by Clifton Linton, Editor, Energy Transport Insider

New York Harbor butane prices firmed for truckload and rail car quantities this week as the market struggles to fill supply needs following news of a leak along the Colonial Pipeline.

Rail cars filled with normal butane have been seen heading to Northeast gasoline blenders, sources say. This is not unusual given that the winter gasoline blending season is due to start in less than two weeks.

But, it must be taken in context of disruption of the East Coast gasoline markets. A leak and closure of the Colonial Pipeline could have not happened at a worse time for the change-over. On Sept. 9 a leak was discovered in Alabama along the on...