Tag

oil

Article, Climate, Corporations, Energy, International

Wind power prospects get a Norwegian nudge

March 8, 2016

It’s a tiny investment for a global oil and natural gas company, but one that nevertheless reflects big changes underway in U.S. energy markets: The Norwegian producer Statoil announced this week that it would provide $3 million to a Brooklyn-based company that installs small wind turbines on farms and other rural properties in the U.S. For Statoil, the investment in United Wind is the first from a new $200 million venture capital account set up to support “attractive and ambitious companies in renewable energy,” ones that could help Statoil expand its own clean-energy push. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics

Oil, gas production ramping up in the Gulf: Here’s why

March 2, 2016

The U.S. government will open nearly 45 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to oil and natural gas development later this month, at a time when low prices are forcing producers to cut back sharply on their exploration budgets. But the industry’s troubles have had little impact so far on oil output in the region. In fact, unlike onshore production, which has been tapering off as oil prices decline, Gulf of Mexico production is on its way to setting a record in 2017. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance

Lending limits may spur oil industry shakeout

February 14, 2016

A semiannual bank review of credit lines for U.S. oil and natural gas producers may go a long way toward determining whether there will be a shakeout in the industry this year and how extensive it might be. In a new report, Standard & Poor’s Rating Services said it expects the  “borrowing bases” for 45 speculative-grade producers will fall by an average 20%-30% when banks take a fresh look in April, making it difficult for some companies to stay in business. (Read More)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Energy

U.S. impact after oil exports resume? Jury’s out

December 16, 2015

U.S. oil producers are preparing to celebrate the end of 40 years of restrictions on exports of crude oil, thanks to a provision in a massive government spending bill awaiting congressional approval. With oil prices recently at seven-year lows and showing no signs of recovery soon, domestic producers say the policy change would give them the same access to global markets that their foreign competitors have enjoyed for years. But the benefits may be more hypothetical than certain, at least for now. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Government and Politics, International, Utilities and Providers

U.S., Cuba eye offshore drilling possibilities

October 26, 2015

HAVANA — The thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations is raising prospects for new business opportunities for American companies in the island nation, among them energy. That was evident this past week in Havana, where more than 120 people from the U.S., Cuba and other countries gathered for a cutting-edge conference on offshore oil development. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Energy, Government and Politics, International, Podcast

The Iran deal and its impact on oil

August 3, 2015

What exactly does the nuclear agreement that the U.S. and other global powers struck with Iran mean for world oil markets? And do the sanctions imposed on Iran offer insight for the U.S. and other nations as they seek to punish Russia for its actions in Ukraine? In the latest installment of a new podcast series at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, Bill Loveless sits down with the center’s Richard Nephew, who until recently was a member of the U.S. team negotiating with Iran. (Listen Here)

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by Bill Loveless