Podcasts by Capitol Crude: The US Energy Policy Podcast

Oil sector advised to "Be vigilant, not afraid" in facing wave of climate lawsuits from 2023-12-11T11:00

There are more than two dozen cases filed by US cities and states pending, with allegations that Big Oil knew about the dangers of burning fossil fuels and actively hid that in...

Winter is coming: Can gas, power sectors move from finger pointing to joint coordination? from 2023-12-04T11:00

Heading into this winter, relatively mild weather is forecast, but utility regulators have warned that an extended bout of extreme winter weather could stress infrastructure an...

New underground mapping may mean more oil and gas, fewer cut trees from 2023-11-20T15:16

The climate impact of fossil fuels is in the spotlight as world leaders prepare to head to the COP28 climate negotiations in the United Arab Emirates. Environmental impacts ari...

US Elections 2024: For Republicans, energy dialogue still possible from 2023-11-13T11:00

With this year’s elections barely in the rear-view mirror, the 2024 US elections are just one year away. Already, there are questions about how energy policy, climate change an...

US Elections 2024: For Democrats, climate ‘a frontline priority’ from 2023-11-06T10:00

It’s November, and that means US elections are just one year away. But how will energy policy, climate change and prices at the pump play into this election cycle?

Listen

Power of AI: Skynet precursor or energy gamechanger? from 2023-10-30T10:00

Capitol Crude and Energy Evolution join forces to co-host today's episode, all about artificial intelligence being deployed in the energy and mining sectors. This week's guests...

Biden’s got 99 problems but geopolitical doldrums ain’t one from 2023-10-23T10:00

Some 50 years after the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the oil markets are again bracing for potential disruptions after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza.

Tiny nuclear meets big oil: Can micro reactors reduce oil and gas operations emissions? from 2023-10-16T10:00

Oil and gas production, transport and processing account for almost 15% of total energy-related greenhouse gas emissions globally, and the use of the oil and gas results in ano...

Fed up with new US offshore drilling plan, will oil sector say bye, bye, bye to Gulf of Mexico? from 2023-10-09T10:00

In about two months, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is expected to formally approve a new National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, putting a five-year offs...

Decarbonizing cement and concrete - major opportunity, or death by a thousand cuts? from 2023-10-02T10:00

Fossil fuels used for power and vehicles have been in the spotlight as the Biden Administration seeks to reduce economy-wide carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. But the US industrial sector is...

Show me the money: Oil sector walks tightrope to drive shareholder returns from 2023-09-25T10:00

Compared with 2014, the last time oil prices surged to the triple digits, the top 50 US oil and gas companies analyzed by EY more than tripled their earnings last year, according to EY’s annual ...

Arctic battle not over: AIDEA comes out swinging in fight to drill within ANWR from 2023-09-18T10:00

On Sept. 6, the Biden administration took steps to fulfill the president’s campaign promise to block oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, cancelling the...

There she blows: Interior whales on oil industry with offshore leasing restrictions from 2023-09-11T10:00

The Interior Department is set to hold Lease Sale 261 on Sept. 27, but oil and gas producers are not happy with the leasing terms and stipulations that Interior has put forth for this sale. Thei...

Is the oil market ready to say goodbye to King Dollar? from 2023-08-28T10:00

The G7-led coalition’s price cap imposed on Russian crude is set to be tested as oil prices rise. At the same time, the greenback’s supremacy in global oil trade is being challenged. 

Listen

Reality check: Oil, gas pays the bills as green ambitions not filling order books from 2023-08-21T10:00

A new report from the Energy Industries Council found that energy supply chain bosses are not seeing all the hype and ambitious net-zero pledges translate into consistent and p...

SPR refill: You can dust it off and try again from 2023-08-14T10:00

The country’s emergency crude stockpile -- called the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR -- played heavily in President Joe Biden’s strategy last year for curtailing global oil supply shortages...

Can you pay my bills? I don’t think you do, so OPEC cuts continue from 2023-08-07T10:00

OPEC on Aug. 4 renewed production cuts that are expected to tighten global oil supplies and in turn keep upwards pressure on oil prices which have seen several consecutive weeks of gains recentl...

Can AI, the metaverse help power the future? from 2023-07-31T10:00

Mentions of artificial intelligence and the metaverse may conjure images of the latest video game or social media platform, but the technologies are increasingly being deployed across a wide ran...

Making ESG work for oil, gas sector: Pipe dream or opportunity to lead? from 2023-07-24T10:00

With the rise of millennials as a formidable social force, the effectiveness of anti-oil-and-gas activism and the growing attention paid to environmental justice, the oil and g...

Wyoming holds first post-IRA oil and gas lease sale … and the results are meh from 2023-07-17T10:00

The Bureau of Land Management held a federal oil and gas lease sale in Wyoming on June 29. It marks the second onshore lease sale for the state since President Joe Biden took office and the firs...

What the Russian uprising could mean for US oil policy from 2023-07-10T10:00

An aborted rebellion by the Wagner mercenary group last month, although short-lived, highlighted potential political instability within the Kremlin and resurfaced energy security concerns after ...

Will SAF market be grounded or cleared for take-off? Tax credit rules could hold answer from 2023-06-26T10:00

A bipartisan group of senators recently wrote the Treasury Department to push for the use of the most accurate and up-to-date lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions analysis as the...

What about your friends: A key question as clean tech race heats up from 2023-06-12T09:05:34

The Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law injected an historic level of government funding and tax credits into the clean energy marketplace, but enacting t...

Is the global price cap on Russian oil sustainable? from 2023-06-05T10:00

US sanctions and export controls against Russia have centered on a dual mandate of squeezing the Kremlin’s oil export revenues and ensuring the continued flow of Russian oil supplies to the glob...

A net-zero future could see gas utilities tap the heat beneath our feet from 2023-05-22T10:00

How can we heat and cool homes in a safe, non-emitting and affordable way? Well, one nonprofit says networked geothermal systems are the answer.

Networ...

Permitting reform: An exercise in untangling 50 years of scar tissue from 2023-05-15T10:00

Streamlining the federal permitting process is key to both deploying more renewable and carbon-free energy and ensuring needed fossil fuel production for US and global markets. But how and when ...

If you build it, they will come: EV momentum ‘not going away’ from 2023-05-08T10:00

Momentum for electric vehicles is on the rise as policy, industry investment and market perspectives are aligning for a potential EV revolution. But challenges also remain plentiful.

Listen

Sue, baby, sue? Supreme Court sets stage for flood of climate lawsuits against oil majors from 2023-05-01T10:00

The US Supreme Court recently decided it would not weigh into a dispute between oil companies and local governments over the appropriate venue to hear lawsuits seeking damages for adverse impact...

How will fossil fuel-aligned voters respond to 'headlines in search of policy' in 2024? from 2023-04-24T10:00

With the recent indictment of former President Donald Trump, and with the prospect of more to come, the political waters of the country appear to be at their best muddied, at least for the Repub...

Politics or economics? OPEC+ surprises market with oil supply cuts from 2023-04-17T10:00

OPEC+ surprised market watchers with plans to make more than 1.6 million b/d of voluntary oil supply cuts, starting in May.

On the podcast, Listen

Appetite for exploration seen in latest offshore oil, gas lease sale from 2023-04-10T10:00

US Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 259, held at the end of March, was closely watched as the first oil and gas auction offered in that area since November 2021. And given that expectations weren’t too...

‘Boutique’ fuel for Midwest not the way to fix E15’s summer dilemma: fuel makers from 2023-04-03T03:26:34

Comments are due later this month on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to grant a fuel policy shift that would clear a path for eight Midwest states to offer a gasoline blend contai...

‘The bear is in control’ as oil market contends with banking crisis fallout from 2023-03-27T10:00

A global banking meltdown rattled the oil market in recent weeks and sent crude futures plummeting.

OANDA senior market analyst Listen

Geopolitical strife, politics set to take oil market on ‘wild ride’ from 2023-03-20T10:00

Sentiment suggesting continued bearishness in the crude complex is being challenged by the potential for a tightening market in the second half of the year. Russia continues to be a wildcard and...

US sanctions policy: Russia, Iran, Venezuela, oh my! from 2023-03-13T10:00

The war in Ukraine has raged on for over a year now with no signs of Russian President Vladimir Putin backing down despite the onslaught of sanctions that continue to hit the Russian economy. A ...

Hello summer. Goodbye Midwest E15 sales restrictions -- but not until 2024 from 2023-03-06T11:00

The Environmental Protection Agency recently put forth a proposal approving Midwest governors’ petition for a fuel policy shift that would allow their states to sell a gasoline blend containing ...

Will there be turbulence or clear skies for sustainable aviation fuel? from 2023-02-27T11:00

The Biden administration is working to reduce US aviation emissions by 20% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions for the sector by 2050. To meet this goal, the administration launched the Susta...

What’s transmission without a little competition? A drain on your wallet, coalition says from 2023-02-13T11:00

Accommodating the growth of renewable energy needed to meet ambitious climate goals will require the US to expand the power grid. And according to Princeton researchers, those grid investments c...

You gotta fight for your right to sue ERCOT. But is it a good idea? from 2023-02-06T11:00

As the operator of the Texas electric grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is familiar with high stakes. But it’s not extreme weather that has the grid operator on its toes this time....

Does offshore wind have the right stuff to make it as the new kid on the block? from 2023-01-30T11:00

The US has dozens of offshore wind projects in the pipeline as the Biden administration has set its sights on deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050. And 11 coastal states h...

What the FERC is going on with gas policy and regulations? from 2023-01-23T11:00

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is starting the new year with a 2-2 partisan split after former Chairman Richard Glick was forced to bid adieu to the agency after his renomination stall...

2023 is shaping up to be a year of discipline, caution and little change for the US upstream from 2023-01-09T11:00

After substantial recovery in 2022 from the low crude prices and oil demand brought about by two years of the coronavirus pandemic, 2023 appears beset with uncertainties. Russia’s war with Ukrai...

Magic 8 Ball shows ‘outlook good’ for US oil producers in 2023, analyst agrees from 2022-12-19T11:00

What will 2023 have in store for the oil sector?

EY principal Pat Jelinek is expecting healthy...

RFS blending mandate ‘makes no sense, disconnected from reality’: biodiesel group from 2022-12-12T11:00

The US Environmental Protection Agency has pitched raising the amount of renewable fuel that US refiners must mix with gasoline and diesel over the next three years. Ethanol producers generally ...

Advocacy firm teaches legacy energy to challenge the climate narrative from 2022-12-05T11:00

Policy and culture in the US have aligned to paint Big Oil as the bad guy, and its time the industry started fighting back, according to Ellen Wald and Jacqueline Plunkett, who launched Listen

Oil policy frustrations, a new premier add fuel to the fire for Alberta, Canada’s feds from 2022-11-21T11:00

As Canada’s main oil-producing province, Alberta has rarely let go an opportunity to defend its constitutional rights and pick a fight with the federal government when it comes to developing its...

After party-line clashes on energy, can a bipartisan agenda emerge after US midterms? from 2022-11-14T11:00

The 2022 US midterm elections featured partisan clash...

Midterms could bring early wave of Republican energy policy signaling from 2022-11-07T11:00

High energy prices and inflation have played a front-stage role in US election politics this season, with control of the US House and Senate at stake in Listen

With frac crews and equipment tight, is smooth sailing still an option for upstream oil in 2023? from 2022-10-31T10:00

The pace of drilling and well completions activity in US oil and gas fields has slowed in late 2022 from the ramp up seen earlier in the year as premium equipment and crews to run it have become...

SCOTUS takes on WOTUS as oil, gas industry clamors for regulatory clarity from 2022-10-24T10:00

The US Supreme Court recently held oral arguments in a case that the oil and gas industry is hoping will end some of the back-and-forth regulatory scramble over whether certain wetlands and wate...

US-Saudi spat heats up as it’s not ‘your Daddy’s OPEC’ anymore from 2022-10-17T10:00

There has been a lot of back and forth lately over whether political factors motivated the recent Listen

Oil market fundamentals could make E&P companies a good equity investment from 2022-10-10T10:00

OPEC and its allies slashed production targets for the next 14 months by 2 million b/d, signaling that the bloc is set on managing global production in a way that maintains a higher oil price, a...

By ‘turning waste into value,’ Danish biogas producer looks to make mark in the US from 2022-10-03T10:00

Rotting food, farm waste and sewage don’t sound all that appealing, but they’re the bread and butter of the biogas industry – an industry that believes it has a pivotal role to play in providing...

Timor Gap CEO says only one option for Greater Sunrise gas: pump it to Timor-Leste from 2022-09-26T10:00

Development of the Greater Sunrise gas and condensate fields, first discovered in the Timor Sea in 1974, has been stalled for decades. With a maritime border dispute between the Southeast Asian ...

Texas wants to be a leader in CCUS, but there's an ownership question to resolve first from 2022-09-19T10:00

Texas is one of the largest emitting states in the US and stands to become ground zero of the carbon management industry. But unlike other states, Texas law provides no clarity on ownership righ...

Biden energy agenda at stake as parties vie for control in federal, state races from 2022-09-12T10:00

Voters will head to the polls November 8 where control of the US House and Senate are at stake along with the potential to flip the leadership in several states. Listen

Oil majors come out ahead on Inflation Reduction Act; outlook for independents ‘not as rosy’ from 2022-08-29T10:00

Oil and natural gas industry groups were not pleased with the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law Aug. 16, despite some positive elements for the sector, including provisions to ensure more...

Permian smog in EPA’s crosshairs -- what will it mean for crude output? from 2022-08-22T10:00

The oil and gas sector and policymakers in Texas and New Mexico are on high alert over a notice posted to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory agenda that they fear could have a crip...

Can Texas overcome a regulation ‘allergy’ in order to reform the market and keep the lights on? from 2022-08-15T10:00

So far this summer, power demand in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market has set 11 new all-time records as the grid has faced weeks of 100-plus degree temperatures. With that has co...

