Posted in California, Uncategorized, tagged Camarillo, Mountain Fire on February 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »
My friends and former colleagues in Southern California do not live in areas that were devastated by the recent fires.
However, Nabil Masri, one of our outstanding petroleum engineers, sent this picture taken from his driveway in Camarillo during the “Mountain Fire” in November. His home was in an evacuation warning area, and the family was packed and ready to go. Fortunately, things improved and they did not have to evacuate.
Posted in energy policy, Uncategorized, tagged Acting Secretary of the Interior, BOEM, MMS, Walter Cruickshank on January 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Career Minerals Management Service and BOEM stalwart Dr. Walter Cruickshank has been named Acting Secretary of the Interior pending the confirmation of Doug Burgum. Walter is a very bright guy with a balanced perspective on energy development. He has served capably on the senior management teams of both Democrat and Republican administrations. Bonus points for the Mineral Economics doctorate from Penn State and his keen interest in the Cape Cod Baseball League! 😉
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized, tagged Greenland, Gulf of America, Gulf of Mexico, President Trump on January 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »
New name, short form:
full name:
This may be a bit of an adjustment for us older folks. 😉
Also, keep in mind that Greenland is geographically part of North America. Just sayin’ 😉
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Elizabeth Ames Coleman, Jack Coleman, Rosedale Distilling Company, Rosedale MS on December 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Former Dept. of the Interior and House Natural Resources Committee attorney, Jack Coleman, has been elected Mayor of his hometown, Rosedale, Mississippi. Jack is also restoring a historic distillery in Rosedale.
It’s great to see a former colleague making such important social and economic contributions following his “retirement.”
Posted in climate, energy policy, Uncategorized, tagged coal companies, ESG, Ken Paxton, sues asset managers, Texas on November 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton:
“Blackrock, Vanguard, and State Street utilized the Climate Action 100 and the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative to signal their mutual intent to reduce the output of thermal coal, which predictably increased the cost of electricity for Americans across the United States.
These firms also deceived thousands of investors who elected to invest in non-ESG funds to maximize their profits. Yet these funds pursued ESG strategies notwithstanding the defendants’ representations to the contrary.”
Note that this litigation may also have implications for the oil and gas industry. The complete filing is attached.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged offshore workers, Thanksgiving on November 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Happy Thanksgiving from BOE. Special thanks to those who are working on this holiday to discover and produce the energy needed to power our economy!
Posted in hurricanes, Uncategorized, tagged Asheville, FEMA, Hurricane Helene on October 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »
In a previous post, I mentioned the plight of my wife’s 80 year old friend who lost her home and car in the Asheville area. She was rescued by her brother Jim, who lives in Franklin, NC, and was taken in by some good folks who live in the upper hills. She is now living with her brother until she can find a rental.
Her most recent update (below) discusses her frustrations in dealing with FEMA. This is not intended as a broad indictment of FEMA, but as a reflection of the challenges individuals, particularly the elderly, can face in trying to recover from a natural disaster like Hurricane Helene.
Hello-
It’s almost 5am Saturday. Yesterday was a disaster! Some early morning calls to insurance and that sort of thing. Those followed by tying to reach FEMA helpline by phone. Was on hold waiting for an agent for more than an hour before giving up. Jim looked up the locations for face to face FEMA: none within 25 miles or 50 miles and only 3 in 100 miles. The closest being in Asheville about 4/5 miles from my house. Off we went with documents that needed correcting from the ones originally submitted. Their internet was down when we got there and remained down until leaving at 4:30ish. It was hot, no shade, no where to sit. I got over-heated and feeling faint; almost hit the ground before getting to a picnic area where i could lie down on a bench. Medical people were there; 2 doctors and several nurses. Eventually I was moved to an ambulance to be monitored for a good while. Given a IV drip then allowed to leave. They really, really wanted to take me to the hospital but I refused. I said the Franklin hospital was close to Jim’s if needed. So, that is the big thing to end the week.
I am sure other stuff was accomplished but don’t remember.
Love and many thanks to everyone for the support, cards and packages. So very grateful. ♥♥
Posted in climate, energy policy, Norway, Offshore Wind, Uncategorized, tagged acquisition, Equinor, Norway, Offshore Wind, Orsted, renewable energy targets on October 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Equinor, which is 2/3 owned by the Norwegian government, has purchased a nearly 10% stake in offshore wind giant Orsted (50.1% Danish govt ownership).
With bp and Shell reducing their wind energy investments, Equinor’s Orsted acquisition is a contrarian move. Equinor is also the only major oil company that is still in the market for new US offshore wind leases.
While the Orsted acquisition does not appear to have been directed by the Norwegian government, the State’s 2/3 ownership of the company no doubt influences renewable energy targets and broader corporate strategy.
The initial market reaction to the Orsted purchase was negative (see chart below). On a day when most oil companies’ share prices rose in response to the jump in oil prices, Equinor shares opened sharply lower.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Asheville, Helene, North Carolina, tragedy on October 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »
This text message from a close friend of my wife gives you a sense of the enormous challenges being experienced by so many in the wake of the flooding. As background, she lives in the Asheville area. Her home and car were completely destroyed. She was rescued by her brother (subject of the update below), who lived an hour away.
“Thank you. I am at ER. My brother began getting chest pains. Emt came and carted him out on a stretcher. Changed from emergency vehicle to ambulance a few miles down the road. He hasn’t even got here yet. I’ll be called when he is checked in. Fireman drove me here in his truck. Ushered me through the hospital p-lot maze then the long winding path to ER. Thanx for letting the others know. The hospital has a good signal. Even a few blinking traffic lights. The area where I live is devastated. We evacuated to the upper hills where the folks living there took us in. We were completely stranded 2 days until the younger, stronger people devised a path and bushwhacked a way out for cars already on the hill the first car got out this morning. More later…love and thanks to all.♥♥♥“
“
Outstanding non-political Keith Morrison commentary on the LA fires
Posted in California, Uncategorized, tagged commentary, Keith Morrison, LA fires on January 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »
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