May 2012

Japanese trading houses are reinventing their role in the gas game fuelled by a stronger yen, healthy balance sheets and a new political vigor

Canada’s hopes for large-scale carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are in tatters following the collapse of a taxpayer-backed multi-billion dollar project

Large shale gas finds in the UK have caught Shell’s attention, but the company remains downbeat on Europe’s unconventional gas prospects

Independents operating in Argentina have adopted the mantra “keep calm and carry on” in the wake of the government’s nationalisation of Repsol’s stake in YPF last month

Along with Vitol, AtlasInvest will buy and re-start the Cressier refinery in Switzerland

High oil prices are driving the major oil companies’ profits – but gas is what they are excited about

Despite what its chief executive described as “speed bumps”, the Keystone oil-sands pipeline to Texas is already an important part of TransCanada’s plans to ship 40% of Canada’s exports to the US

Despite what its chief executive described as “speed bumps”, the Keystone oil-sands pipeline to Texas is already an important part of TransCanada’s plans to ship 40% of Canada’s exports to the US

Canada’s hopes for large-scale carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are in tatters following the collapse of a taxpayer-backed multi-billion dollar project

The financial woes of the US’ largest unconventional gas players could not only destabilise the energy sector, they pose a threat to the wider economy, argues Dr Ruud Weijermars*

The Australian firm has a new chief executive and, it seems, a renewed drive to succeed

Shale-gas exploration is facing further setbacks across Europe after governments in the Czech Republic and Romania moved to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and reports emerged of opposition to the technique mounting within the German government

Despite increased shale-gas production and slumping prices, the business and environmental opposition against liquefaction plants grows stronger and loude

The airline plans to restart the shut down plant in early September

The discovery will increase the reserves in the block by 66%

The US government says its decision to introduce federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public land is a much-needed modernisation of an out-of date framework

The organisations managing US gas pipelines are now on a state of high alert following news that the network’s computerised control systems have been targeted by cyber-attacks over recent months

Shell plans Canada export projects while Excelerate ponders first US floating liquefaction terminal

The upstream company has sold assets to increase profitability

The major players in the oil discovery have agreed a development timetable to get oil flowing in 2018

The third well in the emerging Sierra Leone-Liberia basin has produced a third discovery for Anadarko

Growing signs of that a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme is within reach could bring welcome relief to fragile economies battling with the effects of an inflated oil market. But the deal is far from done and the timing remains unclear

Faced with uncertain income from its newly acquired US shale gas assets, due to low gas prices, BHP Billiton is hurriedly refocusing efforts on shale liquids plays, which it hopes will prove more profitable

There’s a growing divide between big firms and smaller players in the oil and gas sector, and nowhere is that gap more evident than in access to finance

Resource nationalism has returned to the fore in Latin America following the government takeover of YPF in Argentina

UK government plans for a ‘patent box’ regime has a number of distinct tax advantages for energy sector firms

Pulitzer Prize-winner Steve Coll’s corporate biography is a meticulously researched and incisive analysis tracing the shifting fortunes of the US’ biggest and most powerful oil company

The structure of fiscal terms has a significant impact on the investor favourability of hydrocarbons projects

The financial woes of the US’ largest unconventional gas players could not only destabilise the energy sector, they pose a threat to the wider economy, argues Dr Ruud Weijermars*

San Leon Energy, the second-largest licence holder in Poland behind state-run PGNiG, has added another block to its unconventional gas portfolio

Major international producers are starting to size up early-stage Australian shale-gas opportunities in an effort to bag acreage before assets become too pricey

Gas producers and industrial manufacturers are set for a bitter face-off in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) after the state government mooted the possibility of a gas reservation policy in light of a looming supply crunch

Services companies are looking ahead to a bumper year, as exploration and production in the oil sector surges and the slump in North America’s gas industry opens up a wealth of opportunity

With brand new liquefied natural gas infrastructure and new pipelines opening, India has the potential to be a major gas importer. But the government faces a dilemma which may scupper its gas ambitions. Does it deliver much-needed market reform or does it protect millions of citizens living below the poverty line?

Though there are mixed opinions on the nationalisation, there is some sense in the decision

Singapore’s new LNG hub will offer the energy-hungry region greater volumes, at a cheaper price- and will make the city state a key player in the global market

Global supply rose to 91million barrels a day in April

Risks lie ahead for Repsol's post-YPF future, but it is set to emerge strong

Global crude prices fell in May due to gloomy outlooks for European and Chinese economies and signs that Iran may allow nuclear inspectors into the country, lifting concern of Middle East conflict disrupting supply

As Opec delegates prepare to meet in Vienna, they would be wise to listen to Ali Naimi. Keeping supplies flowing is not just in the cartel's best interests, it is the best course of action for the global economy

Burning off associated gas is a big problem for Russia. Sibur is building a business model around solving it

Supplies are rising, demand is stuttering, the Iran issue is fading, and the global economic outlook is darkening. It leaves the oil market ripe for another correction

In an early sign that industry interest in Argentina’s shale deposits has not been dimmed by the nationalisation of YPF, Germany’s Wintershall and French major Total announced this week that they had secured a new exploration licence in the country

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate the misfortunes of Chesapeake Energy from those of its chief executive, Aubrey McClendon

The clean energy sector has been a rare bright spot for the ailing US economy since the financial crisis took hold

The demerger of the upstream and downstream businesses of ConocoPhillips is intended to be a win-win situation for both sides, but will it really all work out for the best?

Colorado is emerging as the next front line in the shale revolution as producers look beyond increasingly crowded plays like the Bakken and the Eagle Ford

The Australia Pacific Liquefied Natural Gas venture has gained debt financing from export credit agencies and commercial banks

Blue Energy is primed to take advantage of the rising interest in Australia’s unconventional play after bagging four large blocks prospective for shale-gas and oil shale

Malaysia is pitting itself against economic rival Singapore as it strives to develop a major $20 billion world-scale refinery and petrochemicals hub

The first oil-sands mine in the US will start production in 2013 after the project’s operator received financing for an initial 2,000 barrels a day (b/d) project in Utah

Chesapeake Energy has come under even more pressure after its newest shareholder – activist Carl Ichan – spoke out about “breakdowns” in the company’s corporate governance and vowed to force changes at the struggling natural gas producer

Nexus Energy and Shell have mooted the possibility of an FLNG project off Western Australia

Shale gas holds enormous promise for Europe but the industry must go above and beyond to address social and environmental concerns, argue Michael Holgate and Jay Wagner from Plexus Energy.