Energy Tomorrow Blog
New Colorado Regulatory Push Could Again Imperil State Jobs, Economy
colorado regulation oil and natural gas economic impacts
Mark Green
Posted March 20, 2019
Though Colorado has set the gold standard for state regulation of natural gas and oil, some don’t think that’s enough.
Opponents of oil and natural gas are pushing state legislation to let local governments have regulatory authority over industry – “local control” – which in other states has been a way to curtail energy development. If enacted in a state that ranks top 10 in the country in natural gas and oil production, it could have big negative impacts for the state and nation.
Industry's Focus on Cutting Methane Emissions
emission reductions methane oil and natural gas epa the-environmental-partnership
Erik Milito
Posted March 18, 2019
The oil and natural gas industry is laser-focused on reducing methane emissions from production for two very important reasons.
First, the risks of climate change are real, requiring real solutions. Our industry takes these risks seriously, and we are driving solutions – evident in our innovation and technical work and in our long working relationship with the EPA.
Second, our members are in the business of providing natural gas, of which methane is the chief component, for clean electricity generation, to heat Americans’ homes and to supply manufacturers and other businesses that have realized billions in cost savings as a result. There’s no question that industry is highly motivated to capture as much methane as possible for progress on climate goals and for its customers. The results speak for themselves.
The Critical Importance of Energy Access in Alaska’s Coastal Plain
alaska leasing plan access economic benefits jobs security
Jessica Lutz
Posted March 18, 2019
In light of last week’s comment deadline for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Alaska’s Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, it’s important to remember just how critical natural gas and oil development is to the Alaskan economy, the Alaskan people, and the long-term energy security of the United States.
Industry Leaders Highlight Importance of Women in the Workforce
Kate Lowery
Posted March 14, 2019
The natural gas and oil industry continues to develop the workforce of the future, with women playing an increasingly prominent role in industry’s success. This important shift was celebrated by industry leaders at IHS Markit and API’s Women in Energy reception on Monday, as the IHS CERAWeek conference kicked off.
NOPEC a Detriment to U.S. Economic and Energy Interests
Jessica Lutz
Posted March 13, 2019
A recent analysis from the Baker Institute sheds light on the implications of H.R. 948, the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act, that was recently reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary as well as related legislation, S. 370, that has been introduced in the Senate. The daunting takeaway: The Act’s extraterritorial overreach would harm core U.S. economic and energy interests.
U.S. Consumers Bearing the Brunt of Tariffs and Quotas
taxes trade consumers imports infrastructure
Jessica Lutz
Posted March 13, 2019
The administration is considering doubling down on its trade war despite repeated warnings and thorough evidence that tariffs and quotas are negatively impacting American consumers, even while failing to lower the U.S. trade deficit. We can now add one more report to that long list of evidence with the release of a new analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) with all-too-familiar findings: the economic impact of trade restrictions is falling solely on consumers – not the countries that they target – despite the Administration’s claims. This serves as an unfortunate reminder that tariffs are a tax on imported goods that is paid for not only by American businesses but potentially consumers.
Energy, Women and the Opportunity to Lead
women in energy industry oil and natural gas jobs
Megan Bloomgren
Posted March 9, 2019
To mark International Women’s Day, we have a new video featuring leading women from the natural gas and oil industry, including Susan Dio, chairman and president of BP America; Gretchen Watkins, president and U.S. country chair for Shell; and Stacey Nachbaur, Hess senior operations manager for upstream assets. Of course, the things these women say about the natural gas and oil industry are true every day of the year.
Our industry is high tech and critically important to the economy and powering modern life. Natural gas and oil are center stage in most geopolitical discussions, and natural gas is leading the way in reducing greenhouse emissions.
Safe or Safer Offshore Regulatory Compliance, Part 2
offshore safety bsee offshore technology innovation
Mark Green
Posted March 7, 2019
In this post last week we explained how alternative measures, approved by federal officials, may be used to comply with the 2016 well control rule, as well as all regulatory requirements associated with offshore oil and natural gas development. …
Now the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is chiming in – not surprising, since the agency’s integrity was besmirched. In a letter to members of Congress this week, Lars Herbst, BSEE’s Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf regional director, called the regulatory provision for alternative procedures or equipment “long-standing,” having been granted by the previous administration as well as the current one. Herbst writes that “zero” waivers have been granted by BSEE regarding the well control rule.
The Growing Good-News Story on U.S. Natural Gas
natural gas lng exports us energy security trade economic growth iea
Mark Green
Posted March 5, 2019
The International Energy Agency’s Fatih Birol regularly heralds the positive impacts of the American shale energy revolution (see here, here and here). All good, but U.S. shale’s global impact is just now starting to be felt, IEA’s executive director said last week.
During a global markets update at the U.S. Energy Department with Secretary Rick Perry, Birol said the United States will be responsible for about two-thirds of the growth in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) export market. Of course, this reflects the abundance of domestic natural gas, largely produced from shale formations. Big-time global impact lies ahead, Birol said. Add to that environmental and climate progress, which we’ll get to in a bit.
Certainly, there’s every reason to believe U.S. natural gas and oil can meet or exceed global expectations. Soaring U.S. crude oil production has increased global supply, supporting the stability of global markets – while reducing weekly U.S. crude imports to their lowest level in 23 years (as of Feb. 22), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Safe or Safer Offshore Regulatory Compliance
offshore safety safe operations bsee offshore technology innovation
Mark Green
Posted February 28, 2019
Months before the federal offshore well control rule went into effect in July 2016, API told Congress the safety regulation could actually increase risks associated with offshore oil and natural gas development – that its rigid requirements could stifle innovation and thwart the effectiveness of new operational technologies.
The 2016 rule is an example of “prescriptive” regulation, a one-size-fits-all approach that requires certain processes, procedures and tests. It was and is the wrong approach for offshore safety – mainly because every oil and natural gas well has different characteristics: geology, depth, water pressure and temperature and other variables that factor into developing the best safety plan for a particular well.
In that context offshore operators seek government-approved alternative compliance paths – which they’ve done since the rule’s launch in 2016, when the Obama administration was in charge of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the overseer of offshore safety. Indeed, the requests show the rule needs fixing.
