Petroleum Economist
Should biomass subsidies continue in the UK?
Biomass plants enjoy government subsidies even though their environmental credentials are increasingly being questioned. But amending the terms would be open to legal challenge
PE Live: Development goals impacting Asia-Pac transitions
The need to build power capacity fast enough to support rapid economic growth while ensuring security of supply means that decarbonisation cannot be the primary objective
Tamboran strikes out on its own in the Beetaloo
The Northern Territory blocks share characteristics with the US Marcellus play and could become a major supplier to the gas-hungry east coast market
Kenney’s bad Keystone XL bet
Alberta’s premier went all in on the controversial pipeline but may lose his shirt
Letter from Canada: Kenney’s bad Keystone XL bet
Alberta’s premier went all in on the controversial pipeline but may lose his shirt
Death march for US shale?
The incoming Biden administration has ambitious plans for low-carbon energy but must negotiate the Senate first
Robust supply allays Chinese gas shortage fears
Domestic and imported gas volumes appear sufficient to cover increased demand led by colder-than-average winter
Situational awareness will define the future of digitalisation
Gaining a real-time view of physical operational assets is fundamental to driving efficiencies, lowering emissions and cutting costs
Situational awareness will define the future of digitalisation (1)
Gaining a real-time view of physical operational assets is fundamental to driving efficiencies, lowering emissions and cutting costs
Situational awareness will define the future of digitalisation (2)
Gaining a real-time view of physical operational assets is fundamental to driving efficiencies, lowering emissions and cutting costs
S&P Global-IHS Markit deal may put oil price benchmarks in play
The Opis oil and products PRA may be a divestment requirement
The outlook for LNG in 2021 and beyond
Alex Volkov, vice president global LNG marketing for ExxonMobil, provides his thoughts about the past year and offers a brighter outlook for the years ahead
The outlook for LNG in 2021 and beyond (1)
Alex Volkov, vice president global LNG marketing for ExxonMobil, provides his thoughts about the past year and offers a brighter outlook for the years ahead
Saudi Arabia need not fear Biden
The kingdom may be apprehensive about the incoming US president’s attitude towards Iran, but it could ultimately profit from the regime change
Letter from China: Cautious welcome for Biden in Beijing
The Chinese government’s delayed response to the president-elect’s victory indicates wariness, but LNG trade could be a bridge to better relations
Qatar targets long-term and spot LNG markets
World leader advances its strategy to commercialise existing and planned export upgrades
Qatar targets long-term and spot LNG markets (1)
World leader advances its strategy to commercialise existing and planned export upgrades
Constraining Canadian LNG
Future near-term gas ventures beyond those already sanctioned look doubtful against a background of financial crisis and little competitive edge
Constraining Canadian LNG (1)
Future near-term gas ventures beyond those already sanctioned look doubtful against a background of financial crisis and little competitive edge
Thai protests slow transition to renewables
Excess power capacity and complicated market governance are contributing to providers’ unwillingness to further invest in solar and wind
Pandemic strains Gulf’s domestic energy balances
International attention may have focused on their Opec+ oil market stabilisation role. But the region’s NOCs have had concerns closer to home
Biden no barrier to LNG growth
The president-elect has an ambitious low-carbon manifesto but is unlikely to slow the pace of near-term projects
Biden no barrier to LNG growth (1)
The president-elect has an ambitious low-carbon manifesto but is unlikely to slow the pace of near-term projects
Letter from Moscow: Changing of the guard
Five new technocrat ministers suggest the new PM has a refreshing focus on competence
Equinor backs oil and gas for longer
The Norwegian heavyweight is more optimistic about hydrocarbons than BP. But that may be driven by circumstance
December 2020/January 2021
The December 2020/January 2021 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
The power of the digital twin
Predictive modelling of physical assets can play a decisive role in driving operational efficiencies and reducing costs
The power of the digital twin (1)
Predictive modelling of physical assets can play a decisive role in driving operational efficiencies and reducing costs
The power of the digital twin (2)
Predictive modelling of physical assets can play a decisive role in driving operational efficiencies and reducing costs
Biden’s nuclear redemption
Domestic nuclear energy policy may be the president-elect’s best opportunity to make immediate strides towards net-zero
