tagged w/ Gas
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As the owner of a Shell gas station, John Henry has been robbed before. But he never expected a theft like this.
The thief kept apologizing while holding up the gas station in White Center, and all of it was captured by surveillance cameras.
Everything seemed normal enough when the mild-mannered thief walked into the store, forking over $1.30 for a cup of coffee.
Detectives arrested a suspect in the case on Monday after Henry made an identification in a photo lineup. The 65-year-old man was captured in the Top Hat areaAs the owner of a Shell gas station, John Henry has been robbed before. But he never... more
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This sounds like a dream, but UK-based company Cella Energy claims to have developed a synthetic fuel that has no carbon emissions and would cost only $1.50 per gallon. The hydrogen-based fuel, which is created using a complex hydrides-based technology, has been in the works for over four years at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford. The study was led by Professor Stephen Bennington in conjunction with scientists from University College London and Oxford University.
The fuel was created by taking high-energy materials and encapsulating them using a nanostructuring technique called coaxial electrospraying. Early tests show that the fuel can be used in regular internal combustion engine vehicles without engine modification. If this fuel becomes a reality, it could stabilize the price of gasoline while cutting our dependence on foreign oil. It would also allow people to drive without making any changes to their vehicles and more importantly, without harming the environment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVPtLrKis0M
http://inhabitat.com/cella-energy-announces-emission-free-gas-for-1-50-per-gallon/This sounds like a dream, but UK-based company Cella Energy claims to have developed a... more
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http://media.bakersfieldnow.com/images/100910_Large_Explosion.jpg
The utility responsible for a gas pipeline that blew up in a San Francisco suburb cannot find key records needed to set safe pressures for nearly a third of its largest transmission lines, a congresswoman said Friday.
Regulators ordered Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and other California utilities to produce such documents following last month's revelation that records about the exploded line in San Bruno were wrong.
However, Rep. Jackie Speier said PG&E President Chris Johns told her his staff cannot locate any testing records for 30 percent of the lines coursing through urban areas.
"You need to know what's in the ground, and I don't believe they know that," said Speier, a California Democrat who represents the San Bruno area. "This tells me they have shoddy record-keeping."
PG&E spokesman Brian Swanson did not immediately confirm or deny the congresswoman's statement. The company is still in the process of reviewing and validating its pipeline records, he said.
In December, PG&E disclosed it had inaccurate documents about the pipeline that exploded in San Bruno on Sept. 9, sparking a gigantic fireball that killed eight people and destroyed more than three dozen homes.
PG&E records showed the pipe was seamless, but investigators found the spine of the ruptured line had a type of weld that's now being examined in the search for a cause of the explosion.
Officials have not determined an exact cause but suspect the pipeline may have burst under high pressure.
Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said such record-keeping mistakes pointed to the need for "a new perspective on safety culture" in the industry.
"Our investigators were told that the pipe involved in the explosion was a seamless, factory-manufactured pipe," Hersman said in a speech. "But even a layperson could see the patchwork of welds marking the pipe."
The California Public Utilities Commission has ordered all state utilities to present reliable records for transmission lines by March 15.
Meanwhile, commission President Michael Peevey said he would ask his fellow commissioners to vote on holding a public investigation into the San Bruno explosion.
The proceeding could include fact-finding hearings and the creation of a clearinghouse for all San Bruno-related documents.
Peevey's announcement came after San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, state Sen. Mark Leno, The Utility Reform Network and the Consumer Federation of California complained that state investigators had been operating largely in private.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.http://media.bakersfieldnow.com/images/100910_Large_Explosion.jpg
The utility... more
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"Oh man! The whole street went bloom!," Jim Campoli, 61, told The Philadelphia Inquirer."Oh man! The whole street went bloom!," Jim Campoli, 61, told The... more
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Amnesty International has reiterated its call on the Tunisian authorities to respect human rights amid a renewed wave of anti-government protests across the country today.
Police in the capital Tunis reportedly used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators calling for the party of ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to relinquish power, ahead of the expected formation of a new coalition government.
