Governments of resource-rich countries commonly fill their coffers via royalties, taxes and other fiscal mechanisms that allow them to benefit from their national endowments. But while a well-designed fiscal regime can benefit both producers and residents, excessive government take can force producers to look elsewhere for returns, stifling investment. When governments establish fiscal terms for… Keep reading →
Australia is poised to overtake tiny Persian Gulf natural gas powerhouse Qatar as the world’s largest LNG exporter in coming years, but cost overruns, labor issues and fierce competition for resources have caused project delays or cancellations. So many are wondering which projects ultimately get built, when will they come on stream and how much… 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 →
Norway, Alaska and Alberta are broadly recognized as having managed their oil resource wealth relatively effectively, particularly in regards to having avoided the “resource curse” – a seemingly counterintuitive situation in which the economies of countries with substantial natural resource endowments fare worse than those of their non-resource-rich counterparts. Each of the three has established… Keep reading →
With all the great speakers and presentations at the USAEE /IAEE North American Conference in Anchorage this week, it’s hard to pick and choose among so many well-expressed ideas. Our USAEE updates represent just a few of our favorite quotes from the ongoing events. Oil and gas operations always come with risk. When accidents happen,… Keep reading →
The tight oil revolution in the Lower 48 United States has upended previous assumptions about the trajectory of the country’s oil production trends, with some forecasts now suggesting that the US could temporarily overtake Saudi Arabia in total production volume. There is no shortage of skeptics about these optimistic forecasts, but US tight oil will… Keep reading →
With all the great speakers and presentations at the USAEE /IAEE North American Conference in Anchorage this week, it’s hard to pick and choose among so many well-expressed ideas. Our USAEE updates represent just a few of our favorite quotes from the ongoing events. The US oil and natural gas production increase that’s taken place… 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 →
Perforating unconventional oil & gas wells as part of the hydraulic fracturing process uses armor-piercing charges, Senior Petroleum Engineer for Wagner & Brown Billy Harris told the audience yesterday at the USAEE/IAEE North American Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Given the powerful nature of the explosives, some countries have strict regulations controlling their use. “Perf guns… Keep reading →
Natural gas has been gaining global market share from oil for several years, but gas markets remain fragmented and a true global market for natural gas has yet to emerge. The North American shale gas revolution significantly altered gas supply, demand and pricing dynamics in many regions and dramatically changed the situation in Alaska. “Alaska… Keep reading →
