From GE:

GE’s Distributed Power Expands Gas Compression Power Packager Program in Canada

April 1, 2015

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• Bidell is Announced as a New Platinum Participant in Canada
• Services Enhancement Program Designed to Meet the Changing Needs of Customers in Gas Compression Applications
• Program Seeks to Give End Users in Gas Compression Applications Greater Access to Genuine Waukesha Parts and Expert Service Technicians 

WAUKESHA, WIS.—April 1, 2015—GE’s Distributed Power business (NYSE: GE) has expanded its new Gas Compression Power Packager program in Canada by adding Bidell Gas Compression as a new participant at the Platinum Level. The program is designed to provide customers in gas compression applications with enhanced access to genuine Waukesha parts and skilled service technicians. 

The program increases the opportunity for end users to access expert Waukesha gas engine service technicians in growing oil and gas spaces, like in Western Canada, through increased GE training to participating packaging companies.  End users in these spaces can benefit from reduced engine life cycle costs through increased access to proven, genuine Waukesha parts. As a Platinum-level participant, Bidell can purchase genuine Waukesha parts and services directly from GE.

“We are proud to partner with Bidell as a new Platinum participant in the Gas Compression Power Packager Program,” said Darryl Wilson, chief commercial officer for GE’s Distributed Power business. “The real winners here are our Canadian gas compression customers, which can benefit greatly from more service density and access to genuine Waukesha service products provided by Bidell under the program.”

Bidell is a major Canadian gas compression company and subsidiary of Total Energy Services Inc. (TSX: TOT) with headquarters in Calgary and field service locations throughout the country. Founded in 1988, Bidell has built and serviced a gas compression installed base exceeding an estimated 1 million horsepower, including its patented NOMAD trailer-mounted mobile units for customers operating in temporary and extremely remote applications. 

“Our participation in the new Gas Compression Power Packager Program is a win for our Waukesha end-user customers,” said Sean Ulmer, president of Bidell Gas Compression. “We will be able to provide our customers with faster and greater access to genuine Waukesha service products and skilled engine technicians to better support their operations as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.”  

About Bidell Gas Compression

Celebrating 27 years in business in 2015, Bidell, part of the Total Energy Services Inc. (TSX: TOT) group of companies, is a leading supplier of reciprocating and rotary screw natural gas compressors from 20 to 8,000 brake horsepower.

In addition to the sales and leasing of skid, NOMAD and trailer mounted compressors, Bidell has parts and service centers across Western Canada to quickly meet customers’ needs.

About GE’s Distributed Power Business

GE Power & Water’s Distributed Power business is a leading provider of power equipment, engines and services focused on power generation at or near the point of use. Distributed Power’s product portfolio includes highly efficient industrial reciprocating engines and aeroderivative gas turbines that generate 100 kW to 100 MW of power for numerous industries globally. In addition, Distributed Power offers life cycle services and support for more than 37,000 distributed power products worldwide to help customers meet their business challenges—anywhere and anytime.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Distributed Power employs about 5,000 people around the world.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com

Tags

• Business Unit: Power & Water
• Region: North America
• Topics: Customers, Organizational Announcements, Products & Services, Technology & Research

APACHE CONTINUES TO INFUSE NEW LIFE INTO UK'S NORTH SEA

Press release:

APACHE CONTINUES TO INFUSE NEW LIFE INTO UK'S NORTH SEA

- Beryl Field well test flows at rates exceeding 9,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d)
- Jacket for Alpha Satellite Platform arrives at Forties Field

HOUSTON, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) announced today that it continues to add new life into UK's North Sea, as the Beryl Bravo B73y development well tests at 8,161 barrels of oil per day (bo/d) and 5.9 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcf/d).

Apache also reached a major milestone toward the installation of a satellite production platform that will help extend the life of the Forties Field by nearly two decades.

The B73y well tested a Nansen reservoir containing 71 feet of net oil pay and began producing at the end of August. The well also encountered 245 feet of net pay in three additional zones that will be produced at a later date. Apache has a 50 percent interest in the B73y well, which is a follow up to the previously disclosed B72 well that tested in excess of 11,600 bo/d  and 13 MMcf/d in May 2012. Similarly, the B72 encountered additional pay behind pipe that will be produced at a later date.

