The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced federal inspectors issued 130 citations and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October 2016.
Read MoreMonth: November 2016
Winona County Bans Frac Sand Mining
Winona County became the first county in Minnesota to pass a total ban on frac sand mining. Experts on both sides of the issue said Winona County is likely the first county in the nation to do so. The victory for environmentalists came after years of citizen activism against frac sand generally and a more than one-year-long campaign for this…
Read MoreSand Demand Could Surpass Historical Peak Levels
In a recent investor presentation, Emerge Energy Services (EMES) said, “Recently revised estimates from Wall Street analysts indicate sand demand will surpass historical peak levels by 2017.”
Read MoreSand Prices Boosted by Addition of Drill Rigs
Shale drillers have added 158 rigs since May, according to Baker Hughes Inc. At the same time, companies such as Chesapeake Energy Corp. and EOG Resources Inc. have been increasing their efficiency by cramming more and more sand into individual wells, aiming to extend their reach miles further. That’s boosted sand prices roughly 25 percent to about $24 a ton, according to…
Read MoreUSGS Estimates Wolfcamp Shale is a Monster
The Wolfcamp shale play in the Midland Basin portion of Texas’ Permian Basin province contains an estimated mean of 20 billion barrels of oil, 16 trillion cu. ft. of associated natural gas, and 1.6 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, according to an assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This estimate is for continuous (unconventional) oil, and consists of undiscovered, technically…
Read MoreThis Week’s Market Buzz
• The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reached a deal to cut back on oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day to raise global prices. OPEC nations currently produce about 33.7 million barrels of oil per day. Under the deal, they’ll bring that down to 32.5 million barrels per day, with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE and Kuwait making…
Read MoreU.S. Construction Equipment Exports Down 25 Percent
Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment fell 25 percent overall for the first three quarters of 2016 compared to 2015, for a total $8.2 billion shipped to global markets.
Read MoreTerramac Appoints Kirby-Smith Machinery as Authorized Dealer
Terramac, a leading manufacturer of innovative rubber track crawler carriers, expanded its representation in the North American market to include Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. as part of its dealer network. Kirby-Smith will represent the versatile Terramac product line in Oklahoma. Kirby-Smith will offer Terramac crawler carriers to serve the pipeline industry with customizable equipment that accommodates various pipeline applications. In addition to Terramac’s…
Read MoreTrump Taps Chao for Transportation Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to head the Transportation Department. Chao is a former U.S. deputy transportation secretary who currently sits on the board of Vulcan Materials Co. Chao, the wife of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, served as labor secretary under President George W. Bush and was the first Asian-American woman to hold a…
Read MoreTitan Tires Adds 875/65R29 Size
Titan International Inc. (Titan Tires) added an 875/65R29 size to its proven STL2+ line. This new addition is specially suited to Cat 982M wheel loaders, and adds to the existing list of sizes, which include a 23.5R25, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25. The dual-purpose E-3/L-3 tread can be selected with either cut-resistant or wear-resistant compounding for excellent performance in any operating conditions.…
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