http://www.bretboteler.com Oil and Gas Industry Blog Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:43:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en свети минаикониonline poker newsFundamentals may still appear weak, but gas and oil prices are going up regardless – and that’s looking more like a long-term proposition. Overall, oil has rebounded from under $35 a barrel at the beginning of the year to about $60 per barrel My guess is the ... http://www.bretboteler.com/with-fundamentals-weak-look-to-washington-for-industry-optimism/ Great news! A recent study out of Colorado State University is predicting a mild hurricane season for 2009. Since their methodology has approximately a 78% accuracy rate, this is truly good news. For more, visit my blog at Investor's Insight. http://www.bretboteler.com/csu-predicts-mild-hurricane-season/ While it may be a popular PR move, adding $80+ billion in taxes to the oil industry's plate is bad for consumers. This doesn't seem to be a problem for many politicians, though. When higher taxes result in higher fuel costs they simply hold a congressional hearing to "look into" ... http://www.bretboteler.com/obama-administration-proposes-80-billion-tax-increase-for-oil-industry/ While the merits of capitalism are under fire in the U.S., countries that rely on oil revenues to fund socialist agendas are experiencing significant hardship as a result of current oil prices. Always willing to help (for a price), Western oil producers are now poised to acquire desireable new contracts ... http://www.bretboteler.com/us-oil-producers-gain-increased-access-to-international-contracts/ OPEC officials representing Algeria and Liberia say the new target price for should be around $60 bbl and the majors are  withdrawing oil from storage. For thoughts on how these and other weekly events will affect the oil markets, check out my blog at Investor's Insight. http://www.bretboteler.com/oil-at-60-per-barrel-by-4q09/ In an apparent attempt to prevent the global recession from deepening, OPEC announced at it's  most recent meeting that quotas will stand pat. Meanwhile, U.S. drilling activity is dropping off in the face of projected supply shortages. For more information visit my blog at Investor's Insight. http://www.bretboteler.com/opec-rejects-additional-production-cuts/ Oil and gas supply shortages are "inevitable" unless major developed and developing states undertake a massive production expansion effort, says a new report from the U.S. Pentagon. Terrorism and organized crime are compromising the productivity of sector-specific oil markets around the globe, leaving a supply gap that could hit the ... http://www.bretboteler.com/pentagon-warns-of-severe-shortages-by-2012/ I've been writing about the Obama administration a lot lately, and this week is no different. Washington is planning to levy a massive tax increase against domestic oil companies. For three reasons why this is a very bad idea, visit my blog at Investor's Insight. http://www.bretboteler.com/washington-tax-hike-will-increase-consumer-costs-and-foreign-dependence-on-oil/ The Obama administration announced this week that it will be conducting "stress tests" to determine the financial health of top U.S. banks. Oil refineries in the U.S. are undergoing a similar test, and it is no dry run. For more on the precarious position some refineries are in and their ... http://www.bretboteler.com/pressure-point-diagnostics/ China is stockpiling oil at bargain basement prices. OPEC cuts its demand forecast and signals that another cut in production is not far behind. Japan's GDP is at the lowest point since 1974. For thoughts on how these factors are affecting our market-driven economy, check out my blog at Investor's ... http://www.bretboteler.com/where-market-factors-converge/