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Biomass To Gasoline -- Updating Sundrop Fuels -- November 27, 2016

Updating an old post: Sundrop Fuels / EERC -- biomass conversion to gasoline. Pilot facility near Alexandria, Louisiana, but as of 2014/2015, a process demonstration facility now in operation at North Dakota's Energy and Environmental Research Center.

It's Not Peak Oil, Any More ... It's Peak Oil DEMAND -- November 27, 2016

Peak oil demand. From The WSJ: oil industry anticipates day or reckoning. The story may or may not be a "fake story," but certainly the headline is a "fake headline." From the story:
The International Energy Agency, which advises industrialized countries on energy policy, says consumption will continue to rise for decades in its most likely scenario. But that picture shifts radically if governments take further action to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius with more stringent policies like carbon pricing, strict emissions limits and the removal of fossil-fuel subsidies. If that happens, oil demand could peak within the next 10 years, the IEA says. 
The graphic:
Fake headline. We're not going to see peak oil demand in my investing lifetime. 

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Natural Gas: US Now A Net Exporter

Natural gas, new milestone: the US is now -- officially -- a net exporter of natural gas. From The Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. has become a net exporter of natural gas, further evidence of the how the domestic oil and gas boom is reshaping the global energy business.
The U.S. has exported an average of 7.4 billion cubic feet a day of gas in November, more than the 7 billion cubic feet a day it has imported, according to S&P Global Platts, an energy trade publisher and data provider. Exports also topped imports for a few days in September, Platts reported. It has been nearly 60 years since the U.S. last shipped out more natural gas than it brought in annually, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The milestone comes less than a year after restrictions on most crude oil exports were lifted, allowing tankers of crude to be freely shipped overseas for the first time nearly half a century, and together they mark a significant and potentially permanent change in the way U.S. energy flows around the world. Overseas producers now have to deal with the growing clout of the U.S. energy industry, which is aggressively looking to ramp up its global market share to help offset a long period of low prices.
Gas exports have risen more than 50% since 2010. The U.S. will ship gas equal to as much as a fifth of its annual consumption abroad by 2020, Citigroup estimates. The Energy Department says the country will be the world’s third-largest producer of liquefied natural gas for export by that year, trailing Australia and Qatar.
 This is a huge story. It's been a recurrent them on the MDW. Start with "The Big Stories." Then to "LNG Exports." Even the Middle East is becoming a major customer for US natural gas.

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Gigantic Tablets

Speaking of the next big thing. From The Wall Street Journal: long a novelty, gigantic tablets are sneaking into the workplace.
The devices—anything bigger than 13 inches, the size of an iPad Pro—are interesting for several reasons. First is the diversity of their uses, from the bowels of cruise ships to your local McDonald’s. The second is that, unlike tablets and other mobile touch-screen devices, no one owns this category yet.

Canada Aims To Fully Phase Out Coal Power By 2030 -- November 27, 2016

Spokesman:
Coal power in Canada currently represents close to 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions coming from four provinces—Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Provinces will have the option to choose between phasing out coal entirely and replacing it with lower-emitting resources, or using carbon capture and storage technology.
Does it matter?
This is easier for Canada than the U.S. because half its power already comes from waterfalls; Canada gets 10% of its electricity from coal versus about 31% in the U.S. But it’s still a big chunk of coal, and one among many that’s weakening in a secular way. 
Canadian energy link here

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China May Waste Half Trillion Dollars On Unneeded Coal Plants

Bloomberg link here. Data points:
  • $490 billion: coal power plants than it needs
  • currently: 895 gigawatts of operating coal capacity being utilized less than half the time
  • another 205 gigawatts under construction
  • installed a record 46.9 gigawatts of solar and wind last year 
  • additional coal capacity beyond existing plants is only required by 2020 if power generation growth exceeds 4% / year and coal plants are run at a utilization rate of 45% or less
  • even existing capacity may come under financial pressure by 2020

Random Note: Whiting's Production In Twin Valley oil field, September, 2016, Vs August, 2016

Refer to this post with regard to these screenshots.

