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Published on Tuesday, July 9 2019
Authors: Sam Davis

The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 74th session in May 2019 with key environmental topics on its agenda including its strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships. This was the last MEPC meeting by the IMO ahead of the new sulphur spec implementation on January 1,…

Published on Monday, June 17 2019
Authors: Sam Davis

With only six months into his presidency, AMLO’s impact on Mexico’s energy landscape is already being felt. Early into his administration, he made headlines by announcing the shutdown of pipelines connecting product terminals to retail stations in response to the growing issue of rampant fuel theft in the country. A…

Published on Monday, May 20 2019
Authors: Sam Davis

We continue with our blog series reviewing highlights from the recent Q1 earnings calls. In last week’s blog, we focused on the downstream businesses of Integrated Majors in the US. This week’s blog provides highlights from US Independent Refiners who equally reported disappointing Q1 2019 results, driven by weak industry…

Published on Tuesday, April 30 2019
Authors: Robert Auers and John Auers

As the struggle to build much-needed pipeline capacity from Alberta proceeds, further delays continue on both of the two largest proposed projects out of the region – Transmountain (TMX) and Keystone XL (KXL). TMX, which would provide 590 MBPD of additional capacity to the Vancouver area on the Pacific Coast,…

Published on Tuesday, April 9 2019
Authors: Robert Auers and John Auers

The “electric vehicle” (EV) revolution has certainly been much promoted and is getting even more press with the introduction of the “New Green Deal” (NGD) as a “thing.” While the NGD is much more than just an effort to replace petroleum with EV’s and in any case isn’t going anywhere…

Published on Tuesday, April 2 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

“Crazy Train” is an all-time heavy metal classic rock song from British rock legend Ozzy Osbourne that can be found on his solo debut album “Blizzard of Ozz” released in 1980. The song is about the Cold War and the fear associated with a global nuclear conflict. While the current…

Published on Tuesday, March 26 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

“Your Time is Gonna Come” is a Led Zeppelin classic off their debut album. It is interesting to note that the group was formed in 1968, and this song was performed live on Zeppelin’s 1968 Scandinavian Tour, and then never played live again by the band. The song is about…

Published on Monday, March 4 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

By Dan Cronin and John Auers “We Shall Overcome” is a protest song that is based upon a 1900 hymn composed by Charles Albert Tindley. The song is most famously associated with the U.S. civil rights movement and has also been utilized throughout history by groups trying to overcome adversity. …

Published on Tuesday, March 19 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

By: Dan Cronin and John Auers After an extremely cold February (even by Albertian standards), many in the Province are happy that spring is on the way and with it comes a provincial election. An election in Alberta used to be a relatively straight forward event as everyone knew who…

Published on Monday, March 11 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

By Dan Cronin and John Auers A good case can be made that Canadian rock legends Rush best summed up the pipeline situation in Western Canada with their hit song, “Time Stand Still.” It is no secret that a pipeline is the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to transport…

Published on Monday, February 25 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

“The Producers” is a 1967 satirical film written and directed by the incomparable Mel Brooks (his directorial debut) which later was made into a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and remade into a 2005 film. The story focuses on a scheme to oversell shares for a musical that is designed to…

Published on Tuesday, February 19 2019
Authors: Dan Cronin and John Auers

The song, “Let’s go to the Pub” by Bowling for Soup, addresses everyday problems in the world that can be solved by – you guessed it, going to the pub! Perhaps you missed an anniversary/birthday or perhaps your boss is giving you trouble at work, then going to the pub…

Published on Monday, February 11 2019
Authors: Sam Davis and Guillermo Suarez

Mexico’s refining system has been on a steady decline for the past decade as poor maintenance and reliability have hampered refineries and reduced domestic production of fuels. The country’s logistics network faces serious bottlenecks as the existing infrastructure, built by Pemex over seven decades ago, is geographically limited; however, the…

Published on Monday, February 4 2019
Authors: Sam Davis

In this edition of the blog, we feature announcements made last week by Oil Majors, Chevron and ExxonMobil, to expand refining capacity by processing increasing volumes of Permian crude. Chevron announced on January 30, 2019, that it had reached an agreement with Petrobras Americas to acquire the assets of its…

Published on Monday, January 28 2019
Authors: Markus Auers and Beth Hilbourn

While the U.S. federal government shutdown consumed much of the headlines over the last several weeks, it does not mean that changes haven’t been brewing in Washington D.C. In fact, the Trump Administration continues to make a variety of moves, including some which will have important impacts on the petroleum…

DOWNSTREAM INVESTMENT IN MEXICO – OPPORTUNITIES & RISKS

Published on Tuesday, January 22 2019
Authors: George Baker and Sam Davis

Authors: George Baker and Sam Davis AMLO’s Response to Gasoline Theft…

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Focus on Fuels

Six months to IMO 2020: All systems go?

Wishful thinking – Will AMLO come through on promise to build new refinery in Mexico?

Looking on Up – US Independent Refiners move past Q1 results; see bright future ahead from IMO

“You’re Still the One” – The Enbridge Mainline Appears the Best Option for Canadian Takeaway Capacity Additions

“Together in Electric Dreams” – ICE Developments Challenge EV Momentum

“Crazy Train” – The Crude by Rail Option for Western Canadian Bitumen

“Your Time is Gonna Come” – Is Partially Upgraded Bitumen the Future for the Canadian Oil Sands?

