Nov 2008

No-one knows what the future of transportation will look like, but Shell's Jack Jacometti believes GTL fuel will form a big part of the puzzle. Interview by Tom Nicholls

The credit crisis presents cash-rich companies with a buying opportunity, writes Tom Nicholls

October's federal election barely changed the balance of power, but the Conservative party's energy plans face growing opposition, writes WJ Simpson

With its share price in free fall, how will Gazprom's plan for world domination be affected? Derek Brower reports

An LNG supply crunch looks inevitable around 2011/13, but what about the years beyond, asks Alex Forbes?

Africa's LNG export capacity – already more than a quarter of the world total – could double over the coming five years, with more to come after that if plans under discussion firm up. The main brakes on development are rising construction costs and, in Nigeria, security concerns, Martin Quinlan writes

There are plans for up to 68m t/y of new export capacity in Australia. If all these projects come to fruition, they would help to relieve an increasingly tight supply situation, writes Ian Lewis

The majors are fighting over coal-seam gas, conventional natural gas' ugly sister. But how long will the infatuation last? Ian Lewis writes

Gazprom's plan to supply Europe with two new pipelines has received an unlikely boost from the EU. But opposition is still strong, writes Derek Brower

With project costs rising and credit hard to secure, forecasts for oil-sands production are being scaled back, writes WJ Simpson

The oil price is still above $60/b. But not by much. And, with the global economy still in turmoil, the chances of further losses seem greater than the prospect of a sustained rally, say analysts.

October's federal election barely changed the balance of power, but the Conservative party's energy plans face growing opposition, writes WJ Simpson

With project costs rising and credit hard to secure, forecasts for oil-sands production are being scaled back, writes WJ Simpson

OIL PRICES slumped by over 5% on Tuesday, as concerns about the severity of global recession intensified. With the world's main stock indices falling steeply, Brent futures for December delivery were $3.01 a barrel lower at $56.07/b. WTI futures for December delivery were down by $2.25/b at $60.16/b – having earlier briefly moved below $60/b.

OIL COMPANIES must make technology and technical competence core parts of their business, avoiding "the mistakes of 20 years ago" when the trend was to outsource these areas to contractors, says Andy Inglis, BP's head of exploration and production.

The region's oil- and gas-based economies require highly skilled, highly educated engineers. But a lack of sufficient local engineering programmes means the required engineers are trained elsewhere. Texas A&M University at Qatar seeks to change that. By Mark Weichold, dean and chief executive, Texas A&M University at Qatar

Crude oil prices are close to $50 a barrel and there seems to be little preventing them from falling below that level. On the contrary, the market is stuck in a seemingly relentless cycle of downgrades to GDP and oil-demand forecasts.

With project costs rising and credit hard to secure, forecasts for oil-sands production are being scaled back, writes WJ Simpson

October's federal election barely changed the balance of power, but the Conservative party's energy plans face growing opposition, writes WJ Simpson

Regional producers, most notably Saudi Arabia, may delay large oil and gas developments as commodity prices fall, reports James Gavin

There's a new peak-oil organisation on the block. Is it saying anything new? Does it matter? Tom Nicholls writes

Oil is due to start flowing from the potentially billion-barrel Jubilee field in October 2010, with the prospect of more to come from structures nearby. Cracking the area's deep-water geology has led to forecasts that Ghana will become Africa's next oil-boom state, Martin Quinlan writes

Making biofuels is no longer the attractive proposition its was when oil was trading at over $100/b, but demand driven by transport-fuels quotas should see the industry through the economic slump, writes Ian Lewis

Rising oil demand from China was one force behind the bull-run in energy markets of the last few years. Can the market rely on the country's economy to rescue prices? Derek Brower reports

Under Barack Obama, the US will introduce its own cap-and-trade greenhouse-gas emissions scheme and take centre stage in international climate talks, writes Tom Nicholls

High commodity prices put resource-rich countries in command and left IOCs scrambling for a strategy. How will falling oil prices and tighter credit affect them and their rivals? Derek Brower reports

Volatile corn and ethanol prices have hit industry profits, but the election of Barack Obama could bring a reversal of fortunes, writes Anne Feltus

The financial crisis is threatening Petrobras' plans to fast-track pre-salt reserves development, offering opportunities for foreign firms. China's CNOOC is among the interested investors, writes Robert Cauclanis

An increased stake in Ina provides upstream potential, but it is Mol's refineries that are delivering profits, writes NJ Watson

The oilfield services sector is being hit harder than most by the collapse of the oil price and financial markets, leaving smaller companies vulnerable to take-overs, writes Ian Lewis

With upstream activity booming, investment in regional services companies is on the rise, writes James Gavin

Oil prices got off to a strong start this week, rising by $5 a barrel on Monday to comfortably over $50/b. Traders attributed the rally to firmer equities, following the Citigroup bail-out, a weaker US dollar – boosting the appeal of commodities as a currency hedge – and cold weather. The growing prospect of another cut in Opec production at its 29 November meeting in Cairo was also seen as supportive.

Regional producers, most notably Saudi Arabia, may delay large oil and gas developments as commodity prices fall, reports James Gavin

The financial crisis is threatening Petrobras' plans to fast-track pre-salt reserves development, offering opportunities for foreign firms. China's CNOOC is among the interested investors, writes Robert Cauclanis