"Our early drilling results at the Beryl field have been excellent," said G. Steven Farris, Apache chairman and chief executive officer, "and we continue to move forward in assimilating the Mobil North Sea assets acquired at the end of 2011."

In addition, 3-D seismic surveys of the Beryl Field began in early August and when completed in mid-October will further refine Apache's future drilling plans there.

The added volumes from the B73y well will mitigate scheduled downtime of other assets in the North Sea from July to September.  

Apache also announced today that the jacket for the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) has arrived at the Forties Field in theNorth Sea to become a bridged-linked processing facility and drilling platform. The fully commissioned topside and 90 meter bridge link are scheduled to be delivered during the second quarter of 2013.

FASP will provide Apache with full-fluid processing and contain 18 new production well slots that will facilitate additional drilling in the field commencing in the third quarter of 2013.

Apache acquired the Forties Field in 2003, which the previous operator had forecasted would cease producing this year.

"What's extra special about FASP is Apache is adding another platform in 2012 when the field was projected to have reached the end of its life," said Jim House, Apache's UK North Sea region vice president. "Apache originally purchased 144 MMBoe of proved reserves within the Forties Field at a cost of $667 million and has now produced nearly 190 MMBoe and still has 130 MMboe of proven reserves yet to deliver."

Apache has invested approximately $4.3 billion in the Forties field, adding an estimated 18 years to the field's life.

A new 3-D seismic acquisition survey is planned for 2013 over the Forties Field area that will be converted to a 4-D interpretation, which has been a key driver of success for locating bypassed or un-swept oil reserves. 

About Apache

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, theUnited Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and copies of all press releases on its website, www.apachecorp.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects" and similar references to future periods. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, expectations, and objectives for Apache's operations in UK's North Sea including statements about drilling plans and future production growth. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See "Risk Factors" in our 2011 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

APA-UK 

SOURCE Apache Corporation

News Provided by Acquire Media

March 26, 2012 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

ExxonMobil Awards Multi-Zone Stimulation Technology License to Weatherford

• Well perforating and fracturing combined into one efficient operation
• Award-winning technology in commercial use since 2005
• Weatherford experienced in advanced stimulation technologies

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company (URC) announced today the licensing of its award-winning Multi-Zone Stimulation Technology (MZST^SM) well treatment process to a subsidiary of Weatherford International Ltd. The MZST process can be used to rapidly and reliably stimulate multiple zones in a single operation, yielding improved well economics.

The MZST process can be particularly beneficial for hydraulic fracturing operations in tight gas, shale gas and coal bed methane wells that target multiple reservoir zones, thick reservoir sections or long reservoir intervals where multiple stimulation treatments are required.

“The MZST process is a proven technology for rapidly completing wells in tight reservoirs such as shale gas,” said URC President Sara Ortwein. “As shale gas takes on growing significance, this technology will play a key role in improving the economics of developing this unconventional resource.”

The MZST process will enable Weatherford to optimize its stimulation operations by combining the deployment of perforating and hydraulic fracturing equipment simultaneously in the wellbore to enable "single-trip" multi-zone stimulations. The technology dramatically increases the number of zones that can be fractured per day compared to traditional fracturing and stimulation operations.

“We are always looking for proven technology to reduce completion costs without sacrificing safety or well integrity,” said Gary Flock, Weatherford vice president of pressure pumping. “The MZST process is an excellent fit with our existing portfolio of completion and well stimulation technologies and services and will help us add value to our customers in the unconventional gas business.”

The MZST process was developed by ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation. The technology was recognized with Platts Global Energy Award for Most Innovative Commercial Technology in 2005 and has been licensed to numerous service companies.

About ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company is the Upstream research affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), a leading global oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals company with operations in nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide. ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company is charged with developing an industry-leading array of proprietary technologies that support the Corporation's continued leadership position in exploration, development, production and gas commercialization.

About Weatherford

Weatherford is a Swiss-based, multi-national oilfield service company. It is one of the largest global providers of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and services for the drilling and production sectors of the oil and gas industry. Weatherford operates in over 100 countries and employs over 60,000 people worldwide.

