Energy

Here is a compilation of stories by Rice Farmer

Energy Stories

Norwegian oil production halved

High costs threaten Norway's oil recovery

Norway's Oil Boom Leads to Higher Costs and Delays

Turkey Overtakes Norway as the Largest Oil Driller in Europe

Not at that price: Why long-term forecasts for cheap oil and natural gas are baseless

"Here's the short version of why forecasts of low long-term oil and natural gas prices are almost certainly wrong: It costs more than that to get the stuff out of the ground."

There's more red ink than oil and gas flowing out of shale formations. -- RF

Oil sands facing labour shortage as talent search proves a challenge (Canada)

"The oil and gas sector will need to fill a minimum of 9,500 new jobs by 2015, according to Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada forecasts."

Lukoil Leads Worst Start Since 2008 on Ruble: Russia Overnight

Total to cut US shale gas investment

So, shale gas is not making money. Who would have thought? -- RF

Iraq threatens to seize oil shipments, sue dealers

"Iraq has threatened to seize oil exports made without its consent and sue companies dealing in what it sees as contraband crude just days after the country's self-rule Kurdish region began unilaterally exporting oil."

Grid operator: Texas electric transmission capacity will fall short of demand

Greece raises electricity prices by up to 15 pct

Falling Demand Leaves Nigeria with 21 Unsold Shipments of Crude in February

Jordan Reels from Fuel Shortages

SunPower Restructuring Cost May More Than Double to $40 Million

Bangalore faces water scarcity with depleting reservoirs

Seaway Pipeline Open for Business

Energy theft: From bad to worse (and what some utilities are doing about it)

"Mention energy theft and many will think Brazil or India where electricity losses are staggering. Yet no corner of the world seems immune from it – be it meter tampering, pilfering copper wire from substations, illegal hookups, siphoning or other unlawful schemes."

UP plunges into power crisis as 6 plants go down

"Uttar Pradesh is shivering and in darkness with six power plants tripping in succession in the past 48 hours due to a sharp rise of electricity demand in this unusually harsh winter. The power demand, in fact, rose to the May 2011 level of peak summers. The overall power outages were more than 2,500MW."

Power demand overruns supply (Canada)

Fuel oil price hike to badly hit expected RMG export earning

Rising costs worry oil palm planters (Malaysia)

Smart grid: Is your job in jeopardy? Slowing demand and rising costs putting utilities at risk

Shell's Arctic Drilling Plan May Hinge on Kulluk's Fate

But Why Did Julian Simon Win The Paul Ehrlich Bet?

It's the old argument that "amazing new technologies" and "human ingenuity" will solve resource constraints, so the more people, the better. In fact, technology and "ingenuity" (human greed and stupidity will always heavily outweigh ingenuity) play only minor roles. Energy and commodity prices are at their present, surprisingly low, levels now simply because the global economy is crumbling, and demand is suppressed. If there were to be a "recovery" — which of course can't and won't happen — oil would be at least $200/bbl, commodities like copper would go through the roof, and food riots would be erupting everywhere. Any fool can see that the ultimate tool for suppressing commodity prices is demand destruction (intentional or unintentional), which is in evidence everywhere. -- RF

South China Sea: Taiwan undersea oil plans irk neighbors

Intensified Saudi gas exploration multifaceted

Rolling blackouts could return by 2015  (Jamaica)

Some Thoughts on Energy in 2013  (The Oil Drum)