Texas A&M Galveston graduate to lead Panama Canal.

Happy Tuesday!  Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog.  We hope you had a fun filled unofficial beginning of Summer and Memorial Day Weekend!  Let’s get started.

We like to keep up with the happenings at the Panama Canal and over the years their plans have included preparing for future droughts, adjusting transits to current water levels which have increased to 38 vessels in current times, and embracing lower emission policies.  Now there appears to be a changing of the guard and a woman is to be seated at the head of the table. 

Did anyone happen to read the gCaptain Shipping Newsletter on May 25, 2026, their article titled, “First Woman to Lead Panama Canal Named as Waterway Faces Rising Global Pressure”?   In the article, it speaks on how Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino recently said llya Espino de Marotta has been chosen to replace Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales as Panama Canal Authority (APC) Administrator.    The search for the replacement for Dr. Vásquez started last year with over 100 candidates identified, and llya Espino de Marotta stood out in the field as a qualified veteran of the canal with over thirty years under her belt, as well as being a senior executive at the canal as the Deputy Administrator since 2020.  Espino de Marotta graduated from Texas A&M Galveston in 1985 with a Marine Engineering degree and then started her career at the canal (Espino de Marotta, 2025). She went on to receive a master’s degree from Universidad Santa María La Antigua in 1996 (Espino de Marotta, 2025).  Espino de Marotta has previously held key positions at the canal including Executive Vice President of Engineering and Vice President for Transit Business.  Espino de Marotta was very involved in the expansion of the canal’s Neopanamax locks, and she will be an asset in the current plans for the canal.   We wish llya Espino de Marotta luck in her new position.  We will let you know, if we hear anything else interesting from the Panama Canal.  If you would like to read more of the article from gCaptain’s, please click the link:   First Woman to Lead Panama Canal Named as Waterway Faces Rising Global Pressure.

If you would like help in looking into how to update your midstream terminal, contact us via email in the Blog and check out ESC's website for contact information.

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

Espino de Marotta, I. (2025, December 6). Ilya Espino de Marotta. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Espino_de_Marotta.

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the gCaptain’s article. **

Happy Memorial Day!

 

Happy Memorial Day!

We would like to thank all those who served in the military, and helped keep us, our families, and this great nation safe and free!   We salute you!

Thank you!

U.S. EIA Monthly Reports for Electric Power and others are now available!

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their May monthly reports for Electric Power and Electricity Update, are now available on the EIA website.

See what happened in the Electric Power Monthly by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/.

See what happened in the Electricity Monthly Update by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/update/.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website!  We are always here to help you out with your next project to move your liquids or help you reduce your emissions!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

Have a relaxing weekend!

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their annual Underground Natural Gas Working Storage Capacity, and it is now available on their website!

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Annual Underground Natural Gas Working Storage Capacity; it is now available from the EIA website. 

Check out what happened in the Annual Underground Natural Gas Working Storage Capacity by clicking the link: Underground Natural Gas Working Storage Capacity - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website!  We are always here to help you out with your next project to transport your hydrocarbon liquids!

Have a safe and relaxing weekend! 

U.S. EIA Weekly Updates for Petroleum & Other Liquids, Natural Gas, and Coal are all now available!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Reports for Petroleum and Other Liquids, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, Natural Gas, and Coal for the week ending May 22, 2026, are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report by clicking the link: Weekly Petroleum Status Report - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update by clicking the link: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report by clicking the link: Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report - EIA.

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report Supplement by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/beta/naturalgas/weekly/supplement/.

See what happened last week in Coal Markets Report by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/markets/.

See what happened last week in Weekly Coal Production by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/production/weekly/.

Note: Please be aware there is a Federal Holiday next week on Monday, May 25, 2026, and Federal Offices will be closed, and some of the EIA updates will be delayed to the later in week according to their email. 

We are always here to help you out with your next project to move your hydrocarbons or to update your equipment to help reduce your emissions!  Connect with us through the Blog email or give us a call: 281-901-5554!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

We hope you have a fun and relaxing holiday weekend!  Happy Memorial Day!

We hope to see you next week for another week of ESC News Blog!

UAE West-East Pipeline is halfway to the finish line.

Happy Thursday!  We hope you didn’t get too wet this morning from all the rain in Houston.  Let’s get started.

