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Statoil to begin transporting Bakken crude from North Dakota by rail to overcome limited pipeline capacity; more than 1,000 cars for unit trains

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In September, Statoil will begin transporting by rail Bakken crude from North Dakota to customers in the US East, West and Gulf Coasts, and Canada. Statoil plans to boost its North American production from less than 100,000 barrels oil equivalents per day (boepd) in 2011 to more than 500,000 boepd in 2020. Earlier post.).

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Study finds air pollution and GHG costs of crude-by-rail nearly 2x pipeline costs; much larger than spill and accidents costs

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Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh have found that the air pollution and greenhouse gas costs of shipping crude by rail are nearly twice as large as those for oil pipelines. Movements of petroleum products, particularly crude oil, have received enormous media attention. Clay et al.

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USGS to update Bakken Formation oil assessment based on new geological information; potential for greater recovery

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The US Geological Survey will update its 2008 estimate of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas in the US portion of the Bakken Formation, an important domestic petroleum resource located in North Dakota and Montana. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Source: USGS. Click to enlarge. billion barrels.

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PHMSA warns Bakken crude may be more flammable than traditional heavy crude; importance of proper classification for shipping

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The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a safety alert to notify the general public, emergency responders and shippers and carriers that recent derailments and resulting fires indicate that the type of crude oil being transported from the Bakken region may be more flammable than traditional heavy crude oil.

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DOE to award up to $12.4M to 11 projects focused on shale gas and enhanced oil recovery

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The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected 11 research projects that will help find ways to extract more energy from unconventional oil and gas resources while reducing environmental risks for awards totalling $12.4 The selections include $10.3 The selections include $10.3 million in federal funds.

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Study identifies Bakken Formation alone as responsible for ~2% of global ethane emissions

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The Bakken Formation, a shale oil and gas field in North Dakota and Montana, is emitting roughly 2% (about 250,000 tons per year) of the globe’s ethane, according to new study led by researchers at the University of Michigan. We did not expect a single oil field to affect global levels of this gas. Click to enlarge.

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