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Can the U. S. Shale Revolution be Replicated?
According to Morgan Stanley Research, the answer is “Possible, but not likely”. In their Commodities Fall Symposium, the investment firm concedes there are many shale deposits around the world, but a repeat of what we have seen in the U. S. is improbable, especially in this decade. Geology, human capital, infrastructure, drilling expertise and industry… Read More
Proved Reserves: How Effective a Yardstick?
The July/August issue of A Shot of Texas Magazine has an excellent piece by renowned energy expert Daniel Yergin, “How Much Oil Is Really Down There?”. The article deals with calculating oil and gas reserves, and is summarized below. In response to the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, the U. S. Congress instructed the Securities… Read More
Is it Time to Repeal Crude Export Ban?
The answer is a resounding “Yes” if you ask Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. As the senior Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, Murkowski is working to build support for repeal of the crude export ban which was passed in response to the Arab Oil Embargo in the 1970’s. However, she realizes that neither party is… Read More
North Dakota Oil Production Might Decrease due to Flaring Regulations
Flaring of natural gas associated with oil production is an acute problem in the Prairie State. Worldwide, about 3% of produced gas is flared; in the U. S. it is less than 1%. In North Dakota 36% of gas was flared, but that figure has been reduced to 26% due to new state regulations. “Rigzone”… Read More
Studies Find No Water Pollution from Fracking
According to a recent article in “Rigzone”, two different studies recently concluded that fracking, per se, does not pollute aquifers. Both studies were conducted in the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania. The DOE monitored fracking fluids from six wells for eighteen months using tracer fluids, seismic monitoring and other tests in the most detailed public report… Read More