MZST is a service mark of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Statements in this release regarding future events or conditions are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including the performance of new technology, could differ materially depending on geologic conditions, technical or operating factors, and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" on the "Investors" section of our website at www.exxonmobil.com.

News Release from GE - Portable Vibration Analyzer

13 March 2012

GE’s Bently Nevada Introduces Portable Plant Condition Monitoring Solution Series

SCOUT Portable Vibration Analyzer Series Expands Business’ End-to-End Monitoring Expertise

MINDEN, NEV.—March 13, 2012—GE’s (NYSE: GE) Bently Nevada product line, a GE Measurement & Control business, today unveiled SCOUT, an intelligent suite of portable vibration monitoring and analysis instruments. The SCOUT series demonstrates the business’ commitment to providing the oil, gas and power generation industries with fully integrated, single-provider solutions that support all plant condition monitoring needs. The SCOUT series represents the first products resulting from GE’s acquisition of Commtest Instruments in 2011. Commtest is recognized for its leadership and innovation in portable vibration analysis and monitoring instruments.

“At GE’s Bently Nevada, we’re passionate about developing simple, intelligent systems that provide our customers with the information they need to optimize machinery operations and ensure the highest level of productivity and safety,” said Don Marshall, product manager, GE’s Bently Nevada. “The SCOUT series aligns perfectly with our vision to expand our plant-wide monitoring capabilities, enabling us to offer a truly integrated, end-to-end condition monitoring solution to our customers.”

Engineered from the ground up to offer leading-edge reliability, accuracy and usability, the SCOUT series offers the power and convenience of dual- or four-channel measurement and dual-plane balancing to support all plant condition monitoring needs—from route-based data collection to machinery analysis and balancing. SCOUT's combination of accuracy, intuitive operation and unrivaled storage capacity ensures that each analyzer delivers a premium return on investment. Additionally, the SCOUT series features field-proven Ascent® software that can be programmed with thousands of separate machine definitions covering a number of route choices.

From refineries and petrochemical plants to hydroelectric facilities and wind farms, GE’s Bently Nevada provides trusted and proven vibration monitoring equipment and a comprehensive services portfolio to help improve the efficiency, reliability and performance of production assets like turbines, compressors, motors and generators. For more information, please visitwww.ge-mcs.com/scout.

About Measurement & Control
Measurement & Control is a leading innovator in advanced, sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection and condition monitoring. Providing healthcare for customers’ most critical assets, the business delivers accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, metals and transportation. Measurement & Control has over 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Oil & Gas. For further information, visit www.ge-mcs.com.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy- and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food & beverage and unconventional fuels.

Obama Responsible for Greater Oil & Gas Production?

U.S. Chamber’s Energy Institute Comments on President Obama’s Energy Speech

February 23, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s remarks on energy delivered at the University of Miami today:

 

“As the President said, there is no silver bullet that will decrease gas prices and improve our energy security. However, there are a series of significant steps that this President could take that would lead us to a more secure energy and economic future, but this Administration has rejected that path.

 

“Today’s speech contained two fundamental mischaracterizations. The first is the notion that raising taxes on oil companies is going to lower gas prices. It won’t, and we know it won’t because it has been tried before. The result was higher prices and more imports. 

 

“The second is that this Administration is somehow responsible for the uptick we’ve seen recently in domestic production. It’s not. Because of the restrictions this Administration has placed on accessing public land, as well as the ever-increasing amount of red tape, the energy industry has moved to produce oil and gas on private lands. Also, credit is due to policy decisions made years ago in previous Administrations. The fact that the Administration would repeatedly try to take credit for this shows a troubling lack of understanding of energy production in this country. 

 

“The results of the President’s ‘just say no’ energy policy will be felt in the years to come. The facts speak for themselves. President Obama’s administration has issued 50.7 percent fewer annual leases on public lands than President Clinton’s did. Gulf of Mexico energy production is down 16 percent since 2009 and is projected to decrease even further in 2012. President Obama denied the Keystone XL pipeline permit, which would have created thousands of jobs and provided all Americans with a steady supply of oil from a friendly ally. He also has banned new offshore areas from oil and gas exploration, and recently his Administration took one million acres of onshore land rich with oil shale off the table.

