Despite its significant oil wealth, American companies have long shied away from doing business in Sudan, initially because of security concerns and later in response to U.S. sanctions against the government in Khartoum. The secession of South Sudan in July 2011, during which 80% of the country’s oil wealth went to the South, followed by… Keep reading →
The ongoing controversy over the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline linking Alberta’s oil sands to US markets covers a vast amount of factual territory, from refinery configuration to logistics to international crude oil trading to carbon dioxide emissions. But at times, all of these issues take a back seat to the emotional, or symbolic, component of… Keep reading →
Silver Spring Networks topped Inc. Magazine’s rankings. The editors at Inc. magazine have released their rankings of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in America. The list offers an interesting snapshot of where growth is taking place in the energy sector. The boom in America’s unconventional oil and gas development is clearly evident on the list. Out of the 110 energy… Keep reading →
Coal-to-gas switching in the power sector has been a “brutally efficient” driver of US natural gas demand, and until new demand sources materialize, it will keep gas trading in the $3.20-$4.20 per million Btu range, according to Macquarie Global Oil & Natural Gas Economist Vikas Dwivedi. “Gas demand so far has been led by power,” Dwivedi said during… Keep reading →
The operator of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant has warned that makeshift tanks – which are vulnerable to leaks – hold more than 200,000 tons of radioactive water. “The latest disclosures add to a long list of recent accidents, leaks and breakdowns that have underscored grave vulnerabilities at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant site more… Keep reading →
When it comes to the question of whether pipeline or rail is safer for moving crude, the answer depends somewhat on the source, but pipelines are broadly understood to come out ahead, not only on safety, but also on cost and efficiency. However, newfound oil abundance in areas not traditionally associated with oil and gas… Keep reading →
Even if environmental opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline manages to prevent its construction, it will fail to achieve environmental groups’ objective of preventing development of the oil sands production at the origination point, according to Charles Dewhurst, US Natural Resources practice leader for accounting and consulting firm BDO. “Environmental groups are very concerned that… Keep reading →
Pigs (the ones you send through pipelines for maintenance and inspection purposes) may not be capable of finding the sorts of cracks that led to a 5,000 barrel spill from ExxonMobil’s Pegasus pipeline in March. “Smart pigs are the linchpin of the industry’s efforts to monitor pipes, but they aren’t reliable for finding all serious… Keep reading →
The tight oil being developed in North America is certainly not the lowest-cost oil in the world. But of the opportunities available to major oil companies, relatively low cost is just one of many advantages it offers over other sources of production. “The shale revolution has changed the competitive landscape, because every investment decision we… Keep reading →
Falling crude oil output in Alaska is complicating operation of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System from the North Slope to Valdez, and the high costs facing producers is the biggest challenge to reversing the trend, according to Tom Barrett, US Coast Guard Admiral (Ret.) and President of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. The 800-mile TAPS pipeline “was brilliantly… Keep reading →
