Regular Features
- OGJ Newsletter
- Journally Speaking
  - Gulf current under study
    Benjamin Franklin was the first scientist to study and map the Gulf Stream, measuring wind speeds and current depths, speeds, and temperatures during four crossings of the Atlantic in the late 18th century.
- Equipment/Software/Literature
- Services/Suppliers
- Advertisers Index
- The Editor's Perspective
  - US energy market wouldn't notice loss of biodiesel
    Live by the subsidy, die by the subsidy. Because a generous tax credit for biodiesel expired at the end of 2009, makers of the fuel fear commercial demise is near.
- Market Journal
  - OPEC capacity caps prices
    The International Energy Agency in Paris estimated in December the sustainable production capacity for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries at 35.4 million b/d, with actual output at 29.05 million b/d, leaving a spare capacity of 6.35 million b/d.
General Interest
- Editorial: Another IPCC setback
  A single mistake shouldn't sink a boatload of science. Bias, however, will corrode any hull.
- Fitch: Credit-quality outlook mostly stable
  Barring any substantial drops in crude prices, corporate credit profiles should remain in line with 2009 levels across the oil and gas industry this year, except for the refining and service and supply businesses, reported Fitch Ratings in its 2010 oil and gas outlook.
- 'Fracing' dominates ExxonMobil-XTO merger hearing
  A congressional hearing that ostensibly was supposed to consider a proposed merger's market impacts quickly became a forum for debating whether to federally regulate hydraulic fracturing.
- Watching Government: Parks Service proposes changes
  As US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the Bureau of Land Management drew fire for proposed changes in onshore oil and gas rules for public lands BLM administers, another Interior agency quietly concluded the public comment period for policy changes it has proposed.
- API's Gerard: SOTU speech should herald improved relations
  As OGJ went to press last week, the oil and gas industry was hoping US President Barack Obama's Jan. 27 State of the Union address would begin a shift of administration-industry relations from confrontation to cooperation, American Petroleum Institute Pres. Jack N. Gerard said.
- NGSA, IPAMS urge Obama not to overlook natural gas
  As OGJ went to press last week, two oil and gas association officials said they hoped US President Barack Obama's Jan. 27 State of the Union message would reflect policies that encourage—instead of discourage—the nation's natural gas development.
- Norway offers 38 production licenses in mature areas
  The Norwegian government has offered 38 offshore production licenses in its "awards in predefined areas" (APA 2009) round.
- Trinidad and Tobago makes term changes to 2010 bid round
  Trinidad and Tobago has announced major changes to its fiscal terms for energy companies operating in the country and those seeking new blocks in its 2010 bid round.
- Watching The World: IOCs under attack
  If anyone thought the international oil and gas industry was in for an easy time this year, they will have to revise those thoughts immediately.
- Nord Stream consortium awards pipeline contracts
  The Nord Stream AG consortium said it will commission Sumitomo Group, Europipe GMBH, and United Metallurgical Co. (OMK) to supply 1 million tons of steel pipe for construction of the second pipeline of the Nord Stream project.
- EPA announces new short-term NO2 standard
  The US Environmental Protection Agency announced a new national air quality standard for short-term exposures to nitrogen dioxide.
Exploration & Development
- Marcellus shale gas play entry opportunities abound
  The US shale business has been one of the hottest E&P topics the past few years, with the Marcellus capturing most recent attention.
Technology
- Special Report: Unconventional basins require new rig types
  Even though more than 1,000 rigs are inactive in the US, drilling contractors are building new land rigs to satisfy operator demand for improved technology.
- Special Report: Pre-Caspian basin wells in salt-gypsum beds require an optimized drilling fluid
  Drilling wells through the ultrathick, salt-gypsum beds in the pre-Caspian basin requires an optimized drilling fluid.
- Calculating H₂O solubility, Henry's Law constant for cycloalkanes in crude
  Water solubility and Henry's law constant in cycloalkanes found in crude oil have been calculated and set in an easy-to-use table.
- Nelson-Farrar Cost Indexes
- Subsea isolation techniques advance
  Two recent subsea pipeline isolations illustrate the advances made in isolation technology and methods.