Who’s ‘happy’ with the surprise budget deal? Ethanol producers, that’s who from 2022-08-08T10:00

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 would make available $369 billion in energy security and climate change spending over the next decade. The bill offers a mixed bag of wins and losses for an a...

To declare, or not to declare, a climate emergency, that is the question from 2022-08-01T10:00

So, what exactly would a climate emergency declaration free the Biden administration to do?

Senior editor Jasmin Melvin posed that question to Listen

Can the West enforce a global price cap on Russian oil? from 2022-07-25T10:00

As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administrati...

Will Biden return from Saudi Arabia empty-handed? from 2022-07-18T10:00

US President Joe Biden just wrapped up a trip to the Middle East with a closely watched visit to Saudi Arabia. His national security director signaled that the success of his oil diplomacy will ...

Can the DOE spur carbon capture innovation in time to aid climate crisis? from 2022-07-11T10:00

The International Energy Agency, in its road map for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, set a near-term target for the deployment of carbon capture capacity at 1.7 billion metric tons by 2030...

Under pressure: Utilities turn to coal, FERC eyes interconnection overhaul from 2022-06-27T10:00

Consulting firm ScottMadden’s latest energy industry update, fittingly titled “Under Pressure,” outlines how rising post-pandemic energy demand, ambitious decarbonization targets, soaring commod...

It'll be a long, hot summer as energy prices supercharge inflation from 2022-06-13T10:00

Global energy markets have gone through dramatic shifts since Russia's ...

Will the lights stay big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas? from 2022-06-06T10:00

The Texas Railroad Commission -- which regulates the state's oil and gas industry, not railroads -- just went through perhaps its highest profile election.

Listen

Political will is a wild card for LNG, but AG&P bets on growth from 2022-05-31T11:00

The new geopolitical scene is shaking up the outlook for LNG globally. The club of LNG suppliers has greatly expanded, with the US and others looking to increase their export capacity. This has ...

Looks like the US has forgotten about Canadian oil, eh? from 2022-05-23T10:00

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney recently made the rounds in Washington, talking to lawmakers and State Department of...

Evolving LNG trade: Will demand for cleaner gas spread to Asia? from 2022-05-16T10:00

As the US and Europe move to cut methane emissions, will the demand pull for cleaner LNG spread to price-sensitive Asia?

Ben Cahill, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Intern...

How to squeeze Russia's oil revenue without threatening a supply shock from 2022-05-09T10:00

As Europe aims to phase out Russian oil imports within months, attention is starting to shift to whether the US will impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil customers.

Edward Fishman, w...

Can the Los Angeles-Shanghai green shipping corridor save the sector and the planet? from 2022-05-02T10:00

The shipping sector faces a massive challenge in decarbonizing to meet global climate goals.

To accelerate those efforts, leaders at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow last ye...

Drop more SBOMs: how the energy industry can tighten up cybersecurity from 2022-04-25T10:00

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of what’s been called a rare and dangerous state-sponsored malware threat capable of disruption, sabotage, and potentially physical destructi...

Groups sue Interior for documents behind federal oil, gas leasing report from 2022-04-11T11:00

President Joe Biden’s executive order on tackling the climate crisis, among other things, launched a review of existing fossil fuel leasing and permitting practices. Climate and conservation gro...

Consumer advocate wants CFTC to reject trader bailouts, pursue position limits revamp from 2022-04-04T11:00

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission will soon get an infusion of four new voices, as the Senate voted March 28 on nominations that will bring the derivatives regulator back to a full com...

Global food security at stake as Russian war shakes up agriculture markets from 2022-03-28T11:00

Global food security, just like energy security, has emerged as a major risk from Russia's war in Ukraine.

Today we're looking at the shakeup in agriculture markets with Peter Meyer, S&P ...

Tracking upstream emissions with US oil supply on the rise from 2022-03-21T13:40:28

US oil supply is expected to increase this year, and new tools tracking upstream emissions will bring interesting new insights.

Deb Ryan, head of low-carbon market analytics for S&P Globa...

Sanctions on Russia create high stakes for global economy, fuel prices from 2022-03-14T11:00

The oil markets’ reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine<...

IEF chief says Russia crisis exacerbates risks from insufficient upstream investment from 2022-03-07T12:00

The Russia crisis has upended the energy world in sign...

Top Permian driller Pioneer rethinks slow growth plans with oil prices above $100/b from 2022-03-03T20:29:36

Will US oil drillers respond to triple-digit oil prices after months of restraint?

Scott Sheffield, CEO of top Permian driller Pioneer Natural Resources, tells Capitol Crude that his comm...

Methane ‘ultra-emitters’ offer oil, gas industry quick, significant way to reduce climate footprint from 2022-02-28T12:00

Using satellite data from 2019 and 2020, a team of French and US researchers created the first systematic estimate of large methane leaks that can only be seen from space. They detected about 1,...

Ammonia touted as potential ‘staple fuel’ as maritime sector eyes sustainable future from 2022-02-22T15:24:18

The International Maritime Organization has set its sights on slashing the global shipping industry’s total emissions in half by 2050, with an interim target of cutting the carbon intensity of a...

Will US oil supply react to $90/b prices? from 2022-02-14T12:00

Where is US oil production headed with prices at $90/b and some analysts seeing triple digits ahead?

We're digging into the US upstream outlook from several angles, with:

• Mitch F...

US readies broader Russia sanctions that could hit banking, energy sectors from 2022-02-07T12:00

Russia's standoff with the West over Ukraine continues to stir anx...

US tries to fill gap as Ukraine crisis threatens European gas supplies from 2022-01-31T12:00

The Russia-Ukraine standoff has significant implications for the global gas and LNG markets, given Europe's reliance on Russian supply.

It's peak winter demand season, and European gas in...

Systems thinking approach points to weaknesses in key indicators for global energy innovation from 2022-01-24T12:00

Countries around the world committed to keeping the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius at the last United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. But...

Platts Analytics sees geopolitical risks rising for energy markets in 2022 from 2022-01-18T12:00

As you heard in last week's episode, geopolitical events have the potential to move energy markets in a big way in 2022.

Today we're looking at three key geopolitical angles that have som...

Will oil prices spike to $100/b in 2022? from 2022-01-10T13:00

Global oil markets are starting 2022 with a number of factors that could make for another volatile year.

OPEC is continuing its monthly supply increases but taking a cautious approach so ...

Refiners urge US EPA to grant biofuel waivers to ease pump prices from 2021-12-27T15:48:18

US oil refiners are pushing back against the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to deny small refinery exemptions and other aspects of the latest biofuel mandate. They argue the policy w...

With grid, pipeline reliability at stake, energy sector takes on US telecom regulator from 2021-12-20T13:00

A broad cross section of the energy industry has been in battle with the Federal Communications Commission over a band of airwaves, called spectrum, that tech and telecom companies gained the ri...

SAF potential takes off as aviation emissions set to rise with pandemic recovery from 2021-12-13T13:00

The pandemic interrupted a steady surge in global air travel demand, when passenger numbers tripled in just over 20 years.

Jet fuel demand remains below pre-pandemic levels and is not exp...

Supreme Court could complicate US EPA effort to crackdown on methane emissions from 2021-12-06T13:00

Reducing carbon emissions has been a central tenet of the Biden administration’s climate agenda. B...

Biofuels group readies lawsuit against US EPA over delay in setting RFS requirements from 2021-11-22T13:00

The year is nearly over and the US Environmental Protection Agency has yet to formally propose biofuel blending requirements for 2021, and will miss the Nov. 30 deadline to finalize Renewable Fu...

US Midwest sees surging propane costs as Gulf Coast supply heads overseas from 2021-11-15T14:08:50

The latest US inflation data showed energy costs jumping 30% in the 12 months through October. The trend is expected to continue through the winter, as home-heating costs rise across the board.<...

OPEC+ ignores Biden’s wish for more oil supply to cool prices from 2021-11-08T13:56:04

US gasoline prices remain high well after the summer driving season. Domestic oil production isn't...

EPRI sets sights on finding an energy molecule to fuel a decarbonized future from 2021-11-01T14:14:21

The UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, has been hailed as the world’s...

How the world's largest LNG buyer finds stability during gas market volatility from 2021-10-25T14:55:23

With tight supplies and strong demand helping create large swings in global gas prices, Japanese utility JERA is staying the course.

The world’s largest LNG buyer is focused on its supply...

Legislative wrangling presents make-or-break moment for asphalt industry from 2021-10-18T14:55:35

Asphalt, the heaviest part of crude used in road and home construction, could see a surge in demand as the $1 trillion infrastructure bill would provide record amounts of funding for highway imp...

'Seller' LNG market makes US exporters flexible on indexation from 2021-10-11T14:46:56

Amid a crowded field of US liquefaction projects, Commonwealth LNG is looking to build momentum for its proposed 8.4 million mt/year facility in Louisiana as it targets a final investment decisi...

US utilities, regulators gear up for electric vehicle outlook from 2021-10-04T10:00

Last week brought another major development in the outlook for the US adoption of electric vehicles, with Ford Motor Co. and South Korea's SK Innovations announcing an $11 billion project to man...

Offshore driller Kosmos Energy sheds frontier assets, weighs carbon intensity to confront energy transition from 2021-09-27T13:46:40

Global oil demand will still be significant for years, even under the most ambitious energy transition. So which basins will continue to produce, and which others will be abandoned?

Offsh...

US natural gas utilities look to turn climate challenges into opportunities from 2021-09-20T13:54:15

The American Gas Association has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and believes that natural gas utilities are well-positioned to help the Biden administration achieve the ambitious...

Platts Analytics sizes up global oil demand outlook, climate policies into 2022 from 2021-09-13T01:49:19

Chris Midgley, global director of analytics at S&P Global Platts, shares his latest outlook for global oil demand heading into the third year of the pandemic and takes stock of the tension betwe...

As weather begins to cool, FERC's gas, power agenda heats up from 2021-08-30T03:06:33

As August comes to a close, Washington, DC, is ramping up again with energy issues before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

On the natural gas side, the commission could start ans...

Balance, inconsistency seen in Biden's approach to oil, gas from 2021-08-23T02:02:29

President Joe Biden took a strong stance against fossil fuels right away, essentially canceling the long-simmering Keystone XK Pipeline and implementing a moratorium on all new oil and gas lease...

Congressman behind 'Hot FERC Summer' lauds agency's role in climate fight from 2021-08-16T01:33:07

Representative Sean Casten, Democrat-Illinois, has not been shy in sharing his belief that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be essential in combatting climate change and pivotal to ...

Biden White House races to adopt green energy agenda as US midterms, COP26 loom from 2021-08-09T03:32:47

The Biden administration is racing to adopt its energy and climate policy priorities before the pressures of the 2022 midterm elections limit what the White House can do.

Meghan Gordon sp...

Oil market history echoes in today's challenge to meet the energy transition from 2021-07-30T16:50:39

Many of the key moments in the oil markets still echo today and are useful in looking at the challenges ahead for producers, consumers and markets during the energy transition away from fossil f...

Managing carbon poses a challenge in harder-to-green sectors like aviation, shipping, agriculture from 2021-07-23T17:14:25

The US Department of Energy’s newly rebranded Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management aims to fund the research and technology deployment that will help the US reach net-zero carbon emissi...

Energy convergence breaks down silos as industry confronts climate change from 2021-07-19T02:33:10

Silos within the energy industry are coming down as companies confront the need to dramatically cut carbon emissions.

The so-called energy convergence is the idea that companies, policy m...

Oil market risks arise from UAE's OPEC standoff, other geopolitical hot spots from 2021-07-07T16:10:34

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are locked in a dispute over how to ease oil-production limits as global demand recovers from the pandemic.

Nareeka Ahir...

US LNG bull run spurs new export infrastructure hopes from 2021-07-06T12:55:59

Freeport LNG CEO Michael Smith joined us to talk about the state of the market, his company's expansion plans, climate concerns and the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Activity ha...

Extreme weather, cyberattacks demand stronger energy resilience from 2021-06-25T19:43:06

As extreme weather events continue across the US, they're disrupting energy supplies and demanding more planning for the future.

Texas and California have both in recent weeks asked resid...

In move to cleaner energy economy, power sector falling behind in digital transformation from 2021-06-18T16:43:45

It's no secret that the power sector is undergoing dramatic changes.

Market dynamics and ambitious decarbonization goals set by the Biden administration are driving a transition away from...

Biden’s Venezuela policy after Maduro outlasts Trump’s maximum sanctions pressure from 2021-06-14T12:43:40

Venezuelan sanctions and the Maduro regime have been a backburner issue so far for US President Joe Biden. When he was elected, many energy analysts predicted he would grant some sanctions relie...

Iranian oil sanctions relief still expected as Vienna talks stretch into summer from 2021-06-07T14:04:51

The US and Iran are entering a sixth round of indirect talks in Vienna aimed at restarting the 2015 nuclear deal.

S&P Global Platts Analytics still expects the sides to reach a deal in th...

ESG fever and the challenges of climate-related financial reforms from 2021-06-01T13:30:37

Investors are proving they have climate change and the energy transition on the their minds.

Last week, activist investors got at least two seats on the ExxonMobil board of directors, and...

Russia sanctions fight heats up in Congress as Biden gives pass to Nord Stream 2 from 2021-05-25T16:29:44

The Biden administration surprised many last week in granting a sanctions waiver to the company building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

The move allows work to con...

Independent US oil, gas drillers fight higher taxes, leasing ban from 2021-05-24T04:24:49

The White House and Democrats in Congress are looking at a number of ways to increase taxes and federal revenues from the oil and gas industry as part of their climate and clean energy agenda. Listen

Iran talks, US sanctions, OPEC+ supply balancing dominate oil market geopolitics from 2021-05-17T02:11:07

We're sizing up some of the top geopolitical factors influencing oil markets with Paul Sheldon, chief geopolitical adviser for S&P Global Platts Analytics.

The US and Iran entered a fourt...

