The Origins of Peak Oil Awareness The scientific study of peak oil began in the 1950’s, when Shell geophysicist M. King Hubbert reported on the evolution of production rates in oil and gas fields. In […]
Lessons From a Failed Prediction
Why Make Predictions? While there are actually other stories unfolding in the world of energy, you would never know that by my inbox. Most of the correspondence I have received in the past week is […]
Why the $20 Oil Predictions are Wrong
Deja Vu As the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) retests the $40 per barrel (bbl) mark, some pundits are again calling for WTI to fall to $15 or $20/bbl. The same thing happened earlier […]
The Link Between Oil Reserves and Oil Prices
Last December the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its latest estimate of U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves. Although natural gas reserves rose, the real story was crude oil reserves. The EIA reported that […]
Is the U.S. Really the World’s Top Oil Producer?
According to the recently-released BP (NYSE: BP) Statistical Review of World Energy 2014, the U.S. was the world’s largest and most diverse energy producer in 2014. The Statistical Review ranked the U.S.: #1 in oil […]
Remember When We Were Running Out of Crude Oil Storage?
Given the amount of air time the crude oil storage situation received back in March and April, this might be a good time to revisit that situation. If you recall, there was a great amount […]
Cellulosic Ethanol is Going Backwards
In last month’s article Where are the Unicorns?, I discussed the fact that the commercial cellulosic ethanol plants that were announced with great fanfare over the past couple of years are obviously running at a […]
OPEC Crashed the U.S. Rig Count
The OPEC Free Fall There is a popular narrative going around that I want to address in today’s article. Last November, after several months of plummeting crude oil prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting […]
Where are the Unicorns?
Congress Mandates Cellulosic Ethanol and The EPA Tracks It The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with tracking compliance under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) that was set in the Energy Independence and Security […]
Is Audi’s Carbon-Neutral Diesel a Game-Changer?
Introduction Occasionally I am deluged with inquiries about a particular news story. That happened this week. As the inquiries mounted, I decided I better address the story. After I saw one more gushing, uncritical report […]