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Dupre' Logistics targeting crude oil hauling in the Eagle Ford

May 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Charles E Wilson

 Gallery Promo image View all Dupr? photos

Dupr? image A Mid-morning on a breezy, warm April day along Farm to Market Highway 624 in the heart of the Eagle Ford oil shale region of South Texas. Three crude oil transports belonging to Dupr? Logistics LLC roll eastbound on the way to their delivery destination near Corpus Christi, Texas.

This is a new venture for Dupr? Logistics, which was attracted to what is being described as the biggest oil and gas play ever in South Texas. Dupr? Logistics currently has 32 crude oil drivers in the Eagle Ford and plans to build up to approximately 75 by the fourth quarter of this year. The carrier recently expanded into a brand new, larger facility in Corpus Christi to support its current petroleum coke operation, as well as the oilfield operation.

Dupr? image B ?The oil and gas shale activity in the Eagle Ford and other shale regions offers a tremendous opportunity for America to improve its energy independence,? says Tom Voelkel, Dupr? Logistics president and chief operating officer. ?This is an exciting business that is constantly evolving and changing, and we believe it offers a great opportunity to expand and build our business. We believe the Eagle Ford shale play alone will remain active for at least 20 years, and we see opportunities in other shale plays, as well.

?Dupr? Logistics plans a broad expansion into the mid-stream and exploration-and-production sectors of the oil and gas industry. We bring a lot to the table as an energy logistics provider, and we believe we have the capacity to manage the whole logistics process.?

First load

The tank truck carrier began exploring oilfield opportunities in early 2011 and had its first contract in place by November 2011. ?We hauled our first load of condensate on November 3, and we are now moving about 100,000 barrels of condensate a month,? says Jim Butler, Dupr? Logistics senior project manager.

Jeff Colonna, Dupr? Logistics vice-president of operations, adds that Dupr? is focusing on customers that see the value of longer-term contracts. ?We are looking for partners wanting to build a relationship, rather than a transactional arrangement,? he says. ?Partnerships in this growing energy sector have needs that go beyond day-to-day hauling. We believe we have what it takes to meet our clients' needs for transportation that emphasizes safety, quality, collaboration, and scalability. We bring a lot of benefits for our partners, including a well compensated and stable driver force, ample transport capacity, and a dedicated team of energy logistics professionals.?

Dupr? image C Building that sort of partnership takes hard work and dedication, according to Earnie Seibert, Dupr? Logistics vice-president of sales and marketing. ?We could grow faster right now in the oilfield without the partnerships, but we want to work with the higher quality customers,? he says. ?We want to work with customers that want the job done right.?

To meet the needs of the Eagle Ford crude oil operation, Dupr? Logistics opened a new terminal in Corpus Christi in April. ?We chose Corpus Christi because we already had operations there, and it is the destination for much of the condensate we haul,? says Doug Roberie, Dupr? logistics director of operations.

The full-service terminal has driver facilities, a maintenance shop, and plenty of truck parking. Approximately 30 employees are based at the facility. The new terminal replaces a smaller facility that was used by Dupr? tractor-trailer rigs hauling petroleum coke. Those rigs share the new terminal with the crude oil transports.

Fleet management

Dispatchers at Dupr?'s Channelview, Texas, terminal coordinate the crude oil fleet operations. Helping with the fleet management process are two field supervisors, who oversee operations at the gathering stations where product is loaded. Butler says the supervisory presence in the field allows for efficient management of drivers and assets and is something that separates Dupr? Logistics from the competition.

Loads of condensate originate near Carrizo Springs, about 200 miles west of Corpus Christi. Most of the shipments currently are delivered to a customer facility in Port Aransas, northeast of Corpus Christi.

Dupr? image F While the hauls are relatively long right now, that's going to change over the next several years. A number of pipelines are under construction in the Eagle Ford, and these pipelines will be able to move crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas products like condensate closer to the delivery destinations.

