Category Archives: Oil & gas
America’s changing energy landscape
Commercial energy production in the United States has in recent years been a mixture of coal, nuclear, natural gas, solar, and wind. Due to advancements in technology and the abundance of natural gas, traditional coal powered plants and nuclear reactors … Continue reading
Debate heating up over Denton ban on fracking
Last week residents of Denton, Texas voted to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, within the city limits. This decision drew national attention and seemed to produce equal amounts of enthusiasm and unrest. The next day, officials at the Texas General … Continue reading
Source of water well contamination in Texas and Pennsylvania identified
The recent US shale boom has spurred economic growth but it has also generated a public debate about whether the hydraulic fracturing methods of extracting the fossil fuels cause water, air, or other environmental degradation. This week, the Proceedings of … Continue reading
Big changes in Mexico’s oil & gas industry
As the world’s 15th largest economy and 9th in crude oil production, Mexico stands in a unique position to elevate their economic status on the international market after a monumental shift in national policy Monday. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto … Continue reading
USDOT proposes new regulations for transportation of crude oil
This past week, United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf) and an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf) that seeks to improve the safe transportation of large quantities of flammable materials by rail. The … Continue reading
Public information concerns over oil shipments
In the wake of recent railway accidents involving crude oil shipments, the United States Department of Transportation issued an emergency order requiring railroad companies to notify state officials of specific route details and oil volume on trains shipping one million … Continue reading