The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. – Benjamin Franklin
– Gazprom to sign monumental gas deal with China (RT, May 19, 2014):
Russia and China are due to sign a long-awaited gas contract on Tuesday, in which Beijing could pay up to $456 billion for Russian gas over the next 30 years.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Shanghai on May 20-21, Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) are due to sign a deal for 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas to power China’s growing economy, starting in 2018.
This photo, provided by Royal Canadian Mounted Police, shows the TransCanada natural gas pipeline fire on Jan. 25, 2014.
– TransCanada natural gas pipeline explodes near Winnipeg (AL Jazeera, Jan 25, 2014):
A natural gas pipeline operated by TransCanada exploded and caught fire in a rural part of western Canadan early on Saturday, putting fresh focus on the firm’s safety record ahead of a crucial White House decision over a controversial cross-border project.
The explosion happened near Otterburne, Manitoba, about 15 miles south of the provincial capital, Winnipeg. The area was evacuated as a precaution, said the National Energy Board (NEB), which oversees parts of Canada’s energy industry. No injuries were reported but the fire burned for more than 12 hours.
Read moreTransCanada Natural Gas Pipeline Explodes Near Winnipeg
– Insight: California environmentalists fear frack fight a distraction (Reuters, May 28, 2013):
As California sets the ground rules for drilling in the Monterey oil formation, a hard-to-reach shale reserve that is the largest in the United States, some environmentalists worry that politicians, regulators and fellow activists are fighting the wrong battle.
– As Cyprus Collapses, It’s A Race To The Mediterranean Gas Finish Line (ZeroHedge, March 22, 2013):
Cyprus is preparing for total financial collapse as the European Central Bank turns its back on the island after its parliament rejected a scheme to make Cypriot citizens pay a levy on savings deposits in return for a share in potential gas futures to fund a bailout.
On Wednesday, the Greek-Cypriot government voted against asking its citizens to bank on the future of gas exports by paying a 3-15% levy on bank deposits in return for a stake in potential gas sales. The scheme would have partly funded a $13 billion EU bailout.
– How A Spanish Scam Artist Punk’d The Ukraine For $1.1 Billion (ZeroHedge, Dec 4, 2012):
A snapshot of (quite amusing) “New Normal” dealmaking in the insolvent continent.From OilPrice:
Ukraine Crushed in $1.1bn Fake Gas Deal
Certainly the folks at Gazprom are having a good snicker, reveling in the mockery that has been made of what should have been a landmark Ukraine-Spain gas deal that would have loosened Russia’s gas grip on Kiev.
Everyone wondered how Russia would respond to Ukraine’s attempt at gas independence. But this is what happens when you mess with Gazprom.
Read moreHow A Spanish Scam Artist Punk’d The Ukraine For $1.1 Billion
– The One Chart That Will Infuriate Drivers (If Not Big Oil) (ZeroHedge, Dec 4, 2012):
We have all said it. Anecdotally, it feels like when oil prices rise, gas prices at the pump rise; but when turmoil pauses in global geo-politics– or some entity decides that high oil prices just will not do for the world’s economy –gas prices at the pump seem not to drop so quickly. Yes there are pipeline, inventory (and even tax) issues but the following chart suggests ‘gouging’ on a national level…
– $25 For A Gallon Of Gas (ZeroHedge, Nov 3, 2012):
Because even the road to socialist utopia is paved with capitalist intentions. At least until the 120% excise “fairness” tax is implemented. In the meantime, welcome back supply and demand. We missed you…
From Craigslist:
– Greece Is Not Poor – It Actually Has Massive Uptapped Reserves Of Gold, Oil And Natural Gas (Economic Collapse, Oct 15, 2012):
It turns out that the poster child for the European debt crisis is not actually poor at all. In fact, the truth is that the nation of Greece is sitting on absolutely massive untapped reserves of gold, oil and natural gas. If the Greeks were to fully exploit the natural resources that are literally right under their feet, they would no longer have any debt problems. Fortunately, this recent economic crisis has spurred them to action and it is now being projected that Greece will be the number one gold producer in Europe by 2016. In addition, Greece is now opening up exploration of their massive oil and natural gas deposits. Reportedly, Greece is sitting on hundreds of millions of barrels of oil and gigantic natural gas deposits that are worth trillions of dollars. It is truly sad that Greece should be one of the wealthiest nations in all of Europe but instead the country is going through the worst economic depression that it has experienced in modern history. It is kind of like a homeless man that sleeps on the streets every night without realizing that a relative has left him an inheritance worth millions of dollars. Greece is not poor at all, and hopefully the people of Greece can learn the truth about all of this wealth and chart a course out of this current mess.I have written extensively about the nightmarish economic conditions that Greece is experiencing right now. Just check out this article, this article and this article. Since the depression began in Greece, the Greek economy has contracted by more than 20 percent. In April 2010, the unemployment rate in Greece was only 11.8 percent. Since then it has skyrocketed to 25.1 percent.