?As those pipelines come on line and our length of haul gets shorter, our drivers should be able to handle more than one load per shift,? Colonna says. ?Drilling and production activity continues to grow in the Eagle Ford, and a tremendous amount of product is coming out of the ground. The production companies haven't yet tapped the full potential of the Eagle Ford Shale.?

(A record 274 drilling rigs were busy in the Eagle Ford on the day in April that Bulk Transporter visited the Dupr? crude oil operation.)

Most of the product being transported by Dupr? Logistics at this time is condensate with a high concentration of light ends. Pulled out of natural gas wells, condensate is highly valued as a feedstock by refineries processing heavier crude oils.

Dupr? Logistics loads condensate from approximately 20 gathering stations, and about 90% of the product comes from a single ranch in the Carrizo Springs area. The loads move virtually around the clock.

Tough duty

Hauling these loads is not for the faint of heart or the reckless, and Dupr? Logistics is very selective in the drivers it hires. The carrier looks for the best drivers and provides them with extensive safety and equipment training. Basic crude oil driver requirements include a clean safety record and a commercial driver license with tanker and hazmat endorsements.

?In some cases, our crude oil drivers receive more training than the typical driver in this company,? Butler says. ?This is a very complex job, and driving is a relatively small part of it.?

Like other Dupr? Logistics drivers, the crude oil drivers receive a thorough orientation in the carrier's predictive analytics modeling program that is a key component in the safety program. During the weeklong training at Dupr?'s corporate headquarters in Lafayette, Louisiana, they also learn about fatigue management and the GreenRoad safety

technology that is installed in all company vehicles.

Dupr? image D GreenRoad continuously measures and analyzes maneuvers that most impact safe driving, fuel efficiency, and vehicle speed and emissions. Constant reinforcement in the form of a simple red-yellow-green in-cab display promotes correct driving behavior. Fleet and safety managers can monitor driving performance via email and the GreenRoad web portal that provides individual trip details, risk analysis, and coaching to help drivers sustain improvement.

Even with strict hiring and performance requirements, Dupr? Logistics has had little difficulty hiring the drivers it needs. ?We have 32 drivers working for us in the crude oil operation, and quite a few of them came from the local area,? Butler says. ?In fact we got more interest from local drivers than we initially expected.?

One factor favoring Dupr? Logistics is its pay structure. Drivers are paid on an hourly scale, rather than by the load, as is typical for many crude oil haulers. ?The whole trucking industry faces a challenge with driver supply,? Colonna says. ?We believe our operating model ? which includes hourly pay and weekly guaranteed income level ? overcomes many of the challenges. Our model compensates drivers well and protects them by removing the temptation to take shortcuts. We don't believe there are any shortcuts in this business.?

He adds that Dupr? Logistics' driver program has helped ensure a stable driver force. ?Our driver turnover companywide is just 16%,? he says. ?We don't have the churn that other carriers experience.?

Work attraction

Drivers also are attracted by the nature of the work. ?These crude oil drivers are part of a tight community,? Colonna says. ?These are self-reliant individuals, who like the challenge and independence of the job. They have a lot of pride in what they do.?

The crude oil drivers certainly work hard. In the Dupr? Logistics operation, they work 24 days at a stretch, followed by six days off. Each shift is 14 hours. During the 24-day work schedule, drivers stay in RVs provided by Dupr? Logistics at a man camp near Carrizo Springs.

Dupr? image K A typical shift starts with the drive to the gathering site where condensate from natural gas wells has been collected in storage tanks. Main roads are paved, but gathering sites can be 30 miles or more off the main road. Dirt and gravel roads have been cut through the mesquite and cactus that make up the South Texas prairie scrub. These are true washboard roads that beat up drivers and trucks.

Once at the gathering site, it can take more than two hours to test and load the condensate. On arrival, the driver checks the wind direction. He climbs on the storage tank and positions himself upwind while opening the manway to vent off vapors (possibly including toxic vapors, such as hydrogen sulfide).

The driver drops a thermometer into the tank and uses a stick gauge to determine product level. A thief is used to collect product samples at the mid and bottom level. The product is checked for specific gravity and water content.

