Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.energy,americast.usa-today.energy From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: energy Mon, Sep 21 1992 Date: Mon, 21 Sep 92 04:39:57 EDT Message-ID: 09-21 0000 DECISIONLINE: Energy USA TODAY Update Sept. 21, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network ENERGY PRICES DROP: Energy prices declined Friday on the possibility of a production cut by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Crude oil for delivery in October declined 32 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange to settle at $21.98 per barrel. October unleaded gasoline dropped 1.18 cents to 59.12 cents a gallon and October heating oil declined 0.61 cent to 61.83 cents a gallon. TEXAS SETS GAS PRODUCTION LIMIT: Texas Railroad Commission members Saturday announced a ceiling on natural gas production in the state for October of 258.5 billion cubic feet. That's the same amount that was produced at the same time a year ago, commission members said. Previously approved but unused production is 113 billion cubic feet, meaning a total of 371.8 billion cubic feet could be pumped. TEXAS SYSTEM IS REVAMPED: The Texas Railroad Commission's ceiling for natural gas production for October has been given as 258.5 billion cubic feet, no increase from a year ago. Texas, along with Louisiana and Oklahoma, recently revamped its system for setting production limits, generating charges the three states are trying to pump up the price of gas. The states were reacting to record low prices. GULF GAS LOSS ESTIMATE LOWERED: The Minerals Management Service of the Department of the Interior on Friday lowered its estimate on the amount of natural gas output temporarily lost in the Gulf of Mexico because of Hurricane Andrew. The latest estimate is about 1 billion cubic feet per day. In its Sept. 11 report, the agency estimated about 2 billion to 2.25 billion cubic feet was lost per day. VALERO MAY BUILD ADDITIVE PLANT: San Antonio-based Valero Energy is considering building a major chemical plant in Mexico to produce the gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether, according to Chemical and Engineering News. Valero and three partners plan a 13,000-barrel-per-day plant in Mexico to make MTBE, an oxygen-rich additive used in the United States to reduce air pollution. MEXICO WOULD SUPPLY MATERIALS: A Valero Energy plant being considered for Mexico would rely on Mexico's state-owned oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, for its raw materials in producing the gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether, reports Chemical and Engineering News. Pemex will supply all of the butane feedstock required by the plant "under market-related pricing," according to Valero. ASHLAND ANTICIPATES A LOSS: Ashland Oil Co. said Friday that it anticipates a significant loss for the year, partly blamed on accounting changes and a retirement incentive program. Ashland also said that, starting Jan. 1, it plans to increase the share retirees will pay for health care and other benefits. Chairman John R. Hall said the company's decision to pay $390 million in charges would cause the loss. DIRECTIVE CALLS FOR INSPECTIONS: A federal directive requiring underwater inspections for about 700 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico could provide more work for service companies with diving operations, Bloomberg Business News reported Saturday. Friday, the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service said inspections would be required on the approximately 700 rigs. CONSOLIDATION COSTS CHECKED: Secretary of Energy James D. Watkins Friday said the department is working to assure a comprehensive cost assessment for the consolidation of tritium work at the Mound Plant in Ohio to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The concerns were raised from a draft report which contained a preliminary and incomplete comparison of costs for consolidating tritium activities. CLAMS TO BLAME FOR SLOWDOWN: The Three Mile Island nuclear plant has had to cut its output because Asiatic clams have clogged its machinery, officials say. General Public Utilities could spend up to $200,000 to control what are being called "aquatic cockroaches," but the cleanup is not expected to drive up rates. COMPANY WANTS TO FILL POND: Dawn Mining Co. has offered to satisfy the Washington state department of health by filling a tailings pond at an abandoned uranimum mine and mill with low-level radioactive waste. The fill would be slightly more radioactive than dirt, company officials say. GRANT GIVEN FOR WIND TURBINE: A school district in Iowa has received a federal grant to build a wind turbine to generate electricity for its elementary school. The $119,000 for the Spirit Lake district should save the district up to $40,000 a year, school officials say. Energy Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution purposes violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. 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