US pipelines wake up to cyberthreats after Colonial shutdown exposes vulnerabilities from 2021-05-11T13:58:08

Will the cyberattack that forced the largest US oil pipeline to shut down for days be a wake-up call for the industry to rapidly shore up its cyber defenses?

On this special episode, we h...

ESG pressure builds on energy sector as investors, lawmakers raise climate goals from 2021-05-10T00:30:36

Just how realistic are the ESG goals being set each quarter by US energy producers in the face of rising pressure from investors, banks and the government to become more environmentally sustaina...

Will Biden’s review of oil, gas leasing turn into a drilling ban? from 2021-05-04T14:13:53

The US Interior Department has approved more than 500 drilling permits on federal lands and waters since January, despite the Biden administration's halt to new lease sales. The agency has not s...

Battered North Dakota oil sector awaits Dakota Access ruling, Interior leasing review from 2021-05-03T02:39:41

The Dakota Access Pipeline returns to court today for a pivotal hearing. The Biden administration has been asked by the federal judge in the case to disclose whether it supports an immediate shu...

Biden climate goals ignore oil demand outlook: Louisiana Senator Cassidy from 2021-04-26T02:32:05

Louisiana sits at the crossroads of US climate policy, from experiencing some of the earliest effects of rising sea levels and changing weather patterns to depending on fossil fuels for economic...

Changes to pricing, regulations key to boosting oil production in Argentina from 2021-04-19T13:16:30

Argentina's oil production has been on the rise this year, recovering from the demand and price impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Oil output climbed to 492,000 b/d in February, up from...

Opportunity zones offer benefits for US producers, investors from 2021-04-12T13:27:52

Opportunity zones are tax-advantaged investment vehicles that grew out of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to bring economic redevelopment to impoverished areas.

For the oil and gas indu...

Lopez Obrador looks to unwind Mexico's energy reform from 2021-04-05T13:12:39

The administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico came to power with the promise to undo the energy reform of his predecessor, which opened the private sector to investment.<...

Tellurian's CEO on the proposed Driftwood project, energy transition and the future of LNG from 2021-03-29T13:36:35

The dearth of newly sanctioned LNG export projects in 2020 and so far in 2021 — especially in North America, which has been responsible for the majority of new LNG supply globally over the last ...

Meridian Energy CEO looks to balance refining needs with ESG concerns from 2021-03-22T14:02:01

Environmental, social and governance considerations have becoming pressing issues among refiners in today's net-zero carbon world.

While other refiners and oil companies are starting to e...

Mexico aims to make a revitalized Pemex an engine for economic development from 2021-03-15T13:17:34

Mexican production of crude oil has declined continuously since reaching a peak in 2004. Since then, the government has tried to bring back production while keeping revenues steady.

Presi...

CERAWeek conversations put focus on energy transition from 2021-03-08T13:53:03

Conversations at this year's CERAWeek by IHS Markit, held virtually this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, were wide ranging, although energy transition was often the main t...

Panama Canal seeks solutions to congestion as wait times increase from 2021-03-01T14:17:26

As the shortest route from the US Gulf Coast to East Asia, the Panama Canal has emerged as a key fixture in global trade flow dynamics.

We spoke with Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, administrat...

Severe winter storms deal a blow to much of US oil, gas production from 2021-02-19T19:15:25

For the past several days, much of the producing states of Texas and Oklahoma have been gripped by sub-freezing temperatures, ice storms and snow.

Today we talk with Parker Fawcett, North...

Uinta Basin project looks to reverse declining production of Utah's waxy crude from 2021-02-15T15:09:05

The Uinta Basin in Utah is the producing area of the US Rocky Mountains. Its production has declined in recent years for two reasons: the region's isolation and the gooey, waxy crude produced fr...

Biden's decision to rejoin Paris Agreement complicates US-Mexico relationship on energy from 2021-02-08T04:19:32

US President Joe Biden make good on his campaign promises and rejoined the Paris Agreement upon taking office, a move that has huge implications for Mexico in particular, given the current energ...

The Biden presidency, geopolitics and the impact on oil markets from 2021-02-01T11:00

Apart from simple supply and demand, nothing impacts oil markets as much as geopolitics.

Former President Donald Trump did everything he could to load up sanctions on countries like Iran ...

Can Congress find room for fossil fuels and green incentives in stimulus talks? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US House of Representatives has passed the $3 trillion HEROES stimulus package with barely a mention of the energy sector. The legislation is going nowhere in its current form after Senate R...

Will Trump's plan to fill the SPR be enough of a lifeline for US producers? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette joined Capitol Crude hours after his department announced it was seeking an initial 30 million barrels of US crude oil to store in the country's emergency sto...

Will the White House vote move the US oil production outlook? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How much will November's presidential election actually influence the outlook for US oil and gas production?

Artem Abramov, head of shale research for Rystad Energy, makes the somewhat co...

Biden's inauguration ushers in big changes in US energy policy from 2021-01-25T13:48:17

President Joe Biden's inauguration was particularly momentous, including for energy companies and markets. A flurry of executive actions were signed just hours after Biden took the oath of offic...

Tested by plummeting demand, storage sits at the heart of oil pricing from 2021-01-18T02:45:07

Today we are looking at oil storage trends. Oil storage sits at the heart of oil pricing, and a lot has happened in this arena over the last year, mirroring crude and product markets.

Ahe...

A look at North American LNG with Tellurian's Charif Souki from 2021-01-08T18:33

Today we are examining the outlook for new North American liquefaction projects to be sanctioned in 2021 amid a virtual standstill in 2020.

The recent runup in the Platts JKM has buoyed d...

Energy policy poses challenges, opportunities for Biden's first 100 days from 2020-12-18T21:07:50

The 2020 US elections were arguably the most consequential of our time. Among the many issues that drove voters to choose one candidate over another was energy. Oil, natural gas and the energy t...

What the OPEC+ deal means for market volatility, US crude production from 2020-12-11T18:53:25

Earlier this year the oil market suffered a historic price collapse as pandemic-blunted demand left the world awash in crude.

Against this background, the OPEC+ group in April agreed to i...

As production falls, the bearish case for US oil from 2020-12-04T20:41:40

US crude output fell this year in response to low demand stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Production has held at around 10.5 million b/d to 11 million b/d since late October, accor...

US midstream faces challenges from politics, pandemic from 2020-11-30T02:00:38

The presidential election is over, and the results are being certified. President Donald Trump may keep contesting votes in court, but we’re expecting the beginning of the Biden administration c...

California's clean car ambitions clear first roadblock with Biden win from 2020-11-20T16:14:40

California and its clean car ambitions had a lot riding on the US presidential election.

The state's Air Resources Board spent the Trump presidency fighting with the US Environmental Prot...

Pandemic increases urgency of oil and gas workforce's digital skills gap from 2020-11-13T16:53:44

The US oil and gas sector is facing several huge transitions all at once: the immediate crisis brought on by the pandemic and a longer-term energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Today...

US energy outlook under Biden White House as Senate control still undecided from 2020-11-07T18:39:05

Joe Biden ...

Key changes for energy markets in US elections, but economy looms over all from 2020-10-30T17:34:34

Dozens of highly consequential energy issues are at play in this week’s US elections, ranging from who will occupy the Oval Office for the next four years, to who will fill the last open seat on...

Oil market stakes in US election: Middle East, Venezuela, climate policy from 2020-10-27T18:14:51

It's Election Day in the US, and at a lot is at stake in the energy sector for the next four years.

We're revisiting three key policy areas that could shift direction depending on today's...

A Biden victory could have big impact on US-Mexico relationship from 2020-10-26T02:45:18

A victory by Joe Biden in the US presidential election could have a big impact on the US-Mexico relationship and might even force the Mexican administration to change course on its energy goals....

How CFTC climate risk warnings could impact US energy sector from 2020-10-19T01:41:39

US oil and gas producers were already facing a tough investment climate by the time this spring's price crash and demand plunge decimated capital spending plans. Layered on top of this near-term...

Iran oil sanctions relief scenarios under a Biden White House from 2020-10-12T00:48:26

For the global oil market, one of the biggest wildcards of the US presidential election is Iran sanctions relief under a Biden administration. This would return more than 2 million b/d to an alr...

Broader threat forces US energy sector to look harder at cyber defenses from 2020-10-05T00:12:48

The coronavirus pandemic has rapidly accelerated the digitization of US energy companies, moving operational technology and corporate networks into workers' homes.

Leo Simonovich, vice pr...

Global oil market dynamics at stake in Trump-Biden race from 2020-09-28T01:27:19

The US presidential election could have far-reaching implications for the global oil market.

Chris Midgley, global head of analytics for S&P Global Platts, takes us through the biggest po...

Biden's shift on energy, climate issues ahead of November vote (Part 2 of 2) from 2020-09-22T14:20:40

In Part 2 of our look at the US presidential candidates' evolving energy platforms, we examine how progressive Democrats have pushed former Vice President Joe Biden further left on climate and e...

Trump's shifts on offshore drilling, biofuels ahead of November (Part 1 of 2) from 2020-09-21T00:07:26

In this two-part episode, we look at how both US presidential candidates' energy platforms have evolved since the start of campaigning.

They have had to respond to massive market shifts, ...

The election stakes for natural gas pipeline permitting from 2020-08-31T11:00

The November presidential election adds to risks for natural gas pipelines, which link production to demand centers but increasingly face opposition from those seeking to phase out fossil fuels....

How a Biden victory could influence decarbonization plans for oil and gas companies from 2020-08-24T01:57:35

A victory in November for former Vice President Joe Biden in November could influence oil and gas companies' decarbonization plans, given Biden's climate and clean energy proposals.

Europ...

Predicting the next global oil shock when the world is awash in supply from 2020-08-17T00:57:28

Global oil supply far exceeds demand right now as the coronavirus pandemic keeps travel restrictions in place and commuters working from home.

Commodities analysts Leigh Goehring and Adam...

A new president for Guyana, the next non-OPEC oil giant from 2020-08-10T11:00

Guyana is one of the most promising new sources for non-OPEC oil production growth, and the country just emerged from a chaotic five-month election drama. Opposition leader Mohamed Irfaan Ali wa...

US oil output returns but will be stunted by capex cuts into 2021 from 2020-08-03T02:47:46

US oil producers have started bringing some shut-in wells back online since this spring's price crash.

S&P Global Platts Analytics expects the nearly all the shut-in volumes to come back ...

Biden victory could yield some opportunities for oil, gas sector from 2020-07-27T03:27:56

A massive regulatory shift could occur if US President Donald Trump loses the White House in November.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has embraced energy and climate priorities that swin...

How the oil wars myth continues to shape US foreign policy from 2020-07-20T03:02:59

US President Donald Trump has used the phrase "take the oil" many times, both as a candidate to criticize previous administrations' strategies in Iraq and while in the White House when discussin...

Dakota Access shutdown and the future of US midstream projects from 2020-07-13T03:02:48

Last week delivered some huge news on the pipeline front that highlights the challenges ahead for the US midstream sector and the fate of future efforts to build multi-state energy projects.

Shifting geopolitics of energy during pandemic, trade wars and supply abundance from 2020-06-29T14:00

The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and a host of other global tensions and trade conflicts brewing in recent months have heightened geopolitical risks to energy trade.

Harvard Univ...

Sizing up US drilling activity and driving demand after the coronavirus crash from 2020-06-22T13:36:45

US oil and gas drilling has slowed to a crawl since global oil demand crashed this spring and prices tumbled with it.

Now that WTI has crept back up into the high $30s/b and potentially a...

The future of US oil, gas production under a Biden presidency from 2020-06-15T10:00

Rapidan Energy Group predicts sweeping changes for the energy sector if former Vice President Joe Biden beats US President Donald Trump in November.

Biden's policies would have global imp...

US shale starts to return, but how sustainable is it? from 2020-06-08T02:49:43

US oil producers have started announcing plans for putting shut wells back online. But just how sustainable are these plans at current prices and with the uncertain global demand outlook?

What US shale will have to do to survive the demand shock and reinterest investors from 2020-06-01T01:26:37

The global oil demand shock is accelerating what was already coming to US shale, argues Adam Waterous, CEO of Waterous Energy Fund.

Waterous argued in January on Capitol Crude that US unc...

Are banks freezing out the US upstream over climate or economic concerns? from 2020-05-11T17:25:25

Plunging demand, collapsing prices and a reeling global economy are creating an extremely tough climate for the US upstream oil and gas sector.

US Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican-Alaska,...

Why US oil sector relief may require green energy dealmaking from 2020-05-04T11:00

US President Donald Trump has promised relief to the ailing oil and gas sector, and it's not yet clear if the recently expanded Federal Reserve lending program is the full extent of that aid. Listen

US refiners defend surge of Saudi crude heading for US ports from 2020-04-27T11:00

A surge of Saudi crude is heading for US ports, the result of the OPEC heavyweight slashing its April selling prices during the thick of its price war with Russia last month.

Oil-state se...

Sizing up oil demand recovery scenarios after a shocking spring from 2020-04-20T11:30

With the world locked down for the coronavirus, global oil demand is seeing its sharpest plunge on record.

Current estimates have 2020 oil demand contracting by as little as 6.8 million b...

Has Trump found religion on low oil prices? from 2020-04-13T01:53:46

President Donald Trump once saw gasoline prices below $1/gallon one of his greatest assets in his re-election campaign,
but low oil prices have pushed US shale and American energy dominanc...

OPEC returns as US price punching bag, but can any cut reverse price collapse? from 2020-04-06T00:43:19

OPEC, primarily Saudi Arabia, has found blame for the recent price collapse, with calls from the US Congress for tariffs, import bans and sanctions. To start this week’s Capitol Crude, Senator K...

Oil-state senators tell Trump to turn up pressure on Saudi/Russian price war from 2020-04-01T15:52:17

US lawmakers from oil-producing states are trying to increase pressure on the White House to do something to help drillers getting hammered by plummeting prices -- from aggressive diplomacy to b...

