Saturday, February 8, 2014

Southworth Discusses AREVA’s Nuclear Portfolio at Platts Conference - See more at: http://us.arevablog.com/2014/02/07/southworth-discusses-arevas-nuclear-portfolio-at-platts-conference/#sthash.TsgLoRo0.dpuf

http://us.arevablog.com/2014/02/07/southworth-discusses-arevas-nuclear-portfolio-at-platts-conference/

Nuclear Matinee: Nuclear Energy’s Value – Columbia Generating Station

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2014/02/07/nuclear-matinee-nuclear-energys-value-columbia-generating-station/

Fukushima radiation levels underestimated by five times

Fukushima radiation levels underestimated by five times - :

TEPCO has revised the readings on the radioactivity levels at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant well to 5 million becquerels of strontium per liter - both a record, and nearly five times higher than the original reading of 900,000 becquerels per liter.

http://rt.com/news/fukushima-radiation-levels-underestimated-143/

Radiation In Calif. Kelp? Scientists To Test West Coast Water 3 Years After Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown

http://www.ibtimes.com/radiation-calif-kelp-scientists-test-west-coast-water-3-years-after-fukushima-nuclear-meltdown

Gas Pipelines and Fees

Gas Pipelines and Fees. Both are on their way.

http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2014/02/gas-pipelines-and-fees-both-are-on.html#.UvZJWyiyTAY

Angwin notes Vermont's plans to tax gas pipelines to fill the Clean Energy Development Fund. Vermont Yankee had been forced to pay tens of millions into that fund. Now, the Vermont administration is looking for new sources of funding for their favorite renewable projects.

Is Fracking All It's Fracked Up to Be?

Is Fracking All It's Fracked Up to Be? Jones Seminar and video

http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2014/02/is-fracking-all-its-fracked-up-to-be.html#.UvZI6yiyTAY

Angwin describes a Dartmouth engineering school seminar which echoes her own conclusion that low prices for shale gas are part of a transient bubble. They are not the new world order.

Natural gas prices spiking.

Natural gas prices spiking. What great timing it was to shut down those US reactors.

http://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/weekly/img/20140206_NGSP.png

http://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/weekly/img/20140206_NGSP.png

www.eia.gov

Nuclear repository fire contained in New Mexico

Nuclear-repository-fire-contained-in-New-Mexico

Nuclear repository fire in New Mexico has been snuffed out, according to local officials, after a fire broke out at the facility Wednesday morning. The nuclear repository is used to store low-grade nuclear waste, including plutonium-contaminated clothing and tools.

TEPCO to review "massive" radiation data due to improper measurement

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2014/02/270302.html

TEPCO to review eroneous radiation data
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140208_02.html

Friday, February 7, 2014

#Fukushima I NPP: TEPCO Admits Error 7 Months Later, Says All-Beta from Observation Hole Along Embankment Was 10 Million Bq/L, Not 900K Bq/L

http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2014/02/fukushima-i-npp-tepco-admits-error-7.html

Two Quakes Strike Near Fukushima as US Sailors Sue Over Cleanup

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/two-quakes-strike-near-fukushima-us-sailors-sue-over-cleanup-n25271

Friday, February 7, 2014

PennEnergy's Top Oil & Gas News 2/7

Top Oil & Gas News

Shell abandons Arctic offshore drilling plans
Once again, Shell has abandoned its plans to drill in Arctic waters offshore Alaska. The announcement comes after a court ruling last week that the Interior Department has awarded permits to Shell based on inadequate information.
Full Article
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PennEnergy Video News Update
From good news for Keystone XL, to records being set in Brazil, to new offshore production for Shell, all of the week's biggest headlines are in the PennEnergy Video News Update.
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This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News
• TransCanada: Final environmental review shows Keystone XL should be approved
• Brazil oil and gas production reaches almost 2-year high
• EnerJex begins natural gas production in Adena Field under new contract
• ExxonMobil increases Permian Basin oil and gas acreage
• Shell starts production from second Mars offshore production platform
• BSEE confirms uncontrolled flow of gas has been stopped at GoM well
• Oil and gas value creation spotlighted in new webcast
• OPEC oil production reaches 29.94 million bpd in January
• Chevron, GE Oil & Gas form technology alliance
• American Midstream closes Eagle Ford acquisition
• Total sells 15 percent stake in Angola offshore exploration block
• Enbridge to update Toronto area natural gas distribution system
• API touts positive Keystone XL oil pipeline FEIS
• GE Oil & Gas opens Downstream Technology Solutions business
• CAPP encourages Keystone XL oil pipeline approval

