Bakken
Setting Records Every Day
9/23/2011
The numbers for the month of August are impressive.
August 31 saw a rig count of 202, the all time high for North Dakota. That
number is only expected to increase, projected to reach 225 by the end of
the year. As we come to the tail end of the summer season, drilling companies
are pushing to get locations built and ready for winter. This means a rush
of activity and increase in overall production. It also means increased economic
opportunity as the state comes closer and closer to setting a new crude production
record.
North Dakota continues to remain in the national spotlight in terms of its
outstanding energy industry. Last week, the state was featured on CNBC's
Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer and called "the Saudi Arabia of the United States"
by the host. Not only is the oil industry of western North Dakota bringing
people en masse from other states and providing thousands of jobs, it's also
creating opportunities for the people of western ND to improve infrastructure,
find employment, and thrive on the economic prosperity of the region.
Here are today's oil and gas stats: WTI Crude price: $87.95 Brent Crude
price: $114.29 Natural Gas price: $4.04 ND Rig Count: 200
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Entek
Activities Niobrara GR Basin
Entek Energy Ltd.|, September 01, 2011
Entek provided an update on the Niobrara Shale Oil Project Appraisal Program
in the Green River Basin.
Battle Mountain 14-10L – The Frontier (secondary objective) has been successfully
fracture stimulated. Limited testing has been performed before completion
and testing operations start on the lowest of the Niobrara Benches in the
well. Test results suggest the discovery of an oil prone sweet-spot in the
Frontier Formation which is part of the Mowry Shale Resource Play. The play
has been a secondary target across the Company's acreage since it tested
hydrocarbons at an initial rate of 1.2 MMCFD and 10 BOPD in the Focus Ranch
12-1 well and since has shown significant oil and gas shows in each well
where penetrated across the acreage.
Test results suggest that the 14 ft perforated zone in the Battle Mountain
14-10 well will be capable of around 20 BOPD and over 100 MCFD. It is most
likely that the production from the Frontier will be comingled with production
from the Niobrara once planned completion and testing operations in the well
are complete. In the future the Frontier, like the Niobrara, is likely to
become a candidate for horizontal drilling. The Company will provide an update
as the appraisal program continues on the potential of the Frontier and Mowry
Shale Resource Play across its acreage position.
The completion program for the Niobrara (primary objective), which includes
fracture stimulation and testing, will be initiated this week with fracture
stimulation planned around September 15.
Slater Dome (SD) Federal 24-9DL – The well has successfully reached its total
depth of 8,300 ft after penetrating both the Niobrara and Frontier Formations.
The well had significant oil and gas shows while drilling and was prepared
for logging, with good hole condition reported. While pulling out of hole
to run wireline logs a drill string connection mechanically failed. Operations
are continuing to remove the drill string from the hole prior to logging.
C&C Cattle 18-8 – Location preparation is complete. It is anticipated
that the rig will be mobilized from the 24-9 location to the 18-8 location
over the next week. An additional rig is on standby to mobilize to the 18-8
location if operations on the 24-9 well take longer than expected.
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LNG
gaining as tank truck fleet fuel
Aug 26, 2011 By Charles E Wilson bulktransporter.com
On August 14, the first four truck-tractors in a 42-truck order were delivered
to Fair Oaks Farms near Fair Oaks IN. Fueled with methane from the dairy
farm, this milk-hauling fleet operation is being described as the largest
transport-related renewable compressed natural gas (CNG) project in the United
States. Fair Oaks Farms and their partners expect to have the CNG fleet fully
operational by the end of September, at the latest. Partners include Ruan
Transportation Management Systems, PacLease, and Clean Energy Fuel Corp.
In its September issue, Bulk Transporter will publish an exclusive in-depth
profile on Fair Oaks Farms’ CNG fleet operation. The cutting-edge CNG developments
at Fair Oaks Farms came a week after Kenworth Truck Co invited a group of
trucking publications--including Bulk Transporter--to attend a heavy-duty
natural gas truck ride-and-drive event near Seattle WA. Among the vehicles
at the program was a CNG-fueled T440 daycab tractor that is similar to the
trucks selected for the Fair Oaks Farms fleet.
Kenworth currently offers four natural gas-fueled trucks. Editors had the
opportunity to test drive a T800 daycab tandem-axle tractor with a 485-hp
Westport HD GX15 (based on Cummins’ 15-liter ISX) engine fueled by liquefied
natural gas (LNG) and tandem- and single-axle versions of the T440 with the
320-hp Cummins Westport ISL G running on CNG.