With oil demand in free fall, Trump administration has few answers for US shale from 2020-03-30T01:05:27

The consequences of this will likely last years. In the midst of a price war, global oil demand is in a free fall. The spread of the coronavirus has left 3 billion people worldwide unable to get...

A price collapse breaks a fragile US shale sector -- can it be fixed? from 2020-03-23T00:19:57

As oil prices dipped to levels not seen in nearly two decades, US shale operators slashed budgets and rig counts and braced for a hellish few months, if not years. Is even a modest price rebound...

US crude exports in the crosshairs of plunging oil demand, global supply glut from 2020-03-15T22:54:12

The fallout from the coronavirus and the collapse of the OPEC+ supply cut agreement have dealt US shale producers a massive blow. How the sector ultimately fares might depend on where US oil exp...

If the US no longer needs Saudi oil, does it need Saudi Arabia? from 2020-03-09T11:00

The relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia is ... complicated. For decades, the US has depended on the Saudis for crude oil exports and the Saudis have depended on the US for military prot...

Oil supply disruptions are many, but demand rules prices from 2020-03-02T12:00

Seemingly long-term US sanctions on oil flows out of Iran and Venezuela, a blockade in Libya with no end in sight, and even more production cuts from the OPEC+ coalition expected this week are a...

The future of liquid fuels in an energy transition from 2020-02-24T03:30

As investors and consumers demand more focus on sustainability, the oil industry is feeling the pressure.
What will an energy transition mean for liquid fuel use, and will oil refiners be ...

A national climate policy or US energy dominance? from 2020-02-18T12:00

Even with the Democratic candidate still uncertain, this November’s US presidential election presents two distinctly divergent paths forward for global oil policy, David Goldwyn says on today’s ...

Alberta pumps record oil output as premier looks to end supply cuts from 2020-02-10T03:02

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney hopes to end his government's oil production curtailments this year as rail and pipeline capacity expand to handle the full supply.

The province posted record...

Can Western companies save Venezuela’s oil sector? Do they want to? from 2020-02-03T12:30

After more than a year of crippling US sanctions, Venezuela’s once-thriving oil sector is a shell of its former self: its output just a fraction of its peak, its state-run oil company tox...

After underwhelming investors for years, can oil companies boost shareholder return? from 2020-01-27T12:00

When it comes to total shareholder return, oil and gas companies have performed the worst of any industry over the past five years, according to a new report from the Boston Consulting Group. Oi...

Where has the oil market's risk premium gone? from 2020-01-17T18:00

Record supply disruptions in an already well supplied market may have contributed to the departure of a true risk premium in the oil market, Paul Sheldon, chief geopolitical advisor with S&P Glo...

Is peak Permian output nearing as capital flight risk looms? from 2020-01-10T16:04:25

As rising US oil production allows the Trump administration to rewrite foreign policy, what if projections for its continued growth are wrong?
Adam Waterous, CEO of Waterous Energy Fund, t...

Soleimani has been killed, how will Iran respond? from 2020-01-03T17:43:45

Crude prices have surged, Iran has vowed revenge and analysts expect another attack on energy infrastructure in the Middle East, potentially impacting global oil supply significantly in the near...

Should the US government spend much, much more on carbon capture? from 2019-12-30T03:01:08

Carbon-capture projects are economically unviable at the moment and will need a major increase in government spending for wide-scale deployment, says John Minge, former chairman and president of...

Sizing up the oil market's top geopolitical risks in 2020 from 2019-12-23T02:17:46

The oil market is closing out 2019 with a smaller geopolitical risk premium despite the September attack on Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq facility exposing a staggering supply vulnerability.
Greg ...

As majors move in, US shale’s growth spurt ends from 2019-12-16T11:30

US oil producers seem to be at an inflection point, where efficiency gains are waning, output growth is slowing and capital is drying up, Antoine Halff tells Platts Capitol Crude.
On this ...

Will OPEC+ stick to its latest oil production cuts? from 2019-12-09T18:00

OPEC, Russia and its nine other oil-producing allies have agreed to fresh supply cuts, but how much compliance will they achieve in the next three months? Former Capitol Crude host Herman Wang r...

All volatility is local: The government’s response to oil busts from 2019-12-02T18:00

The US shale oil boom has been heralded as an economic windfall for small towns from New Mexico to North Dakota. But it has also strained local public services, putting a toll on education, infr...

Is the trade dispute with China hurting US oil export growth? from 2019-11-25T18:00

As US crude oil exports surge above 3 million b/d, is the US-China trade dispute inhibiting growth? Can US crude oil exporters survive without access to the world's biggest demand market?

North Dakota’s record oil growth to be upended by flaring rules from 2019-11-18T18:00

On today’s Platts Capitol Crude, Lynn Helms, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, says Bakken oil output will continue to break records into 2020, but enforcement of gas...

Has the oil market found balance? from 2019-11-11T07:00

After the Abqaiq attack, OPEC+, trade fights, and the ongoing record growth of US shale, oil prices are, basically, right where they were a year ago. Are supply and demand aligned? Is the oil marke...

The great Permian oil production slowdown of 2019 from 2019-11-04T07:00

US oil producers are bracing for a tough end to 2019: flat prices, falling rig counts, slower drilling permits and fewer well completions. Karr Ingham, a petroleum economist from Amarillo, Texas, a...

Democrats' fracking ban proposal already having impact on US energy investment from 2019-10-28T07:00

The 2020 fight over energy policy is just getting started, and investors already have a bad case of heartburn over Democratic presidential candidates' proposals to ban all fracking in the US. Katie...

Citgo's fate hangs on PDVSA bond payment deadline from 2019-10-23T21:30

The future of Citgo and its three US refineries hangs on this weekend's deadline for the interim Venezuelan government to make a massive bond payment that it can't likely pay. The Guaido administra...

Does a net oil exporter setting output records need an SPR? from 2019-10-21T06:00

On this week’s Platts Capitol Crude we talk with Keisuke Sadamori, the International Energy Agency’s director for energy markets and security, about the US’ changing role in the global oil market a...

Will Citgo’s US refineries be seized by creditors? from 2019-10-14T06:00

Venezuela is in the midst of an economic collapse, its political future remains uncertain and Citgo appears unlikely to be able to pay a more than $900 million bond payment due later this month. Co...

US buyers seek crude grades that once made up blended WTI from 2019-10-07T06:00

International buyers of US crude exports are increasingly seeking specific grades that once made up the blended pool of West Texas Intermediate. Buyers can request these "neat" barrels, thanks in p...

Global supply disruptions and US crude export capacity from 2019-09-30T06:00

The September 14 attack on Saudi oil projects took 5.7 million b/d of crude supply off the global market, but, ultimately, had little impact on oil prices. That’s partly due to the growth of US oil...

Why the oil market is wrong about Abqaiq from 2019-09-23T06:00

A week after attacks on Saudi oil facilities shut down nearly 6% of the global oil supply, Brent futures prices are up less than $5/b. The market reaction has been wrong, though, giving Saudi estim...

Permian drillers brace for slowdown on challenging demand outlook from 2019-09-16T07:00

Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield sees Permian production growth slowing next year, but he still thinks the basin will eventually pump a staggering 8 million b/d. In an interview with Capitol Crude at th...

Would US methane rules have destroyed marginal oil production? from 2019-09-09T21:00

Columbus Oil operates 27 oil wells in rural Oklahoma which each produce an average of just 8 to 10 b/d of oil equivalent. On this week’s Capitol Crude, Darlene Wallace, Columbus’ president, CEO and...

US oil boom boosts GDP, but are high prices needed to avoid a recession? from 2019-09-03T02:00

On this week’s Platts Capitol Crude, we look at the impact of the US shale boom on the US economy as the Trump administration continues to push the narrative that a recession is not imminent. Mine ...

Could US Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases be reversed? from 2019-08-26T07:00

Last week, the Trump administration held its latest auction for oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The sale generated high bids of less than $160 million, drawing interest in less than 1% of...

Are Alberta’s oil curtailments working? from 2019-08-19T07:00

Alberta oil producers are in the eighth month of mandatory production curtailments. Have they worked? On today’s Capitol Crude, Rory Johnston, a commodity economist at Scotiabank, talks about the i...

Could the trade war with China topple the US oil sanctions framework? from 2019-08-12T08:00

Tariffs, retaliatory tariffs and currency fights, the US and China are locked in a trade war with massive consequences for the global economy. What impact will this fight have on US crude oil expor...

Could flaring hinder the US oil revolution? from 2019-08-05T08:00

With their output shattering records, US oil producers are flaring an unprecedented amount of unwanted gas. On this week’s Platts Capitol Crude, Ali Oktay, a senior pricing specialist with S&P Glob...

What if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz? from 2019-07-29T13:00

On today's Platts Capitol Crude, Fernando Ferreira, a senior analyst with Rapidan Energy Group, discusses a new report that forecasts the oil market impact of Iran successfully blocking the Strait ...

Tankers, sanctions and tensions: How much oil is Iran still exporting? from 2019-07-21T13:00

On this week's Platts Capitol Crude, we take a closer look at rising tensions between the US and Iran, tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's dwindling oil exports, and China's future as Ir...

The Barrel Brothers on East Coast refinery closures, gas prices and global oil demand from 2019-07-15T08:00

The Barrel Brothers are back! US Energy Information Administration petroleum analysts Jeff Barron and Mason Hamilton talk: the price impacts of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery explosion ...

OPEC and Russia extend cuts, will prices and US shale respond? from 2019-07-04T02:00

OPEC, Russia and other producing partners agreed to extend their 1.2 million b/d supply cut agreement for another nine months as Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih outlined OPEC’s new role as a ...

ConocoPhillips’ top economist on the oil market outlook and peak demand from 2019-07-01T06:00

While the peak oil theory is dead, the industry faces a very real prospect of peak demand -- and sooner than you might think. Helen Currie, ConocoPhillips' chief economist, talked with Capitol Crud...

With fate of supply cut agreement at stake, has OPEC lost its oil market grip? from 2019-06-24T06:00

After weeks of uncertainty, OPEC and its allies will meet July 1 and 2 in Vienna and the fate of the 1.2 million b/d production cut agreement will be the key item on the agenda. On today’s Platts C...

US energy exporters undeterred by trade risks, geopolitics: DOE's Brouillette from 2019-06-18T06:00

The Trump administration took a message of abundant US energy exports to the G-20 energy meetings in Karuizawa, Japan, over the weekend. We spoke with Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, who r...

IEA chief talks oil tanker attacks, slowing oil demand and US crude exports from 2019-06-17T07:00

Oil tanker attacks have the International Energy Agency "seriously concerned" about oil supply security, and yet oil demand growth concerns have tempered the price reaction for now. Platts Capitol ...

US refiners fight tariff on Mexican crude imports as trade concerns weigh on oil prices from 2019-06-10T07:00

In the thick of its trade dispute with China, the Trump administration threatened last week to start yet another tariff fight with a major trading partner: Mexico. This one would have hit Gulf Coas...

Trump’s offshore policy stalled, but industry continues eastern Gulf push from 2019-06-03T07:00

Some view the Trump administration’s push to expand offshore oil and gas drilling to most federal waters as a failure. But with plans for oil and gas lease sales for the Atlantic and Arctic on an i...

Despite global push to reduce plastic use, demand impact for oil and other feedstocks remains unaffected from 2019-05-28T08:00

A movement to reduce plastic use has led to bans worldwide on shopping bags, straws and other single-use items, but no noticeable impact on demand for crude oil and other feedstocks used to make pl...

The new, lighter US crude grade flowing from Texas to Asia from 2019-05-20T07:00

As tighter US sanctions against Iran continue to change global oil flows, Asian refiners are testing a new grade of lighter crude flowing from the Permian Basin. West Texas Light has an API gravity...

Iran waivers have ended — is the muted price reaction an illusion? from 2019-05-13T07:00

On this week’s podcast we speak with Henry Rome, an Iran analyst with the Eurasia Group, about why the global oil market is not as stable and well-supplied as the Trump administration wants the wor...

Charting a path forward for the US oil sector as productivity rises from 2019-05-06T07:00

The US is producing more than twice the oil it was a decade ago, with about a third of the workers needed to do so, according to Jamie Webster, a senior director at the BCG Center for Energy Impact...

Does zero mean zero? Why Iranian oil exports won’t end as waivers expire from 2019-04-29T07:00

The Trump administration will not extend its Iran sanctions waivers to China, India and other buyers in an attempt to push Iran exports to zero. But Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy Interna...

Trump wants Saudi oil price help, but are relations too damaged? from 2019-04-22T07:00

Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman arrived in the US a year ago to help write a new chapter in US-Saudi relations, but following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, have relations been irreparably straine...

Washington state bill to limit vapor pressure for crude oil shipped by rail would have wide-ranging impacts from 2019-04-15T07:00

A bill in Washington state could shut down 150,000 b/d of Bakken rail traffic through the Pacific Northwest, boost oil imports from Alaska and Asia through Puget Sound and increase North Dakota shi...

Regulations, Trump and the consequences of a US move away from transparency from 2019-04-08T07:00

Nine years ago, President Barack Obama signed a regulation into law requiring oil, gas and mining companies to publicly report all payments made to governments, an effort aimed at curbing decades o...

Is maximum pressure on Iran possible with oil sanctions waivers? from 2019-04-01T07:00

A month from now, waivers which have allowed Iran’s biggest crude oil and condensate buyers to keep buying Iranian oil are set to expire. Analysts fully expect the administration to extend the waiv...

Will Venezuela’s oil sector ever recover? from 2019-03-25T07:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Frank Verrastro and Andrew Stanley with the Center for Strategic & International Studies’ energy and national security program talk about the state of Venezuela’s oil ...

Tales from Houston: A three-act market opera from 2019-03-18T07:30

Platts Capitol Crude was in Houston last week talking with S&P Global editors about three stories shaping the domestic oil market. Laura Huchzermeyer, managing editor, Americas crude, and Catherine...

