International news for oil and gas professionals
A person in an OGJ editor's line of work tends to read a lot of press releases. And by "tends to," of course, I mean "is paid to," and by "read," of course, I mean "closely mine for vital nuggets of oil and gas industry-related news gold," and by "a lot," of course, I mean, well, "a lot."
In the political hubbub over the proposed Keystone XL pipeline between Alberta and the US Gulf Coast, an especially peculiar argument has emerged that should be put to rest before it does real damage.
Oil and gas industry groups quickly challenged White House efforts to take credit for lower crude oil imports and higher US production in the year since US President Barack Obama unveiled his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future.
The US oil and gas industry created 37,000 direct jobs and 111,000 indirect jobs in 2011, effectively generating 9% of all new US jobs last year, the World Economic Forum said in a Mar. 7 report.
The oil and gas industry needs to expand its efforts to build the public's trust, which has been a problem since the industry's earliest days, panelists told a closing plenary session during the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference & Exhibition in San Diego on Mar. 8.
The oil and gas industry, faced with an aging workforce, is looking to implement the right processes to ensure trained people are available to perform needed tasks while also managing corporate growth, panelists told participants Mar. 7 at the IADC/SPE Conference & Exhibition.
Wood Mackenzie analysts expect US exports of refined products to increase based in part on the outlook for US tight oil supplies, a WoodMac spokesman told the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers annual meeting Mar. 13 in San Diego.
The refining and petrochemical industries benefit the US, and their representatives must rebuke misleading criticisms from politicians so that the general public hears the facts, leaders of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (formerly the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association) said Mar. 12 during an opening session of the AFPM annual meeting in San Diego.
In plenary sessions Mar. 7 at IHS CERA Week in Houston, speakers echoed the message that the shale gas revolution in the US is beneficial to the economy by bringing jobs, security of supply, and low prices for heating and electric power generation.
Despite nagging uncertainties among global economies—not the least being the ongoing monetary crisis in Europe—rising oil and gas demand is pushing LPG production higher.
Alberta Premier Alison M. Redford wasted no time delivering her message on Mar. 7: Her government plans to more actively tell the oil sands story, especially when opponents charge that the province's environmental safeguards aren't anywhere near adequate.
When people are confident enough about their righteousness to make a public display of it, should they not also be right?
