Russia banking on new gas pipeline to Europe

Construction of a major new gas pipeline to Europe has begun on Russia's Black Sea coast.

The South Stream pipeline will run across the sea and through the Balkans to central Europe. 

However, some industry experts are questioning whether the $20bn project is really necessary.

Shell Oil Spill Response Capabilities

Shell has developed unprecedented Arctic oil spill response contingency plans. This animation shows the plan in action for the unlikely worst case discharge scenario in the Beaufort Sea. For more information Shell check us out!!

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Shell_Alaska

Facebook: www.Shell.com/facebook-alaska

Website: www.Shell.us/alaska

What is LNG - turning gas into liquid

As global demand for natural gas grows, industry has to find ways to transport the gas from where it is produced to where it is needed. Over relatively short distances, the gas can be transported through pipelines, however, when distances are too great, we do it a different way - by cooling the gas to -162 degrees Celsius, we liquefy the gas turning into LNG. 

By cooling, condensing, and cleaning the gas, we are able to put it in ships and safely transport it over great distances to where it is needed. 

Shell is proud to have provided the gas for the first LNG project more than 50 years ago and today we are the world's largest provider of LNG. We continue to look for ways to safely develop and transport natural gas around the world, including Shell's Floating LNG (FLNG) project in North West Australia. Together with our partners, we are building the world's first off shore production and liquefaction facility, called Prelude.

Energy Future - Nieuwe bronnen

Energie vinden is nooit makkelijk geweest. Er is altijd innovatie voor nodig geweest. Veel kosten en veel risico. Om nieuwe bronnen te vinden, zijn er duizenden pogingen door duizenden wetenschappers

China & India on collision course as oil & gas tension mounts

India has warned it's prepared to use force to secure its economic interests in the South China Sea. 

It's after allegations that Beijing had deliberately hampered its rival's oil and gas exploration efforts.

As RT's Egor Piskunov reports, if they can't settle their dispute amicably, there are others who are ready to take full advantage.

Petroleum Subsidy Claims:FG discovers N232bn unsubstantiated claims

With this revelation in view, to what extent should the Nigerian private sector be held accountable for distortions in the petroleum sector?

TOP NEWS PICK: DECEMBER 06, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

North Sea oil production 'could rise in short-term' 

North Sea oil and gas production could confound expectations by rising significantly over the next few years - but may fall short of government hopes in the longer-term, a new study has claimed | The Telegraph

Sinopec’s Nigerian Oil Deal 

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (NYSE:SNP), known as Sinopec, recently agreed to buy a 20 percent stake in a Nigerian oil field from Total, SA (NYSE:TOT) for $2.5 billion. The purchase is part of Sinopec’s ongoing plan to aggressively add to its overseas assets, while the deal for Total represents the continuation of its recent strategy to shift its asset mix with more frequent adjustments to its business portfolio | Market Daily News

Mexican Parties Agree to Break Pemex Refining Monopoly 

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and leaders of the nation’s three largest parties agreed to work toward allowing competition for some of Petroleos Mexicanos’s operations and revise mining royalties | Bloomberg

NNPC lists challenges to gas development in Nigeria

NIGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has identified poor pricing arrangements, legacy of non-payment by major consumers, inadequate gas infrastructure, oligopolistic structure of incumbents and export bias, as some of the challenges militating against the growth of the country’s gas sub-sector | The Guardian

Shell Shifts Gas Business to Singapore on Asia Demand Growth 

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Europe’s biggest oil producer, plans to move its natural-gas business to Singapore from The Hague in response to growing demand for liquefied natural gas in Asia | Businessweek

Oil price for Indian basket falls to USD 108.61/bbl 

The international crude oil price for Indian Basket as computed/published today by the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas came down to USD 108.61/barrel (bbl) on Dec. 04, 2012 as compared to USD 109.25/bbl on the last trading day of Dec. 03, 2012 | MyIris

Natural Gas Discovery Promises a Boon for Eni and Mozambique 

LONDON — The Italian oil company Eni said Wednesday that it had made new natural gasdiscoveries in the waters off Mozambique, a find that would help consolidate Eni’s position as one of the leaders in the East Africa region | NewYorkTimes

Anadarko Petroleum sees U.S. onshore boom

HOUSTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- More than 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day have come from four key U.S. onshore developments, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said | UPI

Libya Announces New National

TOP NEWS PICK: DECEMBER 05, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

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Nigeria set to lose $15bn Egina project investment 

