From AP reports:
ANCHORAGE – The Coast Guard says it prohibited a tanker in Valdez from loading oil after cracks were found in the 24-year-old vessel. The S/R Baytown belongs to a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp., Houston-based SeaRiver Maritime Inc.
The tanker crew discovered a 5-inch crack in the main deck and notified the Coast Guard [...]
Archive for March, 2009
ExxonMobil Tanker in trouble in Valdez
Posted in ExxonMobil, Oil, tagged ExxonMobil, Oil Tanker, TAPS, Valdez on March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Polarization of Alaska – Sarah Palin Edition
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Alaska, Sarah Palin on March 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »
I’ve debated about posting this. I’ve generally tried to steer away from politics and focus on concrete facts and defensible data when posting to the blogosphere. I’ve generally saved any liberal rants of mine for letters to the editor of the local newspaper.
My last screed to the editor questioned whether it was ethical for Governor [...]
Crude Oil Prices, 20 March 2009
Posted in OPEC, Oil, tagged Crude Oil Prices, Oil Prices on March 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The latest numbers…
Crude oil spot prices, US$/bbl
updated: Friday, 20 March, 2009
Name
Last close
Prev. Close
1 week
4 weeks
3 mos.
1 yr.
3 yrs.
Brent Blend
49.31
45.27
42.54
42.51
39.87
103.40
63.44
Tapis
53.04
50.77
46.69
45.42
42.47
111.45
66.20
Alaska North Slope
48.50
48.43
47.93
42.33
36.76
103.25
60.56
Dubai 1M
48.35
45.85
42.78
40.67
40.52
93.69
58.56
Louisiana Sweet
52.65
50.83
48.53
46.05
39.75
104.76
64.68
Urals
47.56
43.87
41.19
41.46
38.22
97.95
58.54
WTI
51.52
48.12
46.91
39.60
32.37
103.25
62.81
Oman 1M
48.80
47.14
40.13
40.78
43.41
99.82
60.34
Minas
46.09
52.47
48.09
47.82
42.27
108.04
61.15
Forties
49.16
1.23
42.04
42.51
38.52
103.30
63.69
Bonny Light
50.36
46.92
45.34
45.51
41.77
106.20
64.74
Looks like crude oil prices may have stabilized somewhat, and perhaps are going up slightly, although the most recent uptick may be due as much to the weakness of [...]
Oil hits high for 2009 as dollar plunges
Posted in OPEC, Oil, tagged Oil, Oil Prices, OPEC on March 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
An interesting article on the impact of currency valuation on crude oil prices. From Petroleum News, citing Chris Kahn of AP.
Oil prices hit new highs for the year on March 19 after a decision by the Federal Reserve to spend billions snapping up U.S. bonds sent the dollar tumbling. Oil is priced in dollars and [...]
Friday the 13th Oil Prices
Posted in OPEC, Oil, tagged Crude Oil Prices, OPEC on March 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Oil held above $47 a barrel today ahead of Opec’s Sunday meeting in Vienna, after two volatile days of trade this week. OPEC meets this weekend to discuss production policy and perhaps adjust the 4.2 million barrels/day cut it implemented last September. Crude oil prices have hovered between $33 and $50 since the beginning [...]
9th Circuit Vacates Shell Beaufort Sea
Posted in Arctic, Offshore, Oil, tagged Arctic, Beaufort Sea, Oil, Oil exploration, Shell on March 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
From the newswires, courtesy Upstream Online:
A federal appeals court has vacated an opinion issued last year that halted Shell’s drilling plans for the Beaufort Sea off Alaska’s northern coast, leaving both sides in the case wondering what the action means.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday gave no indication whether a change in [...]
The North Pole in Peril
Posted in Arctic, tagged Arctic on March 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
An excerpt from a well-written opinion piece by Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France and leader of the Socialist Party, and a member of the European Parliament. Go read the complete original piece at Project Syndicate.
Throughout most of human history, ice almost completely barred all navigation in the seas surrounding the North Pole, and [...]
Eni Stops Nikaitchuq Development
Posted in Alaska, Arctic, Heavy Oil, Oil, Oooguruk, Prudhoe Bay, tagged Alaska, Arctic, ASRC, Eni, Nikaitchuq, North Slope, Oil exploration, Oooguruk, Pioneer, Prudhoe Bay on March 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
From the news wires:
Italian producer Eni has stopped work on the Nikaitchuq offshore project on the North Slope in Alaska.
“We were informed by Eni management of their decision to defer the Nikaitchuq project completion. This is not a project cancellation but a decision made by Eni management in recognition of the current oil price and [...]
