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Time for oilfield services assoc. to choose progressive CEO as Salkeld retires

Time for oilfield services assoc. to choose progressive CEO as Salkeld retires

Salkeld provided effective leadership as Canadian industry begins grappling with technology-driven changes to its business model Mark Salkeld is preparing to leave his job in mid-March as head of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. Who will the PSAC board choose as his successor? Will it be a conservative with instructions to push back hard against […]

By December 22, 2017 1 Comments Read More →
Canada needs new pipelines, as widening crude oil price differentials demonstrate

Canada needs new pipelines, as widening crude oil price differentials demonstrate

Pipeline opponents claim no new pipelines required, but market punishes Canadian producers with lower prices due to constrained shipping capacity Will the recent widening of the differential between Western Canadian Select and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate prices, which stood at over $34CDN Wednesday, finally put to rest the patently false narrative that the Alberta-based […]

By December 21, 2017 0 Comments Read More →
Podcast: Forget steam, it’s time to microwave that oil sands bitumen!

Podcast: Forget steam, it’s time to microwave that oil sands bitumen!

RF LX downhole heater promises to replace steam for SAGD, lower or eliminate GHG emissions, reduce costs Of all the types of energy news I report, innovation and new technology stories are the most interesting. There’s something about smart people using science and engineering to solve real world problems that gives me hope for humanity. […]

By December 20, 2017 0 Comments Read More →
Why the poor value proposition of electric cars should deep six Canada’s zero-emission vehicle policy

Why the poor value proposition of electric cars should deep six Canada’s zero-emission vehicle policy

Electric cars are expensive, have limited range, and generally provide low value compared to gasoline-powered vehicles This spring the Canadian government announced that a zero-emission vehicles policy would soon be forthcoming, but is this a good use of the limited resources Canada has to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions? Absolutely not. Electric cars still provide very […]

By December 18, 2017 7 Comments Read More →
Podcast: EV battery technology…is solid-state emerging as the next big thing?

Podcast: EV battery technology…is solid-state emerging as the next big thing?

Lithium-ion batteries likely to drop 50% in cost, rise 50% in range – Dr. Yi Cui of Stanford University Back in mid-Nov., General Motors fired a shot across the bow of Tesla that didn’t generate as much excitement as it deserved: in 2021 the all-electric Chevy Bolt will get better batteries that crack the $100 […]

By December 15, 2017 0 Comments Read More →
CAPP misses mark with criticism of new Alberta GHG emissions reduction policy for oil and gas sector

CAPP misses mark with criticism of new Alberta GHG emissions reduction policy for oil and gas sector

CAPP didn’t make constructive contribution to drafting of Carbon Competitiveness Incentives, hasn’t yet completed its analysis The gloves are off. Canada’s biggest oil and gas trade group came out swinging against Rachel Notley and her Climate Leadership Plan Monday with an op-ed by CEO Tim McMillan in the Calgary Herald. With all respect to the Canadian […]

By December 14, 2017 0 Comments Read More →
Low costs, less red tape boosts Saskatchewan thermal oil production

Low costs, less red tape boosts Saskatchewan thermal oil production

Black Pearl says Saskatchewan thermal oil low production costs rival those of Permian Basin in West Texas Saskatchewan thermal oil – thick, heavy crude that is steamed to make it flow in a well – near the border-straddling city of Lloydminster competes with the famed Permian basin fields for low costs, output doesn’t decline quickly […]

By December 13, 2017 1 Comments Read More →