INDICATIONS are that Nigeria may lose the $15 billion Egina project investment being promoted by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, TUNL, owing to the inability of the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to approve the investment plan | SweetCrude

ExxonMobil chief to get raise, higher bonus 

The chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, will take home a higher salary next year and see his bonus increase 5% | Upstream Online

Africa's largest solar plant proposed

LONDON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A British firm says it plans to build a solar power plant in Africa that will provide electricity to more than 100,000 home and be the biggest on the continent | UPI

Oil falls on US budget, fuel demand 

Oil prices fell on Tuesday, as concerns about the US budget crisis and global fuel demand outweighed ongoing worries about instability in the Middle East | Upstream Online

Nigeria: Petrol sells for N250/litre in Delta 

Despite the presence of task forces set up by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to check the monopolistic tendencies of petroleum products marketers, who sell above the Federal Government official prices, marketers in the riverine communities, especially of Delta State have remained obdurate, as a litre of petrol currently sells for between N200 and N250 per litre | SweetCrude

New Zealand: Oil, gas explorer pulls out 

The hunt for oil and gas has been dealt a blow by the withdrawal of explorer Petrobras from deep water off the East Coast | EINNews

UK oil output seen rising in next few years -study 

LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Britain's North Sea oil output, long in decline, is likely to increase in the next few years, according to research published on Wednesday, reflecting the impact of rising investment, high prices and tax breaks | Reuters

Nigeria: Disputed Orient oil wells: Owners to be known in 6 months 

The Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), Dr Mohammed Ahmed, has said that the rightful owners of the oil wells operated by Orient Petroleum would be determined in 6 months time | SweetCrude

Repsol sues Chevron in US court over

Petroleum Landman School: Who's a Petroleum Landman???

A petroleum landman coordinates field exploration activities, oversees the work of technical staff and supervises geological procedures necessary to identify exploration sites. The landman also assesses the cost of oil and gas wells and monitors production rates to improve exploration processes.

Skill Set and Tools

A top-performing petroleum landman generally has analytical dexterity, scientific acumen and complex problem-solving aptitude, according to O*NET OnLine. Skillful and effective petroleum landmen often use analytical or scientific software, such as Computer Modelling Group CMG STARS, and charting software, such as Microsoft Office Visio.

Degree Requirements and Compensation

A bachelor's degree in geology, engineering or a related discipline is usually necessary for a petroleum landman position. Employers may hire petroleum landmen with less education if they have practical experience. As of 2010, the average annual salary of a petroleum landman was $133,000, according to job resources website Indeed.

Read more: Petroleum Landman Job Description | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_6817914_petroleum-landman-job-description.html#ixzz2EA0odxY4

How Oil and Gas Companies Can find Candidates to Interview and Hire

This is a neat site on solving human capacity requirements; both for corporates and individuals

NIGERIAN CONTENT: Stimulating Local Capacity

By Ulari Maduekwe

Ulari recently represented the community at the following event and gives a summary on the key issues and remarks.

Nigerian Content Development Stakeholders Conference

Theme: Stimulating Local Capacity

Date: December 3^rd, 2012

Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Organisers: House of Representative, Committee on Local Content

Facilitators: Tandice- B Solutions Limited

KEY ISSUES

- Waiver grants set to last for three years. This will expire in March 2013. 

- Funding- Banks are not amenable to local companies. Interest on Bank facilities starts from 25%, while international operating companies can source facilities on interest rates starting from 3%. 

- How can the progress of the Nigerian Content development be measured?

The Definitive Guide to Fracking

By JUSTIN KUEPPER

The $6 trillion global energy industry has undergone a lot of changes over its long history, from the first successful oil tanker developed by Sweden in 1878 to the first mobile steel barges for offshore drilling developed by the Texas Company in the early 1930s. But, in the modern era, hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) stands out as the single most important innovation [for more fracking news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].

Fracking: A Brief History

Hydraulic fracturing involves propagating the fractures in a rock layer using pressurized fluids in order to release oil and gas that isn’t economically viable to extract using traditional drilling techniques. While fracking was technically first used in 1947, modern fracking techniques like horizontal slickwater fracking weren’t commercially used until 1998 in the Barnett Shale.