”We believe there is a big future for heavy-duty trucks fueled with natural
gas,” said Andy Douglas, Kenworth national sales manager, specialty markets.
“Customers are asking for these products, which use existing diesel technology
that is robust, tough, and proven. Here in the United States, we sit on
the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Other countries are using it more
in transportation than we are. Oil will continue to face price pressures,
while natural gas prices have remained relatively constant.”
About 23,000 vehicles in the United States are fueled by natural gas at this
time. That includes approximately 800 tractors that have gone into port drayage
operations in California and other states as part of emission-reduction campaigns.
In addition to the Fair Oaks Farms project, a number of tank truck fleets
have purchased natural gas fueled trucks over the past couple of years. The
largest tank fleet order to date was for 200 tractors that will be used in
oilfield operations.
The event at the Paccar Technical Center in Mount Vernon WA gave representatives
from Kenworth and Westport Power Inc an opportunity to show off the latest
in natural gas engines offered with Kenworth trucks and discuss the benefits
of natural gas as a fuel for tank truck fleets and other trucking companies.
Kelly Mills, Westport HD’s Western US sales manager, pointed out that Westport
has invested more than $250 million in natural gas fuel systems and has deployed
more than 28,000 natural gas engines worldwide. “We see plenty of opportunity
for this technology with US truck fleets,” he said.
More than 10,000 of the company’s nine-liter Cummins Westport ISL G engines
have been produced. While nominally classified for medium-duty applications
hauling less than 80,000 pounds gross combination weight, the engine in offered
with a severe-duty exemption for certain local and regional bulk transport
applications.
”This engine will handle 80,000 pounds under the right applications,” Mills
said. “The operating area needs to be primarily flat terrain, because the
engine isn’t available with an engine brake.”
Rated at 250 hp to 320 hp, the Cummins Westport ISL G can be fueled with
either CNG or LNG. It is a spark-ignition engine that doesn’t need selective
catalytic reduction (SCR) emission treatment technology or a diesel particulate
filter (DPF).
The 15-liter Westport HD is available with engine ratings from 400 hp to
475 hp and is designed to be fueled with LNG and run in longhaul applications.
With gross combination weight ratings of 80,000 pounds to 140,000 pounds,
this is the ideal natural gas engine for longhaul tank fleets, according
to Mills.
The Westport HD engine differs from the Cummins Westport ISL G in several
ways. Most importantly, the Westport HD uses a fuel mix that includes about
5% diesel. This means the engine must have the SCR treatment system and the
DPF required for fully diesel fueled engines, but the natural gas still delivers
significant costs savings and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 21% to
27% over equivalent diesel engines.
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Peterbilt
First for Model 386 LNG
September 16, 2011 | USA, Denton TX
Truck manufacturer Peterbilt Motors Company, a Texas-based PACCAR company,
has received accreditation for developing the industry’s first SmartWay designated
alternative fuel vehicle. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)
SmartWay Program has recognized Peterbilt’s Model 386 liquefied natural gas
(LNG) truck as meeting the established fuel-saving, low-emission equipment
requirements set for Class 8 trucks.
“Peterbilt is proud that the Model 386 LNG has been recognized as the industry’s
first alternative fueled vehicle to obtain SmartWay designation,” said Bill
Jackson, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “The Model
386 LNG SmartWay designated vehicle offers optimal fuel and emissions efficiency
with horsepower and torque equal to a diesel-fueled engine, making it the
ultimate environmentally sound performance solution for customers, and further
demonstrates Peterbilt as an industry leader in developing innovative quality
products.”
Equipped with a fuel efficient, aerodynamic package, the Model 386 LNG SmartWay
designated vehicle is suited for a variety of applications, including line,
bulk and tanker hauling.
“Peterbilt is always looking to achieve the next level of innovation and
operating efficiency,” said Landon Sproull, Peterbilt chief engineer. “Through
extensive aerodynamic analysis and testing, Peterbilt engineers combined
the industry-leading Model 386 aerodynamic package with the Westport GX engine
to provide the most fuel efficient, performance configuration.”
The alternative fueled vehicle is powered by the EPA-certified Westport GX
engine, offering up to 475 horsepower and 1,750 lb-ft of torque. The 15-liter
engine uses high pressure direct injection technology (HPDI), specialized
cryogenic fuel tanks, and associated electronic components to facilitate
robust performance and reliable operation. This technology uses a low cost,
cleaner-burning fuel than diesel without compromising engine torque, power,
fuel economy, or drivability, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
by 25 percent.