Whiting production in August, 2016, in Twin Valley oil field:


Whiting production in September, 2016, in Twin Valley oil field:


Note:
  • 1st - 6th columns: well name, quadrant, section, T, R, county
  • 7th column: file number (a five-digit number)
  • 8th column: oil production
  • 9th column: water production
  • 10th column: days
  • 11th column: runs
  • 12th column: gas
  • 13th column: gas sold

September, 2016, Crude Oil Production By Field In North Dakota

Top 20 producing Bakken fields in North Dakota, monthly production per field (descending order, 6th column):

Field
August 2016 Production
August Wells
AugustOil/Well/Month
Percent Change July -to-August
Sept 2016 Production
Sept Wells
Sept Oil / Well / Month
Percent Change Aug - to- Sept
Sanish
1,357,449
601
2,259
1.75%
1,284,316
601
2,137
-5.39%
Parshall
1,166,153
438
2,662
-4.34%
1,160,162
446
2,601
-0.51%
Grail
907,322
178
5,097
-12.02%
829,786
179
4,636
-8.55%
Antelope-Sanish
770,322
167
4,613
-9.23%
773,353
171
4,523
0.39%
Corral Creek
828,103
148
5,595
-3.30%
771,081
148
5,210
-6.89%
Reunion Bay 
509,052
151
3,371
-8.88%
585,800
152
3,854
15.08%
Alger 
648,600
312
2,079
-11.45%
577,213
312
1,850
-11.01%
Spotted Horn
617,749
88
7,020
-11.24%
548,335
88
6,231
-11.24%
Alkali Creek
417,891
143
2,922
-14.71%
523,913
147
3,564
25.37%
Heart Butte
510,456
179
2,852
-3.36%
519,383
179
2,902
1.75%
Camp
490,751
137
3,582
-19.80%
517,194
141
3,668
5.39%
Siverston
568,046
223
2,547
-9.17%
512,404
222
2,308
-9.80%
Blue Buttes
636,129
143
4,448
-6.72%
498,107
143
3,483
-21.70%
Van Hook
487,636
185
2,636
-11.86%
483,348
185
2,613
-0.88%
Banks
610,666
186
3,283
-10.38%
472,996
188
2,516
-22.54%
McGregory Buttes
448,183
95
4,718
-1.15%
439,666
95
4,628
-1.90%
Truax
451,462
171
2,640
-9.20%
406,166
171
2,375
-10.03%
Big Bend
518,988
116
4,474
-1.52%
376,666
116
3,247
-27.42%
Robinson Lake
394,638
172
2,294
-3.91%
372,026
173
2,150
-5.73%
Little Knife
364,274
144
2,530
11.66%
371,112
145
2,559
1.88%


Top 20 producing Bakken fields in North Dakota, crude oil / well (descending order, 8th column)
Field
August 2016 Production
August Wells
AugustOil/Well/Month
Percent Change July -to-August
Sept 2016 Production
Sept Wells
Sept Oil / Well / Month
Percent Change Aug - to- Sept
Spotted Horn
617,749
88
7,020
-11.24%
548,335
88
6,231
-11.24%
Long Creek
176,932
27
6,553
-10.35%
141,624
27
5,245
-19.96%
Corral Creek
828,103
148
5,595
-3.30%
771,081
148
5,210
-6.89%
North Fork
217,776
56
3,889
78.62%
290,677
57
5,100
33.48%
Grail
907,322
178
5,097
-12.02%
829,786
179
4,636
-8.55%
McGregory Buttes
448,183
95
4,718
-1.15%
439,666
95
4,628
-1.90%
Antelope-Sanish
770,322
167
4,613
-9.23%
773,353
171
4,523
0.39%
Pershing
187,481
39
4,807
-10.44%
170,794
39
4,379
-8.90%
Lost Bridge
289,573
57
5,080
-10.01%
264,198
61
4,331
-8.76%
Bear Creek
115,625
27
4,282
18.22%
114,026
27
4,223
-1.38%
Johnson Corner
120,996
31
3,903
-0.45%
122,336
31
3,946
1.11%
Bear Den
207,848
44
4,724
2.82%
171,774
44
3,904
-17.36%
Reunion Bay 
509,052
151
3,371
-8.88%
585,800
152
3,854
15.08%
Camel Butte
147,928
34
4,351
4.10%
126,051
34
3,707
-14.79%
Camp
490,751
137
3,582
-19.80%
517,194
141
3,668
5.39%
South Fork
103,105
29
3,555
-3.76%
103,529
29
3,570
0.41%
Alkali Creek
417,891
143
2,922
-14.71%
523,913
147
3,564
25.37%
Blue Buttes
636,129
143
4,448
-6.72%
498,107
143
3,483
-21.70%
Eagle Nest
315,273
79
3,991
-8.43%
290,515
84
3,459
-7.85%
Mandaree
290,243
82
3,540
1.10%
282,198
82
3,441
-2.77%


Top 20 Bakken fields in North Dakota, percent change in production month-over-month for the field (descending order, 9th column):

