Wrong story on KOTV’s website sets oil market on fire

Well, I always thought that technology is a very powerful tool but didn’t have even the slightest inkling that just a little misinformation can cause so much of havoc. A story on KOTV online version erroneously ran that an oil refinery in Tulsa, Oklahoma has caught fire. The story further elaborated that lightning has caused the fire. As an impact of the story world oil prices started to soar like never before. It increased the crude oil price by 40 cents. By the time the TV station realized that they are misinforming its reader and presenting wrong facts, it was too late as by then it had created havoc in the oil market. Explaining the impact of the story a Houston-based oil trader asserted: All it takes is a screw-up on a website to move the market. It just goes to show how tense this market is. There is also one more reason of such a high impact of this story that is the unprecedented problem which U.S. oil refinery is facing. Source: ITPRO

Russia delays BP license verdict

Russian regulators have held the much debated and criticized decision on BP license row for the Kovykta gas field in East Siberia. Licensing agency, Rosnedra, is looking into case whether TNK-BP’s operations should be stopped but seeks two weeks to decide, as case history is complex than it appears. Some analyst suggested that Moscow delayed the decision because of coming G8 Summit and the Russian Economic Forum, which is schedule in next week. Russian authorities claim that TNK-BP is not drilling enough oil that it was authorized for. BP said in its protest that market does not need additional oil supply and Russian regulators did not provide export license. Oil giant also alleged that regulators did not give any warning latter beforehand. But regulators denied all allegation and clear its stance that apprehension latter had sent to BP three month before. Russian regulators have already thwarts the Shell and Exxonmobile to expend in Russian oil base and give their shares to the state owned Gazprom. Russian authority has shown its interest to gain control of Russia’s energy supplies and makes Gazprom more competitive. Image: Scotsman Via: Turkishpress

Oil prices climb up again, still no sign of redemption

Rising oil prices are continue to bother consumers as it is climbing up to new record daily. Galloping oil prices do not seems to recede. Oil prices have raised again a dollar a barrel higher mark amid concerns about supplies in the US. In the US, light sweet crude mounts $1.07 higher at $65.08 while in London Brent crude raised $1.03 to $69.07. Market experts are worry about the resent upsurge in the prices and said that condition will not improve until political differences will not improve. Analyst relates resent surge in the oil prices with the BP delayed restarting an oil refinery in Chicago and amid the fear of loosing its Russian rich oil Siberian base. Apart from the oil rise, US is also worry about its domestic oil inventories, which fell by 2 million barrels, or 0.6%, to 342.2 million barrels in the week to 25 May, the US Energy Department report showed. In such situation, US market is under threat for another price rise. Apart from the rising prices, gasoline and oil futures rose continued concerns that domestic refineries aren’t producing enough gasoline to meet peak summer driving demand. Analysts had expected a rise of 300,000 barrels, but the major US refineries could not deliver its potential. The Chicago-area refinery has a capacity to process 420,000 barrels of crude oil a day (bpd), but drill around 200,000 bpd. However, there is some good news as gasoline stocks had risen by 1.3 million barrels to 198 million during the period. But US can not only bank on the foreign supply. Nigerian workers strike and terrorist affecting oil supply already thwart US effort to consolidate prices. Venezuela has already taken a anti American stand, with Iran US is not looking eye to eye on various aspects, which has put both nations on opposite directions. US Chicago refinery is not able to produce according to its capacity, after it affects hard by the fire. America needs to develop new refineries and better relationships with the oil producing nations. Image: Fremantleports Via: BBC

Cuba and Vietnam – Signing out Differences

In oil exploration and drilling, Vietnam is the latest partner of Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, Chief of the communist party of Asian nation has visited and it was one of the various agreements that were signed. On Friday, Defence Minister Raul Castro has greeted Nong Duc Manh in the signing ceremony. Other deals were also made, such as covering sports, culture, rice production and telecommunications. Limited details are being revealed by the state oil companies Cuba Petroleos and Petrovietnam. It has also been declared that it is a partnership for exploration as well as drilling in Gulf of Mexico and on shore. Other foreign companies with whom Cuba has formed partnerships are Spanish-Argentine Repsol YPF, ONGC Videsh Ltd. of India and Sherritt International Corp. of Canada. Durinh the visit, there was also a meeting between Manh and Vice President as well as Cabinet Secretary Carlos Lage. While this Latin American Tour, Vietnamese leader will also stop in Chile, Brazil and Venezuela. Although, there is huge difference in the economic systems of both the communist nations, still they are good partners. To make their relationship more powerful, Vietnam is getting ready for market reforms, whereas Cuba would continue with its centralized economy with limited number of private enterprise. Image Via:iht