The process works by pumping fracturing fluids – like slickwater, gel or foam – into a wellbore at a sufficient enough rate to fracture the rocks below. When these fractures occur,

TOP NEWS PICK: DECEMBER 04, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Exploration & production grows in Africa with new discoveries 

Oil exploration and production activities have soared in Africa since the discoveries of oil in Oloibiri –Nigeria in 1956, Libya in 1959 and the first discovery in Angola in 1956 which became more operational after the massive find in offshore Cabinda in 1960’s | SweetCrude

BP vows to hike capital spend on high-margin plays 

British supermajor BP has put forward plans to ramp up capital expenditure in the coming years in a portfolio radically changed by its deal with Rosneft and post-Macondo sell-off programme | Upstream Online

Repsol files YPF arbitration complaint 

Spanish oil major Repsol filed a complaint against Argentina at the World Bank's international arbitration forum on Monday over the government's expropriation this year of Repsol's controlling stake in YPF, a report said | Upstream Online

Brent falls on US manufacturing 

Brent oil prices turned lower on Monday after data showed US manufacturing activity slowed to a three-year low, offsetting more optimistic figures from China | Upstream Online

Cyprus offers mediation between Lebanon, Israel to solve undersea oil, gas dispute 

BEIRUT — Cyprus has offered to mediate between Lebanon and Israel over a maritime border dispute that is delaying some oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean, a Cypriot official said Monday | Washington Post

YPF pushes expansion despite litigation

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Argentina's YPF energy company, nationalized earlier this year, is on an expansion drive despite an impending new compensation battle with former majority owner Repsol | UPI

Sasol to start design work on Louisiana GTL, ethane cracker plants 

Sasol will proceed with front-end engineering and design for an integrated gas-to-liquids plant and ethane cracker with downstream derivatives at the company’s site near Lake Charles, La | Oil & Gas Journal

Eni resumes exploration in

TOP NEWS PICK: DECEMBER 03, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Russian Oil Output Hits Record 10.5 Million Barrels a Day 

Russia’s crude oil and condensate output climbed to a post-Soviet record of 10.503 million barrels a day in November, beating the high reached the previous month, according to the Energy Ministry’s CDU-TEK unit | Bloomberg

Indian oil firms fighting for foreign assets, focus on production 

NEW DELHI: Faced with soaring demand, stagnant output at home and a need to diversify from Iranian crude imports lost to Western sanctions, Indian oilBSE -0.72 % companies are hungry for deals like ONGC's Kashagan buy that promise supplies sooner rather than later | Economic Times

South Sudan could restart oil exports by year-end 

(Reuters) - South Sudan could restart oil exports through Sudan by the end of the year after successful talks between both countries on border security, a top Southern official said on Sunday | Reuters

Israel partners China in renewable energy technology 

Israel is set to work with China in the future to develop renewable energy technology, following talks at the 5th Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition held last week in Eilat, Israel | CBS

Iran Says Plans to Raise Crude Oil Production 

Iran's oil minister has said the country plans to increase its oil production capacity to up to 5.2 million barrels per day by early 2016 | ABCNews

Canada to Build Oil Pipeline to Serve Asia 

MONTREAL - - Canada is scrambling to build an expansive new oil pipeline network to reach new markets including Asia as its sole customer, the United States, hikes production, aiming to become the world's top exporter | Industry Week

GDF Suez closing in on Repsol LNG assets 

France’s GDF Suez is closing in on a deal to acquire Repsol’s liquefied natural gas unit, according to French media | Upstream Online

NEITI to recover N1.3tr from

China eyes Africa for Photovoltaic industry expansion

Photovoltaics, or PV for short, is a method of converting solar energy into electricity. China's industry has been suffering since late last year due to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations by the US and European countries. So the country is looking to Africa for growth and cooperation.

FT Lex: UK's £110bn energy bill

The UK needs £110bn over the next decade to keep the country's lights on. Lex's Oliver Ralph and Vincent Boland discuss whether the government's energy bill outlining its plans to move away from fossil fuel generation is carrot enough for investors to come to build it. 

Related Articles:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f91241b2-3a23-11e2-a00d-00144feabdc0.html

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/3/b8a490dc-3a30-11e2-baac-00144feabdc0.html

NOCs: Emerging challenge to oil majors

PTT Exploration and Production of Thailand has just raised $3bn to fund its overseas expansion. Lex's Oliver Ralph and Vincent Boland discuss the growing challenge from emerging markets energy companies to the oil majors.

Related Articles:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/31fde55e-3aaf-11e2-b42a-00144feabdc0.html

http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2012/11/30/thai-market-comes-of-age-with-3bn...

