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Tax Dodge: Cap-and-Trade Would Harm Consumers – and the Oil Industry

Last week former Vice-President Al Gore trekked to Capital Hill – presumably in a fossil-fueled private jet – to express his support for a cap-and-trade energy bill that would penalize companies and individuals who use fossil fuels like oil...

Published 04-30-2009 7:19 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, cap-and-trade energy bill

Q1 Update: Economy Keeps Taking Toll on Oil and Gas Markets

The business landscape continues to crystallize for the oil industry, although not in the way that many of us in the industry hoped it would. Of course, all things are dynamic and things could change, and for the better. But right now, we’re getting...

Published 04-21-2009 2:04 AM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, economy, oil

Milder Hurricane Season is Good News for Oil Markets

I’m not a weatherman and I don’t play one on television. But as a veteran oil guy, I’m a big believer in the old adage, “safety first”. Sixteen oil riggers died in a helicopter crash over the North Sea recently. The chopper...

Published 04-15-2009 8:01 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, Hurricane season

Can the Oil Industry Survive Obama?

I’ve been writing extensively about the new administration in Washington, and it’s die-hard opposition to the oil industry. In a word, the political party in power wants to do away with any derivative of fossil fuels by taxing in on both ends...

Published 04-06-2009 5:46 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, alternative fuels, U.S. energy policy

Hard-Up Oil Regions Opening the Pipelines

I noticed this weekend that Helmerich & Payne, a big U.S. oil drilling company, announced that it was slamming the breaks on oil drilling operations in Venezuela. Why? Because of delayed payments from Venezuela's state oil company. No need to...

Published 03-30-2009 7:45 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, state-run oil companies, Western oil producers

OPEC Stands Pat as Rig Activity Declines

Well, we have our answer from OPEC, which decided to keep output numbers at current levels, despite plenty of rumors among oil traders that it would cut supply. At a meeting yesterday, OEPC officials indicated that higher energy prices would further crimp...

Published 03-16-2009 3:07 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil industry, OPEC, economy

Oil Prices Rise; Mexican Collapse

It’s good to see oil prices on the rebound – up over $48 per barrel as of mid-day Monday. That’s an eight-week high and attributable to OPEC’s apparent decision to tighten oil supply by cutting off an additional 800,000 barrels...

Published 03-09-2009 4:31 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil prices, OPEC

Obama’s Plan? Tax Big Oil – A Lot

It’s a funny thing. The oil industry is one of the few industries that doesn’t have its hand out in Washington, looking for a big bailout. What do we get in return for our good business management? A huge tax increase under the new regime...

Published 03-02-2009 10:30 AM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil industry taxes

China Stockpiling Oil; OPEC Cuts Forecast

There’s a lot happening in the oil market this week so let’s get straight to it. China syndrome -- China is the latest government to stockpile oil inventories – buying up millions of barrels of oil at cheaper prices and storing them...

Published 02-16-2009 3:40 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil prices, OPEC, China, oil markets

Where Exxon Goes, So Goes the Oil Market?

I don’t write about oil stocks all that much, but it’s earnings season, and some of the big boys are clocking in with profit numbers. The impact those numbers have could reverberate onto the profit pictures of oil drilling and oil refining...

Published 02-02-2009 5:45 AM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil prices, OPEC, Wall Street, stock buybacks

Bottom’s Up: Oil Prices Show Signs of Stability, Rebound

I wrote last week how Morgan Stanley had an epiphany of sorts, in buying 2 million barrels of oil at a (seemingly) bargain basement price, and then storing its stash of crude on an oil supertanker off the Gulf of Mexico. The idea is to buy in bulk while...

Published 01-26-2009 2:15 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil prices, OPEC

Slick Move? Morgan Stanley Makes Big Super Tanker Play

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 I’ve been meaning to write about the impact of Somali pirates hijacking oil supertankers. From what I’ve seen, the damage to the oil trade is fairly significant. One piece of news this...

Published 01-20-2009 7:49 PM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, oil industry, contango effect

Gaza, China & U.S. Reserves Boost Oil Prices

It’s been a volatile start for the 2009 oil markets, with supply issues in Russia, a burgeoning military conflict in the Middle East, and big oil reserve moves by the U.S. and China all fueling a rise in energy prices across the board. Oil prices...

Published 01-06-2009 6:28 AM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler

What’s Up (Or Down) With Oil Prices? Demand the Key

I wrote last week how oil prices were stagnating even as OPEC cut the daily output by 2.2 million barrels, a move that definitely failed to jack up oil and gas prices. Right now, the “demand” side of supply and demand is calling the shots...

Published 12-29-2008 7:42 AM by Bret Boteler

Filed under: Bret Boteler, domestic drilling

Oil, Gas Investment Landscapes Slick, But Expect Solid Footing in ‘09

Greetings, my name is Bret Boteler, and I’m the founder and president of EnerMax, Inc. I’ll be coming to you over the next several weeeks with insight and commentary on the oil and gas investment marketplace. I know that are many risks and...

Published 12-23-2008 1:13 AM by Bret Boteler