Analysis

  • The SNC-Lavalin Affair: Lessons For Bill C-69

    Ottawa watchers remain mesmerized by the debacle surrounding a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin. The ejection of Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott from the Liberal caucus is one of the latest developments.

    April 15, 2019, 6 AM MDT

  • Betting On More Growth From the Permian

    When flying into the Midland airport in West Texas, there was no doubt that I had arrived in oil country. It was a pleasant March afternoon and I could see drilling rigs on either side of the airport runway. Pump jacks were nodding in every direction as far as my eyes could see.

    April 10, 2019, 8:28 AM MDT

  • 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

  • A Small Step On The Long Road To Reconciliation

    I’m thrilled to see the federal and Alberta governments talking about a possible large Aboriginal stake in the Trans Mountain crude pipeline, assuming completion of the expansion project.

    April 3, 2019, 9:17 AM MDT

  • 2018 A Weak Year For M&A

    The total enterprise value of merger and acquisition (“M&A”) transactions in the Canadian oil and natural gas industry in 2018 dropped 73 per cent  year-over-year, plummeting to $11.9 billion.

    March 27, 2019, 6 AM MDT

  • IEA Underestimates U.S. Oil Production Growth; Important Ramifications For Prices

    The International Energy Agency (IEA), and other major oil forecasting organizations such as OPEC and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), have consistently and seriously underestimated U.S. oil production since the Shale Oil Revolution took off in earnest early this decade.

    March 26, 2019, 7:59 AM MDT

  • IEA Too Bullish On Global Oil Consumption

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its latest medium-term outlook for the world oil market on March 11, and it’s no more likely to be prescient than those in the past for a simple reason: the IEA is a political organization.

    March 25, 2019, 7:25 AM MDT

  • Canada’s Energy Future And The Perils Of Dangerous Optimism

    March 11, 2019, 6 AM MDT

  • 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

  • Don’t Bet Farm On Alberta Rail Plan Making Money

    Call me skeptical.

    February 27, 2019, 6 AM MST

  • Total Oil & Natural Gas Financings Down 78 Per Cent In 2018

    The total amount of capital raised in the Canadian oil and natural gas industry in 2018 decreased 78 per cent from the previous year. In 2018, there was a total of $5.0 billion in capital raised, compared to $22.4 billion in 2017.

    February 27, 2019, 6 AM MST

  • Imperial Overstates Case Against Crude Curtailment

    Imperial Oil has every reason to complain about the Alberta government curtailing crude oil production in the province, as do Suncor and Husky. Due to substantial investment in their integrated models over the decades, including crude-by-rail facilities in the case of Imperial, these companies were making a lot of money from the implosion of western Canadian crude prices in the fourth quarter of 2018.

    February 21, 2019, 6 AM MST

  • Durable Energy Policy In Canada: Waiting For Godot?

    In Samuel Beckett’s iconic play Waiting for Godot, main characters Didi and Gogo wait endlessly for the arrival of Godot, passing their time discussing everything from the mundane to the existential. The play fittingly only has two acts, and needless to say, Godot never arrives. The audience is left wondering about the meaning and purpose of it all.

    February 11, 2019, 8:53 AM MST

  • 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

  • Venezuela On Brink Of Civil War?

    In the summer of 2017 I wrote the Venezuela crisis was nearing its endgame (see Impact Of New U.S. Economic Sanctions On Venezuela). It has been a long time coming, but based on recent events it appears the endgame is finally here for real, and it likely won’t be pretty.

    January 28, 2019, 7:29 AM MST

  • Sayer’s Outlook For 2019 M&A Activity

    For our annual forecast of upcoming M&A activity, Sayer Energy Advisors will look back on our predictions from January 2018 to see how they stood up throughout the year, while also outlining our predictions for the upcoming year.

    January 23, 2019, 7:41 AM MST

  • Two Paths For Alberta Separation

    Alberta Separation Could Be Real Threat  made the case, assuming the federal government continues its anti-natural resource development agenda.

    January 21, 2019, 8:13 AM MST

  • 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

  • Alberta Separatism Could Be Real Threat

    There’s a great deal of skepticism about the potential of Alberta separatism, especially among Central Canada’s elite.

    January 7, 2019, 8:02 AM MST

  • Premier Notley’s Annus Horribilis

    Call me “The Grinch.”

    December 17, 2018, 9:11 AM MST

  • Turning Carbon Into Cash

    Unlocking carbon capture, use and storage technologies key to meeting climate change goals economically, Emissions Reduction Alberta workshop learns.

    December 17, 2018, 7 AM MST

  • Uncharted Territory: Addressing Industry Challenges To Move Our Energy Industry Forward For The Benefit Of All Of Canada

    It’s important we remember the contribution that the energy sector plays in our economy, for the betterment of all Canadians. In Uncharted Territory, Reynold Tetzlaff discusses the importance of the industry and the challenges that need to be addressed to restore the country’s prosperity.

    December 12, 2018, 6 AM MST

  • Qatar Exit A Harbinger For OPEC And OPEC+?

    What a difference one OPEC+ meeting makes.

    December 10, 2018, 8:36 AM MST

  • 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

  • Argentina’s Cautionary Tale For Canadian Economy

    Canadians shouldn’t take our economic prosperity for granted. Argentines did early last century, and they’ve been paying the price ever since. Misguided government policies caused Argentina’s fall from economic grace, and misguided government policies could cause our economic downfall.

    November 28, 2018, 8:11 AM MST

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