We like to keep up with the happenings in energy around the globe and this caught our eye with the cost of gas seemed like something you would want to hear.  Did anyone happen to read the gCaptain Daily Newsletter on May 21, 2026, they had reprinted an article from Reuters titled, “New UAE Pipeline Bypassing Hormuz Now 50% Complete, ADNOC CEO says”?  In the article, it updated us on an article which was in the news earlier in the month on a new West-East pipeline in the Middle East and its status.  A pipeline the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to design and build over ten years ago is halfway done according to its source the CEO of state oil giant ADNOC, Sultan Al Jaber.  The West-East pipeline is expected to be operational next year with them exporting through the Port of Fujairah.  It was noted in the article ADNOC’s assets have been targeted in the U.S.-Iran conflict and they are still gauging damage and timeline for repairs.  We will let you know, if we hear anything else interesting on this matter.  If you would like to read more of the article from gCaptain’s, please click the link:   New UAE Pipeline Bypassing Hormuz Now 50% Complete, ADNOC CEO Says.

If you would like help in looking into how to update your midstream terminal, contact us via email in the Blog and check out ESC's website for contact information.

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the gCaptain’s article. **

Venture Global plans to more than double their capabilities in their current plans by late 2029.

Happy Wednesday!

We have an update on Venture Global’s CP2 LNG Plant.  Let’s dig in.     

Did anyone happen to read the Oil & Gas Journal’s OGJ Daily Update Newsletter on May 12, 2026, their article titled, “Venture Global adds to CP2 bolt-on plans”?  In the article, it speaks on how Venture Global released they will be adding additional capacity to its CP2 in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Their plans include an additional four liquefaction trains which will increase capacity by 3.6 million tonnes per year (tpy), and their final investment decision is expected in 2027.  The plant would be commissioned the last quarter of 2028.  Venture Global has a bolt-on expansion planned at their Plaquemines plant and has filed for permits with government agencies.  Once all plants are completed as planned, they are expecting to have 106 liquefaction trains and more than double their current capabilities or 85 million tpy by late 2029.  The article noted Venture Global first quarter had their exports up by three vessels over the end of 2025 exports.  We will let you know, if we hear anything else on any of Venture Global’s LNG plants!  If you would like to read more of the Oil & Gas Journal’s article, please click the link:   Venture Global adds to CP2 bolt-on plans | Oil & Gas Journal.

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website or contact us via the email in the Blog, if you have a hydrocarbon liquids project you would like to see get off the ground or you would like to see what’s under your feet to help with your emissions!  

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive week! 

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The Oil and Gas Journal’s article. **

Another Louisiana LNG terminal has made its FID.

Happy Tuesday!  We hope you didn’t get too wet this morning from all the rain in Houston and have had a chance to enjoy the lovely sunny weather we had this afternoon.  Let’s get started.

We blogged on Commonwealth LNG, LLC receiving their exporting permits from the U.S. Department of Energy last September; check out our blog in early September 2025 for details.  Commonwealth’s final investment decision (FID) was due at the end of last year and we never heard anything.  Well, that has changed.   

Did anyone happen to read the gCaptain Daily Newsletter on May 16, 2026, their article titled, “$13 billion Commonwealth LNG Project Gets Green Light in Louisiana”?  In the article, it speaks on Caturus has pulled the trigger, and they have made their final investment decision (FID) for Commonwealth LNG export terminal in Louisiana.  Commonwealth LNG is expected to cost upwards of $13 billion, and the financing and key players are lined up.   Commonwealth LNG is expected to produce 9.5 million tonnes a year and expected to be commissioned by 2030.  Prior to the FID, Caturus lined up a key team for engineering and construction which include Technip Energies at the helm, and equipment coming from Baker Hughes, Honeywell and Solar Turbines.   We wish Commonwealth LNG, LLC luck completing their project on time and on budget.  We will let you know, if we hear anything else interesting on this matter.  If you would like to read more of the article from gCaptain’s, please click the link:   $13 Billion Commonwealth LNG Project Gets Green Light in Louisiana.

There is one thing to note: Venture Global last July pointed out with all the LNG terminals going up along Calcasieu Pass how was the channel going to handle the in influx of traffic. (See our blog in early July for details).  We haven’t read anything explaining the plan for the at least 4 LNG facilities in the works, including Commonwealth.  We will keep reading and see if we ever get an answer. 

If you would like help in looking into how to update your midstream terminal, contact us via email in the Blog and check out ESC's website for contact information.

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the gCaptain’s article. **

DOE furthering research into EOR for Bakken shale formation with federal funding.

Happy Monday!  Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog.  We hope you had a good weekend!  Let’s get started.

You know we like to keep up with the happenings at the Department of Energy, and they are investing in some research at a state university.  Let’s dig in. 