Product loading takes at least an hour. ?Condensate is so light that it is difficult to pump,? Butler says.

Dupr? image G All of this work is done under some of the toughest conditions. Temperatures in South Texas soar to 122?F in the summer, and drivers have to wear flame retardant clothing. ?Hydration is a real issue,? Butler says. ?Along with the heat, constant wind gives a false sense of cooling and dries you out. Drivers also need a high-carbohydrate diet because the hard work and high heat will sap their strength.?

Rattlesnakes pose a serious safety threat. Smugglers moving illegal immigrants and drugs across the Mexico border just to the south also create major safety concerns, and the US Border Patrol has operations throughout the Eagle Ford.

With the trailer loaded, the Dupr? Logistics driver begins the four-hour plus drive to Port Aransas. Once the cargo is delivered, the driver returns to Carrizo Springs.

Vehicle demands

Dupr? image L Work demands put plenty of wear and tear on the tractors and trailers. ?These vehicles run in a tough environment,? says Scott Allen, Dupr? Logistics director of maintenance. ?Truck engines run constantly to power the hydraulics and air system that are needed for product handling. You have dirt roads that become a real mess after a rain. Paved highways show the impact of tens of thousands of trucks. Before launching our operation, we talked with other crude oil haulers to find out what equipment worked best for them.?

Based on those discussions, the carrier chose daycab Freightliner Coronado SDs and Peterbilt Model 388s. The Coronados were specified with Detroit DD13 engines and the Petes have the PACCAR MX engine. All of the tractors were ordered with Eaton Fuller 10-speed transmissions.

Dupr? image E Roll stability is standard on both tractors and trailers. The carrier uses both Meritor WABCO and Bendix systems. Also standard equipment is the Stemco Airbat RF tire inflation monitoring system.

?In our view, roll stability is an inexpensive insurance policy that makes our equipment safer,? Allen says. ?We've seen fewer tire failures since we began spec'ing the Airbat system. We think drivers are doing a better job of monitoring tire pressure, and that is good because the crude oil fleet, in particular, is operating in remote areas.?

Dupr? image I Tractors in crude oil service have more product handling equipment than the typical tractor in liquid bulk service. Specialized equipment includes a crude oil centrifuge from L-K Industries. Product handling equipment also includes a Muncie PTO that powers the STAC hydraulic system used to drive the trailer-mounted pump.

Dupr? image H For aluminum crude oil trailers, the carrier chose DOT407 tankers from Brenner Tank LLC and Heil Trailer International. The trailers have an 8,400-gallon capacity. Tank hardware includes Civacon and Supertanker (Dixon Bayco, Betts Industries, and FloTech) bottom-loading systems, Garnet level gauges, Roper product pump, and Girard pressure- and vacuum-relief vents.

Dupr? image J ?All of the valve and vent controls are at ground level, which keeps drivers off the trailers,? Allen says.

Running gear includes Hendrickson Intraax air suspension systems, Goodyear and Michelin tires, and Alcoa aluminum wheels.

Even as Dupr? Logistics fully ramps up the crude oil hauling operation, the management team is looking for expanded opportunities in the oil and gas shale plays. Colonna emphasizes that Dupr? Logistics is well positioned to offer a broader range of management services to the shale plays including hauling pipe, equipment, mats, water, sand, and chemicals. ???End of feature


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Myanmar, 'Arab awakening' top US list of progress on human rights

State Department's annual report on human rights around the world also notes the important role that technology, the Internet, and social media play in advancing individual freedoms.

By Howard LaFranchi,?Staff writer / May 24, 2012

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, May 24, to discuss the State Department's annual report on human rights.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Enlarge

Inspiring progress followed by nagging question marks in Arab countries. Deterioration in China. Significant strides forward in what was once one of the world?s darkest corners, Myanmar.

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Those are some of the highlights of the State Department?s report on human rights in the world, the US government?s annual review of the evolution in ?universal freedoms? in every country in the world.

