Canada: Cleaning off a 'dirty' image 12/20/2009
Canadian, Alberta political, industry leaders defend record in oil sands, say they are ready to participate in any Copenhagen deal
Government and industry leaders are fighting back against a tidal wave of criticism and abuse flowing from the Copenhagen climate change summit that has Canada cast as a "corrupt petro-state" because...

'Possible ... probably not likely' 12/06/2009
EnCana chairman, execs play down takeover risks as Canadian independent goes its separate ways; argue share value best protection
A few voices of dissent were effectively stifled and an overwhelming 99 percent-plus of shareholders set the oil and natural gas parts of EnCana on separate directions, with executives playing down an...

Wins and losses for sands sector 11/01/2009
Industry gets boost from study estimating employment, economic spinoffs; runs afoul of chemical producers, who demand single standard
The Alberta oil sands, as is so often the case, are being pulled in opposite directions, quietly ramping up production, while unease builds as the sector awaits greenhouse gas regulations from the Oba...

Trading coal for bitumen at Christmas 11/01/2009
Alberta issues revised RFP for a processor in the province to process 50,000-75,000 bpd of bitumen; goal more processing at home
It's a bit early for Christmas wish lists, but the Alberta government isn't waiting for a spot on Santa's lap. Rather than visions of sugar plums dancing in its head, the province has images of bitume...

New pipelines to move heavy oil markets 11/01/2009
Canada could soon remove 9 million barrels of crude from the heavy oil market, followed next year by another 5 million barrels. The 9 million barrels is what it will take later this quarter when Tran...

Asian dragon stirring to life on resources 09/27/2009
China takes more subtle approach in efforts to secure minerals, oil and natural gas; Canadian government rolls out welcome mat
Since 2006, Chinese investors have acquired almost 11,000 square miles of African farmland. In August, China's state-controlled Jilin Jien Nickel Industry Co. made a surprise C$148.5 million unsolicit...

Oil sands improve showing 08/02/2009
Study shows direct greenhouse gas emissions from production, transport and refining are comparable to U.S. heavy crudes
Alberta is cleaning up its act to the point where direct emissions from the extraction, shipping and refining of oil sands output is roughly parallel to that of other crudes refined in the United Stat...

Suncor coy on upgrader 08/02/2009
Suncor Energy is keeping its cards close to its chest on if or when it will restart plans for a 200,000 barrel per day Voyageur upgrader in Alberta once its takeover of Petro-Canada is closed on Aug....

Upgrading starts at home 08/02/2009
Alberta government invites proposals for bitumen-in-kind program to slow outflow of bitumen to U.S; strategy welcomed by some
Almost two years after unveiling the "framework" of its infamous new royalty regime, the Alberta government has delivered on one of its secondary proposals, which involves taking raw bitumen in kind r...

Lougheed advises slowing oil sands pace 07/19/2009
It's almost a quarter of a century since Peter Lougheed stepped down as premier of Alberta, after a distinguished 14 years when he laid the foundations for what remained a world model of oil and gas r...

Damper on Asian link 07/19/2009
Kinder Morgan, TransCanada and Canadian Natural Resources cool to idea that new markets for Canadian crude is an early option
Any thoughts that record shipments of Canadian crude oil from the Port of Vancouver might speed up the introduction of tanker traffic on a large scale to Asia have been downplayed by Kinder Morgan Can...

Petrocan can't, not anymore 06/14/2009
Government creation about to disappear into 'new Suncor' which CEO Rick George says will take on global supermajors in oil sands and become a 'Canadian champion'
Exit, stage left, with barely a whimper ... maybe just the hint of a shaky voice by CEO Ron Brenneman as he effectively signed the death certificate for Petro-Canada on June 4. Before a smattering of s...

Economic rollercoaster produces range of Canadian oil forecasts 06/14/2009
Canadian oil production could rise by anywhere from more than 4 percent to 53 percent over the next 16 years based on a range of forecasts by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers that under...

Rallying to oil sands 05/24/2009
French, Norwegian firms make a case for expanding their presence in Alberta
From big and small, from domestic and international stages, there is a steady, rebuilding drumbeat of support for the Canadian oil sands, motivated largely by a belief that cheap oil is disappearing. ...

Oil Patch Insider 03/15/2009
Oklahoma's not doin' fine -OK? ANGDA pondering life after Harold? Yes, Isenberg's optimistic and ExxonMobil is spending more money, not less
Harold Hamm has locked horns with Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Now he's doing battle with Canada. The U.S. producer is heading up a group of Oklahoma oilmen, operating under the name Dome...

Slowing Nikaitchuq 03/08/2009
Low oil prices and weak economy believed to be behind Eni's decision
Eni Petroleum is "slowing down" the pace of development at the Nikaitchuq unit in the nearshore waters off the North Slope, according to a top state oil and gas official. Division of Oil and Gas Dire...

It's all about us 02/15/2009
Canada looks for roadmap on economy, energy, environment at Obama-Harper summit; anxious to play ball, urged to diversify markets
A five-hour tete-a-tete at some yet-to-be-named location in Ottawa doesn't sound very imposing for Barack Obama's first presidential trip outside the United States on Feb. 19. But these aren't the ti...

National companies dominate world oil 02/08/2009
National government-owned companies hold the bulk of the world's oil reserves and account for more than half of oil supplies
For someone working in the oil fields of North America it might appear that investor-owned oil companies of various forms and sizes dominate the world oil scene. But looks can be deceptive. According...

Don't get accustomed to cheap oil 01/11/2009
Cutbacks in exploration now will help fuel price increase when demand heats up again; some see oil topping $150 per barrel
All that money you're saving these days at the gas pump? You might want to put it in the bank. The same cheap oil that's providing relief to drivers and businesses in an awful economy is setting the s...

Crude oil falls, but maybe not for long 01/04/2009
Economists, analysts concerned lack of exploration, production investment will spur unprecedented price hike when economy recovers
Resurgent economic jitters sent benchmark oil prices below $38 a barrel Dec. 31, as investors focused on the global slowdown that has dragged crude markets down some 60 percent this year, from a high...

Entering dangerous waters 01/04/2009
Newfoundland premier sends hostile signal; opens way to NAFTA challenge
There's apparently no limit to the high-stakes instincts of Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, a.k.a. Danny Chavez, a.k.a. Hugo Williams - a less-than-subtle link with Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chav...

Hot on the Obama trail 12/28/2008
Canada told to waste no time getting energy message to new U.S. administration
If Canada wants to remain the largest external supplier of petroleum and natural gas to the United States it should waste no time beating a path to the door of the incoming U.S. administration, says a...

Alaska gas tax quandary 12/21/2008
Gas rolled in with oil under present Alaska production tax would drop revenues
If North Slope natural gas production was rolled into Alaska's present production tax system on a barrel-of-oil-equivalent basis, state production tax revenues would drop. Dan Dickinson, a former Tax...

C$45 billion on the shelf 12/14/2008
Norwegian oil giant deals another blow to Alberta upgrading dreams; withdraws plans for Alberta facility, looks at options in US
There's another wooden cross on the road to the Alberta oil sands, marking billions of dollars more of lost investment. It also marks a further setback to the Alberta's government's goal of keeping up...

Open season for oil gurus 11/23/2008
Economists: Oil prices larger factor than subprime collapse in economic meltdown
Two months after dangling the prospect of US$200 oil, Canadian economist Jeff Rubin found some company on his often-lonely maverick perch. He was joined earlier in November by the International Energy...