Did anyone happen to read the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbon and Geothermal Energy Office Release on April 30, 2026, their announcement, “Energy Department to Invest $36 Million in Enhanced Oil Recovery Program at the University of North Dakota”?  In the announcement, it goes on to speak on how the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently (May 8th) published they will be investing in the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center.  The University’s project called Bakken Enhanced Oil Recovery-Cracking the Code (Bakken EOR-CC) involves them innovating enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to industrial scale for the Bakken shale formation using artificial intelligence (AI) and other available technologies using carbon dioxide (CO2).  Bakken EOR-CC program has six experimental studies trying to determine which is the best practice to access Bakken shale oil, and the program has $100 million from other sources to fund their other experiments.  We wish them locking cracking the code.  If you would like to read more of the Announcement from the U.S. DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, please click the link: Energy Department to Invest $36 Million in Enhanced Oil Recovery Program at the University of North Dakota | Department of Energy.

If you would like help in looking into how to store your liquid hydrocarbon safely in underground storage or just find out what is underneath your feet to help with your emission reduction goals, contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive week. 

**Disclaimer: Please see the Immediate Release from the U.S. DOE for specifics. **

 

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly STEO Report, is now available on their website!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released their Monthly STEO Report for week ending May 15, 2026, it is now available from the EIA website. 

Check out what happened in the Monthly Short Term Energy Outlook by clicking the link: Short-Term Energy Outlook- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Don’t forget to check out our ESC website!  We are always here to help you out with your next hydrocarbon project to move your product or help you reduce your emissions!  You may reach us by the email in the Blog!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

Have a good weekend! 

U.S. EIA Weekly Updates for Petroleum & Other Liquids, Natural Gas, and Coal are all now available!

Happy Friday!

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Reports for Petroleum and Other Liquids, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, Natural Gas, and Coal for the week ending May 15, 2026, are all now available from the EIA website. 

See what happened in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report by clicking the link: Weekly Petroleum Status Report - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update by clicking the link: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report by clicking the link: Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report - EIA.

See what happened last week in Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report Supplement by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/beta/naturalgas/weekly/supplement/.

See what happened last week in Coal Markets Report by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/markets/.

See what happened last week in Weekly Coal Production by clicking the link: https://www.eia.gov/coal/production/weekly/.

We are always here to help you out with your next project to move your hydrocarbons or to update your equipment to help reduce your emissions!  Connect with us through the Blog email or give us a call: 281-901-5554!

Don’t forget to follow our Blog to hear more on the ever-changing energy and marine industry!

We hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend! 

We hope to see you next week for another week of ESC News Blog!

Learnings from the GHPB’s Commerce Club Luncheon from Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Happy Thursday!

We went to the Greater Houston Port Bureau’s (GHPB) Commerce Club Luncheon at the Houston Marriot South at Hobby Airport today. 

The GHPB’s Commerce Club Luncheon started early with demonstrations from a couple AI companies. 

The speakers were a Panel which spoke on the topic: Digitizing Pre-Arrival Communications to Unlock Port Efficiency.  The moderator was Lance Nunez (Dow Inc.) and the panel included Darren Shelton (Moran Shipping Agencies); Captain Petr Kontush (Stolt Tankers); and Shri Sarathy (LBC Tank Terminals).  The consensus of the panel was the Houston Ship Channel is not efficient as other ports, and turnaround times are too long, hence the new collaborated system will reduce it by 30 minutes which means millions on dollars over the course of the year.  If a company adopts the new Pre-Arrival Platform, it will improve communications because it is organized, there is a standard for workflows, and better data protection. The current system there is much chaos and there are inconsistencies and manual input, and processing is slow, and data isn’t well protected.  The GHPB’s Efficiency Committee worked on a standard by conducting a study on Pre-Arrival and they determined the most common data transferred to make their standard.  They made a Master List which includes the most common data fields and there are over 300 fields.  Then using a standard naming connection, they used definitions, order and structure which accommodates for gases, oils and chemicals.  With the information gathered it will allow stakeholders to leverage automation across its platform whiling enabling vendors to innovate.   The standard may be applied to multiple stops and it will improve shore exchange.   The panel spoke on their adoption of the platform and their experience with using it and how it has been fined tuned for their use and reduced their turnaround time.   They spoke on the use of such systems is Europe hence they didn’t have to reinvent anything just make it for use in American ports.  The panel stressed the need for collaboration over privacy and how this is a win for everyone if adopted.  

Thank you, Lance Nunez, Darren Shelton, Captain Petr Kontush, and Shri Sarathy.   You are an interesting and informative group, and we wish you well.  

As you see the speakers at the GHPB’s Commerce Club Luncheons bring an informative talk to all that attend.  The next Commerce Club Luncheon is on June 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Houston Marriot South at Hobby Airport.  Please check out the website, if you would like to learn more.  June 2026 GHPB Commerce Club Luncheon - Greater Houston Port Bureau.