A state of emergency was imposed in Tunisia as Ben Ali fled the country on Friday.
"Amid political uncertainty in Tunisia, the government must do all it can to protect Tunisians from further violence," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa deputy director at Amnesty International.
"After 23 years of abuses, human rights must be a top priority for any new unity government. It means first and foremost that the security forces that have been used as a tool of repression in Tunisia must be reined in."
On Friday, security forces were granted permission to "shoot on sight", with anyone breaking the current 5pm curfew at risk. All gatherings of more than three people were also banned.
“We expect the Tunisian authorities to repeal the draconian restrictions on freedom of expression, such as the right to protest and to form and join civil society organizations,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.
“As an immediate measure, all prisoners of conscience must be released, including journalist Fahem Boukadous, and all independent civil society organizations must be allowed to register.”
Protests have persisted in Tunisia since mid-December following the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old unemployed university graduate, who set himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid when police confiscated his fruit and vegetable cart, taking away his only source of income.
His suicide sparked protests among Tunisians, including trade unionists, students, human rights activists and lawyers, who took to the streets demanding jobs, better living conditions and the end of corruption.Amnesty International has reiterated its call on the Tunisian authorities to respect... more
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Both Republicans and Democrats are wording their concerns over the deal BP made with the state controlled Rosneft oil company to drill in the Atlantic. Both sides have mentioned national security, the Gulf of Mexico spill and are asking for an investigation into the deal.
"CFIUS is the US Treasury body with the power to block mergers and takeover deals if they are found to hurt US national security. Natural resources deals have always been among the most politically sensitive, and appear to be even more so since the emergence of China and other emerging nations on the world stage. US political pressure thwarted a Chinese takeover of an American oil company, Unocal, in 2005. "-Independent
According to the article, Rosneft gained a licence for oil and gas exploration in the South Kara sea, which BP will help with.Both Republicans and Democrats are wording their concerns over the deal BP made with... more
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France-based Technip has been awarded a lump sum contract by Enbridge Offshore Facilities for the development of the Walker Ridge gas gathering system in the Gulf of Mexico.
The company will develop the gathering system at a water depth of 7,000ft and its operating center in Houston, Texas, will perform the overall project management.
The contract covers the engineering, fabrication and installation of about 270km of steel catenary risers and pipelines as well as the installation of subsea equipments.
The offshore installation is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
Technip provides project management, engineering and construction services for the oil and gas industry.France-based Technip has been awarded a lump sum contract by Enbridge Offshore... more
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There has been a major discovery of natural gas just off the coast of Israel. At this point it has now been officially confirmed that one gigantic offshore gas field alone contains 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That is the largest deepwater natural gas find in a decade, and it is being projected that it could supply Israel's gas needs for 100 years.There has been a major discovery of natural gas just off the coast of Israel. At this... more
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The opinion isn't groundbreaking, but are we simply engaged in another war that will lead to retreat with dignity? With the economy in such disarray have most people simply lost focus of the sheer amount of wasted time and money that are being poured into Iraq and Afghanistan?