The government debt to GDP ratio in Greece is projected to hit 198 percent this year, and there are persistent rumors that Greece will be forced to leave the euro.
But all of this is completely and totally unnecessary. Greece is not actually poor at all. In fact, after you account for untapped natural resources, Greece is actually one of the wealthiest nations in all of Europe.
According to Bloomberg, there is a massive amount of gold in Greece. This recent economic crisis has accelerated the approval of mining activity, and it is now being projected that Greece will soon be the number one gold producing country in all of Europe…
– Syria, Turkey, Israel and a Greater Middle East Energy War (Veterans Today, Oct 11, 2012):
Syria, Turkey, Israel and a Greater Middle East Energy War
…by F. William Engdahl
On October 3, 2012 the Turkish military launched repeated mortar shellings inside Syrian territory.
The military action, which was used by the Turkish military, conveniently, to establish a ten-kilometer wide no-man’s land “buffer zone” inside Syria, was in response to the alleged killing by Syrian armed forces of several Turkish civilians along the border.
There is widespread speculation that the one Syrian mortar that killed five Turkish civilians well might have been fired by Turkish-backed opposition forces intent on giving Turkey a pretext to move militarily, in military intelligence jargon, a ‘false flag’ operation.[i]
Read moreWilliam Engdahl: Syria, Turkey, Israel And A Greater Middle East Energy War
YouTube Added: 21.07.2012
Description:
On Wednesday July 18.2012 night’s “Late Show”, host David Letterman took several minutes to share his thoughts on fracking. Scolding the “greedy oil and gas companies of this country,” Letterman said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re screwed”.
Watch a clip of Letterman’s rant above and watch the entire July 18 “Late Show” episode at CBS.com: http://goo.gl/AzSps
Don’t miss:
– Human-Made Earthquakes Reported In Central U.S (Reuters)
– US Government Confirms Link Between Earthquakes And Fracking
– European Gas Giant Backs French Fear Of Fracking
– Texas Forces Firms To Open Up On ‘Fracking’
– Fracking Hell: Toxic And Radioactive Waste – The Untold Story
– The Oil and Gas Industry’s 800-Pound Gorilla: RADIATION!
– ‘Fracking’ Result (= Contamination) For UK Shale Gas Will Be Kept Secret Until 2015
See also:
– EU prepares for potential gas crisis (AP, Feb. 3, 2012):
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is bracing for another potential energy crisis in the dead of winter as Russian gas supplies to some member states have suddenly dwindled by up to 30 percent.
The European Commission put its gas coordination committee on alert Friday, but insisted the situation had not yet reached an emergency level as nations have pledged to help each other if needed and storage facilities have been upgraded.
Commission spokeswoman Marlene Holzner said Russia was going through an extremely cold spell and needed more gas to keep its citizens warm.
She said that Russia’s gas contracts “allow for certain flexibility in case they also need the gas. And that is the situation that Russia is facing at the moment.” The severe winter in Russia has seen temperatures drop to minus 35 C (minus 30 F).
