LLC

Just like every other kind of mechanical equipment, rail tank cars require maintenance every once in a while. Valves can leak.  Linings wear down.  Railings, platforms, and brake equipment need periodic repairs.  And not surprisingly, the more miles you put on a tank car, the more maintenance it is going to need.  As the crude-by-rail phenomenon has grown, so has the rate of ‘bad orders’ – rail cars that must be taken out of service for maintenance.  Handling bad orders is a new issue for many producers and refiners just now getting their feet wet in the business. Everyone agrees that this is a very important issue, and the rail industry is not taking it lightly. Today we explore the implications of bad orders in the crude-by-rail market and how progressive solutions are on their way.

A couple of weeks ago RBN’s Sandy Fielden  attended the Platts Master Limited Partnership (MLP) Symposium in Las Vegas and listened to a number of presentations about the performance of these specialized corporate structures and the rivers of investment capital that their high income yields are attracting. You can’t turn your head in the energy midstream business without bumping into an MLP. Today we explain what MLPs are and why they dominate today’s energy midstream business.

Before we start – a quick disclaimer. RBN Energy does not advocate investment in in MLPs. We are not an investment advisor.  The purpose of this article is not investment advice or endorsement.