Field
August 2016 Production
August Wells
AugustOil/Well/Month
Percent Change July -to-August
Sept 2016 Production
Sept Wells
Sept Oil / Well / Month
Percent Change Aug - to- Sept









Twin Valley
4,223
18
235
-90.36%
24,695
18
1,372
484.77%
North Fork
217,776
56
3,889
78.62%
290,677
57
5,100
33.48%
West Ambrose
213,669
87
2,456
26.03%
273,879
89
3,077
28.18%
Alkali Creek
417,891
143
2,922
-14.71%
523,913
147
3,564
25.37%
North Tobacco Garden
85,853
43
1,997
-22.45%
106,944
44
2,431
24.57%
Oakdale
51,476
24
2,145
-20.02%
60,642
24
2,527
17.81%
Jim Creek
100,235
53
1,891
-26.84%
115,554
53
2,180
15.28%
Reunion Bay 
509,052
151
3,371
-8.88%
585,800
152
3,854
15.08%
Elm Tree
98,243
31
3,169
-26.33%
106,221
31
3,426
8.12%
Willow Creek
55,819
27
2,067
1.69%
59,130
27
2,190
5.93%
Dollar Joe
138,492
93
1,489
-7.45%
146,373
93
1,574
5.69%
Pembroke
77,874
52
1,498
-14.70%
82,281
52
1,582
5.66%
Camp
490,751
137
3,582
-19.80%
517,194
141
3,668
5.39%
Chimney Butte
160,315
75
2,138
-3.15%
168,482
75
2,246
5.09%
Park
52,328
36
1,454
-15.47%
54,842
36
1,523
4.80%
Haystack Butte
119,265
57
2,092
-1.66%
124,643
57
2,187
4.51%
Charlson
269,200
107
2,516
-14.67%
277,788
107
2,596
3.19%
Brooklyn
245,880
82
2,999
-7.89%
251,229
82
3,064
2.18%
Little Knife
364,274
144
2,530
11.66%
371,112
145
2,559
1.88%

Bottom 20 fields in North Dakota, percent change in production month-over-month for the field (descending order, 9th column):

Field
August 2016 Production
August Wells
AugustOil/Well/Month
Percent Change July -to-August
Sept 2016 Production
Sept Wells
Sept Oil / Well / Month
Percent Change Aug - to- Sept
Stony Creek
102,698
35
2,934
9.83%
58,707
35
1,677
-42.84%
Elidah
143,471
54
2,657
-9.51%
96,392
54
1,785
-32.81%
Big Bend
518,988
116
4,474
-1.52%
376,666
116
3,247
-27.42%
Williston
77,247
21
3,678
-9.40%
59,320
21
2,825
-23.21%
Sand Creek
282,505
79
3,576
-8.32%
217,328
79
2,751
-23.07%
Banks
610,666
186
3,283
-10.38%
472,996
188
2,516
-22.54%
Blue Buttes
636,129
143
4,448
-6.72%
498,107
143
3,483
-21.70%
Long Creek
176,932
27
6,553
-10.35%
141,624
27
5,245
-19.96%
Baker
204,594
69
2,965
-4.28%
167,650
69
2,430
-18.06%
Poe
302,417
94
3,217
-11.43%
248,560
94
2,644
-17.81%
Clear Creek
182,769
75
2,437
-7.58%
150,260
75
2,003
-17.79%
Bear Den
207,848
44
4,724
2.82%
171,774
44
3,904
-17.36%
Westberg
336,211
96
3,502
19.99%
282,018
99
2,849
-16.12%
East Fork
381,196
104
3,665
-3.45%
320,021
104
3,077
-16.05%
Tobacco Garden
190,016
55
3,455
-2.35%
160,203
55
2,913
-15.69%
Timber Creek
70,089
32
2,190
-8.72%
59,718
32
1,866
-14.80%
Camel Butte
147,928
34
4,351
4.10%
126,051
34
3,707
-14.79%
Moccasin Creek
215,360
59
3,650
-8.09%
184,219
59
3,122
-14.46%
Grinnell
162,482
52
3,125
2.42%
140,740
52
2,707
-13.38%
Hawkeye
366,120
104
3,520
-4.18%
319,177
104
3,069
-12.82%


Note: The spreadsheet from which this is taken includes only 88 fields in North Dakota. All, except two, are Bakken fields.

Note: The huge change in production in Twin Valley was due to almost all or all of Whiting wells in Twin Valley taken off-line for the month of August, or at least, reported no production in Twin Valley for the month of August. In September, these wells were again reporting production. See this post for more information.

Note: the usual disclaimer applies. These tables are done quickly and will have typographical and factual errors. If this information is important to you, go to the source