The "Arab awakening" receives an anticipated focus in the 2011 report, released Wednesday. But the report also expands thematically on the important role that technology, the Internet, and social media play in the area of human rights ? in expanding individual freedoms and in providing opportunities, for authorities in particular, to squeeze those rights.

?This has been an especially tumultuous year for everyone involved in the cause of human rights,? Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in reviewing the report?s findings with reporters Wednesday. ?Many of the events that have dominated recent headlines, from the revolutions in the Middle East to reforms in Burma, began with human rights, with the clear call of men and women demanding their universal rights,? she said.

The United States continues to refer to Myanmar as Burma, the country?s name before military?s rulers changed it in 1989.

Secretary Clinton chose two Arab countries to illustrate both the gains and the setbacks the world has witnessed in human rights since last year's report.

Under progress, she highlighted Egypt, whose citizens ?are going to the polls to determine for the first time in their history who their leaders will be.? At the opposite pole, she said, the government of Syria is going beyond stifling its own people?s aspirations with ?an assault on freedom of expression or freedom of association? to ?an assault on the very lives of its citizens.

?The [Bashar al-]Assad regime?s brutality against its own people must and will end,? she added, ?because Syrians know they deserve a better future.? ?

The report hails the wave of change that swept across the Middle East, from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya and Yemen, bringing with it an expansion of political rights and individual freedoms. But it also notes that these ?revolutions? remain works in progress, and that in some cases specific rights ? of women and girls, of religious and ethnic minorities ? have already suffered or face looming challenges.

The report draws particular attention to six countries where it says conditions have not improved or have deteriorated further from the already ?extremely poor? evaluation they received in the 2010 review: Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, Belarus, and China.

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The Navy Is Kitting Its Ships Out With 4G Networks [Military]

Bandwidth on Navy ships is a scarce, expensive commodity. For sailors using non-essential systems, like recreational computers? Dial-up speeds - if they're lucky. But by the end of the year, for the first time, the Navy will put a 4G LTE wireless network aboard some of its ships, giving a whole new communications tool to sailors and Marines: their smartphones. More »


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The winner of 'American Idol' is ...

By Craig Berman, TODAY.com contributor

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Finalists Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez on the season finale.

?American Idol? voters sure love guys with guitars.?Phillip Phillips continued the dominance of the guys on the show, winning the season 11 title and the million-dollar recording contract that goes with it. The normally laid-back singer was overwhelmed when host Ryan Seacrest announced the results, breaking down midway through his performance of ?Home? and leaving the stage to hug his parents.

It was a rare misstep for the former pawn shop worker from Georgia, who was never announced as one of the lowest vote-getters at any point. Though his voice lacked the power and range of some of the other finalists and he battled health problems throughout the season, he was the most contemporary of the contenders and should have a big seller with that first single.

Jessica Sanchez finished second, continuing an ?Idol? trend. No woman has won the show since Jordin Sparks in season six, and if the folks behind the show want to change that next year, they should probably avoid selecting the same types of singers to compete each season.

The two-hour, seven-minute finale took its time getting to that final envelope, with the decision made by a record 132 million votes. The show used some of those 127 minutes to make fun of the judges (though it largely spared the contestants, except for one early audition montage), and there were the usual live performances featuring selected contestants sharing the stage with music legends.

Mark Davis / Getty Images

Phillip sang with John Fogerty, breaking out the Creedence Clearwater Revival hits ?Have You Ever Seen the Rain?? and ?Bad Moon Rising.? If the post-"Idol" career doesn?t go as expected for the new champ, he?s got a future in a CCR or Dave Matthews cover band for sure.

Jessica, meanwhile, got original "Dreamgirl" Jennifer Holliday for ?I Am Telling You I?m Not Going.? It was one of the best performances of the season, though sadly for Jessica it came after the votes were already counted.

In addition, Joshua Ledet sang with ?the biggest inspiration of my life,? season three champion Fantasia Barrino, a duet that likely shattered glass throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Skylar Laine got Reba McEntire as her partner, and Hollie Cavanagh sang with Jordin Sparks. ?

