Jan 2004

After Enron, the pioneer of weather derivatives, sank without a trace, activity in the market was becalmed. Two years later, there is deal evidence that weather derivatives are re-emerging. Liz Bossley investigates

Sakhalin Island is experiencing an oil and gas boom. Oil output from the two large hydrocarbons projects will rise to nearly 0.5m b/d in the next few years. LNG exports should start in 2007 and piped gas exports look possible from 2010. Tom Nicholls assesses progress at the two main projects, Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2

A year ago, it looked as if private-sector corporations, particularly Yukos and Tyumen Oil (TNK), would bag the best properties and define development strategy in eastern Siberia, where a huge oil and gas province will open in the next two decades. Isabel Gorst reports

Thanks to three years of high world oil prices, the rouble devaluation of 1998 and improvements to the industry’s tax and regulatory system, Russia is enjoying an oil boom that is fuelling the country’s economic revival. Isabel Gorst writes

The past year’s corporate activity in the independent storage business centres – at last – on some re-shaping of Vopak, created in November 1999 through the merger of Van Ommeren with Pakhoed

There are signs that the independent storage business will be less satisfactory this year than it was in 2003. However, Singapore has a way of defying pessimistic forecasts, Martin Quinlan writes

Storage operators at the big trading ports of northwest Europe are seeing high utilisation rates and high throughputs, with Rotterdam in particular benefiting from a booming fuel-oil trade. But business conditions for operators serving the logistical trade to the European hinterland are less exciting, Martin Quinlan writes

Saudi Aramco will spend almost $19bn by 2008 to buttress its position as the world’s leading oil producer. But gas and oil products are increasingly important to the company’s strategy. James Gavin reports

One of the world’s largest independents, Burlington Resources, operates mainly in North America and mainly in gas. Its aim, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, Steve Shapiro, tells Anne Feltus, is not only to achieve robust production growth, but also sector-leading returns

In the oil and gas industry, one company’s trash is another’s treasure and the US independents are scavenging. Taking advantage of the majors’ need to make large finds, companies such as Kerr-McGee and Apache are picking up fields around the world considered non-core assets by big oil. The North Sea, west Africa and Brazil offer some of the best opportunities, writes Anne Feltus

An interim report into the North American power blackouts in August has identified the culprits and revealed ineptitude and dysfunction within the industry. With power demand rising, the system needs investment, but it is unclear where the money will come from, Ellen Lask reports

The IEA forecasts a rise in Canadian oil-sands production of 1m b/d by 2010. The energy-hungry US is the target for the increased output, as it seeks alternative oil supply sources. US companies are getting in on the act, writes WJ Simpson

Environmental protection, data analysis and producing oil and gas in hostile environments are among the areas where Halliburton will focus its research efforts in the next few years. John Gibson, chief executive of the company’s energy services division, talks to Tom Nicholls about industry challenges and how Halliburton is coping with political flak

The Davids are stealing a march over the Goliaths in post-war Iraq. But can the minnows leverage their early interest to later advantage? James Gavin reports

As the majors prepare to release 2004 capital expenditure (capex) plans, corporate strategists look less likely than ever to stick to conservative base-case oil-price assumptions of old – whatever they say in public. James Gavin reports