Venezuela stuck on repeat
The socialist regime may have strengthened its political control, but until US sanctions are unwound economic disaster will persist
Mena’s customer data dilemma
A finely tuned consumer data strategy depends on a unified approach
Mena’s customer data dilemma (1)
A finely tuned consumer data strategy depends on a unified approach
Tapping into the data revolution
Producers sitting on immense silos of underused data can benefit from technological innovations
Tapping into the data revolution (1)
Producers sitting on immense silos of underused data can benefit from technological innovations
Mitigating security threats
Digitalisation of the energy sector is accelerating, but companies need to stay alert to the rapidly evolving cyber landscape
Mitigating security threats (1)
Digitalisation of the energy sector is accelerating, but companies need to stay alert to the rapidly evolving cyber landscape
Mitigating security threats (2)
Digitalisation of the energy sector is accelerating, but companies need to stay alert to the rapidly evolving cyber landscape
Blocking Biden’s green push
A Republican-controlled US Senate will likely constrain much of the new regime’s radical climate ambitions
Letter from the Middle East: The UAE and Opec—a problem postponed, not solved
Abu Dhabi may have fallen into line for now, but tensions could re-emerge next month
Outlook 2021
Outlook 2021 is out now!
The great untapped resource
The capacity to capture and fully exploit data is crucial for operators to drive greater business value
The great untapped resource (1)
The capacity to capture and fully exploit data is crucial for operators to drive greater business value
The great untapped resource (2)
The capacity to capture and fully exploit data is crucial for operators to drive greater business value
US-China rivalry intensifies
Diplomatic ties may improve under Biden, but both governments will compete to lead the green energy revolution
Brexit trial by fire
UK energy sector faces significant challenges uncoupling from the EU after decades of codependency
US LNG sellers retain Asia-Pacific optimism
Second-wave project developers are confident their volumes can compete in eastern markets
Refining faces extended Covid effect
A partial recovery is unlikely to segue into a strong year to come
Convergence can unleash blockchain for oil and gas
The ability to consolidate peer-to-peer decentralised technology into a variety of systems aids productivity as well as tracking of sustainable business practices
Convergence can unleash blockchain for oil and gas (1)
The ability to consolidate peer-to-peer decentralised technology into a variety of systems aids productivity as well as tracking of sustainable business practices
Environment emerges as pandemic winner
The coronavirus pandemic has altered not only near-term energy supply, demand and price, but also, to some extent, their long-term trajectories
In hope of greater market certainty
The key questions for 2021’s oil markets remain tough to answer. But milestones on the road will make the picture clearer
LNG market set for contracting boom
North American project developers hope for a bumper year for supply commitments
Iran, the UAE and Libya to pose Opec+ headaches
Covid-19 has forced Opec+ to weather unprecedented oil demand destruction and oversupply. 2021 will be equally as challenging
Pentagon blacklists Cnooc due to military links
Further escalation could lead to Chinese NOC becoming locked out of US-dollar-based financial system
Pushing the Saudi reset button
The kingdom is getting nervy about a potential revival of the Iranian nuclear deal. But greater predictability in the White House could benefit the region in the long term
Cause for quiet optimism in the East Med
Political stability and multilateral collaboration are essential to fulfilling the region’s economic potential
Cause for quiet optimism in the East Med (1)
Political stability and multilateral collaboration are essential to fulfilling the region’s economic potential
Putin prepares for White House shift
Flashpoints projected as Biden administration takes a tougher foreign policy stance on Russia
Relatively bright future for the North Sea
The basin may never recapture its glory days, but 2021 should still see players extracting significant value
Iranian nuclear talks back on
The global oil market watches with interest on whether a US return to the JCPOA agreement will unleash a wave of Iranian barrels
Southeast Asia evolves into an NOC universe
The trend for the region’s operators to play a bigger role looks set to continue
Standing still is not an option for oil firms
Next year will not see a return to business-as-usual. Companies should not deny the new paradigm, but embrace it
The future of energy is being pulled forward
Changes that were already accelerating are intensifying