Peterbilt offers other compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural
gas (LNG) power platforms. Also powered by Westport GX engine, the high-performance
Peterbilt Model 367 is the ideal vocational truck for a variety of dump,
mixer and construction applications. In addition, Models 384, 365 and 320,
equipped with the Cummins Westport ISL-G engine, can be specified with CNG
or LNG offering 320 horsepower and 1,000 ft-lbs of torque, suitable for short-haul,
regional, refuse and dump trucks with GCW/GVW ratings up to 66,000 lbs.
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Chicago buys 80 natural
gas Chevrolets for city fleet
Submitted by Hawke Fracassa on Thu, 09/22/2011
The city of Chicago has ordered 80 natural gas-powered vans and trucks from
Advantage Chevrolet in Hodgkins, Ill. The contract awarded by the city asks
Advantage to supply one of America's largest urban centers with up to 40
compressed natural gas-powered Chevrolet Express vans and up to 40 CNG-powered
Chevy Silverado pickup trucks.
The dedicated CNG fuel systems will be installed on the Chevrolet Express
Vans at IMPCO Automotive's state-of-the-art alternative fuels conversion
plant in Union City, Ind., in conjunction with our partnership with General
Motors," said Jay Sandler, director of OEM and Fleet Sales for IMPCO Automotive,
a designer, manufacturer and supplier of alternative fuel components and
systems for use in transportation applications.
Fuel systems for the Silverados will be installed by IMPCO Automotive's Certified
Installation Partner, Auto Truck Group, in Bartlett, Ill., Sandler said.
General Motors Co., Chevrolet's parent company, produced 16,000 natural gas-powered
vehicles last year for commercial and municipal fleets. The Chevy Express
vans it manufactures use 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engines accompanied by "hardened
exhaust valves and intake/exhaust valve seats" to process the fuel. The vans
get between 200 to 300 miles, depending on how many tanks are on the vehicle.
Expresses typically come with three or four fuel tanks, according to a GM
Fleet and Commercial Web page that markets the vans.
"Advantage Chevrolet is pleased to be able to supply these environmentally
friendly vehicles to the city of Chicago to help reduce the amount of particulate
emissions and Nitrous Oxide being emitted into the Chicagoland atmosphere,"
said Rick Zureick, sales manager at Advantage Chevrolet.
Rob Lykins IMPCO's sales manager says such vehicles improve the environment:
IMPCO Automotive director of sales & marketing.
"We are proud the city of Chicago will utilize our dedicated CNG fuel systems
to convert its expanding fleet of popular General Motors trucks and vans
from gasoline to CNG," Our innovative CNG conversion systems enable fleet
operators as well as individual vehicle owners to significantly lower their
vehicle operating costs and reduce emissions while reducing our country's
reliance on foreign oil."
There is a big picture, says Rick Nielsen, IMPCO's president.
"IMPCO continues to aggressively invest in future growth opportunities in
North America by bolstering our automotive business with innovative new products
that position us as the leader in the emerging U.S. natural gas vehicle market,"
Nielsen said.
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Indian Railways to replace
diesel with natural gas
Shashank Rao, Hindustan Times Mumbai, September 17, 2011
The Indian Railways that is reeling under severe financial crises has planned
to replace its fuel as a cost-effective move. They are looking at gradually
reducing the use of diesel and opting for natural gas – an environment-friendly
replacement used in locomotives or engines to haul trains.
The railways have begun the process of converting the diesel electric multiple
unit (DEMU) trains to compressed natural gas (CNG)-based trains. Presently
the DEMUs, which are slightly different in width and appearance than local
trains, run on Virar-Dahanu stretch.
The railways will initially replace the DEMUs in and around Delhi and might
introduce them on stretches under the Western Railway. In all, the Indian
Railways will introduce 50 CNG-based trains.
In addition to this, the diesel engines would undergo changes, to facilitate
them to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). This would enable these trains
to run for at least 6 to 8 hours, which means passenger trains connecting
two cities can easily be operated with the help of this engine. However,
long-distance trains would continue to run on diesel engines.
Currently, the railways use approximately 250 crore litres of diesel for
locomotives annually, which costs them around Rs10000 crore. And with the
rising fuel cost, it is becoming increasingly expensive for the railways
to run the show.
“We anticipate a drop in fuel expenditure by 30 percent in the long run once
this technology is in place. It would cost us around Rs50 lakhs each to make
necessary changes in diesel engines,” said a senior railway board official.