For the group numbers, Chaka Khan came onstage with the women, while the legendary Neil Diamond joined the men and thrilled Red Sox fans everywhere by performing ?Sweet Caroline.?

And that?s not all! Viewers saw the first ?Idol? proposal in history, as Diana DeGarmo (season three finalist) said yes to Ace Young (season five seventh-place finisher). There was also a Bee Gees tribute from the ?Idol? guys, and Rihanna performed without a wardrobe malfunction or lyrics that caused the Fox censors to faint with worry. Jane Lynch was also spotted rocking out in the stands to the Chaka Khan set. Maybe there?s a ?Glee? guest appearance in her future.

Other notable moments in the finale:

  • Ford did wind up giving Phillip a car despite his bailing on most of the promotional videos. Also getting new wheels were Jessica, Phillip?s brother-in-law and Jessica?s family friend/music mentor. However, Ford did not pull an Oprah and give everyone in the audience a car.
  • The ?Idol? finalists showed that you can sing the phone book, as Randy Jackson always says, but it?s not exactly something that cries out for an iTunes download.
  • ?Idol? showed that it can indeed survive without J.Lo as a judge, as she was absent for a good portion of the broadcast to get ready for her two-song set.
  • Steven Tyler also took the stage along with Aerosmith for two tunes. Apparently, Randy, who was the only judge not to perform, doesn't have much pull with his former bandmates. Those Journey days must seem like they happened a very long time ago. Oh, wait. They did.

What did you think of the finale show? Which performance was the best? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

Did the right singer win?

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Call To Artists ? Lighting Connecticut Ave | ART(202)

CALL TO ARTISTS

DC CREATES PUBLIC ART for Golden Triangle BID

Lighting Connecticut Avenue

Total Budget:? $190,000

Artist Fee:? $10,000 (inclusive)

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) in partnership with the?Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (GTBID) seeks an artist or artist team to design and create a permanent light installation within the Connecticut Avenue medians from K Street to Jefferson Place. The installation will enhance the lush landscaping of the medians and create a dynamic nighttime element along the busy downtown corridor that can be programmed for events throughout the year.

CONTEXT:?

The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (GTBID) encompasses 43 downtown blocks and works to enhance the public space from the White House to Dupont Circle and 16th Street, NW to 21st Street, NW. The BID represents approximately 32 million square feet of commercial office space, 4,000 businesses, 600 retailers, 200 restaurants, eight hotels, and six U.S. National Parks. The BID?s vision is for a safe, clean, attractive and user-friendly downtown that confirms Washington as the premier business and entertainment destination in the region and a world-class destination.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) provides grant funds, programs and educational activities that encourage diverse artistic expressions and learning opportunities, so that all District of Columbia residents and visitors can experience the rich culture of our city.

As a program of DCCAH, the DC Creates Public Art Program provides high quality art installations and administrative support services for the public so they can benefit from an enhanced visual environment. This program purchases, commissions and installs public art throughout the District of Columbia to cultivate dynamic, vibrant and nurturing communities through the use of art and design.

The city is in the process of installing four blocks of a new wide median along the downtown section of Connecticut Avenue from K Street to Jefferson Place, just south of Dupont Circle. The median is part of a larger streetscape project on Connecticut Avenue creating a sophisticated world-class destination. The BID installs rotating seasonal landscaping in the median throughout the year- see the attached layout and site map for an example of the landscaping on the first completed block.

ELIGIBILITY:?

This competition is open to professional regional artists with site-specific and/or public art experience, as related to exterior lighting design. ?Theatrical, landscape and retail designers are encouraged to submit.? Preference will be given to artists who reside in the District of Columbia.?? Experience working with community representatives, landscape architects, outdoor lighting specialists, business and government entities are a plus.

ARTWORK:?

