Energy In-depth: GE tests ‘Raven’ drone at Arkansas well site

Editor’s note: Each Friday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Energy In-depth,” a round-up of energy and regulatory news.

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GE OPENS NEW OILFIELD RESEARCH CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY; RECENTLY TESTED ‘RAVEN’ DRONE AT ARKANSAS WELL SITE
GE has opened its new Oil & Gas Technology Center in Oklahoma City with the goal of becoming a central hub for GE scientists and engineers to closely collaborate with oilfield companies on cutting-edge digital and hardware solutions to advance the industry.

At the Center opening, GE unveiled a prototype drone, nicknamed “Raven,” engineered to detect emissions precisely and cost-effectively, to help customers reduce environmental impact and improve operational efficiency in the oil & gas industry.

Southwestern Energy Co. successfully piloted the technology to detect emissions from oilfield equipment at well sites in Arkansas’ Fayetteville Shale play in July. To learn more about GE’s oil and gas research group, click here.

EIA SAYS HEATING BILLS WILL BE HIGHER THIS WINTER
As natural gas prices move above $3 per million British thermal units, most U.S. households can expect higher heating bills this winter (October through March) compared to last winter, according to EIA’s Winter Fuels Outlook.

Winter heating expenditures for most fuels were especially low last winter, when energy prices were relatively low and warm weather reduced heating demand to the lowest level nationally in at least 25 years.

Although expenditures for nonelectric fuels are expected to be higher than last winter, expenditures are comparable to or lower than the average winters from 2010–11 through 2014–15. Almost half of U.S. households use natural gas as their primary heating fuel.

EIA expects households heating with natural gas to spend an average of $635 this winter, which would be 22% higher than last winter but nearly equal to the average expenditures for the five winters prior to last winter (2010–11 through 2014–15). EIA projects natural gas inventories will total 3,966 billion cubic feet (Bcf) at the end of October, which would be near a record high going into the heating season.

NEW EPA WEB PORTAL HELPS COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new online portal that will provide local leaders in the nation’s 40,000 communities with information and tools to prepare for climate change.

Using a self-guided format, the Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X) provides users with information tailored specifically to their needs, based on where they live and the particular issues of concern to them, the EPA said. Recent statistics from the Office of Management and Budget show the federal government has incurred more than $357 billion in direct costs due to extreme weather and fire alone over the last 10 years.

EPA said climate change is also expected to pose significant financial and infrastructural challenges to communities in coming decades. EPA designed ARC-X to help all local government official address these challenges – from those with extensive experience and expertise dealing with the impacts of climate.

To access ARC-X, click here.