The GHPB announced Family Day at Houston Maritime Center and Museum is June 6^th, 2026.  Here is the link for details on their education programs: Family Programs & Activities | Houston Maritime Museum.

If you would like help in figuring out how to get your product moving with less of a carbon footprint, contact us via the email on the Blog or give us a call: 281-901-5554.  Check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a great and productive rest your week!

GHPB’s Monthly Commerce Club Luncheon – May 14, 2026 at 11 AM, 10:30 AM, if you are interested in Demonstrations.

Happy Wednesday! 

We hope you reserved your place for the Greater Houston Port Bureau’s Commerce Club Luncheon at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport tomorrow, Thursday, May 14, 2026.  It is a Sold-Out event.  It will be starting early, if you are interested in seeing a demo.  We will be there learning something new. 

We are looking forward to the special panel on Port Efficiency with Lance Nunez/ Dow, Inc.; Darren Shelton/ Moran Shipping Agencies; Captain Petr Kontush/ Stolt Tanks; and Shri Sarathy/LBC Tank Terminals, and they will be speaking on Chaos to Clarity: Digitizing Pre-Arrival Communications to Unlock Port Efficiency.  If you show up at 10:30 a.m., you will be seeing some demonstrations of the current technology the industry is using.  If you would like more details, please click the link: May 2026 GHPB Commerce Club Luncheon - Greater Houston Port Bureau.

We hope to see you there!

If you need help with planning your next hydrocarbon liquids project in this low carbon world, contact us via the email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a great and productive week! 

Pin Oak Creek Power Plant is now generating power for the Texas grid.

Happy Tuesday!

We love an update to our previous blogs and finally we heard something in regard to the Texas Energy Fund.  We had a bit of news on NRG securing a loan from it back in early August 2025 (in case you want to check it out) since then we haven’t heard much of this taxpayer approved fund.  Well, last week we finally heard some good news for the Texas power grid.

Did anyone happen to read the Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on May 8, 2026, their article titled, “’Texas Energy Fund produces first plant”?   The article, it goes on to speak on how a Texas Energy Fund funded project has finally generated its first power from a natural gas power plant in Freestone County in central Texas.  Constellation’s Calpine LLC owned Pin Oak Creek Power Plant is finally sending 460 megawatts of power to the Texas power grid enough power to keep approximately 115,000 homes lights on and A/C running.   In addition, the article had an update on NRG Energy’s Texas Energy Funded power plant project at TH Wharton Generating Station complex is in the Houston area is expected to be online this summer.  Well, this is good news for Texans to know we have more power heading into our grid.  We will keep you posted on anything we hear in regard to Texas Energy Fund and the projects it funds.  If you would like to read more of the Houston Chronicle’s article, please click the link: Gov. Abbott touts new natural gas plant backed by Texas Energy Fund.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely, and with less of a carbon footprint, contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the Houston Chronicle’s article. **

DOE has selected the companies who will be part of the fourth round of exchanges and they are expecting to release approximately 53-million barrels from the Gulf Coast.

Happy Monday!  Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog!  We hope you had a relaxing weekend, and you spoiled Mom on her special day.  Let’s get started.

You know we like to keep up with the happenings at the Department of Energy’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and they have awarded companies for their fourth round of RPFs.  Let’s dig in. 

Did anyone happen to read the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbon and Geothermal Energy Office Release on May 11, 2026, their announcement, “Energy Department Awards Contracts From The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Advancing President Trump’s Historic Emergency Exchange”?  In the announcement, it goes on to speak on how the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently (May 11th) published they have selected the companies which will be part of the fourth round of the Emergency Exchange Program for approximately 53-million barrels of crude oil from one of the four SPR sites: Bayou Choctaw, West Hackberry, Big Hill, or Bryan Mound.  This was part of the fourth RFP for exchange of crude the DOE has published in recent weeks, nonetheless this exchange was less then what the DOE had available which was approximately 92-million barrels.  The parties have a year to return the barrels with additional oil, and according to the DOE they will be receiving over 25% return which is around 15-million barrels.  We will keep you posted on anything interesting we hear out of the DOE and the SPR.  If you would like to read more of the Announcement from the U.S. DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, please click the link: Energy Department Awards Contracts from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Advancing President Trump’s Historic Emergency Exchange.

If you would like help in looking into how to store your liquid hydrocarbon safely in underground storage or just find out what is underneath your feet to help with your emission reduction goals, contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a productive week. 

**Disclaimer: Please see the Immediate Release from the U.S. DOE for specifics. **