Capitol Crude at CERAWeek: Is US foreign policy now managing the oil market? from 2019-03-13T00:30

After years of complaints from US policymakers that OPEC was having undue influence on global oil prices, has US foreign policy become the major manager of the world crude market? With sanctions, t...

Capitol Crude at CERAWeek: Shifting global crude flows amid US sanctions on Venezuela, Iran from 2019-03-11T23:00

On this special edition of Platts Capitol Crude from CERAWeek by IHS Markit in Houston we’re talking about the shifting global flows in crude grades. Demand for heavy crudes, due largely to US sanc...

Why US oil producers don’t want Congress to go after OPEC from 2019-03-08T20:13

On this early edition of Capitol Crude, we predict the top themes of next week’s CERAWeek, the mega-conference where US shale producers, US government officials and OPEC ministers rub elbows. We sp...

US maritime security in the shale age from 2019-03-04T07:00

Have record US oil production and crude exports changed the US role in global maritime security? How can oil flows calm the brewing feud between the US and China? Is the closure of the Strait of Ho...

Is oil price volatility dead? (Spoiler: No.) from 2019-02-25T07:00

Sanctions have been imposed and reimposed, US oil production continues to shatter records, but WTI and Brent prices have yet to blink. Are the days of oil climbing over $100 or below $30/b over? On...

US refiners and the case against an IMO 2020 oil price shock from 2019-02-19T09:00

Is the looming IMO 2020 deadline for cleaning up marine fuels the Y2K of today's oil market? The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers say US refiners are well prepared to meet the stricter s...

US sanctions on Venezuela pressure global crude flows from 2019-02-11T09:00

It’s been two weeks since the Trump administration unveiled sanctions on PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, and questions remain over where US Gulf Coast refiners will find replacement, he...

US-Middle East alliances in the age of shale from 2019-02-04T09:00

Rampant oil consumption in Middle East nations is undermining their energy export economies and subsidy reform is desperately needed, Jim Krane argues in his new book “Energy Kingdoms: Oil and Poli...

Has jet fuel replaced gasoline as the driver of global oil demand? from 2019-01-28T08:00

Global gasoline demand is stagnating and stronger fuel economy standards and the rise of electric vehicles could soon push demand down. But jet fuel demand is rising relatively dramatically and cou...

US shutdown threatens Trump’s ethanol promise from 2019-01-22T07:00

The US Environmental Protection Agency is running out of time to deliver on President Donald Trump's promise to approve 15% ethanol blends by this summer’s driving season. US Senator Mike Rounds, R...

Is Interior going too far for offshore oil production? from 2019-01-14T07:00

The Trump administration is pushing to expand oil and gas drilling to nearly all federal waters while weakening offshore safety rules developed in response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. On thi...

Has Alberta become OPEC North? from 2019-01-07T07:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude podcast we look at Alberta’s recent decision to cut crude oil output by 325,000 b/d. David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn Global Strategies, says the Canadian production...

Does Trump’s Iran end game hinge on oil prices? from 2018-12-10T05:00

A month after reimposing sanctions on Iranian crude oil exports, the Trump administration has no clear policy end game. What are the administration’s goals? Will sanctions waivers really be just te...

Will Trump’s Saudi appeasement campaign pay off at OPEC? from 2018-12-05T02:20

US President Donald Trump is putting unprecedented pressure on Saudi Arabia to keep oil prices low as OPEC ministers arrive in Vienna this week. Trump spent the past month working to soothe US-Saud...

Colombia aims to double oil output, but hurdles remain from 2018-12-03T07:00

With its reserves shrinking, Colombia recently set a goal to double its oil output. But the country’s oil production has fallen and with attacks on pipelines and legal fights over fracking it remai...

Bolsonaro as 'Tropical Trump' and his impact on Brazil's oil markets from 2018-11-26T09:00

Far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro has been elected Brazil's next president, a victory widely viewed as good for the country's oil sector. What does the election of the man dubbed the "Tropical Tr...

Mexico's oil sector facing uncertainty under incoming Lopez Obrador administration from 2018-11-19T07:25

Big questions remain about the outlook for Mexico's oil sector as President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office December 1. Duncan Wood, director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute, joins...

US sanctions on Iranian crude exports set to snap back from 2018-11-01T09:55

The global crude oil market is in the final countdown before US sanctions on Iranian crude exports snap back on Monday. The US is expected to announce potential waivers from sanctions as soon as Fr...

Speculation continues as US Strategic Petroleum Reserve faces uncertain future from 2018-10-29T09:55

Foreign governments cannot believe how much the US spends to store government-owned gasoline. The Department of Energy no longer plans to establish a dedicated marine terminal to ship out its emerg...

Crude output from Guyana could fill supply gap amid uncertainty in Nigeria, Libya, Venezuela from 2018-10-22T09:55

Looming Iran sanctions, the ongoing collapse of Venezuela’s oil sector and increased uncertainty surrounding output out of Nigeria and Libya indicate that a historic global oil supply crunch could ...

Midterm elections could have consequences for US oil policy from 2018-10-15T12:30

With control of Congress at stake in next month’s US midterm elections, we look at the three possible scenarios and oil policy consequences after all the votes have been counted. Kevin Book, managi...

Trump puts pressure on Saudi Arabia, OPEC to push down prices from 2018-10-08T05:30

With oil prices on the rise, the Trump administration is ramping up criticism of OPEC, with US President Trump pressing Saudi Arabia to do much more to push oil prices down and the State Department...

US crude oil exports could escape role in US-China trade war from 2018-10-01T15:00

On today’s Capitol Crude we look at the ongoing trade war between the US and China and whether US crude oil exports could be subject to retaliatory tariffs. Frank Verrastro with the Center for Stra...

California vote on gasoline tax could reshape energy policy, growth of electric vehicles from 2018-09-24T05:00

In just over a month, California voters will decide whether to repeal a recent 12 cents/gallon gasoline tax increase and prevent state lawmakers from increasing gas taxes in the future. The potenti...

Debate continues over the future of the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve as US oil output breaks records from 2018-09-17T05:00

On this week’s Platts Capitol Crude we look at a plan by Congress to lease unused space in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to private companies and foreign governments. We talk to Congressman Jo...

US expands reviews of foreign investment in critical infrastructure from 2018-09-10T16:25

President Donald Trump recently signed into law expanded powers for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The inter-agency group led by the Treasury secretary reviews outside in...

Mexico trade deal looks good for US oil, gas sector from 2018-09-04T11:00

Out with NAFTA, in with the US/Mexico trade deal. The agreement reached last week between Washington and Mexico City appears to include a provision the US oil and gas industry saw as critical to pr...

Trump promises wider ethanol sales as trade wars hit farmers from 2018-08-27T10:05

US Senator Tina Smith, Democrat-Minnesota, joins Capitol Crude to share how President Donald Trump’s biofuel policies and trade wars are playing in the Midwest ahead of the November midterm electio...

US Congress proposes raft of new Russia sanctions that could hit energy trade from 2018-08-20T11:05

US lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have proposed a raft of new sanctions to counter Russian interference in US elections and alleged use of banned weapons. Most of the bills target energy tr...

Oil sector feels pinch of Colorado drilling setbacks, Trump trade policies from 2018-08-13T10:00

Colorado voters will decide in November whether to expand land setbacks for oil and gas wells. We spoke with Dan Eberhart, CEO of Denver-based oilfield services company Canary, about how the propos...

Iran sanctions: Allies, trading partners likely to evade US sanctions (Part 2) from 2018-08-07T22:00

Criminals used to evade US energy sanctions. Now, longtime US allies and trading partners likely will, Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia Un...

Iran sanctions: Impact on oil prices and future global supply (Part 1) from 2018-08-06T12:20

On today’s S&P Global Platts Capitol Crude, we’re talking about the impact of Iran sanctions on oil prices and future global supply. Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at the Center on Globa...

America's inevitable role as a net oil exporter from 2018-07-30T17:50

The US is on the verge of becoming a net oil exporter, a market shift unthinkable just a few years ago. On this week's Capitol Crude, John Auers, an executive vice president at Turner, Mason & Comp...

Venezuela's new rock bottom for oil production from 2018-07-23T10:00

The US Energy Information Administration expects Venezuelan oil production to sink below 1 million b/d by the end of this year and fall to 700,000 b/d by the end of 2019. EIA analyst Lejla Villar, ...

Washington sends mixed signals on Iran oil sanctions snapback from 2018-07-16T10:00

The clock is ticking down on the return of US sanctions against Iranian oil customers, but the messages coming out of Washington still seem to be in flux. Will all countries have to cut their impor...

Trump, Putin and Russian oil sanctions from 2018-07-09T15:20

Will US President Donald Trump agree to weaken or lift sanctions during an historic summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin? Only Trump likely knows. On this week’s Capitol Crude, Daniel Fried...

Washington and West Texas on the minds of OPEC ministers in Vienna from 2018-06-25T11:19

A major US driller delivered a message to OPEC last week in Vienna, urging the oil ministers to increase production to prevent a price spike that would damage both groups and trigger yet another bo...

US casts big shadow over OPEC meeting from 2018-06-18T11:19

Ahead of this week's OPEC meeting, we talk to the last US official to attend an OPEC meeting. Kent Hance, a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas and a former US congressman, attended an OPEC ...

What will impact global oil the most: Venezuelan crude collapse or US nuclear deal exit? from 2018-06-08T11:19

What will impact the global oil market more: the collapse of Venezuela’s oil sector or the US exit from the Iran nuclear deal?On this week’s Capitol Crude, Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid talk with ...

A trade war between the US and China is brewing, but what role will US crude oil exports play? from 2018-06-04T17:01

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has called energy trade a rare bright spot in trade relations with China and has called for a nearly sixfold increase in American energy exports. Is that realis...

US Navy's fuel-innovation efforts may never get serious without $100/b oil from 2018-05-30T17:01

Faced with staggering oil costs, the US Navy once launched an effort to innovate how it fuels its fleet with biodiesel and other alternatives.But without $100/b oil, the innovation effort may never...

Iran, global maritime security and the US role in policing international waters from 2018-05-29T17:01

Iran threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz back in 2012. Now that the US is exiting the Iran nuclear deal, will the threat to shut downthe world’s busiest oil chokepoint return?On the latest...

Oil piracy, sanctions busting and petroleum’s black market from 2018-05-21T17:01

On today’s Capitol Crude we’re talking oil piracy, sanctions busting and petroleum’s black market in international waters.Ian Ralby, founder and CEO of I.R. Consilium, and David Soud, head of resea...

Iran sanctions and the showdown in East Asia from 2018-05-14T17:01

US sanctions against Iranian oil buyers go back into force in early November, and the Treasury Department has instructed countries to make significant cuts to their imports in the next six months t...

EPA, California collide over fuel economy rules from 2018-05-07T17:01

California, 16 other states and the District of Columbia have sued the Environmental Protection Agency challenging the Trump administration’s move to weaken fuel economy standards for 2022-2025 mod...

Iraq’s oil sector ambitions in the Trump era from 2018-04-30T17:01

Iraq is working to sharply expand its oil export capacity despite its agreement as part of OPEC to hold back supply. Those ambitions could get an unexpected boost from US President Donald Trump’s e...

Lightning round of oil supply risks: Venezuela, Syria, Iran, China from 2018-04-23T17:01

Geopolitical risks are flaring up across the globe, raising the prospects of oil supply disruptions. Has the market priced in these risks adequately? And what role is US shale supply playing?Vetera...

How did New Mexico become the US’ third-biggest crude oil producer? from 2018-04-16T17:01

Jeff Barron and Mason Hamilton, petroleum markets analysts with US Energy InformationAdministration, talk about New Mexico, America’s new oil powerhouse. Why is New Mexico moving up the US’ oil out...

What's happening with North American oil and product flows? from 2018-04-09T17:01

Why are US gasoline exports to Mexico breaking records? Why are Canadian crude exports to the US Gulf Coast climbing? What about Keystone XL?Mason Hamilton and Jeff Barron, petroleum markets analys...

Should the US government stockpile gasoline and jet fuel? from 2018-04-02T11:00

As the US government continues to sell off hundreds of millions of barrels from its crude oil stockpile, a new report argues that the Trump administration should start building reserves of gasoline...

Trump, the Crown Prince and a shifting oil relationship from 2018-03-26T09:30

On this week’s podcast, Matt Reed, vice president of Foreign Reports, tellsMeghan Gordon and Brian Scheidabout the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s trip to the US. Can Saudi Arabia be allie...

Where is Venezuela’s rock bottom? from 2018-03-19T09:30

Venezuela’s oil sector is in freefall, but where will it stop?On this week’s podcast, Francisco Monaldi, the Latin American energy policy fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Poli...

Is US energy dominance hurting foreign relations? from 2018-03-12T17:30

How has the growth of US oil production impacted US diplomacy? On the sidelines of CERAWeek in Houston, Capitol Crude talked with government officials and analysts on how the United States’ evolvin...

Live (again) from CERAWeek: Pipeline and port capacity constraints in Texas from 2018-03-06T16:49

It's Day 2 of CERAWeek by IHS Market and we’re again talking Permian. The shale play is seeing the most explosive growth in the world, but could a lack of pipeline and port capacity hinder future o...

Live from CERAWeek: Texas regulator sees Permian output hitting 7 million b/d from 2018-03-05T16:43

Capitol Crude is live from CERAWeek by IHS Markit in Houston. On this special episode, we’re talking Permian output, which the International Energy Agency said Tuesday will fuel 40% of global oil s...

Saudi, Inc. How the US shaped Saudi's oil history, and where it's headed from 2018-03-05T08:07

On this week's Capitol Crude podcast we interview Ellen Wald author of the new book 'Saudi, Inc.: The Arabian Kingdom’s Pursuit of Profit and Power.' Wald talks about Saudi Arabia’s modest beginnin...

