Letter from the US: Oil and gas sector faces cold hard facts
Glacial temperatures in southern states showcase lack of provision against extreme weather
February is typically bad for US states west of the Mississippi River in terms of winter weather. But the recent bout of Arctic cold has been extreme. Parts of the electric grid in Texas failed, the state diverted its stores of gas from power to heat and many of the region’s refineries have been shut down. While clearly unusual, the situation put the energy-rich US south on the back foot. And it could be a much-needed wake-up call for industry investments as supposedly rare events like these become more common. A state of emergency was declared on 12 February across Texas as the state grappled with unprecedented cold and snow. The following week, the frigid temperatures forced some refinerie
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