Energy Insights
All Energy, All the Time: How Keystone XL invaded my vacation On the fourth day of this gloriously work-free existence, my mother happened to be watching television news when a story about Keystone XL’s recent environmental impact report came on. My mother, who knows very well my day-to-day employment puts me right in the thick of these headlines, turned to me and asked a question... Full Article Share:
Governing Energy: Maturity Model The Capability Maturity Model was first described in 1989 book Managing the Software Process as a software development process maturity framework. It has subsequently become a general model to aid many business processes. Full Article Share:

Oil & Gas Jobs
Supply Chain Strategy Analyst Conduct current state process assessments including benchmarking, maturity analysis, process mapping and pain point identification for Shell Lubricants Americas Translate data into relevant information and develop long and short term supply chain strategy Perform supply network optimization using tools such as LogicNet+ Perform various assessments to develop strategy and end-to-end optimization Identify metrics and value driver trees Develop terms of reference, project plans (including timeline) Ability to work with various stakeholders across Lubricants supply chain organization Share:
oOEM Technical Sales Manager Work close together with the Area Sales organization and the GPS organization to identify opportunities Develop systematic approach to identify opportunities in an early stage and document it Liase with internal functions and assist in tender preparation on major oOEM opportunities. Take lead in customer negotiation Be aware of competitors’ strategy and capabilities to aid in the development of market intelligence and pricing compatible with local expectations Be aware of on-going design developments and improvements in order to be able to offer the complete current range of company products Review target pricing for oOEM service products. Regular analysis and updating of pricing / market price curves, direct feedback into pricing strategies Support development of capture plans for oOEM key opportunities Support the Power Sales activities for key oOEM opportunities Drive continuous feedback loop of lessons learnt and competitor analyse Share:

More PennEnergy Oil & Gas Positions
• Generation Team Lead – Software Engineering Group
• Instrument Inspector
• Recloser Sales Manager
• City Sales Manager

Oil & Gas Research
Worldwide Refinery Survey and Complexity Analysis 2014 Paired with the regular Refining Survey, the Complexity Analysis adds significant value to the refinery data with three measures. The Nelson Complexity Index (NCI) provides insight into such things as refinery construction costs, replacement value, conversion capability and product slate. Also included is Equivalent Distillation Capacity (EDC) which is calculated by multiplying the distillation capacity by the NCI. And lastly, the BoB index provides a means of quantifying and characterizing a refinery’s ability to process heavy crudes and produce premium refined products. It represents the combined capacity of a refinery’s Coking, Catalytic Cracking and Hydrocracking units relative to Distillation Capacity (expressed as a percentage). Share:
Appraising Reserves & Production Potential of Oil & Gas Fields - Conventional and Unconventional: Masterclass Learn how to analyze decline behavior, estimate recovery efficiency, apply well economics, develop algorithms, and make quick estimates of production potential - all useful for pre-audits and analysis of production of shale oil and gas plays. Learn all of this and more in the Masterclass from Dr. Rafael Sandrea, an expert in the oil and gas field! Currently offered at 10% discount Share:

More Research & Data
• Worldwide Oil Field Production Survey 2014
• Electric Utility Industry Worldwide Directory
• Pipeline Industry Worldwide Directory
• US & Canada Exploration & Production Directory
• Comprehensive Assessment of World Crude Oil Supply Through 2030

Record-high strontium-90 in past Fukushima plant groundwater sample

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2014/02/270051.html

TEPCO Corrects Last Summer's Water Pollution Data to Record High

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/i?g=eco&k=2014020600940

Minimal damage from NM nuclear repository fire

http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-attack/articles/1665107-Minimal-damage-from-NM-nuclear-repository-fire/

Life-Cycle Emissions Analyses

Nuclear energy stations do not emit criteria pollutants or greenhouse gases when they generate electricity, but certain processes used to build and fuel the plants do. This is true for all energy facilities. Nuclear energy’s life-cycle emissions include emissions associated with the construction of the plant, mining and processing the fuel, routine operation of the plant, disposal of used fuel and other waste byproducts, and decommissioning.

http://www.nei.org/Issues-Policy/Protecting-the-Environment/Life-Cycle-Emissions-Analyses

Gas Pipelines and Fees. Both are on their way.

http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2014/02/gas-pipelines-and-fees-both-are-on.html#.UvTXTrSGeVo

Bavaria opposes green-energy power lines despite nuclear closure

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/20216b54-8f53-11e3-9cb0-00144feab7de.html?ftcamp=crm/email/201427/nbe/EnergyMining/product&siteedition=intl#axzz2sZzeIZth

Energy Storage Battery Heads To The Market

http://kuow.org/post/energy-storage-battery-heads-market

Areva, Schneider Electric sign energy-storage deal

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/areva-schneider-electric-sign-energy-storage-deal-2014-02-06?link=MW_latest_news

Commercial Energy Storage Market to Surpass 720MW by 2020

A new report by GTM Research likens the current state of commercial storage to the U.S. solar market of 2005.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Commercial-Energy-Storage-Market-to-Surpass-720-MW-by-2020

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Salt-Water Fish Extinction Seen By 2048

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/salt-water-fish-extinction-seen-by-2048/

Restored Federal Funding Re-Energizes MIT’s Fusion Center

http://www.wbur.org/2014/02/06/mit-fusion-center-federal-funding

Exelon says it could close nuclear plants to save money

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/02/exelon-says-it-will-close-nuclear-plants-to-save-money.html

South Korea nuclear power: Are the dark times over?

