Our Energy, Our Benefits
Mark Green
Posted August 29, 2014
New American Oil Bonanza
New York Times: THREE RIVERS, Tex. — Whenever overseas turmoil has pushed energy prices higher in the past, John and Beth Hughes have curbed their driving by eating at home more and shopping locally. But the current crises in Ukraine and Iraq did not stop them from making the two-hour drive to San Antonio to visit the Alamo, have a chicken fried steak lunch, and buy fish for their tank before driving home to Corpus Christi.
“We were able to take a day-cation because of the lower gas prices,” said Ms. Hughes.
The reason for the improved economics of road travel can be found 10,000 feet below the ground here, where the South Texas Eagle Ford shale is providing more than a million new barrels of oil supplies to the world market every day. United States refinery production in recent weeks reached record highs and left supply depots flush, cushioning the impact of all the instability surrounding traditional global oil fields.
So oil prices — and those at the pump — are easing. With the Labor Day weekend approaching, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.43 on Thursday, according to the AAA motor club, nearly a dime lower than a month ago. Energy and travel analysts project the lowest gasoline prices this holiday weekend of any Labor Day since 2010, and the highest level of motor travel since 2008.
Read more: http://nyti.ms/1C9ZSRE
More industry news:
- Feds to Resume Leasing for Fracking in California: http://bit.ly/1sPFBKG
- Addison VT Eagle: Fracking Myths: http://bit.ly/1pq0xu3
- Editorial: Oil and Natural Gas Help Raise Colorado County’s Property Values: http://bit.ly/1zRzeZL
- LTE: Ethanol Mandate Hurts Consumers in Many Ways: http://bit.ly/1ll1DGn
- EPA Finds No Petcoke or Coal in Southeast Chicago Furnace Filters: http://1.usa.gov/1qNGaSZ
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.