 

“The American people can see that the current approach is not working. But we cannot have a constructive conversation about energy policy as long as this Administration fails to put forward any new ideas, relying instead on four year old campaign rhetoric. It isn’t enough just to be for an ‘all of the above’ energy policy in a speech. It’s time to actually propose one.”

 

The mission of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

News Release from Illinois EPA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2012

Illinois EPA Designates 15 Chicago Area “Green Fleets”

Oak Park—The Illinois EPA, in coordination with the Chicago Area Clean Cities coalition, designated 15 new Chicago area Green Fleets at an event held today in Oak Park.  The Illinois Green Fleets program provides for “Green Environment, Green Energy, & Green Economics for a Green Illinois,” through the use of clean alternate fuels, such as natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, propane and electricity in their fleet vehicles, as well as retrofiting existing diesel trucks with clean technology options to reduce diesel particulates. Information regarding the program can be found at http://www.illinoisgreenfleets.org/.  “These are family-owned and larger businesses, as well as public bodies, that have seen the value in supporting clean air, energy independence, jobs and providing insurance against the concern about high prices for gasoline and diesel,” said Interim Illinois EPA Director John Kim. “These new Green Fleets join an elite fraternity of over 100 designated fleets throughout the state. We see more and more family-owned small businesses that are taking the initiative to purchase and convert their vehicles and equipment to run on a clean American fuel,” said Darwin Burkhart, program manager for the Illinois EPA and Chairman of Chicago Area Clean Cities. The 15 new Illinois Green Fleets are: Abt Electronics, a family-owned electronics and appliance store based in Glenview, uses biodiesel in its diesel truck fleet and has 30 vans that use E85 ethanol fuel and two vans that run on natural gas. In addition, the Abt family installed diesel oxidation catalysts on eight diesel delivery trucks to further reduce particulate emissions. Groot Industries, a family operated waste hauler based in Elk Grove Village, has 33 refuse trucks that run on natural gas and has installed two natural gas refueling stations to share with other fleets. Other waste companies being recognized are Waste Management in Wheeling and Veolia ES Solid Waste in Northbrook with 33 and 20 natural gas refuse trucks, respectively. Competitive Lawn Service, a small commercial lawn business in Downers Grove, is the first lawn and landscaping business in the country to convert many of its pickup trucks and mower equipment to propane.  Doreen’s Pizzeria, a family-owned business in Calumet City, has seven natural gas-powered delivery trucks that display “Green Pizza Machines” on the sides of the vehicles. Ozinga Ready Mix, a family-owned business in Mokena, is believed to be the first concrete company in the country to convert 14 of its mixing trucks to run on natural gas. SCR Medical Transportation, a family run paratransit service in the Chicago area, operates 20 natural gas vans and shuttles for people needing mobility assistance. In addition, GO Airport Express operates two propane and two natural gas-powered shuttle vans and Yellow Cab Chicago has 79 natural gas taxis; both companies operate from O’Hare and Midway airports. Other Green Fleets that are being acknowledged at the event are Northern Illinois University in DeKalb that uses E85, biodiesel, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles in many of its trucks, buses, campus police cars, and other campus vehicles and equipment; Chicago Park District that has E85, biodiesel, natural gas, hybrids and electric vehicles; Dillon Transport of Burr Ridge that uses E85 in the company’s flex fuel vehicles; Foodliner of Franklin Park that operates six Freightliner trucks on natural gas; and the DuPage County Division of Transportation that has nearly half its fleet running on E85, biodiesel, natural gas and electricity.    ###

News Release from the DOE - Nat Gas & Biofuels Funding

President Obama Announces Funding for Breakthroughs in Natural Gas and Biofuels as Alternative Fuels for Vehicles

February 23, 2012 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced new funding to catalyze breakthrough technologies for two key alternative fuels – natural gas and biofuels – as part of his all-of-the-above energy strategy to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and provide American families new choices for vehicles that do not rely on conventional gasoline.   Through its Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), the Energy Department will make $30 million available for a new research competition in the coming months that will engage our country’s brightest scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to find ways to harness our abundant supplies of domestic natural gas for vehicles. The Department of Energy will also make $14 million available to support research and development into biofuels from algae.  These programs will spur American innovation and encourage scientific breakthroughs that will help diversify the nation’s energy portfolio, grow American companies, and develop alternative vehicle technologies that do not rely on oil.

