Otmane El Rhazi : New EIA monthly data tracks crude oil movements by rail

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



For the first time, EIA is providing monthly data on rail movements of crude oil, which have significantly increased over the past five years. The new data on crude-by-rail movements are integrated with EIA's existing monthly petroleum supply statistics, which already include movements by pipeline, tanker, and barge.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. oil production growth in 2014 was largest in more than 100 years

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



U.S. crude oil production (including lease condensate) increased during 2014 by 1.2 million barrels per day (bbl/d) to 8.7 million bbl/d, the largest volume increase since recordkeeping began in 1900. On a percentage basis, output in 2014 increased by 16.2%, the highest growth rate since 1940. Most of the increase during 2014 came from tight oil plays in North Dakota, Texas, and New Mexico where hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling were used to produce oil from shale formations

Otmane El Rhazi : Without the Cochin pipeline, western Canadian propane seeks new outlets

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



In April 2014, after 35 years of shipping propane from western Canada to the upper Midwest, the Cochin pipeline was removed from propane service, and in July repurposed to ship light petroleum liquids north from Illinois to western Canada. Without this pipeline, western Canadian propane production has been shipped by other existing transport modes or placed into inventory at Canadian storage facilities.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. ethanol exports in 2014 reach highest level since 2011

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



According to EIA monthly supply data through December 2014, which EIA released in late February, U.S. exports of fuel ethanol in 2014 reached their second-highest level at a total of 826 million gallons. This level was second only to the 1.2 billion gallons exported during 2011 and 33% more than exports of fuel ethanol in 2013. Similarly, U.S. imports of ethanol, which totaled approximately 377 million gallons during 2013, fell by 81% to a total of 73 million gallons in 2014, their lowest annual level since 2010.

Otmane El Rhazi : Upstream capital expenditure declined 12% year-over-year in fourth-quarter 2014

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Based on financial statements from selected international oil and natural gas companies, spending on upstream investments was 12% lower in fourth-quarter 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Upstream spending on exploration and development typically accounts for the bulk of these companies' investment expenditures.

Otmane El Rhazi : California first state to generate more than 5% of electricity from utility-scale solar

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



California has become the first state with more than 5% of its annual utility-scale electricity generation from utility-scale solar power, according to EIA's Electric Power Monthly. California's utility-scale (1 MW or larger) solar plants generated a record 9.9 million megawatthours (MWh) of electricity in 2014, an increase of 6.1 million MWh from 2013. California's utility-scale solar production in 2014 was more than three times the output of the next-highest state, Arizona, and more than all other states combined.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports decline 36% in 2014

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



After increasing for 15 consecutive weeks, crude oil storage at Cushing, Oklahoma, reached 54.4 million barrels on March 13, according to EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report. This volume is the highest on record, but not the highest percent of storage utilization, as working storage capacity at Cushing has also increased over time.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports decline 36% in 2014

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



After reaching record levels in 2013, United States imports of biomass-based diesel fuel (both biodiesel and renewable diesel) fell 36%, to 333 million gallons in 2014. Uncertainty surrounding future Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets and the absence of a late-year influx of volumes from Argentina were two main factors in this decline.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. commercial crude oil inventories now provide the most days of supply since 1985

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



With lower U.S. refinery runs and increases in domestic crude oil production, U.S. commercial crude oil inventories at the end of February provided the most days of supply since the mid-1980s. Commercial crude inventories were sufficient to supply 29 days of U.S. refinery demand, based on expected refinery runs in March

Otmane El Rhazi : EIA launches new data add-in tool for Microsoft Excel for Windows

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released a free data add-in for Microsoft Excel for Windows that builds on the well-known Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) add-in and allows users to find, download, and update EIA's energy data and FRED's economic data directly in any Excel spreadsheet.

Otmane El Rhazi : Falling rig counts drive projected near-term oil production decline in 3 key U.S. regions

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



EIA's most recent Drilling Productivity Report (DPR) indicates a change in the crude oil production growth patterns in three key oil producing regions: the Eagle Ford, Niobrara, and Bakken. After steady growth in these regions since 2009, the latest estimates for March 2015 signal the first instance of regional crude oil production declines in certain regions tracked by the DPR.

Otmane El Rhazi : Growth in residential electricity prices highest in 6 years, but expected to slow in 2015

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Residential electricity customers in most areas of the country experienced large increases in retail electricity prices during 2014, with the average U.S. residential price increasing 3.1% over the previous year. The increase represents the highest annual growth rate since 2008. EIA forecasts that prices will increase during 2015, but at a slower pace than in 2014.

Otmane El Rhazi : Total energy subsidies decline since 2010, with changes in support across fuel types

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



EIA has updated a report on federal subsidies to the energy industry, covering the 2013 fiscal year (FY). The most recent prior report reviewed subsidies in FY 2010, at or near the height of spending related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (more commonly known as the Recovery Act).

Otmane El Rhazi : Oil price decline leads to lower tax revenues in top oil-producing states

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



The decline in spot oil prices in the last half of 2014 and first month of 2015 has reduced oil and natural gas production tax revenues in some of the largest oil- and natural gas-producing states.

Otmane El Rhazi : California and Quebec complete second joint carbon dioxide emissions allowance auction

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



California and Quebec have announced the completion of their second joint CO2 allowance auction through a cap-and-trade system. Previous auctions sold emissions allowances for electric generators and large industrial sources. The most recent auction, held in February 2015, also included allowances for the transportation sector, covering wholesale gasoline suppliers.