Flashback:
– Fracking Hell: Toxic And Radioactive Waste – The Untold Story
– U.S. Government Confirms Link Between Earthquakes and Hydraulic Fracturing (ZeroHedge, Nov. 9, 2011):
On 5 November an earthquake measuring 5.6 rattled Oklahoma and was felt as far away as Illinois.
Until two years ago Oklahoma typically had about 50 earthquakes a year, but in 2010, 1,047 quakes shook the state.
Why?
In Lincoln County, where most of this past weekend’s seismic incidents were centered, there are 181 injection wells, according to Matt Skinner, an official from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the agency which oversees oil and gas production in the state.
Cause and effect?
Read moreUS Government Confirms Link Between Earthquakes And Fracking
See also:
– Texas Forces Firms To Open Up On ‘Fracking’
– Fracking Hell: Toxic And Radioactive Waste – The Untold Story
– The Oil and Gas Industry’s 800-Pound Gorilla: RADIATION!
– ‘Fracking’ Result (= Contamination) For UK Shale Gas Will Be Kept Secret Until 2015
– US: Natural Gas Wells’ Contaminated Water Hits Rivers
– GASLAND Trailer 2010 (Documentary)
– European Gas Giant Backs French Fear Of Fracking (Forbes, Sep. 22, 2011):
Europe’s largest natural gas firm, the Paris-based GDF Suez, agrees with the French government that hydraulic fracturing must be made safer for the environment before it is used to develop natural gas from shale resources in Europe.
“There will be no development of shale gas (in France) without the maximum of measures to protect the environment,” Gerard Mestrallet, the chief executive officer of GDF Suez, said in an interview with Bloomberg. France banned hydraulic fracturing earlier this year , despite the potential for extensive shale gas development in Southern France.
“There are concerns about the environmental impact,” Mestrallet said. “Probably it can be improved and probably it has to be improved.”
Don’t hold your breath:
– Fracking Hell: Toxic And Radioactive Waste – The Untold Story
– The Oil and Gas Industry’s 800-Pound Gorilla: RADIATION!
– ‘Fracking’ Result (= Contamination) For UK Shale Gas Will Be Kept Secret Until 2015
– US: Natural Gas Wells’ Contaminated Water Hits Rivers
– GASLAND Trailer 2010 (Documentary)
– Texas forces firms to open up on ‘fracking’ (Independent, 22 June 2011):
For years, the industry in the US has refused to declare what toxic chemicals it uses during fracking, a policy that has bred public mistrust and accusations of pollution
As the spiritual home of big oil, Texas may fairly be seen to be to environmentalism what its official food, chilli con carne, is to vegetarianism.
But that hasn’t stopped the state becoming the first corner of America to require energy firms to disclose information about the chemicals they are pumping into the ground in order to release natural gas during the hugely controversial process of “hydraulic fracking”.
Added: 14.06.2011
The toppling of President Mubarak in Egypt is now turning up the heat on Cairo’s gas supply deal with Israel.
Egyptian officials are probing allegations the agreement was a scam, orchestrated by the Mubarak family. Cairo’s reportedly considering raising gas export prices to Israel – or even suspending supplies altogether.
– Comin’ this summer… $5 gas (New York Post, May 29, 2011):
The forecast for the summer driving season: Hit the road early. Not to beat the traffic, but to beat the higher gas prices expected in mid-July.
Goldman Sachs’ crystal ball is proclaiming that oil will soon soar to $135 a barrel, and likely have service stations jacking up fuel prices to $5 a gallon in New York just like the summer of 2008 that preceded the recession.
Indeed, analysts say Goldman and the other oil trading giant that also has the might to move prices, JPMorgan Chase, have already placed their energy bets for the summer. JPMorgan predicts oil hitting $130 a barrel in the coming weeks.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. drivers will pay another 10 cents a gallon for gasoline before the latest jump in wholesale costs is fully passed on at the pump, and yearly motor fuel costs will rise 28 percent from last year, the Energy Department said on Wednesday.