President Obama announced the programs during a speech at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, where he toured the school’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), an Energy Department program that teaches students how to become industrial energy efficiency experts as they help small- to mid-sized manufacturers cut energy costs.

“As President Obama made clear in his State of the Union address, in order to build a strong economy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we must invest in developing American energy sources like natural gas and biofuels,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “Through the new programs announced today, we can help revolutionize the way Americans fuel their cars, saving money for families and businesses while building new industries here in the United States.”

Funding Breakthroughs in Natural Gas Vehicles


ARPA-E’s $30 million funding announcement for natural gas breakthroughs build on President Obama’s call for a new era for American energy that benefits from the safe, responsible development of the near 100-year supply of American natural gas, which has the potential to support more than 600,000 U.S. jobs. Today’s natural gas vehicle technologies require tanks that can withstand high pressures, are cumbersome and either too large or too expensive to be suitable for passenger vehicles. ARPA-E’s projects under this new program, titled Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy - or “MOVE” - will focus on overcoming these barriers by developing innovative, low-cost natural gas storage technologies and methods to lower pressure in vehicle tanks that will help enable the widespread adoption of natural gas vehicles.

Specifically, ARPA-E seeks to fund projects that will develop lightweight tanks for cars that can run on natural gas and fit into modern passenger vehicles. This approach includes developing affordable natural gas compressors that can efficiently fuel a natural gas vehicle at home. ARPA-E also seeks to fund projects that will develop absorbing materials that are able to hold gas, similar to how a sponge holds water.  These materials could lower pressure in vehicle tanks that hold and release natural gas, making them safer and more affordable for American consumers.

President Obama launched ARPA-E in 2009 to seek out transformational, breakthrough technologies that are too risky for private-sector investment but have the potential to translate science into quantum leaps in energy technology, form the foundation for entirely new industries, and have large commercial impacts. Demonstrating the success ARPA-E has already seen, the program announced last year that eleven of its projects secured more than $200 million in outside private capital investment after initial funding from its programs.  Today’s announcement begins ARPA-E’s fifth round of funding. To date, ARPA-E has hosted four rounds of competitions and attracted over 5,000 applications from research teams, which has resulted in 180 groundbreaking projects worth over $500 million. For more information and application requirements for the Funding Opportunity Announcement, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/.

Funding to Develop Homegrown Transportation Fuels from Algae

The Energy Department’s $14 million funding announcement to develop transportation fuels from algae builds on an Administration-wide commitment to biofuels research, development, and demonstration that includes support for the construction of commercial-scale, next-generation biorefineries. Part of the Department’s sustained investment in biofuels technologies focuses on unlocking the potential for homegrown transportation fuels from algae, which have the potential to replace up to 17 percent of the United States’ imported oil for transportation. In addition, algae feedstocks offer additional benefits, such as an ability to be grown in ponds near industrial facilities where algae can feed off the carbon emissions from power plants or digest nitrogen and phosphorous from municipal waste water.  The Department is currently supporting more than 30 algae-based biofuels projects, representing $85 million in total investments.

Through the new funding announcement, the Department will seek proposals from small businesses, universities, and national laboratories to modify existing facilities for long-term algae research and test new production processes that could lead to commercial biofuels made from algae. Specifically, the new projects will establish and operate research “test beds” for algal biofuels that can facilitate development, test new approaches to algae production, and discover innovative ways to minimize the water and nutrients needed to mass produce algae for commercial biofuels. These advanced research projects will aim to significantly improve the sustainability of algae-based biofuels and accelerate technological breakthroughs.  These awards represent the first phase in a total $30 million investment in algal biofuels in fiscal year 2012.

The competitively selected projects will receive up to $14.3 million in fiscal year 2012 funds, with an additional $6.7 million available in fiscal year 2014 funding, subject to Congressional appropriations, for projects that meet rigorous performance criteria. Applications are due on April 18, 2012. For more information and application requirements for the Funding Opportunity Announcement, please visit the Funding Opportunity Exchange website.