The artwork is the design, installation, and programming a permanent light installation. The artwork should draw the public along Connecticut Avenue and create a unique and dynamic interpretation of the space.? Each block of the median will have a separate connection at surface level in the median for electrical power. The light installation must be secure, durable, weather resistant and brilliant yet low-energy if possible. The Artist must provide an effective strategy for programming the lighting for various seasonal events.

SCHEDULE: ?

Friday, June 25, 2012 at 5pm????????????? Application Deadline

Friday, July 27, 2012?????????????????????????? Announcement of Selected Artist

August to October 2012???????? ??????????? Project planning, Fabrication and Installation

Mid November 2012??????????????????????????? Project Completion and Dedication

SELECTION PROCESS:?

This is an expedited project and will consist of a one panel review process, whereby the finalist will be selected according to a site specific design proposal, credentials (prior work) and overall capacity for completion. The selection committee, representing diverse interests and expertise, will convene and review the applications and recommend (1) one finalist for the project.

The finalist?s design proposal and the selection committee?s recommendations will be forwarded to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for review and approval. The artist whose design is approved will then enter into an agreement with GTBID for fabrication, programming and installation of the artwork.

BUDGET:?

The total budget for design and installation is $190,000.? The budget includes the artist design fee ($10,000) and costs associated with design, fabrication, travel, and transportation to the site, insurance, permits, installation, and documentation of the artwork.

QUESTIONS?

Tonya Jordan
DCCAH Public Art Manager
Tonya.Jordan@dc.gov
(202) 724-5617phone
(202) 727-3148 TDD
MAIL OR DELIVER ENTRIES TO:
Tonya Jordan
DCCAH Public Art Manager
1371 Harvard Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tonya.jordan@dc.gov
202.724-5617


?

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Home Improvement Projects You Should do Before You Sell Your ...

Before you even put your home on the market, you can raise the value and if you do the right home improvement projects, you will most likely find someone to buy it. It is important to be real when taking a look at your home and recognizing what really needs to be replaced, repaired or just tidied up. When determining which projects are worthwhile (large and small), the following guidelines are should be taken into consideration.

One of the very first things you need to do when your house is on the market is make sure that all of the most important systems and appliances are working properly. This includes things like the water heater, the heating and cooling system and the plumbing. You need to keep in mind that all potential buyers will have the house inspected and when major issues arise they will either rethink the sale or force you to lower your price. Appearances matter quite a lot too and if your boiler looks like it has just been sitting there forever and not kept up, the impression it makes will only be a bad one. This is also true for the refrigerator. Show potential buyers that you care enough about your home that you keep essential items up to date.

When you are getting ready to sell your home, nix the thought of going out and buying expensive items that you believe will add to the value of your home. In the end, you will usually not be able to find a way to rationalize the out-of-pocket expenses as these will not add enough additional value to your home. This takes in things like hot tubs and swimming pools because a lot of individuals consider them to be extra comfort items. The same rings true for high priced landscaping or features in your yard, like a Koi pond or fountain. It is fine if you already have some of these things in your home, although you do not want to rush out to buy them in hopes that they will help you sell your home. In budget conscious times of today, people will often feel that these features are driving up the cost of the home. Because of the exorbitant cost of maintaining extras, like spas, hot tubs and swimming pools, many prospective buyers just do not even want to put up with those things.

Home security is something that a lot of people are worried about. If your house doesn?t already have a security system, you should think about having one installed. This may include an alarm as well as security cameras. You?ll need to take that under consideration though. Depending on where you actually live, potential buyers might be impressed that your home comes with a high quality security system. On the other hand, it might do exactly the opposite and tell buyers that your neighborhood isn?t one they can feel safe in. The best approach here is one that is in the middle; put in a good security system but don?t stress its inclusion or stress it a lot when you want to show your house.

When selling your home, you should not rush into making every type of repair or improvement you can think of. You need to be vigilant when figuring out the upfront cost for increasing the value of your home and how much each project will actually make for you. Before you put your home on up For Sale, you can take some of the information we discussed in this article into account when consider which home improvement projects to pursue.

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