Incremental Iraqi oil production growth will play a critical role in the medium-term global oil market and increasingly demand Opec’s attention, as other producing countries will need to cut output to avoid flooding the market and potentially reducing the price of oil upon which their economies rely. This Congressional Research Service report focuses on politics,… Keep reading →
Energy security, rather than energy independence, should be the priority for US geopolitical positioning as the superpower reviews the impact of the ongoing production boom from shale oil and gas fields in the continental US, a new report argues. “The three key factors in the promotion of energy security are increasing energy efficiency, diversifying supply… Keep reading →
Time and again when the prospect of exporting US crude oil is discussed, the issue of domestic gasoline price impacts surfaces. Will consumers pay more or less at the pump? There is no shortage of debate on the topic, but some analysts contend the increased volumes of light sweet crude US exports would feed into… Keep reading →
The Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington D.C., recently published “Big Bets & Black Swans – A Presidential Briefing Book” with policy recommendations for President Obama in 2014. Among a plethora of issues addressed, Tim Boersma and Charles K. Ebinger also discuss lifting the ban on U.S. oil exports. Let’s briefly assess the validity… Keep reading →
This piece argues the US should not export crude oil and instead moderate production volumes in an effort to preserve the country’s natural resource endowment over the longer term. It also contends exports would increase domestic crude and product prices. “The real question for the United States is not about optimal trade policy or economic… Keep reading →
Germany is facing an energy paradox where significant increases in renewably-generated power – mostly from wind and solar – are being surpassed by increases in coal-fired power. Part of the reason stems from the country’s decision to phase out its nuclear fleet. A majority of the nuclear generation capacity that has come offline – 8… Keep reading →
Standard and Poor’s downgraded its outlook on US-based independent Anadarko due to the likelihood of a court settlement that could exceed $9 billion. The case dates back to subsidiary Kerr-McGee’s 2002 corporate restructuring and the company’s 2005 spin-off of its titanium dioxide business. “Our negative outlook reflects our view that a Tronox settlement in excess… Keep reading →
Opinion: Lifting the Crude Export Ban; Real Discourse Gains Traction
By Chris FaulknerThe possibility of the Obama administration lifting the crude oil export embargo, to allow U.S. energy companies access to the world market, is finally a reality. Alaska Republican, and head of the Senate energy committee, Lisa Murkowski, drove the discussion this month when she called the ban “antiquated, and at times, absurd.” I couldn’t agree… Keep reading →