Energy Spurs Recovery in Houston

Excerpt from an article in The New York Times
Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Energy Spurs a Recovery in Houston Real Estate 

By KRISTINA SHEVORY

HOUSTON — In most cities, companies are holding tight, mothballing office expansions and delaying new hires. But not in Houston.

Powered by a rise in oil prices and a shale exploration boom, Houston is the first major metropolitan region to regain all the jobs it lost in the recession. The region added about 76,000 jobs last year, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, and is on pace to pick up tens of thousands more this year.

Oil and gas companies, from the biggest names like Exxon Mobil to the smallest independents, are dusting off plans to expand, relocate or put up new buildings. Last year, 1.8 million square feet of commercial space was vacuumed up, and real estate brokers expect the same or greater this year. “No question, it’s energy,” said Jim Arket, a senior vice president at Grubb & Ellis in Houston. “That’s been the plus multiplier of Houston.”

The resurgence can be partly tied to the lifting in fall 2010 of the government moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil spill. The bulk of the gulf’s drilling and profits comes from those offshore waters. Shale drilling has also bolstered balance sheets.

Nexen, a Canadian company, is moving its American headquarters from Plano, Tex., to Houston after it received permits to restart deepwater drilling in the gulf. “Houston is quite clearly the place to be for a deepwater operator,” said Grant Dreger, the vice president for finance and administration at Nexen Petroleum U.S.A. “You have loads of deepwater talent, and it’s home to the majority of our joint venture partners.”

News release from Cummins Westport:

Navistar Expands Product Line with Cummins Westport Engine

published: February 3, 2012

VANCOUVER, BC – Cummins Westport Inc. (CWI), a leading provider of high-performance, alternative fuel engines for the global market, announced today that Navistar will offer the Cummins Westport ISL G in the International® TranStar and WorkStar trucks.

The ISL G is the #1 natural gas engine in North America, with over 13,000 engines produced since it was first introduced in 2007. While initial success was in the transit and refuse markets, more recently the conventional truck market has shown an interest in natural gas.

Roe East, President of Cummins Westport, commented, "Adding Navistar completes the listing of the ISL G with all major North American truck OEMs and reaffirms Cummins Westport's position of market leadership for natural gas engines."

About the Cummins Westport ISL G

The Cummins Westport ISL G, an 8.9 litre stoichiometric cooled-exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine, is certified to 2010 EPA emissions, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and offers top-level performance and efficiency. The ISL G engine is a purpose built natural gas engine manufactured in the Cummins Engine Plant in Rocky Mount, NC that operates on either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG), both of which are cost effective, low carbon, and low emissions fuels. With ratings up to 320 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque, the ISL G features maintenance free three way catalyst (TWC) aftertreatment, and does not require the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or a diesel particulate filter (DPF) More information about the ISL G can be found at: www.cumminswestport.com/products/islg.php

About Cummins Westport

Cummins Westport Inc. (CWI) manufactures and sells the world's widest range of low-emissions alternative fuel engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses.  CWI is a joint venture of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI), a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems, and Westport Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ:WPRT / TSX:WPT), a leading developer of technologies that allow engines to operate on clean-burning fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, and hydrogen-enriched natural gas (HCNG). :: www.cumminswestport.com

GM to Build New CNG Vans for AT&T

News release from AT&T:

GM Wentzville Plant to Build New CNG Vans for AT&T

Order shows AT&T's "continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri," says AT&T Missouri President John Sondag

St. Louis, Missouri, February 01, 2012

Fresh on the heels of the announcement that is has deployed its 5,000^th alternative fuel vehicle, AT&T* announced today that it plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans to be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. It is the largest-ever order of GM CNG vehicles.

“St. Louis is home to AT&T’s Fleet Operations and we have more than 200 alternative fuel vehicles in the state,” said AT&T Missouri President John Sondag.  “This order shows AT&T’s continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri.”

AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles over a 10-year period through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications, high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. Last week, the company announced the milestone deployment of its 5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of the commitment.

 “CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of Fleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in our country right now.” 