The average U.S. household will spend about $700 more for gasoline in 2011 than it spent last year, bringing total motor fuel expenses up 28 percent to $3,235, based on an annual pump price of $3.61 a gallon, the department’s Energy Information Administration said.
Retail gasoline prices soared by 38 cents over the last three weeks to $3.52 per gallon, according to the EIA, because of high crude oil costs due to unrest in the Middle East.
Read moreGasoline Cost to Jump $700 For Average US Household
See also:
– ‘Fracking’ Result (= Contamination) For UK Shale Gas Will Be Kept Secret Until 2015
– US: Natural Gas Wells’ Contaminated Water Hits Rivers
– GASLAND Trailer 2010 (Documentary) (Must-see!)
An odd sort of perfect storm – involving a high-profile New York Times energy series, a quirky documentary that just missed the Oscar and federal BP-spill recovery plans – may finally address the 800-pound gorilla of our nation’s energy policy: RADIATION.
The NYT series launched Sunday (Feb. 27) with detailed accounts of radioactive wastewater, created by a Halliburton-developed extraction process called “fracking,” being dumped with impunity across the country. The article even included a “smoking gun” document, a “confidential industry study” from 1990 by none other than the American Petroleum Institute. The API’s secret study concluded that even with conservative assumptions, the radium in drilling wastewater dumped off the Louisiana coast posed “potentially significant risks” of cancer for anyone eating fish from those areas. I’m working on my own series of posts about this hazard in the Gulf of Mexico.
Meanwhile, it seems the regulators have taken steps to make sure no real regulating takes place despite laws on the books to prevent this disaster in the making. Remember, ounce for ounce, radioactive materials are the most toxic substances known to man. The current scientific consensus postulates that there is no known safe level of exposure to radioactive materials and that any exposure above background increases the risk of cancer.
The NYT story might leave the impression that we have no laws governing industry’s radioactive assault – but we actually do. The laws are on the books. They’re just being broken, and ignored. Many of the “regulators” are industry hacks waiting for the revolving door to come around. They have no incentive to tighten the screws on the way Big Oil and Gas do business. In fact, having seen it first-hand, regulators who do try to engage in true regulating frequently are forced out of their jobs or denied promotions.
Into that context we also have the landmark documentary “GasLand,” which features comments from my clients, increased its already high profile with an Adademy Award nomination. “GasLand” focuses on the gas-extraction process called “fracking,” and how it’s contaminating drinking-water sources across the country with radiation.
Read moreThe Oil and Gas Industry’s 800-Pound Gorilla: RADIATION!
And here is what these criminals are hiding:
– GASLAND Trailer 2010 (Documentary)
• Drilling method criticised for contaminating water sources
• MPs hear US energy firm must only disclose details in 2015
Gas drilling near Calgary. The first exploratory drilling for shale gas in the UK is about to begin near Blackpool. Photograph: Todd Korol/Reuters
The results of the first attempt to extract shale gas in the UK using a controversial technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, will be kept secret for four years, the Guardian has learned.
Cuadrilla Resources, a US private equity backed firm, told MPs at the energy and climate change committee that it will begin this month to pump 1,200 cubic metres of highly pressurised water mixed with chemicals and sand nearly 3,000 metres underground into an onshore shale gas reservoir near Blackpool.
The process is known as “fracking” because it fractures rock to release gas. Industry estimates reckon that more than a tenth of the country’s gas needs could be produced in this way by 2015. However, critics such as the Green party say that it is environmentally unsafe because the chemicals could contaminate aquifers used for drinking water and farming.
Read more‘Fracking’ Result (= Contamination) For UK Shale Gas Will Be Kept Secret Until 2015
See this:
– GASLAND Trailer 2010 (Documentary)
Those criminals destroy and contaminate everything for profit.
Wells for extracting natural gas, like these in Colorado, are a growing source of energy but can also pose hazards.
The American landscape is dotted with hundreds of thousands of new wells and drilling rigs, as the country scrambles to tap into this century’s gold rush — for natural gas.