$6.5 billion transaction by the noted Gas and electric company Dominion

This Monday Dominion Resources Inc, the noted Gas and electric company said that it will sell all its U.S. onshore oil and gas exploration and production operations at $6.5 billion in two transactions. Dominion’s operations in Michigan, Alabama and the Permian Basin of Texas will be bought by the Loews Corp. at $4.03 billion. On the other hand, Dominion’s operations in the Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast, New Mexico’s San Juan Basin and South Louisiana will be bought by the XTO Energy Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas at $2.5 billion. Both the operations comprise of approximately 3.51 trillion cubic feet which will be equal to the natural gas and oil reserves. It is being expected that deals will be closed by August. Lowes is New York based and owner of CNA Financial Corp., the tobacco company Lorillard Inc., Loews Hotels and the watchmaker Bulova Corp. It had also been the owner of CBS television network. Earlier Dominion quoted to concentrate mainly on its power generation and energy distribution, transmission, storage and retail businesses. The entire process of divesting the Mid-Continent Basin operation and would commence by July. On the other hand, company has also reiterated their plans of retaining their Appalachian operations. Due to divestitures, Dominion is expecting to generate operating earnings at $6 per share in the year 2008. Image:earthtimes Via:msnbc

Biofuels investment will increase oil prices

The whole world is battling with the mounting oil prices. Refineries profits are digging, automakers has experienced biggest slump. Rising oil prices has become biggest reason for slanting inflation, which has tattered many economies. National banks have forced to increase their rates to curb inflation that has reduced consumers borrowing potential, which inundates the profit of many big companies. Consumers are facing increasing oil prices, which are galloping constantly. Two year before international oil prices were merely on 30 to 40 dollar a barrel, but now it is battling 60 to 70 dollar per barrel, which is really astonishing. American invasion in Iraq considers a biggest reason for it, and now its thirst for Iran expecting another record height for oil prices. Venezuela has nationalized its refineries and thrown out western oil drillers. Nigeria is facing terrorist threat for its oil reserve and Russia is annexing its refineries from BP, Shell and Exxonmobile to empower state owned Gazprom are the other responsible factors for galloping oil prices. American foreign policy was severely criticized by the oil producers and now surviving alone on the dais of international market. To combat with the scarcity of oil availability and future potential, US have decided to explore new potential of energy. In this addition, America has targeted to reduce its petroleum consumption by 20 percent in 10 years and give boost to more use of eco-friendly energy source e.g. biofuels. American step came in the middle of rising apprehension of global warming and applauded by the green lobbies as well. On one side US initiative is earning praise, but in the same league, OPEC is threatening American increasing budget for biofuels could push oil prices “through the roof”. OPEC chief cartel asserts. OPEC secretary general Abdalla El-Badri add more by saying that increasing budget for biofuels would cut investment in the new oil production. OPEC members control about 40 percent of the world’s oil production and this warning came when leaders of the G8 industrialized nations gather for their summit in Germany. In this meeting clean and healthy environmental issues are high on the agenda and the use of biofuels is central to the attempts of many G8 countries to cut their carbon emissions. But OPEC latest warning can hinder the possible quick break through. Image: esru Source: BBC

OPEC won’t increase oil supplies: Iran

Iranian oil minister asserts that OPEC won’t release more oil into the market ahead of its next policy meeting in September as markets have sufficient crude oil reserve, whereas Saudi Arabia decides to keep its shipment volumes steady. Iranian Petroleum Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh unleashes his statement in regional oil and gas conference Kuala Lumpur that There is sufficient crude oil in the market. There is no shortage of commercial oil stocks are at a very high level, at a comfortable level Minister reveal its desire to build energy cooperation in Asia as Chinese and Indian economies are expanding speedily and expected to become two major oil consumers in the next 20 years. But rejected country’s concrete plans to supply crude to China’s strategic oil reserves. But in the long run, country has been looking for strengthening its base and seeking more business opportunity in the region. Keeping growing market leaders in mind Iranian government is working on to finalize five joint-venture refinery projects in the region with China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Syria, which will have total capacity of 1.1 million barrels a day. After the statement, market experienced a prices surged for the trading. Light, sweet crude for July delivery gained 35 cents to $65.11 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by afternoon in Europe. Brent crude for July delivery mounts 31 cents to $68.91 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London. In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures raised nearly a cent to $1.9072 a gallon. Image: richard-seaman Via: MSNBC