PUB – “We Shall Overcome”

Provincial Election in Alberta – “Complicated”

“Time Stand Still” – More Delays on Western Canadian Pipeline Projects

PUB – “The Producers”

“Let’s go to the PUB!” – Canada looks to solve takeaway problems with new strategies

Will Mexico Deliver on Downstream Energy Reform Under AMLO?

Oil Majors Expand Refining Capacity to Cash in on Permian

“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” – Changes Coming to the Biodiesel Market via Argentina?

DOWNSTREAM INVESTMENT IN MEXICO – OPPORTUNITIES & RISKS

Canadian Oil Sands: A Look Back and a Look Ahead

New Product Launch: Assessment of Mexico’s downstream reform opportunity under AMLO

Key Risks Facing U.S. Refiners in 2019

Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Hot, Hot, Hot – Caribbean Refinery Developments

“Roll with the Changes” – Europe’s Changing Views on Diesel – Update

“Walking on Broken Glass” – EPA rides the course setting the 2019 renewable fuel standard

On Hold – Petrobras Refinery Sales Await New Government

Let the Good Times Roll – Part 3

Let the Good Times Roll-Part 2

Let the Good Times Roll

Brazil’s oil industry braces for uncertainty as “Trump of the Tropics” wins election

“La La La” – The Latest Rumblings in the Brazilian Refining Sector

2018 Oil and Money Conference – Notes From the Refining Session

“Purple Haze” – Proposed Rule 1410

“All Summer Long” – Impacts on Refiners of an E-15 Summertime RVP Waiver

What’s happening with the IMO’s 2020 Marine Fuel Rule?

Fuels Regulations Streamlining

The Changing U.S. Refining Landscape

“The Song That Never Ends” – Cellulosic Biofuels

“Changes” – U.S. Gulf Coast Petroleum Supply/Demand

“Already Gone” – CAFE Becomes SAFE

“Secret Agent Man” – Federal Agencies Support Alternative Fuel Vehicles

“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Feedstock” – The Changing U.S. Gulf Coast Heavy Crude Market

A Visit to the Hill – Senate Investigates Higher Oil and Gasoline Prices

“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” – Outlook for U.S. Crude Exports

“Only Time Will Tell” – An Update on Refinery Project Activity

“Ever Changing Times” and the U.S. RFS Policy

“I’m Free” – Trump Administration “Frees” Industry from Regulation, but Worries about Tariffs and Damage to Free Trade Abound

“Ob-La-Di Obrador, Life Goes On, Bra” – Impacts of the Mexican Election on Refining Markets

Stuck in the Midland with You – Update on Plans to Relieve Permian Bottlenecks

In Nationalizing Transmountain, the Canadian Government tells British Columbia to go “Love Yourself”

“End of the Line” – Will Higher Prices Put an End to Booming Global Product Demand?

Memorial Day 2018 – Honoring Our True Heroes

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – Gulf Coast Refiners Struggle to Find Heavy Crude

“We Gonna Rock Down to Electric Avenue” or Maybe Not – Electrical Vehicles (EVs) Might Not Be So Green After All

“Come Together” – Marathon Andeavor Merger Continues Industry Trends

“The Asphalt Jungle” – Another Market Impacted by IMO Regulations

“Start Me Up” – Refinery Construction Outlook Part 5: FSU

“Start Me Up” – Refinery Construction Outlook Part 4: Latin America

The Sad CAFE – What to Make of the Latest EPA Moves on Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE)

“Start Me Up” – Refinery Construction Outlook Part 3: Asia

“Start Me Up” – Refinery Construction Outlook Part 2: North America and Europe

Is Cushing Signaling Bullish Market Structure at Crossroads?

“Start Me Up” – Refinery Construction Outlook Part 1: Middle East and Africa

Why aren’t More United States Oil Refiners Renewable Fuel Producers, Also?

“I Walk the Line” – Global Refining Industry Attempts to Keep From Over Building

“I’d Love to Change the World” – Multiple TM&C Studies Analyze Impacts of Rapidly Changing Petroleum Markets on Industry Participants

“We come from the land of the ice and snow” – Can the World Follow Norway’s Example for EV Adoption?

“We Can Work it Out” – Most U.S. Refiners Likely to Find Ways to Avoid “Worst Case Scenarios” in Meeting Tier III Standards

“Look What The Cat Dragged In!”

Tier 2 Gasoline Sulfur Credits – To Sell or Not to Sell, That is the Question

With the “World Turning”, European Petroleum Demand Returns to Growth

“The Coke Side of Life” – Changes on the Way in the Anode Coke Markets

“New Year’s Day” – A Look Back and a Peek to the Future

What Goes Up Must Come Down, and in the Case of Crude Inventories It’s Happening

“Pass it on Down” – Are RIN Costs Simply Passed on to Consumers?

“You Wreck Me” – RIN Cost Impacts

“Desperados (Permian Crude) Waiting For a Train”

Thanksgiving 2017

“Canadian Railroad (Pipeline) Trilogy” – An Impending Takeaway Crunch in Western Canada?