Refiner bankruptcy amplifies fight over US biofuel mandate from 2018-02-26T14:30

US oil refiners consider this year to be their best shot in a decade at reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard, and they are holding up a Philadelphia refinery as a poster child of what is wrong wit...

How is Trump administration crafting sanctions so as not to adversely impact US refiners? from 2018-02-20T15:42

The Trump administration is considering sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, but is worried they could bankrupt a refinery along the US Gulf Coast, a top energy adviser to President Donald Trump te...

White House chaos: A Trump adviser on oil policy, energy dominance and Twitter diplomacy from 2018-02-20T09:17

It was chaos in the White House when George David Banks arrived at the White House, he tells Platts Capitol Crude. Banks, who stepped down as White House Special Assistant at the National Economic ...

What chance Permian becoming the poster child for US shale? from 2018-02-12T16:26

US oil output is already shattering records and, fueled by dramatic growth in the Permian, is expected to exceed 11 million b/d by late this year. But hurdles, from pipeline and port constraints to...

The US' shifting role in the global oil market from 2018-02-05T09:00

US oil output has exceeded 10 million b/d for the first time since 1970. What does this mean for diplomacy, sanctions and trade policy? Where is the US production ceiling now?On this week’s Platts ...

Examining Florida's exemption from the US oil and gas drilling plan from 2018-01-29T08:00

Why Florida?On this week’s podcast, Senior Editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid look at the Trump administration’s plan to open nearly all federal waters to oil and gas drilling and Interior Secr...

What are the implications of China's first crude oil futures contract? from 2018-01-22T10:00

On this week's Capitol Crude podcast we look at the implications of China’s first ever crude oil futures contract, expected to be launched in late March. The contract could bolster the standing of ...

Is oil headed to $80/b? from 2018-01-15T10:00

Gary Ross, founder of PIRA Energy and head of global oil analytics for S&P Global Platts, says oil at $80/b is possible in the near term.S&P Global Platts senior editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Sch...

The great ANWR mystery: How much oil is really there? from 2018-01-08T06:30

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Senior Editor Brian Scheid looks at one of the greatest mysteries in the US oil industry.In 1986, Chevron, BP and two Alaska Native corporations drilled a single well ...

Capitol Crude's oil price and policy outlook for 2018 from 2018-01-02T15:20

Where are oil prices, supply and demand heading in 2018? And how will Washington policy shape oil markets?Capitol Crude talks with three experts about where they think oil prices will be at the end...

US producers fight federal rules limiting methane from oil, gas operations from 2017-12-18T15:20

US producers continue to fight against federal rules limiting methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations. The Trump administration has put an Obama-era methane rule on hold until 2019 as...

Permian drillers may turn to recycled water to cut costs from 2017-12-11T17:01

Capitol Crude gets a crash course in geology to understand the potential for Permian Basin operators to use recycled water when drilling wells.Pioneer Natural Resources is building a pipeline netwo...

Bahrain's view of the global oil market, OPEC and the US from 2017-12-04T13:00

Capitol Crude has an exclusive interview with Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Khalifa, Bahrain’s oil minister, who sees a major crude supply crunch looming in the global market as investments dry up...

Developing nations are one of the central deciders of the peak oil demand debate from 2017-11-27T11:00

Is peak oil demand a myth? Capitol Crude goes to Georgetown University to debate how electric vehicles, technology, policy and petrochemicals (and more) will influence whether demand for crude oil ...

Aiming for ANWR: Will the Alaskan area be opened to oil development? from 2017-11-20T11:00

This week’s Capitol Crude looks at efforts by congressional Republicans to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. After decades of debate, drilling in ANWR appears ...

US shale drillers are reacting faster and faster to rising oil prices from 2017-11-13T08:35

We know US oil drillers can react quicker these days to rising prices and put new production online. But for the first time, a study has quantified US shale drillers' price responsiveness.Richard N...

Restructuring debt in Venezuela may not be enough to revive its oil industry from 2017-11-06T11:00

Will Venezuela's oil sector — including PDVSA and Citgo — will be a help or hindrance as the country tries to restructure some of its crippling debt while also dealing with sanctions?Senior oil edi...

Battle of the benchmarks: Should WTI be the global benchmark for oil prices? from 2017-10-30T11:00

Dan Eberhart thinks WTI, not Brent, should be the global benchmark for oil prices. Eberhart, CEO of Canary, a Denver-based drilling-services company, thinks the rationale which turned Brent into th...

Oil industry faces more uncertainty and risk as US reevaluates Iran deal from 2017-10-23T11:00

The fate of the Iran deal has essentially been punted to the US Congress, so what is likely to happen (and not happen) as lawmakers evaluate a situation that could have impacts for global oil marke...

Made in America: Can the Jones Act and US energy exports coexist peacefully? from 2017-10-16T11:00

The 100-year-old Jones Act got a lot of attention after a brutal hurricane season, but could its role within the US energy industry change as crude oil and LNG exports increase?Senior oil editors M...

Even US shale may not be able to save markets from an oil supply crunch from 2017-10-09T11:00

Investment cycles can give clues about future oil market shifts, and recent slow investments are pointing toward a global crude shortage and price upticks, Jonathan Chanis tells senior oil editors ...

If US reimposes sanctions, Iran's major oil consumers could sway success from 2017-10-02T11:00

What happens if the US reimposes sanctions on Iran's oil sector without the support of Europe, China and Russia — all big players in the international energy landscape? Elizabeth Rosenberg, directo...

Energy abundance can be a boon to foreign policy, but is the US taking advantage of it? from 2017-09-25T11:00

Capitol Crude's senior oil editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon speak with Meghan O'Sullivan, author of the new book ‘Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens...

The quest for 10 million b/d of US oil production from 2017-09-18T11:00

The US will produce an average 9.25 million b/d this year and the number will continue to grow over the next few years, according to the US Energy Information Administration. When will US oil produ...

What would an oil embargo mean to North Korea, which produces no petroleum? from 2017-09-08T11:00

Ahead of a possible United Nations Security Council vote Monday on an oil embargo to North Korea, Capitol Crude sits down with William Brown, an adjunct professor at Georgetown’s School of Foreign ...

Gruenspecht: EIA looks the US' oil future, even if 'there are no facts about the future' from 2017-09-05T11:00

The US Energy Information Administration is losing its top career official, and senior oil editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid spoke with Howard Gruenspecht before he departed. Gruenspecht, the ...

The US is an energy powerhouse, but in an increasingly interconnected, interdependent market from 2017-08-28T11:00

Capitol Crude celebrates its 150th episode with part two of a talk with Amos Hochstein, President Barack Obama's top energy diplomat. Senior oil editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon focus on the ...

'Sanctions can work': Obama's top energy diplomat on the nuances of US oil, gas policy from 2017-08-21T11:00

US energy sanctions are back in the news with Russia and Venezuela, so senior oil editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon talk to someone who's been there, done that: Amos Hochstein, President Barac...

The keys to Keystone XL success are in oil supply and demand, flows and prices from 2017-08-14T11:00

Keystone XL faces a final regulatory hurdle in Nebraska, and there are still concerns whether the crude oil pipeline makes economic sense for TransCanada. Senior oil editor Meghan Gordon delves int...

Venezuela sanctions could squeeze margins, shift flows for US Gulf Coast oil refiners from 2017-08-07T11:00

If the US follows through with sanctions on Venezuela, it can affect a slew of issues for US Gulf Coast refiners and the global markets for crude and refined oil products. Senior oil editors Meghan...

Making sense of sanctions: The US, Venezuela, Russia, energy and oil flows from 2017-07-28T17:00

The US Congress is working to put new oil sanctions into place against Russia and the Trump administration is poised to impose new sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector — sanctions which could includ...

'Reset does not mean rescind': RFA's Dinneen on proposed RVOs, the RFS and US biofuels from 2017-07-24T08:00

Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, speaks to Capitol Crude about the future the Renewable Fuel Standard, biofuels and the big topics at the pump in the era of Trump....

It's murky waters when considering expanded US offshore oil and gas drilling from 2017-07-17T11:00

The Trump administration is looking to expand drilling in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Arctic and even the Pacific oceans. To learn more about the prospects of expanded offshore ...

US producers and policymakers wrestle with the idea of energy dominance from 2017-07-10T11:00

Talk about the US' need for energy independence evolved into a discussion about energy security, and now energy dominance has risen to the forefront. But what does that mean and what are the Trump ...

The political and practical consequences of imposing new US sanctions on Russian energy from 2017-06-26T11:00

Newly proposed US sanctions on Russia target energy projects, like pipelines and crude oil production, and also provide new sanctions on mining, metals and other parts of the energy industry. But b...

What impact will Trump NAFTA talks have on oil and gas flows? from 2017-06-19T08:00

President Trump no longer wants to rip up NAFTA; he wants to renegotiate with Canada and Mexico. But the oil and gas sectors in all three countries have changed dramatically since 1994 when the lan...

The US' nexus of national security and oil from 2017-06-12T11:30

Andrew Holland, director of studies and a senior fellow at the American Security Project, joins Capitol Crude to talk about how "energy is still a strategic, valued commodity" and key to national s...

As US energy policy pendulum swings, Trump looks to Arctic and Atlantic drilling from 2017-06-05T11:30

Capitol Crude talks to Ali Zaidi, who served for eight years in the Obama administration, about an area where the economic and environmental concerns collide for the oil and gas industry: offshore....

US driving toward the future of fuel economy standards, but which direction? from 2017-05-30T10:30

The Trump administration has reopened a review of 2022-2025 fuel economy standards, which have a major impact on the vehicles automakers produce and, arguably, a modest impact on petroleum demand i...

Following the flow of US crude oil around the globe from 2017-05-22T11:34

US crude exports are in their nascent stages, relative to the rest of the world. But data about the exports reveals how the crude is entering the market. Mason Hamilton, petroleum markets analyst w...

Is the global oil market chasing an 'almost-mythical' state? from 2017-05-15T11:34

Capitol Crude talks to some top players in the energy economics game to consider whether oil's perpetual quest for balance is possible and how it affects production and prices.John Kemp, senior mar...

Let's make a deal: Can OPEC's oil output cuts continue as they are? from 2017-05-08T15:34

When OPEC reached its historic supply cut deal last year, Brent oil was trading for about $49/b ... and it still is. So has the deal been a failure, and what should the market expect from OPEC now?...

Pull no punches: The first 100 days of Trump's oil and energy policies from 2017-04-29T11:30

Capitol Crude takes an environmentalists vs. industry look at President Donald Trump's first 100 days with Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, and Bob Deans, director of stra...

Oil refiners and renewable fuels in the Trump era from 2017-04-24T11:30

Have refiners' hopes for a quick rollback of the US biofuel mandate by the Trump administration fizzled out? The industry judged two early appointments as signs of the president's willingness to re...

US policy pressures on oil prices shift as inventories reach a new norm from 2017-04-17T09:30

How much of an impact are President Donald Trump's policies having on day-to-day trading within oil markets? And what about future regulations? Brian Scheid has a conversation with the S&P Global P...

Is a 'decade of disorder' ahead for global oil markets? from 2017-04-10T11:00

Low oil prices and a lack of upstream spending are fueling a looming, worldwide supply crisis for the 2020s, some oil industry experts say. Adam Sieminski, former head of the US Energy Information ...

Take 10: Have a break, backtrack and tally up what Trump has done for energy from 2017-04-03T07:30

President Donald Trump came into the White House promising a new revolution for domestic fossil fuel producers. But have his policy efforts, including last week’s Energy Independence Executive Orde...

The US isn't the only partner available to assist in Mexico's hydrocarbon reforms from 2017-03-27T11:00

Capitol Crude looks to Mexico, where reform is upending the energy sector at a time when its relationship with the US could be on the cusp of a change. Senior oil editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Sc...

Slow US pipeline safety reforms get caught in presidential transition from 2017-03-20T11:00

How safe are US pipelines seven years after the fatal natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, and the 20,000-barrel heavy crude spill in Marshall, Michigan? Regulations designed in...

Is the OPEC/non-OPEC deal proving to be a boon for US shale oil producers? from 2017-03-13T14:22

Capitol Crude looks at whether the landmark crude oil supply cut agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC producers may be undermined by growth of US shale oil supply.Spencer Dale, BP’s group chief econ...

Sizing up Trump's oil and energy policy initiatives from the Bone zone from 2017-03-06T11:00

During the second presidential debate, Ken Bone asked a question that brought somewhat dormant energy policy to the forefront. Capitol Crude asks Bone, the man behind the internet's most famous red...

Production and corruption: US oil and regulations about transparency from 2017-02-27T11:57

Senior oil editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon talk with Jana Morgan, director of Publish What You Pay - US, on the likely fate of an anti-corruption rule with impacts on multinational oil, gas ...

Permian production, US crude exports have midstream companies battling for barrels from 2017-02-21T16:57

The Texas Gulf Coast is gearing up to handle more US oil production and a potential rise in crude exports, but pipeline capacity already outstrips the area's refining capacity.Sandy Fielden, direct...

What the FERC? How a lack of quorum could affect US oil and natural gas from 2017-02-13T06:05

On February 3, US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lost its quorum when Chairman Norman Bay announced he had "gone fishin’" and left the agency in regulatory chaos.Chris Newkumet, DC bureau chi...

The US State Department, the South China Sea and summer oil drilling season from 2017-02-06T11:08

Former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson has started his new job at the State Department, where he could still have a big impact on energy and commodity issues around the globe. Senior oil editors Megha...

Will Trump's energy policy erase Obama's climate legacy? from 2017-01-30T11:08

President Donald Trump has moved in to the White House and has already begun what many believe will be a major shift in US energy policy. But will Trump’s policy changes erase the Obama administrat...

US crude oil, gasoline markets share their anticipations about Trump from 2017-01-23T11:08

Capitol Crude travels to Texas to discuss the impact President Donald Trump may have on US crude oil supply and gasoline demand. Laura Huchzermeyer, an associate editor who covers Americas shale cr...