Biofuels budget increases, leaves oil drillers in limbo

Increasing budget for the future’s energy source ‘biofuels’ has spurred the din among the oil producer and looking for the measure to combat with the forthcoming problems. Oil producers have pulled out their plan to increase refineries in the wake of keep gasoline prices high. President Bush has called for the reducing oil dependency and by 2020 world will slashes 20 percent of oil use. President’s whim and increasing budget has force oil companies to consider the future of the oil and its viability. Growing concern of increasing environment threat and President Bush’s announcement has left oil producers in a fix of growing oil’s market in the coming decade, therefore oil drillers have step back from their previous decision to plants new refineries. In the recent time, consumers have faced a vital problem of rapidly mounting gasoline prices. Apart from the tumults in the oil producing countries, American senators have blamed shortage of new refineries as Senators James Inhofe and R-Okla., highly criticizes the oil drillers policies, during debate on a Senate energy bill. The fact is that Americans are paying more at the pump because we do not have the domestic capacity to refine the fuels consumers demand This summer was the toughest for the consumers as oil prices have touched the all time high and suspicion over the prices still haunting consumers and policy makers. Despite government intervention and all possible diplomatic measures, oil prices remain well above $3 a gallon. Stiff rise in the gasoline has already inundates the profit of many sectors. Auto giants are the worse affected by it. In the middle of rising prices, American auto giants have lost their market to the spurring Asian rivals. Once customer’s darling SUV and other roaring vehicles are now missing from the busy high ways. American auto giant Ford is on the verge to be a history. Last year, the Energy Department has declared the upsurge in the profit and anticipates for the more profitable year, increasing demand boosts their refining capacity by more than 1.6 million barrels a day, a roughly 10 percent increase. That would be enough to produce an additional 37 million gallons of gasoline daily. But after experiencing such market down fall oil companies have scaled those expansion plans back by nearly 40 percent and more cancellations are expected if Congress passes legislation now before the Senate calling for 15 billion gallons of ethanol use annually by 2015 and more than double that by 2022, say industry and government officials. American new plan to save green earth from boiling up seems too costly as it’s receiving set back one after the other. Earlier OPEC has shown their apprehension of lower budget for the new refineries and now oil drillers themselves are raising voice against the proposed biofuels investment. Image: Alibaba Via: ABCnews

Tullow discovers huge oil reserve in Ghana

British oil and gas company Tullow Oil has discovered 600 million barrels of oil off the Ghanaian coast, illustrating the growing importance of Africa in efforts to quench the world’s thirst for energy. Oil driller has earlier expected about 250 million barrels of oil from its Mahogany-1 well on the West Cape Three Points block offshore Ghana. With this oil discovery, Africa will increases its presence in the world growing demand of oil and will play a major role as demand for oil increases — Nigeria is already the world’s sixth-largest exporter of oil, accounting for 2.6 million barrels a day, and Africa’s biggest producer. Company asserted that it’s one of the biggest oil discoveries in Africa in recent times, but it could take up to seven years to flow in the market. Tullow said that the structure it had drilled to discover the oil straddled both the West Cape Three Points block and the adjacent Deepwater Tano block, of which Tullow is also a co-owner. It holds a 22.9 percent stake in West Cape Three Points, and a 49.95 percent stake in Deepwater Tano. As the news hit the market Tullow’s shares saw upswing as it rose to 465.25 pence on the London Stock Exchange, before settling at 460.25 pence — a record close — which represented a 12.5 percent increase from the previous closing. With the resent discovery, Ghana will get a major boost in their economy. Liquid currency will give extra option to government to explore different sector for the upliftment of the society. As Ghana’s President John Kufuor said, Oil is money, and we need money to do the schools, the roads, the hospitals, even without oil, we are doing so well, already. Now, with oil as a shot in the arm, we’re going to fly Image: as.wn Via: BBC

Senate rejects Coal-to-Liquid bill

The Senate rejects another two additions coal-to-liquid proposal bill by huge margin amid the growing concern of increasing global warning. The bill, which proposed to liquefy the coal to meet with the scarcity of petroleum, got sarcasm from the environmentalists. Fuel developers seek a huge federal assistance as they want to develop it an important alternative to petroleum. Overwhelming proposed bill lost in the ground as senators opposes the bill by a 61 to 33 vote; senators turned back one amendment that would have authorized $200 million to build coal-to-liquid plants and $10 billion in loans to pay for capturing and storing greenhouse gases from the plants. The second measure, defeated 55 to 39, would have created a fuel-mandate program requiring the production of 6 billion gallons of liquid coal fuel by 2022. Green lobbies are criticizing the coal-to-liquid proposal right from the beginning as such technology produces twice as much greenhouse gas as petroleum-based motor fuels and would greatly expand coal mining. Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute, sarcastically lashes out on the technology by saying that If you were trying to choose some way to increase global warming emission, coal-to-liquid is what you’d choose Whereas some senators argued in favor of the bill as United State is battling with growing demand of the fuels. Sen. Robert C. Byrd said that the United States has a huge coal reserve and if it will convert it into oil than it will cheaper that petroleum or natural gas. Meanwhile, the congress has ask to emphasis on the other renewable energy sources as president Bush has already forth out sates plan to lessen its dependency over the petroleum and by 2020 increase biofuels consumption over petroleum by 20 percent. Apart from it The Senate Finance Committee also working on the other possible energy sources and providing them additional assistance as committee sent a $32.1 billion tax package to the floor that would create incentives for renewable fuels and alternative vehicles, and pay for them by tightening the tax rules on oil and gas companies. Among the provisions is an extension of tax incentives for renewable electricity initiatives, including credits for solar, wind and microturbine energy projects. The package also has measures to encourage production of ethanol and other biofuels, increase refinery capacity and refine more fuel from oil shale and tar sands. Image Via: Washingtonpost