The world currently consumes roughly 82 million barrels of oil a day. These five oil fields produce roughly 9.5 million barrels a day with West Qurna hoping to increase production by another 2 million per day. So together they currently produce about 11% of the total world consumption. If production is increased as anticipated they could be producing as much as 14% of world consumption.
The World’s Five Most Important Oil Fields Read More »
Several of the largest oil companies in the world are doubling down in Russia despite moves by the West to isolate Russia and its economy. ExxonMobil and BP separately signed agreements with Rosneft – Russia’s state-owned oil company – to extend and deepen their relationships for energy exploration. The U.S. slapped sanctions on Rosneft’s CEO
Exxon and BP Defy White House Read More »
The great hype surrounding the advent of a shale gas bonanza in California may turn out to be just that: hype. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – the statistical arm of the Department of Energy – has downgraded its estimate of the total amount of recoverable oil in the Monterey Shale by a whopping
Bursting the California Shale Bubble Read More »
A major gas deal between Russia and China could finally be sealed this week when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits China on May 20-21 and meets with President Xi Jinping. In the lead up to Putin’s arrival, the two sides have been working on putting the finishing touches on a 30-year contract for a gas
Russia’s Weakened Hand Could Pay Off For Beijing In Major Gas Deal Read More »
By Marin Katusa, Chief Energy Investment Strategist On July 1, 1911, a German gunboat named Panther sailed into the port of Agadir, Morocco, and changed history. For the previous two decades, a faction within the British Admiralty had called for the navy to switch from coal-fired ships to ones powered by a new fuel. Admiral John Fisher,
How a Big Cat Started Europe’s Addiction to Oil Read More »
Birth of a New Ukrainian Nation? Interview with Robert Bensh Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula is now Russia’s. It was done with an impressively organized non-violent military operation, and supported by the foregone conclusion of a referendum on independence from Ukraine. One Ukrainian soldier was reportedly killed on 18 March, after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the
What the Loss of Crimea Means for Ukrainian Energy Read More »
The results of Crimea’s referendum appears to be solidly in favor of the Crimea joining Russia. This was to be expected since the majority of the residents of Crimea are of Russian rather than Ukrainian descent and most speak Russian. The only problem is that Crimea isn’t physically connected to Russia (much like Alaska isn’t connected to the U.S.).
Russia Eyes Crimea’s Oil and Gas Reserves Read More »
By Jeff Clark, Senior Precious Metals Analyst Bear markets always end. Has this one? Evidence is mounting that the bottom for gold may be in. While there’s still risk, there’s a new air of bullishness in the industry, something we haven’t seen in over two years. An ever-growing number of industry insiders and investment analysts
Doug Casey: “Gold Stocks Are About to Create a Whole New Class of Millionaires” Read More »
For two centuries the Kurdish people have been fighting for independence from their Arab neighbors. The Kurdish region is located along the border where Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria meet. The Kurds have been subject to repression and often genocide but continue to fight for independence. Today we will look at the most recent economic skirmish between the new Iraqi government and the Kurds. At first, it may appear that it is simply a battle for Oil revenue but there is more to it than that.
Iraqi Government Threatens Action Against Kurds as Oil Exports Set to Begin Read More »
A wave of violence has swept parts of Iraq at the start of 2014 as the central government fights back against Al-Qaeda aligned militants in Anbar Province. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) reportedly took control of Ramadi and Fallujah, bombing police headquarters and killing dozens. On New Year’s Day Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent in reinforcements to take back control of Anbar Province’s two largest cities. The clashes kick off 2014 in much the same way as 2013 ended – a return to violence in a country that had seen important security gains in recent years.
Violence Threatens to Thwart Iraqi Oil Resurgence Read More »