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2014/02/06/south-korea-nuclear-power-are-the-dark-times-over/

Alvin Weinberg’s liquid fuel reactors

http://atomicinsights.com/alvin-weinbergs-liquid-fuel-reactors-part-1/

China making a mockery of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and no one seems to care

http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2014/02/06/China-is-making-a-mockery-of-the-NPT-and-no-one-but-India-seems-to-care.aspx

The renewable energy transition has begun

http://thebulletin.org/renewable-energy-transition-has-begun

Iran Willing to Modify Its Arak Reactor, Official Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-06/iran-willing-to-modify-its-arak-reaction-official-says.html

How Does the U.S. Power Grid Work?

With over 160,000 miles of transmission lines, the U.S. power grid is designed to handle natural and man-made disasters, as well as fluctuations in demand. How does the system work? WSJ’s Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer.

http://live.wsj.com/video/how-does-the-us-power-grid-work/1671AA83-D0D2-4C75-913C-B381341159F4.html#!1671AA83-D0D2-4C75-913C-B381341159F4

European Parliament Backs Binding Targets for Climate, Energy, Shuns Commission’s Proposal

http://www.powermag.com/european-parliament-backs-binding-targets-for-climate-energy-shuns-commissions-proposal-2/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2827076&hq_l=4&hq_v=30108e0773

EPA Mulls Revising Nuclear Plant Radiation Standards

http://www.powermag.com/epa-mulls-revising-nuclear-plant-radiation-standards/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2827076&hq_l=2&hq_v=30108e0773

NRC Commissioners Grilled on Nuclear Rules, Security, and Efficiency

http://www.powermag.com/nrc-commissioners-grilled-on-nuclear-rules-security-and-efficiency/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2827076&hq_l=3&hq_v=30108e0773

US NRC Blog Update: An Inspector's Perspective On the Control Rod Drive Mechanism Housingh Flaws at Palisades

U.S. NRC Blog

An Inspector’s Perspective On the Control Rod Drive Mechanism Housing Flaws At Palisades

by Moderator

Elba Sanchez Santiago

Materials Engineering Inspector

NRC Region III

Elba Sanchez Santiago is a
Materials Engineering Inspector in the
NRC's Region III.

There has been a lot of interest lately in the flaws that were recently found in the control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) housings at the Palisades nuclear plant, near South Haven, Mich. I want to share my direct experience with the NRC’s thorough and independent evaluation of this issue.

First, some background. The control rod drive mechanism moves control rods inside the reactor to control the level of nuclear chain reaction. The housing is a metal tube around the control rod drive mechanism, which is connected to the control rod and prevents leakage of reactor water into containment.

According to a commitment made in 2012, the plant conducted inspections of 45 CRDM housings in this reactor and found flaws in 17 of them. Palisades committed to these inspections after the discovery of a crack in one of the housings resulted in a plant shutdown in 2012.

Because of my expertise as a materials engineering inspector, I was dispatched to Palisades after it shut down in 2012. I was to evaluate the plant’s response to the discovery of the through-wall crack. As a member of a special inspection team that further evaluated this issue, I reviewed the plant’s testing of eight additional CRDM housings and their corrective actions. Even though no other cracks were found, the plant committed to further evaluate the condition of the housings during the 2014 refueling outage.

I came to Palisades before the current outage started to evaluate the site’s inspection methodology, work procedures, tooling and personnel qualifications. When the examinations started, I observed some of the actual testing and evaluated the results. To date, there is no evidence of leakage resulting from the flaws. I will remain onsite providing oversight over the plant’s actions until the issue is resolved.

Since the issue first came to light in 2012, I have been working with a team of other inspectors and specialists in Region III and the headquarters office in Rockville, Md., to make sure we ask the necessary questions to understand the plant’s methodology and assessments, and independently verify the conclusions.

Our in-depth independent reviews will continue until the plant completes the necessary repairs and takes proper actions to make sure the CRDM housing flaws do not lead to a significant safety concern. The results of our inspections will be documented in a publicly available inspection report.

