In The News

Abundant light crude creates a sweet situation for refiners
Wednesday, 08/13/2014

(August 12, 2014 – Houston Chronicle) Abundant light crude creates a sweet situation for refiners (By Robert Grattan)

The future of oil refining in Houston and the Gulf Coast increasingly belongs to the pipeline.

Refineries are embracing domestic oil flowing mostly through pipelines from the nation's bounteous shale fields, after counting for years on tankers full of imported crude.

Since 2011, the amount of foreign crude shipped over water to the Houston area has fallen from 1.5 million barrels a...

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SFA Alumni Association presents 2014 Alumni Awards
Wednesday, 08/13/2014

(August 11, 2014 – The Gilmer Mirror) SFA Alumni Association presents 2014 Alumni Awards

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association will honor five outstanding alumni at its annual awards banquet at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center’s Twilight Ballroom.

The SFA Alumni Association bestows its highest honors on individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their professions and community, committed themselves to advancing the values and goals of...

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North Dakota crude no more dangerous than similar fuels, report finds
Friday, 08/08/2014

(August 5, 2014 – Fuel Fix) North Dakota crude no more dangerous than similar fuels, report finds (By Robert Grattan)

HOUSTON — An industry-funded study released Monday concluded that the oil from the Bakken region doesn’t pose a greater risk to transport than other similar, types of crude.

The study is the most scientific analysis of the region’s crude so far, the North Dakota Petroleum Council said. The group hopes the report allays fears that Bakken oil may be more prone to ignition — after a series of accidents...

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Severe drought boosts California gas demand
Tuesday, 08/05/2014

(August 5, 2014 – Platts Gas Daily) Severe drought boosts California gas demand (By: Jim Magill)

As California suffers through a historic drought, low water levels are cutting into the state’s ability to generate hydro-power, setting the stage for natural gas to fill the gap.

But gas faces stiff competition from renewable energy sources, such...

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Cushing Oil Supplies Squeeze Market
Thursday, 07/31/2014

(July 29, 2014 – WSJ “Money Beat”) Cushing Oil Supplies Squeeze Market

U.S. oil production is booming. But for physical traders, there isn’t enough oil in the one place that it matters: Cushing, Okla.

Storage supplies in Cushing, the physical delivery point for the benchmark New York Mercantile Exchange contract, have plummeted from 41.8 million barrels in late January to 18.8 million barrels, the lowest level since 2008, thanks to new pipeline capacity.

London-based consulting firm Energy Aspects says 18 million barrels is Cushing’s operational...

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