Winter Storm Elliot exposes flaws in US power grid - Dec 28
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 10:10 am
Deadly winter storm exposes deep flaws of U.S. energy system. Bloomberg.
Opinion. The deep freeze that blanketed most of the U.S. in the past few days killed dozens and temporarily plunged millions into darkness. Yet the country narrowly escaped an even worse calamity as natural gas and power supplies buckled across several states, laying bare just how vulnerable the electric grid has become to a full-on catastrophe. The storm evoked memories of deadly 2021 winter blast that caused widespread blackouts in Texas. But while that system hit a region unaccustomed to extreme cold, this one spread across the Midwest and Northeast — two areas that should be well-prepared. The fact that they weren’t highlights the flaws of a system that’s facing limited natural gas supplies and the unpredictability of solar and wind power.
U.S. natural gas production plunges as winter storm wreaks havoc. Oil Price.com
Natural gas output in the Appalachia region, the top gas-producing basin in the U.S., dropped by a record amount as Winter Storm Elliott swept through Pennsylvania and Ohio, freezing wells and some equipment and creating mechanical issues at pipeline infrastructure. The Appalachia basin saw natural gas supply drop by 27%, or by 9 billion cubic feet, compared to the typical levels, according to estimates by BloombergNEF based on pipeline flows. The decline was the steepest on record in data since 2013, Bloomberg notes. In Pennsylvania, natural gas production fell by more than 20%, due to well freeze-offs. In Ohio, output more than halved, according to Bloomberg’s estimates. As of Tuesday, December 27, U.S. natural gas production was still significantly below the levels of the past weeks. Early production data, cited by Natural Gas Intelligence, showed that American natural gas output was still around 80-86 Bcf/d, well below the 100 Bcf/d production of the past weeks and months.
U.S. exports bounce back after winter storm upends natural gas flows – LNG recap. NGI.
U.S. LNG export demand fell by about 5 Bcf/d heading into the holiday weekend as a brutal winter storm settled in over much of the country and impacted terminal operations. The storm brought high winds, rain, snow and freezing temperatures that cut into natural gas supply, slowed deliveries on interstate pipeline systems and halted vessel traffic along the Gulf Coast. NGI’s U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Export Tracker showed feed gas volumes dipped from a high of 13.81 Bcf/d early last week to just 9.29 Bcf on Friday. Vessel traffic stopped Friday on waterways serving the Calcasieu Pass, Cameron, Corpus Christi and Sabine Pass LNG terminals in Texas and Louisiana. It’s since resumed and feed gas deliveries have steadily climbed upward, with volumes nominated at 12.67 Bcf on Tuesday.
U.S., Canada natgas output may face growing pains in 2023. Business Recorder.
U.S. and Canadian natural gas production is expected to hit new records in 2023, but growth may be slow due to weakened demand, pipeline bottlenecks and a lack of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants. Gas demand surged worldwide after Russia cut off Europe’s primary supply, and the United States and Canada are expected to feed copious demand for exports in coming years, bolstered by high prices. The two countries produced a record combined 116 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2022. Next year’s growth could be slower than recent years. Major production fields in both countries are inhibited by a lack of pipelines to move gas to key markets, including export terminals in the US Gulf. Canada is in the midst of building a large terminal to export LNG, but its completion is two years away.
Opinion. The deep freeze that blanketed most of the U.S. in the past few days killed dozens and temporarily plunged millions into darkness. Yet the country narrowly escaped an even worse calamity as natural gas and power supplies buckled across several states, laying bare just how vulnerable the electric grid has become to a full-on catastrophe. The storm evoked memories of deadly 2021 winter blast that caused widespread blackouts in Texas. But while that system hit a region unaccustomed to extreme cold, this one spread across the Midwest and Northeast — two areas that should be well-prepared. The fact that they weren’t highlights the flaws of a system that’s facing limited natural gas supplies and the unpredictability of solar and wind power.
U.S. natural gas production plunges as winter storm wreaks havoc. Oil Price.com
Natural gas output in the Appalachia region, the top gas-producing basin in the U.S., dropped by a record amount as Winter Storm Elliott swept through Pennsylvania and Ohio, freezing wells and some equipment and creating mechanical issues at pipeline infrastructure. The Appalachia basin saw natural gas supply drop by 27%, or by 9 billion cubic feet, compared to the typical levels, according to estimates by BloombergNEF based on pipeline flows. The decline was the steepest on record in data since 2013, Bloomberg notes. In Pennsylvania, natural gas production fell by more than 20%, due to well freeze-offs. In Ohio, output more than halved, according to Bloomberg’s estimates. As of Tuesday, December 27, U.S. natural gas production was still significantly below the levels of the past weeks. Early production data, cited by Natural Gas Intelligence, showed that American natural gas output was still around 80-86 Bcf/d, well below the 100 Bcf/d production of the past weeks and months.
U.S. exports bounce back after winter storm upends natural gas flows – LNG recap. NGI.
U.S. LNG export demand fell by about 5 Bcf/d heading into the holiday weekend as a brutal winter storm settled in over much of the country and impacted terminal operations. The storm brought high winds, rain, snow and freezing temperatures that cut into natural gas supply, slowed deliveries on interstate pipeline systems and halted vessel traffic along the Gulf Coast. NGI’s U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Export Tracker showed feed gas volumes dipped from a high of 13.81 Bcf/d early last week to just 9.29 Bcf on Friday. Vessel traffic stopped Friday on waterways serving the Calcasieu Pass, Cameron, Corpus Christi and Sabine Pass LNG terminals in Texas and Louisiana. It’s since resumed and feed gas deliveries have steadily climbed upward, with volumes nominated at 12.67 Bcf on Tuesday.
U.S., Canada natgas output may face growing pains in 2023. Business Recorder.
U.S. and Canadian natural gas production is expected to hit new records in 2023, but growth may be slow due to weakened demand, pipeline bottlenecks and a lack of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants. Gas demand surged worldwide after Russia cut off Europe’s primary supply, and the United States and Canada are expected to feed copious demand for exports in coming years, bolstered by high prices. The two countries produced a record combined 116 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2022. Next year’s growth could be slower than recent years. Major production fields in both countries are inhibited by a lack of pipelines to move gas to key markets, including export terminals in the US Gulf. Canada is in the midst of building a large terminal to export LNG, but its completion is two years away.