What does it take to keep oil prices stable? from 2017-01-17T11:08

Robert McNally, author of the new book 'Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices' joins senior oil editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid to talk about the history — and...

It's not the US EIA that's crazy; it's oil markets that are from 2017-01-09T11:08

About two weeks before he plans to step down, Adam Sieminski, the head of the US Energy Information Administration, sits down with Capitol Crude to talk future oil prices, the path of US production...

John Hess on the 'new chapter' for oil prices, US shale production from 2016-12-19T11:08

Many are watching US oil producers after the deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers and Donald Trump's election, and John Hess, CEO of Hess Corporation, shares his thoughts about the future of US...

Global oil markets and effects on US energy security, independence from 2016-12-12T09:08

Energy independence is a goal for many when it comes to US energy security, and the future of both is influenced by both politics and complicated global energy markets. Senior oil editors Brian Sch...

Trump administration could be a bend in the road for biofuels blending from 2016-12-05T09:08

Total renewable fuel is slated to be more than 10% of the US fuel supply in 2017, breaking through the so-called blend wall. But how will a new presidential administration affect targets for the Re...

Phone a friend: OPEC calls for oil output cut with non-member assistance from 2016-12-01T14:56

In a special episode of Capitol Crude, senior oil editor Brian Scheid calls former podcast co-host Herman Wang in Vienna to get all the details of OPEC's historic decision Wednesday to cut producti...

All eyes on OPEC as oil producers hope for higher prices from 2016-11-28T11:06

What are the best and worst scenarios from the upcoming OPEC meeting for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Russia, the US and other crude producers? Matthew Reed, vice president of Foreign Reports, joins s...

Could we yet witness Keystone XL pipeline return from the dead? from 2016-11-21T06:06

It's alive! After being buried in the White House policy graveyard last year by President Barack Obama, the Keystone XL pipeline is back from the dead following Donald Trump's election win. TransCa...

Trump’s presidential win and its potential impact on US-Russia energy relations from 2016-11-14T15:06

Capitol Crude looks at how President-elect Donald Trump might handle US sanctions against Russia, given indications during the campaign that he would take a softer stance with Moscow.Will Trump eas...

US oil industry waits for policy details after Trump triumphs from 2016-11-09T15:06

In a special post-election episode of Capitol Crude, senior editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon look at what impact Republican Donald Trump’s victory will have on US oil policy. Geoffrey Craig, ...

Rich in reserves, Venezuela struggles to manage its oil wealth from 2016-10-31T12:15

Venezuela has more proven crude oil reserves than any other country, yet hundreds of thousands of people are unable to buy necessities and are marching in the streets of Caracas. Senior oil editors...

'Quiet diplomacy': The US relationship with OPEC oil production from 2016-10-24T17:15

Former US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson joins senior oil editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid to detail the changing role of OPEC in the global oil market and oil diplomacy. Richardson, who wa...

Environmentalists fight to forgo fossil fuels as US election spotlights production from 2016-10-17T11:15

The fight in the US between oil and gas producers and environmentalists has taken on a more urgent tone lately, in part due to the country looking ahead to a new president. Senior oil editors Brian...

Post-Algiers prospects: What's really at stake when OPEC meets again in November? from 2016-10-10T11:15

This week’s episode of Capitol Crude looks at the fallout from OPEC’s Algiers meeting and the prospects for rebalancing global oil supply and demand.Platts senior editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Sc...

How US oil policy could change under a president Trump or Clinton from 2016-10-03T11:21

It’s Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and crude oil on this week’s Capitol Crude, as Platts senior editors Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid look at what the race for the White House means for US oil pol...

How shaken up is the US oil, gas industry by earthquakes' spike? from 2016-09-26T13:21

Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon look at the spike in earthquakes in Oklahoma and neighboring states, areas that contributed to the US oil and gas boom.Justin Rubinstein, deputy...

Do the hustle: US oil imports, production and policy in the 1970s and today from 2016-09-19T12:30

Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Meghan Gordon take you back to the 1970s with John Kingston, director of global market insights for S&P Global. It was an era of low US crude oil production, ...

Keeping offshore oil production on track: The future of the Gulf of Mexico from 2016-09-12T12:30

Low oil prices and less invested in exploration has squeezed crude production in the US, but Gulf of Mexico production is expected to grow -- even as regulators are growing increasingly concerned a...

Slickwater fracking: A spark to start the world's modern oil revolution from 2016-09-06T17:30

Capitol Crude is back from summer vacation and taking a trip back to the mid-1990s in the US, when Hanson was on the radio, Seinfeld had new episodes and slickwater fracking was being developed. Ni...

Back to basics: Adam Sieminski on global oil prices, fundamentals and more from 2016-08-08T17:30

In the 100th episode of Capitol Crude, Platts senior editor Brian Scheid talks with Adam Sieminski, administrator of the US Energy Information Administration, on the state of the global oil market....

Costs of new US Arctic regulations may cool offshore oil production plans from 2016-08-01T17:30

The Obama administration unveiled final regulations for drilling in US Arctic waters, but questions remain about the future of oil production there. Will the Arctic be pulled out of the administrat...

Driving efficiency: Oil, cars and US gas mileage goals from 2016-07-25T17:30

A new technical report on US fuel efficiency targets says the vehicle fleet may fall short of a goal of 54.5 miles per gallon. Senior editor Brian Scheid parses the key points of the report and tal...

The future of US fracking and finding who gets the final say from 2016-07-18T11:15

Fracking helped unleash a flood of new US oil and gas production, but regulating it is no simple task. The Obama administration has not embraced the environmental movement to keep all fossil fuels ...

US oil policy, told in barrels, big names and beats from 2016-07-11T11:15

Capitol Crude co-hosts Brian Scheid and Herman Wang couldn't get tickets to the Tony Award-winning musical "Hamilton," so they perform their own rap musical -- on oil policy, of course.Their tale o...

Fearless forecast for 2020: 3-D printers, Taylor Swift... and a potential global crude oil shortage from 2016-06-27T11:15

Taking their cues from Conan O’Brien, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang take Capitol Crude into the future – all the way to the year 2020, with predictions about Taylor Swift, 3-D ...

How to preserve the reserve: The US' SPR in the era of a global oil glut from 2016-06-20T10:45

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Brian Scheid and Herman Wang take you along on a recent tour of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. With pipes corroding and tank floors failing, the US Department of Ene...

Everything you wanted to know about the US gasoline market (but were afraid to ask) from 2016-06-13T10:45

Preparing to drive to that summer vacation? Gasoline is one of the most recognizable oil products to Americans, yet what drives the market is unknown to many. Senior oil editor Brian Scheid shares ...

OPEC search continues for mechanisms to bring balance to oil markets from 2016-06-06T11:00

Now that the breaking news is winding down, Capitol Crude analyzes what the June 2 OPEC meeting means for the global oil market, US policymakers and US crude producers. Herman Wang is in Vienna wit...

We can work it out? As oil rebounds, Iran looks to sweeten nuclear deal from 2016-05-31T11:00

Recent complaints out of Tehran that the nuclear deal has yet to yield tangible benefits leaves questions about the future of the deal and what it would mean for oil. Senior editors Brian Scheid an...

Kurdistan turns to the US and others to help fund the future of its crude oil from 2016-05-23T11:00

Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has been hard hit by the oil price plunge of late, but it is attempting to pull its oil industry out of the shadows and toward legitimacy. Platts senior edit...

What will Falih's appointment mean for US-Saudi energy relations? from 2016-05-16T11:00

Saudi Arabia last week made a change in its oil leadership, naming former Saudi Aramco CEO Khalid al-Falih to the post of energy minister, replacing the long-serving Ali al-Naimi. Naimi, who regula...

Neighborhood watch: Venezuela and oil in the Americas from 2016-05-09T12:00

The state of the oil industry in Venezuela and its ailing PetroCaribe program are having effects on the market in other parts of the 'neighborhood' -- like the US, Caribbean and Central America. Th...

One oil industry, two opposing views and many reasons why crude prices move from 2016-05-02T12:00

Oil prices have been on the rebound in recent weeks, with many market watchers saying that fundamentals appear improved. Some are predicting that the market will see supply and demand rebalance by ...

Post-sanctions Iran's impact on OPEC and the global oil market from 2016-04-25T12:00

Iran's planned post-sanctions oil production path is colliding with crude market realities, keeping the country's production and exports from ramping up to meet initial expectations. Platts senior ...

Low oil prices having a chilling effect on Alaska's economy from 2016-04-18T12:00

Alaska has long been a bastion of the US' oil production, even giving dividend checks to residents from oil revenues. But oil price woes are having a major effect on a state that has no state incom...

Is oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico facing a sea change? from 2016-04-11T12:00

On this week's Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wanglook at the growing opposition to oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Interior D...

World watches warily as US presidential candidates comment on crude oil from 2016-04-04T12:00

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump's proposal to ban US imports of Saudi Arabian crude appears unfeasible, but is the plan already damaging fragile ties with the Saudis and other ove...

Will meeting of oil producers upset expectations for global supply? from 2016-03-28T10:00

While much of the US has its eyes glued to March Madness, the oil industry is wondering if there could be a big upset in store from a summit of OPEC and major non-OPEC producers in Doha, Qatar, on ...

Considering the future of Cuba's oil imports in light of US exports from 2016-03-21T10:00

As President Barack Obama leaves for his historic trip to Cuba, Platts senior oil editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid look at what the potential end to the long-standing trade embargo means for US...

The hazards of Islamic State oil from 2016-03-14T10:00

Since 2014, the US and its coalition allies have engaged in an intensive air strike campaign against Islamic State oil facilities, aiming to stamp out one of the terrorist group's vital sources of ...

Welcome to the wide world of exports: The US' ability to turn loose oil from 2016-03-07T11:00

There's been a lot made of prices and economics when it comes to the US exporting crude oil, but what about the actual logistics and capabilities to export? Platts senior oil editors Herman Wang an...

The rocking and rolling of US oil production and prices from 2016-02-29T11:00

Rusty Braziel, CEO of RBN Energy and author of "The Domino Effect," stops by to talk with Platts senior oil editor Brian Scheid about some of the biggest influences on US shale producers at the mom...

The highway to high octane: Ethanol's attempts to gain ground in US gasoline from 2016-02-22T11:00

The US is likely to raise its gasoline octane standard over the next decade or so, which has the ethanol industry shifting into high gear its fight to become a preferred blendstock. Platts senior e...

How financial flailings could affect the flood of US crude oil production from 2016-02-08T11:00

What does it mean for American oil supply and the policies around the oil industry when US crude producers are losing billions of dollars? Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid talk wi...

When opening the door to US crude oil exports lets other grades in from 2016-02-01T11:00

More than a month after longstanding limits on US crude exports were lifted, some unintended consequences of the policy shift are emerging. While American crude has started to trickle out on to the...

Peanut butter or hamburgers: How will US crude oil be received in Europe? from 2016-01-25T11:00

Europeans have embraced many American exports, like McDonald's Big Macs and Jazzercise. Will US crude oil be the next big hit across the pond? The first cargo of freely traded US crude oil has reac...

Avoiding stolen oil and the purchasing power of the US from 2016-01-19T11:00

This week, Capitol Crude looks at tyranny, autocrats, violent coups, and a big question: Who really owns oil? Senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang talk to Leif Wenar about his new book, "Blo...

Oil industry awaits Iran's Implementation Day, but don't be fooled by the name from 2016-01-11T11:00

Implementation Day of the Iran nuclear deal is potentially just around the corner, when the US and EU will lift sanctions on Tehran's oil sector. But don't be fooled by the name. With that opportun...

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes: The effect of US crude export policy on climate goals from 2015-12-21T11:00

During the final Capitol Crude episode of 2015, Platts senior oil editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang take a look at the effect of US crude oil production, consumption, and exports on climate goal...

Landmark deal from Congress could unleash US crude on global oil market from 2015-12-16T16:15

Congress has agreed to a potentially landmark deal which includes an end to limits on US crude exports, and for the first time in 40 years, US oil producers could soon have access to the global mar...

US oil policy, prices, and making the most of margins from 2015-12-14T11:00

When the world is awash with crude oil and prices have cratered over the past 18 months, can any federal policy make a difference to US producers? Platts senior editor Brian Scheid talks to Christo...

Unofficially official: What OPEC's meeting means for US crude production and prices from 2015-12-07T11:00

Following last week’s controversial and drama-filled OPEC meeting, Platts senior editors Herman Wang in Vienna and Brian Scheid in Washington detail the twists and turns that led to an announcement...

US-China diplomatic ties and the South China Sea territorial dispute from 2015-11-30T11:00

On this week's Capitol Crude, George David Banks drops in to talk about the impact US oil production and export policy is having on diplomatic relations with China and the South China Sea territori...

What could happen to an American oil market in Paris from 2015-11-23T11:48

It's the Marcia, Marcia, Marcia moment: Everyone's talking about the Paris climate talks and their impact on power markets, but what about oil markets? Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian S...

Ready your buzzers to answer the US oil policy news quiz from 2015-11-16T11:48

This week, Capitol Crude becomes Capitol Crude Conundrum, America's favorite US oil policy game show. Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang welcome special guests, like Brent from West...

Everything's bigger in Texas, including US crude and condensate export questions from 2015-11-09T11:48

From deep in the heart of Texas, Platts' Brian Scheid talks with Matt Cook, head of Platts' Americas crude and fuel oil markets team, about US crude oil and condensate exports and Houston sprawl.Th...

US shale boom: a diplomatic game-changer from 2015-11-02T11:48

Just like the world's petrostates, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang are feeling the pinch from lower oil prices brought on by the US shale boom. While Brian and Herman bemoan the ...

Like Hoth plus politics: Lease sales for US Arctic oil drilling frozen from 2015-10-26T11:48

There are no Ewoks in this third installment, but Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang complete their trilogy on US offshore oil and gas policy by examining the cancellation of future...

