United States law prohibits exports of crude oil and condensate except under certain conditions, while exports of refined products and natural gas are far less restricted. While these laws had little impact when the country was in a position of oil and gas scarcity, the country’s newfound energy abundance has rendered some of them obsolete,… Keep reading →
Language on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline buried on page 491 of the International Energy Agency’s most recent World Energy Outlook may provide more fuel for opponents of the project, but it could offer a leg up to project proponents, as well. The WEO 2013 forecasts that oil sands production will average 4.3 million barrels… Keep reading →
A recent report by consultancy IHS Cera takes aim at common arguments against development of Canadian oil sands, but acknowledges the need for continued – and improved – environmental monitoring and regulation. Groups opposed to construction of the Keystone XL pipeline frequently feature the following claims on their websites: that the pipeline will not enhance… Keep reading →
A new estimate of marketable resources in Canada’s Montney Shale spanning Alberta and British Columbia suggests that the play holds enough gas to meet the entire country’s 2012 demand for well over a century. “Total Canadian natural gas demand in 2012 was 88 billion m3 (3.1 Tcf), making the Montney gas resource equivalent to 145… Keep reading →
The Chevron-Apache Kitimat LNG export project in British Columbia has the potential to capitalize on Canada’s vast natural gas resources, as well as the proximity of its western coast to Asian markets. But it is also up against competition from producing countries like Australia, where the buildout of LNG export infrastructure is already well underway,… Keep reading →
Opponents of TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline have numerous complaints about the project, and one that remains front and center in the debate is that it would lead to faster development of Canada’s oil sands. But TransCanada chief executive Russ Girling, in an interview with The Hill, has made the case that the future of the… Keep reading →
Coal and oil and gas producer Consol has agreed to sell its Consolidation Coal Company subsidiary, which holds five West Virginia coal mines, to Murray Energy for $3.5 billion. Consol aims to whittle its assets down to growth markets – natural gas production and coal for export – as the future of US power generation veers more… Keep reading →
Climate Activist Bill McKibben says that a campaign to encourage divestment from fossil fuels is gaining momentum. If effective, it could have a huge impact on the oil, gas and coal industries, but it remains unclear how far-reaching it will prove to be. Brown University refused to divest from the 15 largest US coal companies,… Keep reading →
TransCanada’s CEO Russ Girling says they are not giving up on the Keystone XL Pipeline project and neither are producers seeking to ship their product through the line. The economic rationale of transporting oil via pipe rather than rail underpins the project and Girling is confident “the oil market transcends politics.” [The Hill] Eike Batista’s… Keep reading →
The results of Chevron’s initial exploration in the Kaybob area of the Duvernay play in Alberta, Canada show liquid yield from completed wells in the 30-70% range, with initial production rates of as much as 7.5 million cubic feet of natural gas and 1,300 barrels of condensate per day. [Chevron] China National Offshore Oil Corp… Keep reading →