Moderator | February 6, 2014 at 4:16 pm | Tags: NRC, nuclear power plant, Palisades | Categories: Operating Reactors | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-1jh

Support Fedferal Loan Guaranty Petition for Vogtle

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/support-federal-loan-guarantee-for-zero-carbon

http://energyrealityproject.com

http://www.facebook.com/groups/energyreality

Cuts in Nuclear Energy Mean Higher Electricity Costs, More Carbon Emissions

http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/Cuts-in-Nuclear-Energy-Mean-Higher-Electricity-Cos

Message Bottled in an Email

Amid the dunes of a tiny island in the North Atlantic, a scientist found a sandblasted bottle with a note in it.
Message Bottled in an Email
A long-lost legacy of ocean research resurfaces
http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/bumpus

The true cost of disaster insurance makes nuclear power uncompetitive

The European Commission is assessing how it should augment its nuclear disaster insurance. Ingmar Schumacher calls for full transparency of insurance costs in the cost-benefit evaluation of the nuclear industry.

http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2265605/the_true_cost_of_disaster_insurance_makes_nuclear_power_uncompetitive.html

India needs nuclear power till renewables fill gap: Abdullah

http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-needs-nuclear-power-till-renewables-fill-gap-abdullah_909462.html

The storm before the calm

The storm before the calm
Paris (ESA) Feb 06, 2014 - In just a week the crew of Concordia research station will be left to survive on one of the remotest places on Earth for nine months. Together, the crew of 13 must operate the base, live and run scientific experiments on their own in the heart of Antarctica on a high plateau under extreme environmental conditions. In the run-up to their isolation, things are hectic on the base as it operat ... morehttp://www.terradaily.com/reports/The_storm_before_the_calm_999.html

Duke Energy under fire for coal ash spill

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/duke-energy-under-fire-coal-ash-spill/2014-02-06?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

For more:
- see this report
http://assets.fiercemarkets.com/public/sites/energy/reports/danriverreport.pdf

Related Articles:
Despite decision, coal ash regs still up in the air
Coal ash controversy
Mandatory groundwater monitoring demanded for Ameren coal plants
Coal Residuals Reuse Act gets mixed reviews

US to build regional hubs to fight climate change

US to build regional hubs to fight climate change
Washington (AFP) Feb 05, 2014 - The United States government announced a new system of regional hubs to tackle the effects of climate change on Wednesday as the country's southwest battle a historic drought. The hubs "will address increasing risks such as fires, invasive pests, devastating floods, and crippling droughts on a regional basis," said a statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The idea is "to trans ... morehttp://www.terradaily.com/reports/US_to_build_regional_hubs_to_fight_climate_change_999.html

US to advise Iraq on securing oil infrastructure

US to advise Iraq on securing oil infrastructure
Baghdad (AFP) Feb 05, 2014 - The United States is to provide Iraq with technical support to help it secure its oil export infrastructure, which accounts for the lion's share of government revenues,officials said Wednesday. The cooperation comes with Baghdad looking to dramatically ramp up crude sales to fund much-needed reconstruction of its conflict-battered economy, but facing repeated attacks on its pipeline infrastr ... morehttp://www.energy-daily.com/reports/US_to_advise_Iraq_on_securing_oil_infrastructure_999.html

Approach helps identify new biofuel sources that don't require farmland

Approach helps identify new biofuel sources that don't require farmland
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 06, 2014 - While the debate over using crops for fuel continues, scientists are now reporting a new, fast approach to develop biofuel in a way that doesn't require removing valuable farmland from the food production chain. Their work examining the fuel-producing potential of Streptomyces, a soil bacterium known for making antibiotics, appears in ACS' The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. The met ... morehttp://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Approach_helps_identify_new_biofuel_sources_that_dont_require_farmland_999.html

ANS Update 2/6 South Korea Nuclear Power: Are the Dark Times Over?

South Korea Nuclear Power: Are the Dark Times Over?

By Will Davis on Feb 06, 2014 10:57 am

By Will Davis Over the past four years, the South Korean nuclear power program has suffered a set of very public setbacks which cast doubt on the entire program’s integrity, to the point where even the attention of the South … Continue reading →
Read in browser »

The price of electric power has also spiked today in the northeast/mid Atlantic regions.

I just noticed that the Henry Hub price for Natural Gas has spiked up to $7.45/MMBtu today. I just thought I would keep everyone informed that might not check that piece of information too regularly. That price is basically double what the average price was over all of 2013.

http://www.wtrg.com/daily/oilandgasspot.html

NRC wants more info on Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant safety upgrades

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/02/nrc-wants-more-info-on-vermont-yankee-nuclear-power-plant-safety-upgrades.html

GTM: Distributed energy storage to add 720 MW by 2020

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/gtm-distributed-energy-storage-to-add-720-mw-by-2020/224440/

New electric capacity for 2013: Winners, losers and surprises

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-electric-capacity-for-2013-winners-losers-and-surprises/223997/

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