Value for Money?: Transparency Initiatives in Host Countries

NEITI cites under-assessments and underpayments in its audit reports as responsible for losses since 2004 at N1.3trillion in the Nigerian Extractive Industries. How much impact does the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative have in helping host countries to secure value for resource-worth ?

Edward Davey, UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary of State

Secretary of State, UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, Rt Hon Edward Davey keynotes the Chatham House Climate Change Conference 2012: Security, resilience and diplomacy

With Doha in perspective what are the Finance, Adaptation and new market mechanisms going forward?

Hungry National Oil Companies

Douglas B Glass, head of the International Energy Practice at Akin Gump, talks to Proactive Investors at The Oil Council World Assembly about the competition between the oil majors and the formerly moribund state-owned groups for a dwindling supply of assets.

Have IOCs got their hands full now with NOCs taking up the gauntlet in the search for reserves?

Bankers Petroleum Badwi: "Great Demand" Heavy Crude

Abby Badwi, CEO of Albania-focused Bankers Petroleum, talks to Proactive Investors at the Oil Council World Assembly. He says there is great demand for the company's heavy crude.

TOP NEWS PICK: NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

UK sees net oil imports rising to 43% of its oil demand by 2020 

The UK will likely see its net oil imports rise to 43% of its oil demand by 2020, from around 30% currently, as output from the country's ageing North Sea fields continues to decline, the UK government said Thursday | Platts

Nigeria spends N679bn on fuel subsidy – PPPRA 

Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Reginald Stanley, has said the Nigerian government has spent N679.736 billion on fuel subsidy this year | SweetCrude

Japex plans LNG import terminal 

Japan Petroleum Exploration Company (Japex) plans to build a liquefied natural gas import terminal at Soma port, north of Tokyo, and a pipeline to connect to its existing network to meet higher demand for the fuel | Upstream Online

Hyundai and IHC face off over Subsea 7 work 

South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries is understood to have locked horns with Dutch yard operator and equipment manufacturer IHC Merwede for a newbuild contract with UK-based Subsea 7, covering the construction of up to two offshore construction vessels valued at more than $800 million | Upstream Online

Asian buyers of Iran oil to secure US sanctions waiver extension 

SEOUL/NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Asia's top buyers of Iranian crude are likely to secure U.S. approval to continue imports from the Islamic Republic without incurring sanctions, after cutting volumes sharply in the second half of the year, according to government and trade sources | Reuters

Nigeria 2012 Budget: Petroleum Ministry Implements 93% 

30 November 2012, Sweetcrude, Abuja -The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke says about 93% of the 2012 budget appropriated to the Ministry has been utilized based on the amount released to it so far | SweetCrude

Chevron hits back over

Iceland: Geothermal Energy

In Iceland, geothermal power is being used for almost everything -- from heating homes to supplying therapeutic spas year round. Scientists and engineers from around the world are participating in a course at the United Nations University (UNU) to learn how to use geothermal energy in their own countries from leading experts in Iceland.

http://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/unia1365.pdf

TOP NEWS PICK: NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Why Total’s sale of Nigerian assets to Sinopec is surprising

There are five clear reasons why many were surprised by the announcement by French oil giant, Total, on Monday November 18, 2012, that it has sold its 20 percent stake in Nigeria’s Oil Mining Lease, OML 138, to China Petrochemical Corporation, Sinopec, as part of an asset-disposal programme, according to Africa Oil and Gas | SweetCrude

Argentina more than doubles price of gas produced by YPF at new wells

Argentina will allow the price of natural gas produced by state-run YPF at new wells to more than double and will do so for other suppliers as it seeks to revive production | Platts

PGNiG plans at least 10 new shale wells in 2013 

State-controlled Polish gas monopoly PGNiG plans to drill at least 10 shale gas wells in 2013, it said, part of a government drive to step up exploration of unconventional resources | Reuters

Oil prices drop amid US budget talks, inventory data

(MENAFN - AFP) Oil prices fell on Wednesday as investors focused on key budget talks in the United States, the world's biggest consumer of energy, and reacted to news of an unexpected drop in US crude inventories | EINNews

Jack-up players eye ONGC race 

Several contractors are preparing to submit bids next month in an Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) tender for the charter by the Indian company of a number of jack-up drilling rigs | Upstream Online

Bayelsa governor tasks oil companies on

Qatar - How Much Harm Will the Climate Change Conference Do to the Environment?

