The issue of hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) too often becomes a political dispute, which threatens to obscure a far more important matter for the energy industry as a whole: That fracking is a feat of engineering genius, an example of the working complexity of so many pumps, valves, meters, gears, gauges and systems; it… Keep reading →
As complex as the energy industry is, and as sophisticated as the equipment that governs this business may be, there is no reason why customer service should be any less efficient, timely and secure than it is for any other enterprise. The shopping experience, regardless of the product in question, should be as seamless as… Keep reading →
Recovery from the dramatic supply-driven oil price slide of 1986 took 5 years. Will the current cycle follow the same pattern? This piece plays a bit of Monday morning quarterback and suggests that if Saudi/Opec did more to moderate prices over the past 6 years the current supply glut could have been avoided. [Bloomberg via… Keep reading →
The Obama administration interrupted Washington’s Keystone XL focus on Wednesday with an announcement that could have more profound long-term impact than the controversial pipeline – a regulatory push to cut methane emissions from the surging U.S. oil and gas industry. The administration said the Environmental Protection Agency would craft a new rule to set standards… Keep reading →
The 2014 US Midterm Elections significantly altered the balance of power in the US Congress. As a result, energy policy from now on ranks high on the upcoming Republican majority’s legislative agenda. Indeed, Republican leadership is wasting no time with both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate prepared to take up and… Keep reading →
The severe drought in California, water-intensive drilling programs needed to increase oil and gas production from shale plays and focus on the energy-water nexus are motivating companies to reduce their water requirements and re-use water needed to hydraulically fracture wells. A new Rice University study conducted detailed analysis into produced water from 3 major US… Keep reading →
North Carolina says it wants to be in the energy business and has been drafting industry-friendly legislation to help its cause. “Womack and MEC members have spent close to two years creating regulations to govern the drilling industry. Members feel a bill filed during the first week of session supports their efforts but will require… Keep reading →
Chinese national oil company CNOOC built its own offshore oil drilling rig so as not to rely on western firms that could refuse to lease equipment used in disputed territorial waters in the South China Sea. CNOOC over the weekend moved that rig into to Vietnam’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone to begin drilling.… Keep reading →
With tax reform on the agenda in Washington this year, the oil & gas industry is paying close attention. One idea is to eliminate a provision that allows companies to write off intangible drilling costs. The industry argues this tax incentive allows them to continually invest in capital-intensive drilling programs and the country’s oil and… Keep reading →
President Obama’s Senior Advisors today recommended he veto two new energy bills which respectively seek to block Interior Department regulations on hydraulic fracturing and speed up oil and gas drilling permits. On November 19th, 2013, the White House Administration issued a pair of statements strongly opposing two new energy bills: (1) H.R. 2728 – Protecting… Keep reading →
