Monsanto Company (MON) has signed a long-term supply contract with Air Products (APD), the leading global hydrogen provider. According to the contract, Air Products will build a new world-scale hydrogen production plant to be located at Monsanto's Luling, Louisiana, Roundup facility. The new hydrogen plant is scheduled to be on-stream in Jan 2012.  Air Products will build a steam methane reformer (SMR) producing over 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of hydrogen. The SMR will be connected to Air Products' East Gulf Coast pipeline network, which supplies refineries with hydrogen needed to make cleaner burning transportation fuels, in addition to meeting the hydrogen needs of the local petrochemical industry. In addition, the facility will produce additional hydrogen via a clean-up of a hydrogen-rich off-gas feed coming from Monsanto. Monsanto will use steam from Air Products' SMR process to benefit its Roundup production plant. ...

The world's second largest oil and gas producer by market value, PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PTR), inked an agreement with China's top power firm Huaneng Power International to join forces on natural gas power generation projects. The agreement will increase the proportion of natural gas usage in Chinese power generation activity and promote clean energy in the country.   China is planning to gradually increase natural gas usage for power generation. This is to mitigate pollution problems from its coal-fired power plants. At present, two-thirds of China's electricity comes from coal-fired power plant sources that generate tremendous amounts of greenhouse gases and lead to air pollution.   Natural gas is expected to be a key growth area for PetroChina. In 2008, natural gas production increased by more than 14% year-over-year. In addition to the domestic initiatives, PetroChina is also making progress with securing natural gas resources abroad. In this ...

Following three West-East natural gas pipelines, China is contemplating the fourth one. The proposal is for a four-lane gas pipeline, which is likely to transport natural gas from the Sichuan and Tarim basins in the West to the large potential markets in East China. The first West-East pipeline was completed and commenced its commercial run in 2004; the second is under construction and expected to be completed by 2011; and the third is already proposed but not yet approved by China's National Development and Reform Commission.

The fourth pipeline is a forward step towards the Chinese Government's efforts to promote natural gas as a substitute for coal in power generation. At present, two-thirds of China's electricity generation comes from coal-fired power plant sources that generate tremendous amounts of greenhouse gases and lead to air pollution. To solve this problem, China is planning to increase its natural gas usage from

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Westport Innovations engages in the research, development, and marketing of high-performance engines and fuel systems. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, their engines use gaseous fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG). The company began in 1995 and is part of the Pollution and Treatment Controls Industry. They trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol (WPRT) and trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol (WPT.TO)

Westport’s engine technologies reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). They do all of this while preserving the power, torque, and fuel efficiency of diesel engines. The company’s experience and expertise is in helping commercial fleets and cities transition themselves from oil usage to natural gas usage. Along with their engine development knowledge and their work with gaseous fuels, they also provide fuel tanks and

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By Ian Davis

On June 16, I predicted an imminent, “nasty correction” in crude oil.

That correction may now be underway. Crude oil plummeted more than $15 in the last three days. And a lot more downside is in the works. I think oil could be headed as low as $50.

But today, let’s talk natural gas…

If oil crashes, natural gas will fall, too. Natural gas is like crude oil’s younger sibling. The natural gas price shadows the price of crude oil wherever it goes.

The two have a follow-the-leader relationship because about 18% of natural gas usage can be switched to petroleum products. Also, drilling these two forms of energy requires many of the same resources… like geologists, drill-rig operators, and rigs.

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