Shell’s chief executive has staged a defiant performance at the company’s annual shareholders meeting, claiming calls to curb new oil developments were “unrealistic” and saying there would always be opponents to plans to drill in the Arctic. Ben van Beurden insisted Shell is sensitive towards global warming and the environment – telling shareholders “your company […]
Oil companies dump plans to explore the Arctic
After years of mishaps and false starts, some oil companies are giving up on , in the Arctic. Many companies have allowed their leases on offshore Arctic acreage to expire. Since 2003, the rights to an estimated 584,000 acres in the Beaufort Sea have been allowed to lapse. The oil industry was once optimistic about […]
Damage worse than thought
Some regions in the Gulf of Mexico affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are still feeling it’s affects. It was four years ago when BP’s well ignited and pumped oil into the Gulf of Mexico for three months. Six months after the spill, a survey showed severe damage was done to coral up to […]
Total S.A. finds out the hard way what the rest of the oil industry is experiencing
When Total’s chief Christophe de Margerie launched a “high risk, high reward” oil exploration strategy two years ago, he was betting he could hit a bonanza, where his rivals had failed.. Now it appears the French oil company is following the industry trend of making smaller and fewer finds. This despite the fact global investments […]
Earthquakes spur more fears about fracking
A jump in the number of earthquakes in Oklahoma, and across the north central U.S. from Colorado to Ohio. Is it just a coincidence the increase in seismic activity if happening along with oil activity? That’s what scientists and regulators are trying to determine. Some seismologists believe waste water injected back into the ground is […]
Comment: MP Speaks out in favour of pipelines
Re: Protestors disapprove pipeline decision (The News, June 20) While pipeline protesters are ideologically opposed to resource development, I think most people will agree that the only rational way for governments to deal with major development projects is to base those decisions on facts and expert scientific advice. That is why, four years ago, the […]
Comment: The Supreme Court rules on First Nations rights and Canadians duty
A Supreme Court decision in June has better defined what is meant, and owed to First Nations bands, by the term “aboriginal title” in this country. A long-sought victory for a collection of bands in central British Columbia has obvious implications for development on Crown land in areas not covered by treaty, most obviously the […]
Mexican Shale Plays Hampered by Drug Cartels
It’s tough enough getting shale gas out of the ground, having bullets whiz past your head is making it almost impossible in Northern Mexico. Drug traffickers and thieves engage in running battles with soldiers along the countries Texas border. One of the more recent incidents saw about three dozen workers with Weatherford International (WFT) looking […]
Due diligence required
All training programs are not created equal. You wouldn’t want a piece of equipment on your rig that isn’t certified safe, it`s important your employees have the proper credentials as well. The problem is not all companies that offer safety programs are accredited. Before signing on with a safety program insist on seeing its Certificate […]
Safety first
It’s a plan that just makes sense. You wouldn’t want equipment on rigs that isn’t up to safety standards, so why would you want people who aren’t properly prepared to go to work. The International Association of Drilling Contractors has launched its Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) Competencies Program. The plan is to help ensure […]