Markham on Energy

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 →
Pipeline integrity programs: Is a 5,000 barrel Keystone-style leak likely in Canada?

Pipeline integrity programs: Is a 5,000 barrel Keystone-style leak likely in Canada?

CEPA says pipeline integrity program begun in 2010 is showing results, data suggests pipeline leaks are declining Thanks, TransCanada, your timing couldn’t have been worse. Spilling 5,000 barrels of crude oil in South Dakota in mid-Nov. just as construction begins on the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline has again stoked British Columbia pipeline opposition. But the […]

By December 12, 2017 0 Comments Read More →
Oil companies cautious, Pembina supportive of new Alberta plan to lower GHGs from large emitters

Oil companies cautious, Pembina supportive of new Alberta plan to lower GHGs from large emitters

Average cost of Carbon Competitiveness Incentives will be $.50/b and 92-95% of production will pay under $1/b – Pembina The Alberta government released the Carbon Competitiveness Incentives (its replacement for the large emitter program) this week and thus far industry continues to worry about higher costs in a low price environment, while carbon pricing supporters praised […]

Alberta’s new Carbon Competitiveness Incentives program ‘makes too much sense’ – economist

Alberta’s new Carbon Competitiveness Incentives program ‘makes too much sense’ – economist

Replacement for large emitter tax is combination of carbon levy, output-based allocations, $1.4 billion innovation fund After  months of consultations and public hints, the Alberta government finally unveiled the Carbon Competitiveness Incentives program. This is big news for the provincial oil patch, but will also after other industries like cement production, chemical manufacturing, and electricity […]

Podcast: Cleantech helps solve emissions, environmental issues in oil and gas industry

Podcast: Cleantech helps solve emissions, environmental issues in oil and gas industry

Naturally Resourceful event brought together industry, government, entrepreneurs to discuss strategies for growing cleantech, or “restech” as Muir calls it Contrary to popular opinion, cleantech (short for clean technologies) is not the exclusive domain of renewable energy or net-zero homes or  any of the thousands of technologies that are transforming how Canadians work and live. […]

Canada will probably win legal fight with BC over Trans Mountain Expansion, but at what cost?

Canada will probably win legal fight with BC over Trans Mountain Expansion, but at what cost?

Federal government enjoys exclusive constitutional jurisdiction over inter-provincial pipelines, can over-ride Province, municipalities on Trans Mountain Expansion permitting British Columbia’s strategy of delaying permits for the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline may be working. Project proponent Kinder Morgan says that it is pushing back the start of construction nine months and if there is further “regulatory uncertainty,” […]

New BC electric work vehicle program should be focus of Horgan govt’s zero emission transportation strategy

New BC electric work vehicle program should be focus of Horgan govt’s zero emission transportation strategy

Electric work vehicles add value for industry by lowering costs, providing other advantages like better torque As a rule, electric vehicle subsidy programs are bad public policy. The American experience nicely illustrates how to tax dollars helping millionaires buy $125,000 Teslas. But a new BC program to boost sales of specialty EVs, especially electric work […]

Rachel Notley extends pipeline olive branch to British Columbia in major Vancouver speech

Rachel Notley extends pipeline olive branch to British Columbia in major Vancouver speech

Notley’s speech emphasized Alberta commitment to combating climate change, economic benefits to all Canadians When Premier Rachel Notley announced her cross-country tour to support pipeline projects specifically, and more generally the Alberta oil and gas industry, she focused on the rule of law, an argument that sells poorly in British Columbia. But her speech to […]

More Alberta refining, upgrading of heavy crude oil is never going to be economic, but partial upgrading might be

More Alberta refining, upgrading of heavy crude oil is never going to be economic, but partial upgrading might be

Full upgrading is a bust, new refineries are too risky, and converting existing refineries is constrained by US shale oil supplies Albertans should stop pining for more refining and upgrading of Alberta oil sands bitumen and heavy crude oil, judging by the conclusions of a new study from IHS MarkIt. The economics simply don’t work. […]

By November 28, 2017 0 Comments Read More →