Reforming the Jones Act on safety is anything but smooth sailing for US oil from 2015-10-19T11:48

The US' Jones Act and its impact on offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is causing federal agencies to go public with their concerns. Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid ta...

Ozone debate between oil industry, environmentalists propels Congress to the outer limits from 2015-10-12T16:48

Capitol Crude takes a look at the US EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, issued October 1, which sees the air pollution limit lowered from 75 ppb to 70 ppb,...

A successful failure? What Shell pulling out of Alaska means for US Arctic oil production from 2015-10-05T11:00

Another potential relationship fizzling with the end of the summer: After seven years and $7 billion, Shell has decided to abandon pursuing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, despite its offshore ...

The American West, a home to US oil and the bird that's driving them cuckoo from 2015-09-28T11:00

The majestic bald eagle may be the emblematic bird of the United States, but the bizarre greater sage grouse is the poster-bird for the relationship between the US oil and gas industry and undevelo...

Could US crude oil export policy be Keystoned? from 2015-09-21T11:00

The debate over US crude oil exports has been rife with policy-focused arguments on supply and demand fundamentals, but could a Republican bill and recent White House opposition turn the issue as j...

Index for crude oil's climate impact illuminates what's behind the barrels from 2015-09-14T11:00

Producers and consumers alike are becoming more attuned to the impact of goods of all sorts, and it's no different when it comes to a barrel of oil. Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Sche...

Global spare capacity: Should idled US shale oil wells count? from 2015-08-31T11:00

It's Brian Scheid v. Herman Wang on Platts Capitol Crude Court this week, as the co-hosts duel over the notion of idled US shale oil wells contributing to global spare capacity. Brian argues that d...

Considering how low oil can go before the Bakken goes bust from 2015-08-24T17:02

North Dakota's Bakken Shale embodies much of the best of the US' oil revolution and has been a success in spite of global oil market fundamentals. Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang...

California scheming: How are refiners, traders reacting to changes in LCFS rules? from 2015-08-17T17:02

Plenty of artists have penned songs about California - from Tupac to the Beach Boys to Katy Perry. But the one aspect of California that every singer seems to leave out is its Low Carbon Fuel Stand...

Can combating climate change coexist with increased US oil production? from 2015-08-10T11:00

After the unveiling of President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan, it's an appropriate time to take stock of whether the administration's climate goals are at odds with the ongoing shale boom. Platt...

Major energy reform approaches the goal, but will it score points for oil issues? from 2015-08-03T11:00

On this week's Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang slide tackle their way into the bipartisan, comprehensive US energy bill passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural...

Looking forward to the next year of US crude oil news from 2015-07-27T11:00

Which anniversary includes the traditional gifting of a barrel of crude oil? On the 50th episode of Capitol Crude, Platts senior oil reporters Brian Scheid and Herman Wang look back at their year i...

What's next for Iran and the world's oil supply, prices and politics from 2015-07-20T11:00

After the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, what should the world expect from its oil industry? Platts senior oil editor Brian Scheid digs into the big questions: How much Iranian crude could hit th...

Too late or too soon? US crude export debate tries to time a chance for change from 2015-07-13T11:00

Time is of the essence when it comes to opening up US oil exports . . . or is it? Platts senior editor Brian Scheid details why a vote to end long-standing restrictions on US crude oil exports is l...

US DOE's Kenderdine on what the funk is happening to the SPR from 2015-07-06T11:00

It was a year of Star Wars, funk, Reggie Jackson and Saudi Arabian crude arriving in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. From 1977 until today, the US' place in the oil market has come a long way. ...

Obama administration aiming high to regulate aircraft emissions from 2015-06-29T11:00

You can come out of your tinfoil bunker: The Obama administration's recently announced plans to regulate commercial aircraft emissions, but any effects would likely be years in the future. Platts s...

Jurassic trains park the brakes on crude crossing the mainland from 2015-06-22T16:53

Did the Obama administration turn a T-Rex of a problem into an Indominus Rex of a problem, by requiring electronically controlled pneumatic brakes on oil trains? After watching Jurassic World, the ...

US oil production picking at OPEC's problems from 2015-06-08T11:10

The US isn't a part of OPEC, and no government officials attended the OPEC meeting in Vienna last week, but the US and its shale oil boom were still on people's minds at the conference and summit. ...

Call now and we'll double your offer: Selling oil from the SPR from 2015-06-08T11:10

Is a new plan by Congress to sell 64 million barrels of crude from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve like a get-rich-quick scheme that's just too good to be true? Platts senior editors Brian Schei...

Shell's summer oil drilling plans in Arctic get frosty reception from environmental groups from 2015-06-01T17:00

Summer is starting, and while Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang start thinking of sunscreen and sunglasses, Shell is planning to drill offshore Alaska. The plan has received condit...

Senator Murkowski quizzed on her efforts to repeal the US crude export ban from 2015-05-26T17:00

Senator Lisa Murkowski is the featured guest on this week's Capitol Crude, as Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang interview the Alaska Republican and chairwoman of the Senate Energy ...

It's complicated: The US, Venezuela, and China's crude oil relationship from 2015-05-18T17:00

Venezuela was once the largest source of US oil imports, but when that relationship soured, the Latin American powerhouse turned to a new relationship with China. But as Platts senior editors Brian...

Mailbag time: OPEC meetings, Iran, Cuba, oil exports and love from 2015-05-11T17:00

You've got questions? Capitol Crude has answers. Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang dip into their mailbag and answer some burning questions about crude oil policy. What can we expe...

Screaming encouraged: Taking a turn on the oil market roller coaster from 2015-05-04T17:00

There's no sure way to tell when the drop is coming, but take a ride with Platts senior oil editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid on the Peak Oil Peaker, a virtual roller coaster built entirely on o...

Looking for a pick: Oil price forecasts and football predictions from 2015-04-27T17:00

Forecasting oil prices is a tough game, and Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang ask whether there's any value to long-term oil price forecasts or if there's too big of a chance of a ...

A conflict resolution for Iran oil sanctions? 'Take care of yourself and each other', said one Mr. Springer from 2015-04-20T17:00

In this week’s Platts Capitol Crude, senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang put their conflict resolution skills to the test as they stage an intervention between President Barack Obama and...

Definitely not curbing our enthusiasm for US oil policy from 2015-04-13T17:00

Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang are joined by John Kingston, president of the McGraw Hill Financial Institute, for a pretty ... pretty ... pretty interesting discussion of US cru...

The good cop/bad cop world of policing US fracking from 2015-04-06T17:00

Pull up a chair in the interrogation room and join Platts senior editor Brian Scheid as he asks questions about the Obama administration's new hydraulic fracturing rules and their impact on US oil ...

Past, present, futures: How markets are changing oil policy from 2015-03-30T17:00

For the first time, Platts Capitol Crude goes on the road to Platts’ New York office for a deep look into the crude oil futures market and its impact on US policy. Platts senior editor Brian Scheid...

13 going on 30? US suddenly has to deal with a mature crude landscape from 2015-03-23T17:00

The debate over expanding US crude exports comes as the American fossil fuel industry finds itself in the midst of a "body swap" movie: policy has not kept pace with a radical change. Platts senior...

Fixing US crude by rail is a challenge worthy of King Arthur (and Monty Python) from 2015-03-16T17:00

The US oil industry and Obama administration are preparing for a duel over strict new safety rules governing shipments of crude by rail. Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid present a...

How to tell if sharks are circling crude oil prices from 2015-03-09T17:00

Creepy backgound music, ominous foreshadowing, cocky attitudes: in a movie, these cues will let you know disaster is about to strike, but what clues would have let us know oil prices were about to ...

US EPA drops a new wave album's worth of apologies about renewable fuels from 2015-03-02T17:00

The US Environmental Protection Agency's Chris Grundler may not be a member of Depeche Mode, but to Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang his appearance at the recent National Ethanol ...

What will save US condensates from being a benchwarmer in the global export game? from 2015-02-23T17:00

On this week’s episode of Capitol Crude, Platts senior editor Brian Scheid discusses the disappointing launch of the US condensate export market and how it's similar to the 1984 NBA Draft.Carlton D...

Keeping up with the Jones Act: the 'third rail' of US energy politics from 2015-02-16T17:00

The oil industry is rife with controversial topics, but the "third rail" of US energy politics is the Jones Act, which spells out shipping standards for goods (including oil) transported by water b...

US' tough love approach puts Iran's oil sector in spotlight from 2015-02-09T17:00

This week on Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid compare the ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program with trashy reality television. With a little help from K...

KO in AK: The fight over oil development in Alaska from 2015-02-02T17:00

Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid go ringside for the big fight over the oil industry between the Obama administration and the Alaska congressional delegation, led by Senator Lisa ...

State of crude by rail at a crossing in the US from 2015-01-26T17:00

US crude-by-rail rules have not been updated in decades, and recent train accidents have rattled communities across North America. Platts senior editor Herman Wang takes a deep dive into efforts to...

The mysteries of the Renewable Fuel Standard from 2015-01-19T17:00

In this week’s Capitol Crude, Platts senior editor Herman Wang gets Serial (and serious) about the Renewable Fuel Standard and the battle between the biofuels and oil industries. When will the Envi...

US condensate export eligibility may lie in the eye of the producer from 2015-01-12T17:00

Can you choose your own US export adventure if you choose your own name? Self-classifying and self-proclaiming can be a tricky business, but when it comes to condensates, the US Commerce Department...

Back to the future, part 2: The outlook for US oil policy in 2015 from 2015-01-05T17:00

On the first Capitol Crude of 2015, Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid take a cue from Marty McFly and look to the future of 2015. Tune in to hear their personal policy predictions ...

If this feels familiar, it's because US oil has probably done this before from 2014-12-22T17:00

Ever feel like you're living the same scenario over and over and over again? On this week's episode of Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang talk with Platts Energy Week...

Bakken oil producers face regulations that could rain on their parade from 2014-12-15T17:00

North Dakota oil producers are finding themselves in a tough spot, caught between calls for stabilizing crude for transportation safety and mandates to cut down on natural gas flaring in the Bakken...

The Butterfly Effect: Will the winds of change hit US oil policy? from 2014-12-08T17:00

Global oil benchmarks fell nearly 20 percent in November after OPEC maintained its output targets, and now there are lingering questions about the long-term effects of OPEC's decision on US policy ...

Far from the madding OPEC crowd from 2014-12-02T17:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid talk about the late nights, early mornings and crowded press conferences at the latest OPEC meeting in Vienna, where...

EPA dodges an RFS decision, leaving oil, biofuel industries hanging from 2014-11-24T17:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid talk about how Friday’s decision to punt the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard into next year was a lot like Reebok’s dis...

Rocky explains the impact of US punches thrown at the Russian oil industry from 2014-11-17T17:00

It's a story at the heart of US-Russia relations: A once-beloved American underdog versus an egomaniacal Russian tyrant. Is it the plot of a Rocky movie, or the current political status of the coun...

New actors, same old TV show: Will a Republican controlled House and Senate really change US oil policy? from 2014-11-10T17:00

From Mad Men to Seinfeld to Roseanne, we've all seen TV shows where different actors have played the same part from season to season. Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang look at the ...

What are the expectations for the highly-anticipated export of US condensate? from 2014-11-03T17:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude podcast, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang talk about why US condensate exports are like a box of chocolates. How much processed condensate will the US...

Does the US really need all the oil stashed in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve? from 2014-10-27T17:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude podcast, Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid ask if the hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil stashed away by the US government may indicate a hoa...

How losing in the short term could be a slam dunk for oil production from 2014-10-20T17:00

What does a plan by Saudi Arabia have to do with bad basketball? This week, on Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang compare the OPEC powerhouse's possible plan to asser...

Mailbag time: We answer your burning questions about US crude oil from 2014-10-13T17:00

Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid answer US crude policy questions submitted from listeners. Will the first Alaskan crude export in a decade push a change in US export policy? What...

Interested parties try to woo the future of US crude by rail from 2014-10-06T17:00

Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid launch a new dating show for crude-by-rail regulations on this week's Capitol Crude. Can the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administratio...

Can new oil production metrics hit a home run for US export policy? from 2014-09-29T17:00

On this week's Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang look at what advanced baseball statistics can tell us about US crude oil production data.Sabermetrics led to a stati...

'Vampires' and 'werewolves' battle for EPA's affections over Renewable Fuel Standard from 2014-09-22T17:00

On this week's Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid look at the ongoing fight over the Renewable Fuel Standard and compare it to the central conflict within history's m...

What can the US crude oil industry learn from Pabst Blue Ribbon? from 2014-09-15T17:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang compare the ongoing campaign to allow exports of US crude oil to some of the most successful beer marketing campaign...

Cellulosic ethanol attempts a comeback, and Congress tackles a crude policy framework from 2014-09-08T17:00

On this week’s Capitol Crude, Platts senior editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang explain how the US Congress is looking to lay the groundwork for future crude oil policy, meaning it's a perfect tim...

A crude by any other name, and the US offshore lease sale from 2014-08-25T17:00

This week, Brian Scheid and Herman Wang play a couple of rounds of Name That Crude in an attempt to figure out the exact qualities of Bakken crude, a question that the North Dakota Industrial Commi...

Back to the future: What LaserDisc and corn have to do with condensate splitters and propane from 2014-08-18T17:00

Platts senior oil news editors Herman Wang and Brian Scheid take a trip down memory lane to look at the future of condensate splitters in the US, which were encouraged by the abundance of domestic ...

Offshore and inland, crude oil industry anxious over coming changes from 2014-08-11T17:00

The end of this week is the deadline for comments on the next five-year oil and natural gas leasing plan, which will serve as a guide for offshore drilling from 2017 through 2022. It's also comment...

Questions abound regarding Kurdish crude tanker and condensate processing from 2014-08-04T17:00

In the inaugural edition of this podcast, Platts senior oil news editors and Capitol Hill newshounds Herman Wang and Brian Scheid discuss the possible political motives for a tanker of Kurdish crud...