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produce approximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasoline and diesel-powered vans, which supports AT&T’s corporate commitment to minimize its impact on the environment.

In 2010, AT&T and other large U.S. fleet operators joined in the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities’ National Clean Fleets Partnership as part of a national challenge launched by President Obama to cut America’s petroleum imports by one-third by 2025. Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased up to 8,000 CNG vehicles at an estimated cost of $350 million. Additionally, over the life of the commitment, AT&T expects to invest $215 million to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.

According to a 2009 Center for Automotive Research report, AT&T’s planned alternative-fuel vehicle initiative would:

• Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period
• Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons – the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 38,600 passenger vehicles from the road for one year

More Sustainable Service Garages

Beyond the AFV deployments, AT&T is turning to its service garages to help minimize its environmental footprint and cut operating costs within its overall fleet. These programs include:

• Redirecting an estimated 60,000 old tires annually through a new recycling program that turns old rubber into fuel and consumer products
• Recycling all primary garage products, including 180,000 pounds of oil filters; 200,000 gallons of oil; and 23,000 gallons of antifreeze annually
• Eliminating the purchase of 9,000 pounds of lead annually that were being used to balance new fleet vehicle tires at high speeds

For more information about AT&T’s sustainability efforts and to view a copy of AT&T’s 2010 Sustainability Report, please visit www.att.com/csr.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.


About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

Navistar Commitment to Natural Gas

News release from Navistar:

Navistar Advances Commitment to Natural Gas Through Partnership With Clean Energy

Company Commits to Comprehensive Natural Gas Product Strategy with Broad Range of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Offerings

LISLE, Ill., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Navistar, Inc. today announced its launch of a comprehensive natural gas strategy, including integrated natural gas product offerings and a strategic partnership with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE)  that will provide customers with a sustainable, commercially viable solution for adding natural gas powered trucks to their fleets. 

"Natural gas has clearly emerged as the most realistic alternative fuel option for the trucking industry," said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO.  "Together, Navistar and Clean Energy have come up with a breakthrough program that offers customers a quicker payback on their investment plus added fuel costs savings from day one of operation. When combined with Navistar's industry-leading dealer network and Clean Energy's unmatched fuel distribution system, customers can be confident that bringing natural gas vehicles into their fleets makes good business sense."

"We believe the deployment of new, innovative, heavy-duty natural gas engines by world-class original equipment truck manufacturers like Navistar is accelerating the transition to natural gas fuel as a game-changer for heavy-duty trucking," said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy President and CEO. "We welcome the opportunity to work with Navistar to bring the benefits of clean, cost-effective, domestically abundant natural gas fuel to the company's trucking customer base."

By leveraging the company's existing integrated vehicle and powertrain platforms, Navistar will offer the broadest range of Class 6 through Class 8 CNG-/LNG-powered vehicles in the category. Clean Energy will provide a comprehensive CNG/LNG fueling solution to meet customer demands and aid in bringing new customers into the natural gas market.

Navistar and Clean Energy will work closely with the company's commercial truck dealers and fleet customers on the deployment of natural gas powered trucks and a natural gas distribution support system. Together, the companies will demonstrate how a natural gas integrated vehicle offering with the right distribution and fueling solution can be integrated into a fleet's operations to reduce costs and drive efficiencies. The strategic partnership will help accelerate the adoption of natural gas technologies by making it easier for customers to invest in the new technology, including incentives aimed at neutralizing the cost difference for the diesel fuel equivalent for those who purchase at least 1,000 diesel gallon equivalents of natural gas fuel each month.

Clean Energy Distribution Support

Clean Energy, the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America, recently unveiled a route plan for the first phase of 150 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations for America's Natural Gas Highway (ANGH). The company has identified 98 locations and anticipates having 70 stations open by the end of 2012 in 33 states.

Many of the fueling stations will be co-located at Pilot-Flying J Travel Centers already serving goods movement trucking through an exclusive agreement with Pilot to build, own and operate natural gas fueling facilities at agreed-upon travel centers. Pilot-Flying J is the nation's largest truck-stop operator with more than 550 retail properties in 47 states.

