi
  • February 4, 2020 — Houston
  • March 5, 2020 — Fort Worth
  • April 1, 2020 — Midland
  • April 2, 2020 — Midland

The RRC is hosting these forums to educate and train energy industry representatives on a variety of topics, including:

  • drilling permitting;
  • completions;
  • Form P-16, Acreage Designation;
  • injection well permitting; and
  • pipeline permitting.

The registration fee is $100 per person. For additional event information, visit the RRC website at http://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/oil-gas-workshops-and-seminars/.

 

Few Changes Expected for Oil Supply, Demand

By Alex Mills

December 12, 2019

Crude oil markets were cautious following the meeting of OPEC last week, and the announcement by the International Energy Agency (IEA) it expects a modest increase in worldwide supply and demand.

Crude oil was trading in the $63-$64 range on the international market from Brent crude oil and in the $58-$59 range for West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

OPEC agreed to cut another 500,000 barrels per day (b/d) from it previously announced cuts of 1.2 million b/d in an effort to deplete the oversupply worldwide. Saudi Arabia led the agreement by announcing it will reduce production another 170,000 b/d. Russia, a non-member of OPEC but one of the three largest oil producers, said it will cut another 70,000 b/d. Iraq, a member of OPEC, said it would reluctantly cut 50,000 b/d. Iran and Venezuela have involuntarily reduced exports because of other factors, including sanctions by U.S.

The IEA report, released about two weeks before the OPEC meeting, said production from non-OPEC countries, such as the U.S., will increase from 1.8 million b/d to 2.3 million b/d next year. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the U.S. Department of Energy predicts U.S. production will increase 900,000 b/d to 13.2 million b/d in 2020 even though the drilling rig count has declined about 20 percent this year…..
 

Update On Clean Up at TPC Port Neches: Law/Fire Unified Command

December 10, 2019

“Unified Command reports ongoing response efforts at TPC Group Port Neches Operations remain focused on safely bringing the event to an end.

“Situational update: Response efforts continue to focus on activities to secure site equipment and minimize impact to the environment, while preserving the safety of emergency responders.

“On Monday (December 9), TPC Group began introducing an additive known as “DEHA” (diethylhydroxylamine) to storage tanks containing butadiene to stabilize the materials for longer-term storage, transportation, and removal from the site. DEHA is used to inhibit or prevent chemical reactions in storage tanks and it is commonly used in industry operations and materials transport. TPC Group is introducing DEHA to 11 storage tanks containing butadiene using portable equipment. This will be a phased process and is expected to take approximately five days to complete. No off-site impacts or public health concerns are anticipated as part of the DEHA process…..
 

Update: Port Neches New Evac Order Lifted, Cause of Plant Fire Possible Fundamental System Failure

Vapor cloud cited before explosion, official says, noting loss of “process fluid”

 

December 5, 2019

A voluntary evacuation order was lifted Thursday afternoon by the city of Port Neches and Jefferson County, after residents were again asked to evacuate homes near the plant that exploded and caught fire more than a week ago, an event so far being blamed on a “fundamental” system failure……