My Top 10 Energy Related Stories of 2009

Here are my choices for the Top 10 energy related stories of 2009. Previously I listed how I voted in Platt’s Top 10 poll, but my list is a bit different from theirs. I have […]

Catching Up

Back home now, just trying to catch up on the energy news of note. Four stories that I want to highlight. First was POET’s announcement on their progress on cellulosic ethanol: Poet hits ‘long shot,’ […]

What Would Ron Wyden Do?

The refining sector has been in the news a few times this week, and not in a good way:A Fine Mess For U.S. Refineries HOUSTON — Excess capacity, weak demand for fuels and rising product […]

Gasoline Demand Has Recovered

It’s been taking place slowly, week after week, but low gas prices have brought gasoline demand back up. There has been anecdotal evidence that suggested demand might be heading higher, such as recovering sales of […]

Critiquing the SPR Swap Plan

This morning, I read an interesting editorial in the Wall Street Journal: Obama Has a Plan To Manage Our Oil Reserve The editorial was written by John Shages, a former deputy assistant secretary for petroleum […]

Chavez Had Me Fooled

It seems I have been wrong about Hugo Chavez. I had thought the man didn’t have a clue about the oil business. While companies like ConocoPhillips were pulling in $15.5 billion profits*, they were investing […]

Answering Questions – Part II

OK, I think this finishes off the questions. Thanks to all who asked a question. I think this has been a productive exercise, and I hope you find my answers useful. I may do this […]

Answering Questions – Part I

Back in Aberdeen after some very interesting meetings in London, some of which I hope to be able to discuss in the not too distant future. I started working my way through the list of […]

Expropriating Venezuela’s Refineries

You heard it here first. Two months ago, I wrote Let’s Confiscate Venezuela’s U.S. Refineries. Looks like I may not have been too far off the mark, as others have started thinking along the same […]

Gasoline Prices Part II: Long-Term Factors

Introduction In Part I, I discussed the short term factors that have resulted in the recent, rapid increase in the price of gasoline. But there are a number of underlying, long-term issues that have been […]