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Archive for the ‘energy’ Category
On Memorial Day…
Posted in energy, energy policy, Uncategorized, tagged energy independence, energy workers, gratitude, Memorial Day, security on May 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Add another 343.5 trillion cu ft to our natural gas resource base
Posted in energy, natural gas, tagged 343.5 tcf, Bossier Formation, natural gas abundance, Ned Mamula, resource assessment, technology, USGS on May 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Scientific discovery, technological innovation, and human ingenuity are not finite!
The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of undiscovered gas and oil in the Bossier Formation along the Gulf Coast. USGS assesses that there are technically recoverable resources of 343.5 trillion cubic feet of gas – enough to supply the United States for more than 10 years at the current rate of consumption.
The USGS quantitatively assessed three continuous and one conventional AUs (assessment units) for undiscovered oil, gas, and natural gas liquid resources in the Bossier Formation. The estimated mean total resources in the four AUs are 3 million barrels of oil (MMBO), with an F95–F5 range from 1 to 8 MMBO; 343,499 billion cubic feet of gas (BCFG), or 343.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, with an F95–F5 range from 103,943 to 611,703 BCFG; and 374 million barrels of natural gas liquids (MMBNGL), with an F95–F5 range from 109 to 721 MMBNGL (table 2).
So much for the depletion of our natural gas resources! Long-time gas advocates knew that geologic studies, technology, and ingenuity would provide the resource, and that has been demonstrated in spades!
Kudos to USGS, headed by my former colleague Ned Mamula, for their important resource assessment studies!
Nice NPRA lease sale
Posted in energy, Alaska, tagged Shell, Repsol, Alaska, Exxon, oil and gas lease sale, North Slope, NPRA, CPAI, Epoch Resources on March 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Not offshore, but close😉 Fond memories of my stay at NPRA many years ago.
Strong participation; nice mix of big dogs – Exxon, Shell, ConocoPhillips (CPAI), and Repsol – and independents.
Stats – 3/18/2026 NPRA lease sale:
- Tracts offered: 625
- Tracts receiving bids: 187
- Sum of high bids: $ 163,696,722.2
- Highest bid: $ 3,649,920.00 by Epoch Resources
- Companies participating: 11
- Total bids: 430
| Company | High Bids |
| North Slope Exploration | 78 |
| Shell/Repsol (joint bids) | 42 |
| CPAI | 30 |
| Exxon | 24 |
| Epoch | 8 |
| Peritas | 2 |
| Beacon | 1 |
| Oil Search | 1 |
| SE Partners | 1 |
For superhot geothermal fans, a Quaise production video
Posted in climate, drilling, energy, tagged gyrotron, millimeter wave drilling, Quaise Energy, Star Wars, supercritical water, superhot geothermal on February 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Superhot geothermal is exciting because of the unlimited potential, universal availability, Star Wars drilling technology, and the dynamics of supercritical fluids.
There are still hurdles to clear, and commercial power generation is 5+ years away, but the promise is tantalizing.
Fluid density differentials facilitate well stimulation in superhot geothermal wells
Posted in energy, tagged fractures, permeability, Quaise Energy, super hot geothermal, supercritical water, well completions on January 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Excerpt from the Quaise video:
As we descend into hotter, deeper tiers, the process shifts from pressure-driven to density-driven stimulation. With larger density contrasts between the injected water and pore fluid in the rocks, density takes the lead. The deeper we go, fracturing becomes easier, not more challenging, and reduces the need for massive pumping fleets.
It all results in a superhot subterranean network sweeping away 10-100x more heat than all other forms of geothermal. We are sending water coursing through engineered permeability, harnessing Earth’s most abundant energy and powering the next century of global innovation.
Supercritical fluid dynamics are thus the key to superhot geothermal completions. Water above and 22 mega pascals (3191 psi) enters a supercritical state with liquid-like density and gas-like viscosity. The water that is injected into a hot, supercritical reservoir is thus much denser than the surrounding superhot fluid. The injection of relatively cool water into superhot rock creates and widens fractures increasing permeability without increased pumping pressure.
Gaza Marine Gas Field should be a development priority. Which companies will be involved?
Posted in Uncategorized, Offshore Energy - General, energy, tagged ADNOC, Aramco, Chevron, Eastern Mediterranean, EGAS, Equinor, Gaza Marine, Gaza redevelopment, natural gas, Qatar Energy, Zohr Field on October 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »
In light of the fantastic Middle East news, planning for the redevelopment of Gaza is underway. The Gaza Marine Gas Field should be a high priority given the power generation and revenue potential.
The field, which was discovered in 1999 by British Gas (now part of Shell), is located approximately 30-36 km off the coast of Gaza in the eastern Mediterranean and has estimated natural gas reserves of ~ 1 Tcf.
Who should be licensed to develop the field? In June 2023, there was a proposed agreement between the Palestinian Authority and an Egyptian consortium led by state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS). A resurrection of this arrangement may align with Palestinian interests. EGAS has experience in Mediterranean gas projects including the giant Zohr field (see map below).
Other candidates for developing the Gaza Marine field (pure speculation):
- Chevron would be a logical choice given their extensive eastern Mediterranean experience as a result of their acquisition of Noble Energy. However, there might be concerns about undue US and Israeli control of this important resource.
- Regional giants like Saudi Aramco, Qatar Energy, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) would be good candidates.
- Another interesting possibility might be Equinor, which is 2/3 owned by the Norwegian govt. Equinor seems to sometimes make socially desirable investments that are less profitable.
Some combination of the above companies might also be a possibility. In any event, it’s critical to manage this resource in a manner that best benefits the recovery effort.
Courtesy of natural gas: US per capita energy-related CO2 emissions fell 30% between 2005 and 2023
Posted in climate, energy, natural gas, tagged CO2 emissions decline, EIA, US on September 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »
EIA: Per capita CO2 emissions from primary energy consumption decreased in every state from 2005 to 2023, according to recently released data in our State Energy Data System. Total energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States fell 20% over that time, and the population grew by 14%, leading to a 30% decrease in per capita CO2 emissions.
Hybrid drilling for superhot geothermal energy
Posted in drilling, energy, tagged geothermal gradients, hybrid drilling, millimeter wave drilling, Quaise Energy, super hot geothermal, ultradeep geothermal on August 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »
A short Quaise video (below) describes how conventional and millimeter wave drilling can be combined to reach superhot geothermal energy sources.
Keep in mind that superhot (300-500 deg. C) energy can be reached with conventional drilling at sites with high geothermal gradients. These “tier 1” sites will be the first targets (second video below).
Israeli gas production and exports curtailed
Posted in energy, natural gas, tagged Chevron, Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Energean, gas production, Israel, Jordan on June 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Two of Israel’s three offshore gas fields are shut-in as a precaution. As a result, exports to Egypt and Jordan has been curtailed. The Tamar field continues to supply Israel’s gas needs.
Summary table:
| field (operator) | 2024 production (billion cubic meters) (% of Israel’s total) | status |
| Leviathan (Chevron) | 11.33 45% | shut-in |
| Tamar (Energean) | 10.09 37% | producing |
| Karish (Chevron) | 5.96 18% | shut-in |
South Pars gas field struck
Posted in energy, Offshore Energy - General, tagged Iran, Israeli drone strike, Persian Gulf, South Pars gas field on June 14, 2025| 1 Comment »
Iranian media reports a “massive explosion” following an Israeli drone strike on the South Pars gas field in the southern port city of Kangan. According to a 2019 report, the field accounts for 74 per cent of the country’s gas production.
Judging by available video (below), it appears that onshore processing facilities were struck and not the offshore infrastructure.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 