Brad Hayes
Brad Hayes, PhD, P.Geol, FGC, is president of Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd., a geoscience consulting firm addressing technical and strategic issues around oil and gas development, water resource management, helium exploration, geothermal energy, and carbon sequestration.
Hayes earned a PhD from the University of Alberta after completing a B.Sc. in geology at the University of Toronto. He is outreach director for the Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources (CSUR), and a past-president of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG). He recently completed two three-year terms as councillor for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). He is engaged as a member of the Research Advisory Committee for the Canadian Energy Research Institute, and a member of the Energy Technical Advisory Committee for Geoscience BC.
Hayes is an adjunct professor in the University of Alberta Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and a sessional lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Mount Royal University. He is a prominent media commentator, writing for a variety of technical and business publications as well as engaging actively on social media.
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Navigating In A Net Zero World: A Canadian View
If we want to proceed toward net-zero emissions targets, we must create plans to actually achieve them. There’s been lots of talk, but specific plans to engage specific technologies and projects to reach the goals — to assess, conceive, plan, promote, finance, design, permit, build, test, and put them onstream — have not been laid out on even national or regional scales, let alone globally.
October 26, 2021, 6 AM MDT
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Analysis
Hayes: Energy Transition — A Realistic Viewpoint
Every day we see breathless articles about the emerging Energy Transition — the change from today’s hydrocarbon-dominated energy economy to a future where renewables and other low-emission technologies will power our world. Goals are being set to be “carbon neutral” or “100 per cent renewable” by 2050, 2040, or even sooner.
August 24, 2020, 6 AM MDT
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Analysis
2020 – A Lesson in Real Crises
Everybody in the world (this statement has meaning like it never did before) understands that humanity faces a real, immediate crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic. And world economies face another less deadly but still profound crisis caused by the pandemic and the Russia / OPEC price war that has upset global oil markets.
March 31, 2020, 12 AM MDT
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Analysis
We Need To Talk About Energy Policy – And Climate Change
The media wars — mainstream media, social media, blogs, and others — continue to heat up over energy policy and climate change, and Canada is in the heart of the battle.
January 29, 2020, 12 AM MST
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Analysis
Does The ‘Green Economy’ Offer New Jobs And Opportunity For Western Canada?
Proponents of a transition to a new, “green” economy like to promote wonderful new business and employment opportunities that will arise as we abandon fossil fuels to power humanity with solar, wind, biomass and the like.
December 17, 2019, 12 AM MST
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Analysis
Should We Keep Investing In Canada’s Oil And Gas Industry?
There’s a lot of discouraging news around the oil and gas industry these days. It’s under siege from activists, governments, and even investors. Is there any smart money left in the industry, and is there a case to be made for new investment?
November 18, 2019, 12 AM MST
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Analysis
The Future Of International Oil And Gas Exploration
While conventional oil and gas exploration has declined precipitously in Canada, it’s still alive and well around the world. Isn’t it?
October 8, 2019, 4:06 AM MDT
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Analysis
Why Are The Media Failing Canadians On Energy Knowledge?
Why are major, trusted media failing to help Canadians understand developments in the energy industry that are so critical to Canada’s economy?
September 3, 2019, 8:36 AM MDT
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Analysis
The Future Of Oil And Gas Exploration In Canada
The oil and gas industry in Canada is founded upon a tremendous history of exploration, beginning in the mid-19th century in southern Ontario and expanding across the country throughout the 20th century.
August 20, 2019, 7:27 AM MDT
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Analysis
Geothermal Energy — A Future In Western Canada?
When we talk about “energy transitions,” many people think about wind and solar as the energy sources of the future. But more thoughtful conversations recognize that future energy supplies will be like today’s — complex and multifaceted, addressing a huge range of demands and situations.
July 29, 2019, 12 AM MDT
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Analysis
LNG: Pushing Back On The 'Big Lie’
Two articles were published in the Globe and Mail recently that might make supporters of Canadian LNG pause and wonder whether they’re backing the right horse.
July 4, 2019, 1:05 PM MDT
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Analysis
‘Experts’ In The Media World Of 2019
Recently I talked about the incredible depth of science, engineering and business expertise resident in the Canadian oil and gas industry — and how it must be better harnessed to provide facts and perspective about critical issues of the day to governments, regulators, and concerned members of the public. But a few months ago, I castigated various scientists for providing “expert” opinion, very inexpertly, on policy and regulatory matters.
June 3, 2019, 5:48 AM MDT
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Analysis
Industry Professionals Can Lead The Way In Engaging The Public
Although not generally appreciated by government or the public, the network of scientific, engineering and business knowledge supporting the Canadian oil and gas industry is truly impressive. I’m tempted to say that it’s unparalleled in this country, and perhaps any other.
April 9, 2019, 6 AM MDT
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Analysis
Is There Still Room For Small Companies In Oil And Gas Exploration?
In pondering the future of the oil and gas industry, I wonder whether it will include junior (small) companies, which have been the crucibles of many new ideas, concepts and plays over the years.
March 5, 2019, 6 AM MST
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Analysis
Oil And Gas ‘Human Capital’ A Valuable Asset For Canada
A few months ago, I talked about the future of the oil and gas industry — pointing out that it faces a huge task over the coming years in growing production to match ever-increasing demand worldwide.
February 5, 2019, 8:02 AM MST
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Analysis
Examining The Debates And Science Around Hydraulic Fracturing
Last month I talked about the role of science in supporting decisions on important societal issues such as climate and energy.
January 14, 2019, 7:10 AM MST
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Analysis
The Proper Application Of Science In Energy Policy
Much has been written recently about the role of science in influencing important issues of the day.
December 5, 2018, 6 AM MST
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Analysis
Energy Supply And The Future Of The Oil And Gas Industry
In the first two parts of this series, I talked about world energy supply and demand over the next few decades, pointing out that all credible energy forecasts show humanity using more and more fossil fuels, at least into the 2040s.
November 6, 2018, 8:30 AM MST
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Analysis
Energy Supply And The Future Of The Oil And Gas Industry
Last month, I talked about world energy supply and demand over the next few decades, and pointed out that all credible energy forecasts show humanity using more and more energy every year — and that fossil fuels will continue to dominate energy supply at least into the 2040’s (click here to review that article).
October 15, 2018, 6 AM MDT
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Analysis: Energy Supply And The Future Of The Oil And Gas Industry
How will society actually meet its energy needs in the coming decades?
September 4, 2018, 7:23 AM MDT
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Analysis: The ‘Climate’ For Unconventional Oil And Gas Development Across Canada — Where Are We, And Why?
Unconventional hydrocarbon development — extracting oil and gas from low-permeability reservoirs — generally requires horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
August 7, 2018, 6:28 AM MDT
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Analysis: Is The ‘Shale Revolution’ Working For Oil?
Ten plus years ago, we heard about the “Shale Revolution” — the realization that horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing were changing the face of the oil industry, unleashing huge new supplies of gas and oil from low-permeability (shale and tight) reservoirs.
July 9, 2018, 6 AM MDT
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