Oil & Energy Online

Pecking Away at Production Cuts

OPEC+ countries increase output as oil demand rises
OPEC+ countries increase output as oil demand rises On April 1, 2021, OPEC and its allies announced that they would gradually increase their output from May to July. OPEC+ agreed… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/pecking-away-production-cuts/

Recovery Spells Economic Opportunity for Heating Oil Sellers

As demand returns, RIN spikes blow out ULSD-ULSHO spread
As demand returns, RIN spikes blow out ULSD-ULSHO spread The summer driving season was set to kick off shortly as of this writing in early May, and this summer is shaping up to… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/recovery-spells-economic-opportunity-heating-oil-sellers/

Locating Lost Opportunity

A smaller than forecasted basis is far more common than the dreaded basis blowout
A smaller than forecasted basis is far more common than the dreaded basis blowout In the commodity space, basis can be defined in a variety of measures. For a refinery, basis is… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/locating-lost-opportunity/

2021 Hedging Survey

Hedgers consider a year like no other and its implications for tomorrow
Hedgers consider a year like no other and its implications for tomorrow A pandemic, negative crude oil prices, a recession, increased biofuel adoption on the part of oil refiners… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/2021-hedging-survey/

The Calm After the Storm

As markets normalize, inventories stabilize
As markets normalize, inventories stabilize U.S. distillate stockpiles ended the 2019-2020 heating season well below their five-year average and even weaker than following the… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/calm-after-storm/

How Vaccine Rollouts Could Affect the Oil Market

As with the global economic recovery, everything hinges on the next few months
As with the global economic recovery, everything hinges on the next few months The past 12 months have revolved around the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to evolve. Reduced… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/how-vaccine-rollouts-could-affect-oil-market/

Relative Ease

Strong stock levels could make for smooth sailing this heating season
Strong stock levels could make for smooth sailing this heating season Basis risks were looking relatively high at the start of the heating season last year, with East Coast… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/relative-ease/

Pricing Outlook for the 2020-2021 Heating Season

What we’re seeing right now and what it could mean moving forward
What we’re seeing right now and what it could mean moving forward With the start of the new heating season, I thought that we should take a look at current events and other… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/pricing-outlook-2020-2021-heating-season/

Rack to Retail

How to track this important margin more efficiently and effectively
How to track this important margin more efficiently and effectively My company has been managing profitable hedging strategies around fixed and capped programs since 1993. These… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/rack-retail/

The + in OPEC+

A look at the brief history of cooperation between OPEC and Russia
A look at the brief history of cooperation between OPEC and Russia The OPEC+ record oil output cut agreement has been one of the most important events to influence oil prices… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/opec/

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Drop in petroleum demand led to rise in crude oil inventories and low refinery utilization
Drop in petroleum demand led to rise in crude oil inventories and low refinery utilization The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) June 30 edition of Petroleum… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/what-goes-must-come-down/

A New Benchmark for U.S. Crude

S&P Global Platts launches American GulfCoast Select
S&P Global Platts launches American GulfCoast Select S&P Global Platts, a leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets,… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/new-benchmark-us-crude/

Don’t Count Out IMO 2020

The regulations have made — and will continue to make — an impact
The regulations have made — and will continue to make — an impact There was much speculation and discussion about the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulations… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/dont-count-out-imo-2020/

Major Oil Market Crashes in History

A look back at four of the steepest declines from the past 40 years
A look back at four of the steepest declines from the past 40 years The coronavirus pandemic and nationwide lockdowns across the world caused a sharp drop in economic activity,… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/major-oil-market-crashes-history/

Tough Year So Far? Acquisition Growth Awaits the Prepared

Key characteristics of a successful buyer
Key characteristics of a successful buyer Has your company considered growth by acquisition but largely remained on the sidelines due to fear, a lack of knowledge about how best… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/tough-year-so-far-acquisition-growth-awaits-prepared/

Look Out Below

Crude oil futures fell into negative territory for the first time in history. Is heating oil next?
Crude oil futures fell into negative territory for the first time in history. Is heating oil next? On April 20, 2020, NYMEX WTI crude futures traded in negative territory for the… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/look-out-below/

COVID-19 Results in Lowest U.S. Petroleum Consumption in Decades

Impact far less severe on distillate fuel oil than gasoline, jet fuel
U.S. consumption of petroleum products has fallen to its lowest level in decades because of measures that limit travel and because of the general economic slowdown induced by… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/covid-19-results-lowest-us-petroleum-consumption-decades/

Are Oil Prices Presenting an Opportunity?

Disciplined hedging is paramount during Black Swan events
There has been, appropriately, much discussion about the recent, so-called Black Swan event, the coronavirus. I’ve witnessed the term Black Swan often inserted where it doesn’t… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/are-oil-prices-presenting-opportunity/

Occidental Beats Out Chevron in Bidding War for Anadarko

On May 9, Occidental Petroleum announced it had entered into a definitive agreement whereby the company will acquire Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for $59 in cash and 0.2934 shares of Occidental common stock per share of Anadarko common stock, in a trans…
Acquisition marks the biggest oil industry deal in three years On May 9, Occidental Petroleum announced it had entered into a definitive agreement whereby the company will… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/occidental-beats-out-chevron-bidding-war-anadarko/

Status of OPEC Agreement Ahead of June Meeting

In February 2016, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi announced a plan for a potential crude production cut. In December 2016, for the first time in nearly eight years, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reached an agreement …
OPEC producers are set to meet on June 25 and 26 in Vienna, Austria In February 2016, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi announced a plan for a potential crude… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/status-opec-agreement-ahead-june-meeting/