A Carnegie Mellon University study reports that the generation of electricity by burning Marcellus Shale gas instead of coal could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 50 percent.
More in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Uses of Natural Gas
Converting the Transportation Infrastructure to Natural Gas
In this Bloomberg video, Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy discusses the economics, logistics and potential of using natural gas as a transportation fuel. Current costs vary depending upon the source of gas but are generally equivalent to under $2.00 per gallon gasoline. Chesapeake plans to invest $1 billion to support natural gas as a vehicle fuel.
More at Bloomberg.com.
Colombia: A Model for Natural Gas Vehicle Market Development?
Chevron and Texaco are working to develop the natural gas vehicle fuel market in Colombia. Chevron produces the gas and Texaco sells it to consumers at TEXGAS brand fueling stations. “In the last six years, NGV consumption has grown more than 800 percent and now represents nearly 10 percent of Colombia’s national gas usage.” Perhaps ExxonMobile will start selling gas at hundreds of fueling stations atop of the Marcellus Shale gas play? More at Chevron.com.
Diesel and Jet Fuel from Shale Gas
An article on Bloomberg.com reports that Royal Dutch Shell is completing a gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar that will convert natural gas into diesel and aviation fuel. If that technology is successful they may be able to use the same process in the United States.
“Gas” Stations of the Future
One way to use a lot of the new natural gas being produced from the many worldwide shale gas plays is to quickly get it into the transportation fuel mix. Valero Energy is launching new fueling stations that will dispense natural gas, electric battery recharges and E85. More at FuelFix.com.
The Largest Fleet of LNG Trucks
Heckman Water Resources will become the operator of the largest fleet of LNG trucks in North America as they purchase 200 Peterbilt vehicles that will be used to haul water for Encana’s Haynesville Shale drilling operations. Encana will provide the LNG from a mobile refueling station. More in the Oil and Gas Journal.
More Pipeline Capacity Needed in the Northeast
“Through January of this winter, spot natural gas prices at Atlantic Coast trading points are up $0.90-1.20 per million British thermal units compared to the same period last winter – although prices are lower at Henry Hub and in other traditional consumption areas like the Midwest and western Pennsylvania. The main reason is congestion on pipelines into the Northeast.” Quoted from the EIA website.
Energy Use in the United States
The United States has a greater fuel diversity today than at any time in its history. There are also more options available for future growth, yet this is also a time of great concern about energy choices for the future. More at Geology.com.
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Is Congress Neglecting Natural Gas?
In a blog post on the Reuter’s.com website, Christopher Swann, argues that Washington could take easy steps to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce carbon emissions and save citizens money by promoting the use of natural gas in vehicles and electricity generation. He thinks that the natural gas lobby needs to work harder than those promoting coal and railroads.
Natural Gas Honda Civic
Honda plans to sell what they refer to as a “nearly emission-free natural gas-powered car” later this year. It will be a Civic sedan to be sold in all 50 states. More at ABC News.
Competition Between Coal and Natural Gas in the Marketplace
West Virginia has a wealth of energy resources. It has historically been a leading state for coal production and now much of northern West Virginia is over the Marcellus Shale natural gas field. An article in the Beckley Register-Herald titled “Will Natural Gas Replace Coal” explores how these two fuels might compete in the marketplace and how that competition might impact the West Virginia economy.