Delegates meeting in Doha face many major issues: First of all they have to make sure that the Kyoto treaty isn't simply lost when it runs out in December. While working against the clock they are also painfully aware that the world's largest emitters, the United States and China are still not bound to any agreement at all. In turn Japan, Russia and Canada warn that they will not sign any further treaty unless all major polluters come onboard. A tall order for some 20 000 delegates who have travelled to Doha, each with their own agenda and issues they want discussed. And while they are meeting right in the middle of the desert, they are doing exactly what they are trying to prevent: producing CO2. We explore the environmental cost of an environmental summit.

Peak Oil Postponed? - Kjell Aleklett

Professor Kjell Aleklett speaks of the Peak Oil phenomenon at a seminar arranged by think tank Global Challenge in Stockholm. Eva Alfredsson opens the "Peak Oil Postponed?" seminar.

Very interesting and informative. What with "shale" and deep water discoveries "going viral" around the globe has the peak oil argument been postponed?

A 'Must watch!!'; Let us discuss 

PwC's Leppard:"Robust" deal flow in Oil & Gas sector

Neil Leppard, oil and gas transactions director at PwC, talks to Proactive Investors at the Oil Council World Assembly. He reveals deal flow has shown no signs of abating even given the current difficult economic backdrop, which has dogged other sectors. "There is almost a pipeline of deals that are needing to happen," he tells host Jeremy Naylor.

To what factors can we attribute this trend?

TOP NEWS PICK: NOVEMBER 28, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Nigeria losing N105bn annually to pipeline vandalism

Nigeria is losing about N105 billion to pipeline vandalism annually, according to the Nigerian

presidency | SweetCrude

Obama shields U.S. airlines from EU carbon fees 

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed a bill on Tuesday shielding U.S. airlines from paying for each ton of carbon their planes emit flying into and out of Europe, despite a recent move by Europe to suspend its proposed measure for one year | Reuters

Libya oil ministry proposes downstream split 

Libya's oil ministry is proposing to separate the OPEC member's exploration and production activities from refining, shaking up the running of its key industry by creating two separate bodies that would be headquartered in Tripoli and Benghazi, according to a report | Upstream Online

India rejects $1bn in Reliance expenses 

The Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily said the Indian government has disallowed more than $1 billion of expenses made by operator Reliance Industries on the D6 deep-water fields in the Krishna Godavari basin | Upstream Online

API files suit against EPA's biodiesel mandate 

The American Petroleum Institute (API) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia late Monday against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its decision to mandate the use of 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel in 2013, a 28 percent increase from the 2012 requirement. API also filed a petition for administrative reconsideration of the 2013 biodiesel mandate with EPA | PennEnergy

Oil, wet gas seen in second Kenya Lokichar discovery 

Tullow Oil PLC and Africa Oil Corp. have made a second large oil discovery in the Lokichar basin in northwestern Kenya | Oil & Gas Journal

World needs oil sands crude, IEA economist says 

An energy-thirsty world will need “every drop” of growing production in Canada’s oil sands, but the industry will need to reassure a skeptical public that development can be done in an environmentally sustainable way, the International Energy Agency’s chief economist says | Globe and Mail

Canada still weighing foreign energy bids 

With deadlines fast approaching, Canada is still weighing two proposed foreign takeovers of domestic energy companies, but a top minister offered no clues on Tuesday as to when or how the government would announce the hotly debated decisions | Upstream Online

Nigeria to shut oil terminals

Africa's Growing Offshore Oil and Gas industry

With exploration on the west coast of the continent growing exponentially with indications that Africa's East coast may follow suit, South Africa is strategically positioned to respond to the rig repairs and servicing of off shore oil rigs and drilling equipment. Focus on ports looks at infrastructure and investment needed to respond to this market demand.

TOP NEWS PICK: NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Nigerian oil export delays worsen, exports fall 

GENEVA (Reuters) - Nigerian oil exports are set to fall to below 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in January and delays on a key grade doubled to nearly a month, indicating that supply problems in the leading African producer are far from over | Reuters 

Minister: Singapore's Offshore and Marine Sector to Remain Resilient 

The outlook for Singapore's offshore and marine sector will remain resilient amid the global economic downturn, buoyed by continued growth in Asia, the country's Second Minister for Trade & Industry, S. Iswaran, said in a published address Tuesday | Rigzone 

Petrodollars: Southeast Asian countries brace for expensive natural gas 

Indonesia and Malaysia were part of the small fraternity of countries that exported LNG. But now trends will put them into the category of LNG importers, and they, along with Vietnam, are wrestling with the impact that high natural gas prices will mean for their countries. In this week’s Oilgram News column, Petrodollars, Song Yen Ling discusses what steps these countries are taking | Platts 