As Cockburn opines: The pervasive corruption of the Afghan administration only gets worse. Every election is more corrupt than the one before. The latest parliamentary election, final results of which were announced last month, was peculiarly fraudulent. "I don't think anybody will bother to vote in the next poll," said one candidate resignedly. Even counting fake votes, only a third of the electorate voted this time.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/patrick-cockburn-history-is-repeating-itself-in-afghanistan-2163641.htmlThe opinion isn't groundbreaking, but are we simply engaged in another war that... more
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Según el analista de Sala de Inversión América, los precios podrían haber encontrado un piso y habría una posible reversión de tendencia en desarrollo.Según el analista de Sala de Inversión América, los precios... more
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Según el analista de Sala de Inversión América, los precios podrían haber encontrado un piso y habría una posible reversión de tendencia en desarrollo.Según el analista de Sala de Inversión América, los precios... more
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La compañía tuvo una ganancia neta de 37,6 millones de pesos argentinos o 0,047 por acción frente a los 24,6 millones, o 0,031 del mismo período de 2009.La compañía tuvo una ganancia neta de 37,6 millones de pesos argentinos... more
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Según la experta de Saxo Bank, la acción del precio en el contrato a enero del gas natural parece de ayuda para alcanzar el objetivo de 4,40 dólares en un plazo cercano.Según la experta de Saxo Bank, la acción del precio en el contrato a... more
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PITTSBURGH: Today, the Pittsburgh City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance banning corporations from conducting natural gas drilling in the city.PITTSBURGH: Today, the Pittsburgh City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance... more
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Death toll climbs to 54 in Indonesia volcano's latest eruption
From Kathy Quiano, CNN
November 5, 2010 12:28 a.m. EDT
Photo: The air is thick with volcanic ash as residents flee on motorcycle in Klaten district, central Java.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* NEW: 78 others have been severely burned
* Mount Merapi started its recent eruptions on October 26
* Friday's victims bring the total to 93 killed
* The volcano has not stopped erupting since Thursday
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- The latest eruption of Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano, on Friday, killed at least 54 people and severely burned 78, hospital officials said.
Bodies recovered from a village about 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) from the volcano were badly burned, Commissioner Tjiptono of the Yogyakarta police told a local station, TV One.
Mount Merapi began its latest eruptions on October 26. Friday's victims bring the total to 93 killed.
The volcano has not stopped erupting since Thursday, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Management Office said. An explosion Thursday night could be heard 30 kilometers (18 miles) away, and it continued to spew ash clouds.
Earlier, Mount Merapi had belched a steady stream of gas and ash, unleashing a pair of powerful eruptions into the morning sky on Thursday.
The hot clouds hovered over central Java, rising up to 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) and then drifting to the south toward Kali Gendol, Kali Kuning, Kali Boyong, Kali Krasak and Kali Bedok, according to the Indonesian Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Disaster Agency.
Those affected by the latest eruption lived outside the 15-kilometer (9-mile) evacuation radius that had been established. The danger zone was expanded to 20 kilometers (12 miles) after Friday's eruption.
Residents of a village 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the volcano were ordered to move for safety, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of risk disaster reduction.
Nearly 75,000 people have been evacuated, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Board.
Residents on the volcano have repeatedly evacuated, but then returned to check on their houses and farm animals and fled anew with each fresh eruption.
Because of rains, geological officials are warning residents and evacuees not to go to areas within the danger zone or near rivers.
Rainfall can convert volcanic ash to lahar, or mudflow.
There have been reports of mudflow headed down riverbeds on Merapi's slopes.
The 3,000-meter (9,800-foot) Merapi is famously unpredictable. An eruption killed two people in 2006 and another killed more than 60 villagers in 1994. About 1,300 people died when Merapi erupted in 1930.
In addition, last week, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's coast, triggering a tsunami and killing at least 449 people. Hundreds more were injured.SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWEST UPDATES
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Death toll climbs... more
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The European Commission has stepped up efforts to prevent the Russian energy giant Gazprom from reaching an accord with Poland that would lock the country into long-term natural gas contracts, hindering diversification of Poland’s, and Europe’s, energy sources and making Warsaw more dependent on Russia for its gas.
If the commission is successful, it could deal a blow to Russia, which seems determined to foil any attempts by outside companies to gain access to its pipelines that stretch from Russia to its lucrative markets in Europe.
Alexander Smolar, director of the Stefan Batory Foundation, a study group in Warsaw that promotes open democratic governments, said the gas negotiations with Russia were a test case for the Union’s ability to implement a common energy policy.
“Russia is using Poland as a test case to see if it can get around E.U. legislation,” Mr. Smolar said. “It’s a question of who will blink first.”
So far, the Union has had limited success in forging a common energy policy as the big member countries — Germany, Italy and France — continue to negotiate their own bilateral contracts with Russia, with minimum transparency.The European Commission has stepped up efforts to prevent the Russian energy giant... more
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