"The deployment of new, innovative, heavy-duty natural gas engines by world-class original equipment truck manufacturers like Navistar is accelerating the transition to natural gas fuel as a game-changer for heavy-duty trucking. We welcome the opportunity to work with Navistar to bring the benefits of clean, cost-effective, domestically-abundant natural gas fuel to its trucking customers," said James Harger, Chief Marketing Officer, Clean Energy.        

Navistar's Product Offerings

Navistar will leverage its existing commercial truck and engine platforms to offer the broadest portfolio of integrated products for the natural gas market. The company will continue to offer International DuraStar® and WorkStar® vocational trucks with its natural gas powered MaxxForce® DT, developed in conjunction with Emissions Solutions Incorporated (ESI) of McKinney.

To meet the growing demands of the regional haul and class 7/8 vocational market Navistar will offer the Cummins-Westport ISL-G, in the International® TranStar and WorkStar. Additionally, Navistar will enter into a phase II developmental agreement with Clean Air Power Ltd. on the International ProStar, WorkStar and PayStar vocational trucks, powered by a diesel pilot injection LNG MaxxForce 13-liter engine.

"One of the major obstacles in customer transition to natural gas has been the lack of a gas powered range of engines designed to meet the multiple requirements without compromise," said Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice president, North America Sales Operations. "Navistar—with its extended range of truck engines—is uniquely able to leverage engine platforms into the industry's broadest range of natural gas trucks. When the MaxxForce 13L is introduced in mid-2013, customers will have a capable range of natural engines and trucks, from 7.6 liter to 13 liter with horsepower ranging from 200 to 450."

Summary Facts: What makes Navistar, Clean Energy Alliance Unique?

• Product Portfolio
  • Navistar offers the broadest truck and engine offering Class 6 thru Class 8
• Availability/Distribution
  • Commitment to support on-highway fueling requirements through Pilot/Flying J
  • Capabilities to provide customer specific fueling stations
  • Partnering with Navistar dealers and Idealease to meet on-site fueling needs
• Affordability of Technology
  • Navistar is committed to provide CNG/LNG offerings that provide payback within range of customer expectations
  • Through our partnership, Clean Energy and Navistar are offering an incentive program (Fuel and Truck) that will mitigate or equalize the cost of vehicle with diesel equivalent
• Economic Model makes CNG/LNG a viable fuel without incentives
  • Clean Energy will guarantee fuel prices at a significant reduction from diesel for the term of 5 years
  • Government subsidies and incentives not required to make the economic model work
• Support
  • Navistar offers the broadest coverage in North America, nearly 800 outlets
  • Providing facility training and building requirements
  • Providing sales and service training for dealership technicians and sales staff

About Navistar

Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus™ brand school and commercial buses, Monaco® RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. The company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.


About Clean Energy

Clean Energy (Nasdaq: CLNE) is the largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a global leader in the expanding natural gas vehicle market. It has operations in CNG and LNG vehicle fueling, construction and operation of CNG and LNG fueling stations, biomethane production, vehicle conversion and compressor technology. Today, Clean Energy fuels more than 25,000 vehicles at 273 strategic locations across the United States and Canada with a broad customer base in the refuse, transit, trucking, shuttle, taxi, airport and municipal fleet markets. Clean Energy del Peru, a joint venture, fuels vehicles and provides CNG to commercial customers in Peru. We own (70%) and operate a landfill gas facility in Dallas, Texas, that produces renewable natural gas, or biomethane, for delivery in the nation's gas pipeline network, and we plan to build a second facility in Michigan. We own and operate LNG production plants in Willis, Texas and Boron, Calif. with combined capacity of 260,000 LNG gallons per day and that are designed to expand to 340,000 LNG gallons per day as demand increases. NorthStar, a wholly owned subsidiary, is the recognized leader in LNG/LCNG (liquefied to compressed natural gas) fueling system technologies and station construction and operations. BAF Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of natural gas vehicle systems and conversions for taxis, vans, pick-up trucks and shuttle buses. IMW Industries, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary based in Canada, is a leading supplier of compressed natural gas equipment for vehicle fueling and industrial applications with more than 1,200 installations in 24 countries. For more information, visit www.cleanenergyfuels.com