OPEC racked with division, but too soon to write it off?
Investors have been burnt before, and are now skeptical that OPEC will overcome its internal divisions and agree to do something about chronically low oil prices.
Record low solar power prices point to new future for the Middle East
Ross McCracken blogs on the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, which confirmed in September that it had received the lowest bids ever for solar power.
Recent increases in global nuclear capacity led by Asia
(Tue, 27 Sep 2016) Global nuclear capacity reached 383 gigawatts (GW) in 2015, driven primarily by nuclear additions in Asia. Currently, 31 countries have nuclear power programs, totaling 441 operating reactors. An additional 60 reactors are under construction in 15 countries, adding 59 GW of electricity generating capacity over the next decade. Plans to add another 90 reactors (76 GW) have been formally transmitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by 8 countries.
PDVSA risks losing Curacao on failure to invest: Fuel for Thought
The failure of Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA to live up to its contractually obligated investments in Curacao’s Isla refinery has come back to bite them and they now risk losing it to China, which has stepped up to the plate with its own plan.
Weekly Energy Snapshots provides a weekly recap of EIA data visualizations
(Mon, 26 Sep 2016) Weekly Energy Snapshots, an album recently launched on the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Flickr page, features EIA data visualizations showing pricing, inventories, trade, and other key energy graphics. The album, updated each Friday before noon, shows data and statistics from the week and highlights charts, graphs, maps, and other images.
The changing face of Europe's flat steel industry
With China looking set to create the world’s second largest steelmaking company, European steel is on the brink of mergers that will transform its industry.
Governments poised to agree historic CO2 emissions market system for aviation
The UN ICAO is poised to take a ground-breaking decision on a global market-based measure to control aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions in a matter of days.
Hydrocarbon production in the Utica play increasingly targets natural gas-rich areas
(Fri, 23 Sep 2016) Production of oil and natural gas in the Appalachian Basin's Utica play—which includes both the Utica and Point Pleasant formations—has increased significantly since 2012. Monthly natural gas production from Utica wells increased from 0.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in December 2012 to more than 3.5 Bcf/d in June 2016. Oil production increased from 4,400 barrels per day (b/d) to nearly 76,000 b/d over the same period.
Fixing Infrastructure: At Last, Something to Agree On
Common Good and an Oregon congressman discuss addressing red tape and an increase in the gas tax, respectively.
Don’t be fooled by the numbers, Eagle Ford play is a sleeping giant
The Eagle Ford shale oil patch has seen brighter days. New well permits are down, production is low (down from its 2015 peak of 1.7 million b/d, to around 980,000 b/d this year) and producers are pulling out of the region to focus their efforts elsewhere.