These engines would have a separate tank where LNG would be filled in. The
railways are expecting it would around two years to make the necessary changes
to the engines. Initially, the railways would use LNG at their factories
and workshops.
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Microturbines
For Hybrids
dieselprogress.com 8/27/2011
Capstone Turbine Corp. announced that it has released new C30 and C65 natural
gas fueled microturbines that meet California Air Resources Board (CARB)
requirements for New On-Road Heavy-Duty Engines for Urban Bus – Hybrid service.
"Hybrid electric vehicle applications are a significant opportunity for Capstone
as countries continue to implement stringent emissions standards," said Darren
Jamison, president and CEO of the Chatsworth, Calif., company. "The ability
to provide clean burning power generation helps meet California requirements
today and sets the standard for other nations as they establish emissions
requirements."
The Capstone natural gas fueled microturbines are the only engines certified
to the CARB On-Road Heavy-Duty Engine emissions levels for Model Year 2011
that operate with no exhaust aftertreatment, the company said. Test emissions
from both the C30 and C65 Natural Gas microturbines measured significantly
below the CARB standard, Capstone said. The low levels were achieved using
the next generation of Capstone's lean premix combustion technology. No aftertreatment
equipment allows Capstone to achieve the low emission levels without impact
to product efficiency, additional cost or increased vehicle weight.
Interestingly the announcement was something of a blast from the past for
Capstone, as in the early 1990s, it was working with CARB and several vehicle
manufacturers to develop microturbine generators for vans and other vehicle
applications.
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Shell use of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) marine fuel
WorldOil.com 9/22/2011
Marine industry solutions provider and Shell Oil Company have signed a Joint
Co-operation Agreement aimed at promoting and accelerating the use of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. The agreement was signed in August 2011
and will run for several years.
Wärtsilä, Shell sign agreement to promote use of LNG as a marine fuel.
Marine industry solutions provider and Shell Oil Company have signed a Joint
Co-operation Agreement aimed at promoting and accelerating the use of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. The agreement was signed in August 2011
and will run for several years.
Supplies of low cost, low emissions LNG fuel will be made available to Wärtsilä
natural gas powered vessel operators, and other customers by Shell. The Joint
Cooperation Agreement will focus first on supplies from the US Gulf Coast,
and then later expand their efforts to cover a broader geographical range.
Gas fuelled marine engines are seen as being a logical means for ship owners
and operators to comply with increasingly stringent environmental legislation.
This agreement aims at increasing and easing the availability of natural
gas for marine engine use, as well as developing the supply chain and infrastructure
to facilitate the bunkering of LNG fuel. The two companies will jointly move
these developments to marine markets in order to enhance its rapid introduction
and use.
Wärtsilä has been at the forefront in the development of dual-fuel engine
technology, allowing the same engine to be operated on both gas and diesel
fuel. This dual-fuel capability means that when running in gas mode, the
environmental impact is minimized since nitrogen oxides (NOx) are reduced
by some 85 percent compared to diesel operation, sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions
are completely eliminated as gas contains no sulphur, and emissions of CO2
are also lowered. Natural gas has no residuals, and thus the production
of particulates is practically non-existent.
In addition to the environmental benefits that LNG fuel offers, the shipping
industry is increasingly looking to gas as a means of reducing operating
costs. With fossil fuel prices, and especially the cost of low carbon marine
fuel, likely to continue to escalate, gas is an obvious economic alternative.
In promoting gas propulsion, the two companies aim at reducing client risk,
thereby accelerating market demand.
"It's an exciting time for the industry to have Shell, a major player, committed
to increasing the availability of clean natural gas as a marine fuel. The
marine community is becoming increasingly aware of the benefits provided
by Wärtsilä natural gas engines as a means of reducing both costs and the
environmental footprint. Natural gas engines represent a rare win-win, capturing
emissions reduction and operational savings," says Christoph Vitzthum, Group
Vice President, Wärtsilä Services.
Drawing from decades of experience in the development and application of
natural gas engines for both the power generation and marine industries,
Wärtsilä is the global leader in this advanced technology. "Clean, safe
natural gas represents a true shipping paradigm shift; years ago it was sail
to steam, then came the move from steam to diesel, and now it's a new era
for gas propulsion," says Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship
Power.
"We are pleased to work with Wärtsilä to move forward with this significant
step in introducing LNG-powered vessels into the US market, providing a clean,
abundant and affordable fuel option," said David Lawrence, Shell's executive
vice president Exploration and Commercial.
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