8-22-15
ADN by Erica Martinson. So far, Alaska’s three-member congressional delegation has been relegated to the sidelines when it comes to planning for President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to the state.
8-21-15
Petroleum News: Russian moves highlight Arctic concerns 08/23/2015 (Trouble viewing this article? Click here) U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo) said the Russians are looking to militarize the Arctic, making it all the more important for the U.S. to have a broad Arctic strategy that includes having sufficient troops based in Alaska. Sullivan said Aug. 17 that’s why he has been critical of proposed troop reductions in.... Petroleum News: AGDC board elects officers and gets estimates of off-take facilities costs 08/23/2015 (Trouble viewing this article? Click here) The Alaska Gasline Development Corp. board of directors met Aug. 13, elected officers, [...]
8-20-15
Please note our June 25 commentary on competitiveness. Then, bookmark our April 17 commentary. -dh Comment: Critical reading of today's events below demonstrates some good news in the form of COP's new drilling at its CD5 property on the Alaska North Slope (ANS). Then, we note from our Australian and Ohio analysts the increased difficulty faced by an ANS gas transportation project in a low energy price, high production environment. ALASKA DECISION MAKERS: Does this not mean Alaska must become even more competitive to market its natural resources, not [...]
8-19-15
Commentary. We predicted yesterday that lowered credit ratings for Alaska, due to the 49th State's dire fiscal condition, would result in higher interest costs. We note that, today, Journalist Jeannette Lee Falsey, makes the same point (Link Below). The state's fiscal condition is a direct result of several governors and many legislatures refusing to take austerity steps necessary to balance an unsustainable budget trend. This trend of declining oil revenue and increased government program spending was clearly anticipated by an extinct watchdog organization, Common Sense for Alaska, and Dr. Scott [...]
8-18-15 Outrageous Decisions
Governor Bill Walker's Outrageous Decisions by Dave Harbour RATING AGENCY WARNS ALASKA: A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND VERY BAD OMEN. THIS ACTION WILL AFFECT THE COST OF MONEY AND, THUS, INCREASE ALASKA'S DEFICIT. WARNING OF A RATING DOWNGRADE PORTENDS MORE BAD NEWS TO COME ABSENT A SIGNIFICANT TURNAROUND IN STATE POLICY. -DH STORY BY ANDREW JENSEN, JOURNAL OF COMMERCE Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services lowered the outlook on the State of Alaska’s credit rating from “stable” to “negative” on Aug. 18, and gave politicians one year to reorganize the fiscal house before the [...]
8-17-15 Feds Permit Half A Loaf (adding many conditions) For Shell’s Arctic Program
Breaking News: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno today announced that Shell has received approval of one Application for Permit to Modify (APM) to conduct exploratory drilling activities into potential oil-bearing zones offshore Alaska at one of the wells at the Burger Prospect, Burger J. Read More.... OUTRAGEOUS: Alaska's "Socialist Governor In Sheep's Clothing" Begins To Bear All. See Tim Bradner's piece in the Alaska Journal of Commerce. We will have plenty of comment tomorrow. -dh "Gov. Bill Walker is still pushing North Slope producers for [...]
8-16-15
Petroleum News: SAExploration seismic programs approved - 08/16/2015 (Login to read Full story) SAExploration has received approval from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas, for two seismic surveys, both on state land and waters in the Beaufort Sea, one in the vicinity of the Colville River Delta and one within the Prudhoe Bay area. The permits, both marine-base....
8-15-15
Calgary Herald Duboyce: TransCanada is committed to safety and the environment Calgary Herald The Energy East pipeline's original route is pictured as TransCanada officials speak during a 2013 news conference inCalgary. Jeff McIntosh / THE ...
8-14-15
Gas offers have come in - 08/16/2015 (Full story) Petroleum News by Alan Bailey. The Interior Energy Project, an Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority initiative to bring affordable energy to Fairbanks and the Alaska Interior, has passed a couple of milestones, as the project team assesses bids for the supply of gas from the Cook Inlet basin and proposals for the sh.... (Comment: We remain wary about the reality of Walker Administration efforts to block a free enterprise sale of LNG facilities so that politicians can force feed natural gas [...]
8-13-15 Doyon To Drill Tanana Basin
Fairbanks News Miner. Doyon, Limited announced plans to drill a third well in the Nenana basin in summer 2016. The wells are a continuation of oil and gas exploration that began in 2005, Doyon President and CEO Aaron Schutt (NGP Photo) said. The new well will be called Toghotthele No. 1. It follows Doyon's successful 3D seismic program in 2014, which identified several potential drill sites in the 32,000-acre area about 50 miles west of Fairbanks. "We are very excited to begin the next phase of our exploration program," Schutt said (More....) [...]
8-12-15 Oil Company Issues
Oil Pro by Joseph Triepke. Last week, the Securities Exchange Commission said that Miller Energy's former CFO and CEO overstated the value of its holdings by upwards of $400mm after acquiring its O&G properties in Alaska in late-2009 for $2.5mm. Neither executive is still with the company. Miller Energy's questionable past appears to be a case study of how not to run an E&P company. ADN/Arctic by Erica Martinson. Shell has a strained relationship with environmental groups over its Arctic drilling plans, but the company has long advocated for a price on [...]
8-11-15
CBC.ca Tom Mulcair book launch interrupted by Energy East pipeline protesters CBC.ca Mulcair was forced Sunday to address comments she made onCBC News Network's Power & Politics, where she said curbing oilsands production ... Calgary Heral Alliance Pipeline says it could take several days to burn off hydrogen sulphide gas Calgary Herald CALGARY — The operator of a major Canada-U.S. natural gas pipeline that has been shut down since Friday says it could take several days to burn ...
8-10-15
Point of personal privilege: We pause to remember our late friend, Frank Gifford, also a friend of Alaska. (Photo with Kathy Lee Gifford, by Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic). See "Today News". Rick Mystrom and Rick Nerland had kindly asked me to join the non profit board of our Anchorage Organizing Committee (AOC) for the Winter Olympics in the late 1980s. In my volunteer board role, I served a 'Television Commissioner', charged with developing relationships with and support from American television and radio networks who could someday compete for Anchorage Olympic broadcast rights. [...]
8-9-15
Calgary Herald Federal election campaign reflects change in oil and gas since PM Harper's 2006 election Calgary Herald Access to markets through new pipelines became the mantra of industry and ... The world – the oil and gas industry included – has changed and what ...
8-8-15 Alliance Pipeline Shuts Down
CBC.ca Alliance shuts down gas pipeline in Western Canada CBC.ca Alliance Pipeline has shut down a natural gas pipeline in Western Canada after poisonous hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas got into the system.