Today in Energy
Iraqi crude oil production approaching highest level in decades
Note: Data excludes condensates. Annual data cover 1980 through 2011, monthly data cover January 2010 through August 2012.
Estimated Iraqi oil production surpassed 3 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in July 2012, the highest level since the end of the Gulf War in 1990. Increased investment in Iraq's petroleum industry and export infrastructure underpin these production gains. However, many factors still constrain the Iraqi oil industry from reaching its full production potential.
tags: crude oil , international , Iraq , liquid fuels , oil/petroleum , production
Attributes of crude oil at U.S. refineries vary by region
Note: PADDs (Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts) are geographic aggregations that allow regional analysis of petroleum markets.
Note: Sweet refers to the absence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in crude oil, which typically corresponds to low sulfur content. Sour refers to high H2S content, and a typically high sulfur content.
Crude oil has unique qualities and commands different prices depending on these qualities. In addition to quality considerations, location and local refining capability influence a crude's value. Two key characteristics of crude oil are density and sulfur content. Density ranges from light to heavy, while sulfur content is characterized as sweet or sour. The purchase costs of various crude oils depend mainly on density and sulfur content, and other factors such as location and transportation costs.
tags: Canada , crude oil , Gulf Coast , oil/petroleum , production , refining
Industries consumed more than 30% of U.S. energy in 2011
The U.S. industrial sector was responsible for more than 30% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2011. While the term "industrial sector" may sound remote to the general public, its impact on daily life is highlighted by the wide range of industrial activities represented by the products and equipment found at a local supermarket. The chart above shows energy consumption for individual industries in 2011: non-energy-intensive manufacturing, energy-intensive manufacturing, and non-manufacturing.
tags: consumption , industrial
EIA improves its monthly propane imports series
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently updated its Petroleum Supply Monthly data series for propane as part of a continual effort to improve the quality of its information. As a result, EIA's May 2012 Petroleum Supply Monthly data showed a sharp apparent increase (71 thousand barrels per day) in U.S. imports of propane compared to April 2012. More accurate reporting rather than market conditions explains this increase in reported imports. The United States remains a net exporter of propane.
tags: Canada , imports , international , liquid fuels , NGL (natural gas liquids) , oil/petroleum , propane
Economic growth continues to drive China's growing need for energy
China is the world's largest energy consumer. China's economy, which has grown at an average real rate of about 10 percent per year over the last 10 years, is a key driver of the increase in energy consumption, both in China and internationally. Economic growth in China is still robust—China's gross domestic product grew an estimated 7.8% in the first half of 2012—but its growth is slower than in recent years, as is its growth in energy consumption. EIA's China Country Analysis Brief details its energy use, production, and industry.
tags: CAB (Country Analysis Brief) , China , coal , consumption , natural gas , nuclear , oil/petroleum , production , renewable
Central Appalachian (CAPP) coal spot prices affect markets for coal and electric power
Note: Bloomberg's data reflect weekly spot prices obtained from brokers in the over-the-counter market for coal. All coal prices assume Free-On-Board Transport (FOB). The FOB price is quoted at the rail or barge point of origin. EIA collects delivered prices to the electric power sector using the EIA-923 survey form. CAPP delivered prices include all costs incurred in the purchase of coal mined in the Central Appalachian basin, and delivery of the fuel to the power plant.
Note: Bloomberg prices for the prompt month have been shifted forward by one month to show the spot versus delivered price for the same month.
Central Appalachian (CAPP) coal spot prices are the most widely referenced prices for eastern coal in the United States. Coal producers, electric utilities, merchant generators, non-utility industrial coal users, and other energy marketers use CAPP spot prices as a benchmark in both physical and financial transactions for short-term and long-term contracts. Changes in CAPP spot prices can affect fuel procurement and power dispatch decisions.
tags: CAPP (Central Appalachian Coal) , coal , electricity , futures , generation , prices , spot prices
Trading Point: Central Appalachian (CAPP) is the nation's benchmark price for eastern coal
Central Appalachian (CAPP) coal spot prices are the most widely referenced prices for eastern coal in the United States. Coal producers, electric utilities, merchant generators, non-utility industrial coal users, and other energy marketers use CAPP spot prices as a benchmark in both physical and financial transactions for short-term and long-term contracts. Changes in CAPP spot prices can affect fuel procurement and power dispatch decisions. EIA's Coal News and Markets report provides weekly updates on U.S. benchmark spot coal prices, including CAPP.
More recycling raises average energy content of waste used to generate electricity
Most municipal solid waste (MSW) used to generate electricity contains both biogenic and non-biogenic components. As consumers recycle or recover more biogenic waste (such as food waste and yard clippings) and discard more non-biogenic waste (such as plastics and metals), the biogenic portion of municipal solid waste decreases. Since non-biogenic material has a higher heat content, the average heat content of MSW as a whole is increasing, making it a more efficient fuel for producing electricity.
Municipal solid waste plants convert garbage to electricity
Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal solid waste (MSW) to generate electricity or heat. At the plant, MSW is unloaded from collection trucks and shredded or processed to ease handling. The waste is fed into a combustion chamber to be burned. The heat released from burning the MSW is used to produce steam, which turns a turbine to generate electricity.
tags: capacity , electricity , generation , generation capacity , generators , states , waste-to-energy
Projected Alaska North Slope oil production at risk beyond 2025 if oil prices drop sharply
Oil production on Alaska's North Slope, which has been declining since 1988 when average annual production peaked at 2.0 million barrels per day, is transported to market through the TransAlaska Pipeline System (TAPS). Because TAPS needs to maintain throughput above a minimum threshold level to remain operational, its projected lifetime depends on continued investment in North Slope oil production that itself depends on future oil prices. In the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 low oil price case, North Slope production would cease and TAPS would be decommissioned, which could occur as early as 2026.
tags: AEO2012 (Annual Energy Outlook 2012) , Alaska , forecast , oil/petroleum , pipelines , production , resources , states
View Archive ›
Archive
- 2012
- 2011