Texas Grid Grumbles: Sun's Out, Power's Out

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Daily Data Dump

The good, the bad, and the ugly of Texas oil production.

Best of the Best 🏆️

Every week, we sift through our proprietary data to find the best performers in Texas.

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Daily Bulletin

Lone Star Stories

• Stormy Rates and Hurricane Prices: Oil's Double Whammy

Concerns over U.S. interest rate hikes dampening demand held oil prices steady, despite potential supply disruptions from Tropical Storm Idalia near the U.S. Gulf Coast. Although global worries persist, oil prices remain supported above $80 a barrel due to declining oil inventories, OPEC+ supply cuts, and Saudi Arabia's anticipated extension of its voluntary oil output reduction.

• Texas Grid Grumbles: Sun's Out, Power's Out

Texas faces power shortages due to over-reliance on renewables like solar and wind, leading the state to consider investing in more traditional power plants, especially during low-wind and sunset hours. Voters will decide this November on a proposal for a Texas Energy Fund that offers 3% interest loans to companies building new power-generating facilities, but skeptics believe companies may not opt for older energy tech even with the incentives.

Reader Question of the Day

What impact does the salinity of formation water have on oil extraction processes?

Salinity, or the saltiness of formation water, can play a big role in oil extraction. When water is salty, it can affect how oil moves in the underground rocks. In some cases, the saltiness can make it harder for oil to flow freely, almost like how a clogged straw makes it tough to drink a thick shake.

To help with this, oil companies sometimes adjust the salinity of the water they inject into the reservoir to push out more oil. By tweaking the salt levels, they can make the oil flow better, kind of like unclogging that straw. This method, called "low salinity water flooding," can help get more oil out of the ground and make the extraction process more efficient.

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