GDF Suez Takes Government to Court Over Natural Gas Prices 

GDF Suez (GSZ) SA, France’s biggest distributor of natural gas, is taking the government to court over its decision to cap a fourth-quarter increase in regulated fuel rates | Bloomberg 

BP Appoints New Chief of

Completing a Horizontal Frac on an Oil and Gas Well

This example tutorial video shows the increased oil and gas extraction made possible by drilling horizontally through shale formations. Because the hole is exposed to a much greater area of the pay zone, more oil/gas is recovered, decreasing time to repay investors and increasing profits.

Oil Patch: Russia's Energy Perspectives

Which way will the Russian oil and gas output go? The IEA forecasts a slight decline - will this hold true? What potential do unconventional fuels in Siberia and the Arctic have? How strong are the political risks? What will the reactions in the world market be? Peter Lavelle is joined by Jacob Nell, Chris Weafer, Dmitry Loukashov and Simon Fentham-Fletcher to discuss Russia's perspectives in the oil and gas sector.

Shell's Integrated Gas strategy

Shell says it is now a GAS company; but why?

Peter Voser CEO of Royal Dutch Shell plc comments on Shell's integrated gas strategy.

US climate policy in focus after storms

Severe storms like Hurricane Sandy have forced Americans to investigate possible links to global warming.

What behaviour can/ must change to get 'in line'?

TOP NEWS PICK: NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Nigeria to raise Usan crude exports 

IGERIA, Africa’s largest oil producer, plans to ship four 950,000 barrel cargoes of Usan crude exports for January 2013, one more than it will ship in December 2012, according to a loading programme obtained by Bloomberg | SweetCrude

Europe’s Shale Boom Lies in Sahara as Algeria Woos Exxon 

While environmental regulation and disappointing drilling tests have held back the development of shale gas reserves in Europe, Algeria is using tax breaks to encourage exploration. Pipelines under the Mediterranean to Spain and Italy already link Africa’s largest gas exporter into Europe’s grid | Bloomberg

Oil price falls as truce continues to hold between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Strip 

BANGKOK — The price of oil fell Monday as a truce between Israel and the militant group Hamas that stopped fighting in the Gaza Strip appeared to hold despite a confrontation late last week | Washington Post

Jonathan assures Nigerians stable power supply from June 2013 

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians of stable supply electricity in major cities by the end of second quarters of next year | SweetCrude

Pemex makes onshore discovery 

Mexican state oil company Pemex has made a light oil discovery in the country’s onshore Southeast basin | Upstream Online

NEITI ready with 2007-2010 solid minerals Audit 

The first solid minerals audit in Nigeria has been concluded and will be released next month, Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Zainab S. Ahmed has said | SweetCrude

Beach’s African Oil Prospects Draw

Qatar rethinks carbon footprint at UN climate talks

Qatar emits more carbon dioxide per person than any other country in the world - nearly 50 tons a year for each of its residents.

So the decision for it to host this year's United Nations climate change conference has caused a stir.

The talks officially begin in Doha on Monday.

Is this plain politics or a realignment of policy?

TOP NEWS PICK: NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Developments in International Oil & Gas | Energy | Extractive Industries

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

AU to establish financial entity to manage climate risk 

Mandated by African Union (AU) Heads of State in July 2012, delegates from 41 countries across the continent will convene on Friday at DIRCO's O.R. Tambo building to sign the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Establishment Agreement | SweetCrude

UK: No 2030 decarbonisation target in Energy Bill 

Government has revealed that the upcoming Energy Bill will not include a decarbonisation target for 2030. Instead a decision on whether to legislate for a 2030 decarbonisation target will be taken after the next election in 2016 | Solar Power Portal

Ahmadinejad vows to complete Pakistan gas pipeline by 2014 

AFP reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday vowed to complete a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline to Pakistan on time, downplaying financial woes and US pressure on Islamabad to scrap the project | Oil & Gas Eurasia

Nigeria: Monarch warns Pan Ocean over location of flow station 

THE Obi of Abavo kingdom in Delta State, HRM, Uche Irenuma 11, has warned the management of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, not to cause crisis in the 56 oil producing communities in Delta North Senatorial District of the state by ensuring that the proposed flow station is sited in Obiayima community as earlier agreed | SweetCrude

Nigeria Lawmakers plan one-day summit on PIB