The US shale gas industry is in crisis, the sector is losing money hand over fist. Problems of oversupply, desperate financial troubles, poor productivity are making it increasingly difficult to turn a profit. Much of the sector is likely to be wiped off the map, what is left, will be taken over by investors with deep pockets and long term plans.
Despite this nightmare, the industry is pinning its hopes on gas exports. There are already applications to the US Department of Energy amounting to 27.58 BCF/D, which is more than the entire US shale gas output. If exports are permitted, then US low domestic gas prices would be forced up to reach world market levels. Certainly the profits are there when both European and Asian markets are prepared to pay around US$17 MCF (per 1000 cubic feet) for gas.
Sometimes, you can be at a meeting and you have no idea what they are talking about. This is especially the case with the specialised technical business dialect used by oil traders. For instance, do you know what ‘AAA’, ‘goinglong’ or even ‘lay days’ means?
You will need to know at least some of these terms when you are involved in sending crude oil from Brazil to Germany via a large oil tanker across the Atlantic to Rotterdam, where it is refined and the resultant products are barged up the Rhine to a terminal in Frankfurt.
As the new term approaches, mydeposits.co.uk, a Government-authorisedtenancy deposit protection scheme, has compiled top tips for students heading off to university and renting a property for the first time.
Following the recent publicity given to companies offering consumers ‘free’ solar panels that will save them money on their home electricity bills, a Midlands-based solar energy expert has warned that homeowners will lose out on tens of thousands of pounds under the generous-sounding deals.
Astronomers have captured a spectacular new image in a region of our neighbouring galaxy known to have an abnormally high rate of star formation that reveals yet more details about its history and development.
Camping offers the perfect opportunity to gather together and enjoy the great outdoors with your nearest and dearest. What better way to do that than with Vango’s extensive range of large capacity tents.
Visitors to the Heritage Motor Centre will be able to admire the legendary Batmobile and Batmans & Robins Batcycle as part of the exciting new exhibition “Star Cars” until 5 September.
Best holiday for the boys has to be cruising along the Skyline Drive on the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a Harley Davidson motorcycle, with the eagles riding the thermals next to you, then dropping down to the valley floor as the green fields and vineyards flash by.
A civic reception will be held to mark Oxford City Council receiving a 108 year old ceremonial truncheon. The wooden truncheon, once belonged to a Mayor of Oxford, and following an auction earlier this year, the new owner is now bestowing it on the city.
Localism must not miss the bigger picture on planning - A uniquely wide-ranging group of 29 national bodies have written to the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, to urge national and local government to work with them to ensure that strategic planning – planning at the ‘larger-than-local level’ – is embedded in any reform of the planning system under the new agenda for localism.
O2 today announces that Research In Motion’s BlackBerry® has launched on Pay & Go from O2 and a whole new audience can now send each other messages on BlackBerry® Messenger (BBMTM), use RIM’s powerful multitasking software and keep up to date with their email and favourite social networks on the go.
Playwright, broadcaster and British Museum Trustee Bonnie Greer will co-curate a unique display which centres around one of the British Museum’s most fascinating objects, the Akan drum.
The Energy Institute (EI) is very pleased to announce the recipient of the 73rd Melchett Award is Professor Jim Skea OBE FEI, Research Director, UK Energy Research Centre. Professor Skea was presented with his award by James Smith FEI, President, Energy Institute and Chairman, Shell UK, at an evening reception in London where he addressed guests and presented his Melchett Lecture. http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/Europe-Energy-Report.html
There is growing scepticism led in recent months by a House of Lords inquiry into the economics of renewable energy, into the practicability of achieving the government’s ambitions to dramatically increase the share that renewables plays in the UK energy mix, especially the usage of wind power in electricity generation.
Such concerns about the practicability of such policies are arising when Europe is experiencing dramatic changes in price and supply disruption to it’s imported energy supplies. In Britain the current credit crunch has further weakened the business case for renewables, especially wind power. In fact Simon Harrison, Chair, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Energy Sector Panel and Director, Energy Mott MacDonald remarks such schemes are: ‘Being affected adversely by the decline in the pound.’