The gas has always been there, of course, trapped deep underground in countless tiny bubbles, like frozen spills of seltzer water between thin layers of shale rock. But drilling companies have only in recent years developed techniques to unlock the enormous reserves, thought to be enough to supply the country with gas for heating buildings, generating electricity and powering vehicles for up to a hundred years.
So energy companies are clamoring to drill. And they are getting rare support from their usual sparring partners. Environmentalists say using natural gas will help slow climate change because it burns more cleanly than coal and oil. Lawmakers hail the gas as a source of jobs. They also see it as a way to wean the United States from its dependency on other countries for oil.
But the relatively new drilling method — known as high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking — carries significant environmental risks. It involves injecting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and chemicals, at high pressures to break up rock formations and release the gas.
With hydrofracking, a well can produce over a million gallons of wastewater that is often laced with highly corrosive salts, carcinogens like benzene and radioactive elements like radium, all of which can occur naturally thousands of feet underground. Other carcinogenic materials can be added to the wastewater by the chemicals used in the hydrofracking itself.
Read moreUS: Natural Gas Wells’ Contaminated Water Hits Rivers
Economists have warned that gas prices have become increasingly unstable due to unrest in the Middle East. (AP)
The complaints that the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office receives on a daily basis run the gamut from the mundane loud barking dog to the routine reports of speeders, to the make-you-shake-your head-and-say-what? calls about “my child is refusing to go to school.”
But the call that came through on Thursday caught even veteran law enforcement officials off guard and perhaps created a new category: Way out of the ordinary.
But it also may be a sign of the times.
At 2 p.m. on Thursday, the St. John 9-1-1 emergency call center received a report from a motorist who became irate when, he said, a local gas station increased the price of the fuel – while he was filling up his truck.
The unidentified motorist told authorities that when he first pulled into the station at Birdie’s Food and Fuel, located at 901 East Airline Highway in LaPlace, the price on the pump read $3.049 per gallon. But, while he was pumping, the price shot up to $3.189. The motorist confronted the station attendant but got no satisfaction, so he dialed 9-1-1.
“He said he didn’t think it was fair,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Dane Clement. “And the store attendant wasn’t very cooperative, so he called the Sheriff’s Office.”
Read moreMotorist Dials 9-1-1 Over Rising Gas Price, While Filling Up His Truck
A gas station in Lincoln, Neb.
NEW YORK – U.S. gasoline prices have jumped to the highest levels ever for the middle of February. The national average hit $3.127 per gallon on Friday, about 50 cents above a year ago.
The price is about 6 percent higher than on this date in 2008. The next day, pump prices began a string of 32 gains over 34 days. They rose 39 percent over five months, eventually hitting an all-time high of $4.11 per gallon in July.
Although gas prices are expected to rise, most experts aren’t expecting a reprise of 2008, when the price spike forced many drivers to join car pools and trade in gas-guzzling SUVs for fuel-efficient cars.
Read moreUS: Gas Pump Prices Highest Ever For This Time Of Year
Feb. 5 (Wall Street Journal) — An Egyptian gas pipeline in the Sinai peninsula was attacked Saturday, cutting off supplies to Jordan and Israel.
The pipeline was attacked by “subversive elements,” Egyptian state TV reported. There were no further details on those responsible, but the attack was the latest sign of deteriorating security in the key buffer between the Egyptian mainland and Israel.
A gas pipeline blows up in North Sinai in a suspected attack affecting supplies to both Israel and Jordan.
Conditions on the Sinai have been unsettled by the power vacuum created by nearly two weeks of massive demonstrations against the rule of President Hosni Mubarak.
In a sign of the rising tensions, Bedouin in the northern Sinai on Friday used rocket-propelled grenades to attack the headquarters of Egypt’s state security in El Arish, a town close to Egypt’s border crossing into Gaza, according to witnesses. The pipeline attack occurred in the same general area.
Read moreEgypt Gas Pipeline Attacked, Cutting off Supplies to Jordan and Israel
