Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists May 23, 2022 While technologists have always understood the damage that ransomware could do to an organization’s infrastructure and data, the May 2021 attack that targeted Colonial Pipeline IT infrastructure changed the game for good. Read more
High pump prices the result of a suite of market issues and not simply price gouging, study says
High pump prices the result of a suite of market issues and not simply price gouging, study says Energize Weekly, May 18, 2002 Oil companies have been in the crosshairs of lawmakers for either price gouging or not producing enough oil as gasoline pump prices have soared, but a new…
U.S. Proposes $1 Million Fine on Colonial Pipeline for Safety Violations After Cyberattack
U.S. Proposes $1 Million Fine on Colonial Pipeline for Safety Violations After Cyberattack May 10, 2022 The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed a penalty of nearly $1 million to Colonial Pipeline for violating federal safety regulations, worsening the impact of the ransomware…
Pennsylvania House of Representatives passes package of bills that would reverse ban on fracking in Delaware River Basin
Pennsylvania House of Representatives passes package of bills that would reverse ban on fracking in Delaware River Basin May 2, 2022 The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Monday passed a package of legislation that would increase fossil fuel energy production in the state. This package of bills would significantly diminish the…
These 3 Things Will Take a Big Bite Out of Oil Demand in 2022
These 3 Things Will Take a Big Bite Out of Oil Demand in 2022 April 26, 2022 The ongoing war in Ukraine, Covid-19 lockdowns in China and surging commodity prices are going to take a significant bite out of global oil demand this year. That’s according to Rystad Energy’s senior…
Higher prices and oil market uncertainty spur record activity in the Permian Basin
Higher prices and oil market uncertainty spur record activity in the Permian Basin Energize Weekly, April 20, 2022 In a response to high oil prices, rising demand and supply concerns in international oil markets, monthly drilling permits for new wells in the Permian Basin hit a record in March, according…
Cybersecuring the Pipeline
Cybersecuring the Pipeline April 12, 2022 On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline, which operates the largest fuel pipeline system in the United States, disclosed that it had suffered a cyberattack. Its business systems had been infected with ransomware, malicious software that locks systems until a ransom is paid, usually in…
Covid-19 boost in green spending still not enough, IEA says
Covid-19 boost in green spending still not enough, IEA says 04/12/2022 The world’s wealthiest countries are rapidly boosting spending on clean energy, but lower-income nations are struggling to do the same, with higher food and fuel prices bearing down on their already limited finances. The widening gap could challenge the…
Exxon signals record quarterly profit from oil and gas prices
Exxon signals record quarterly profit from oil and gas prices April 4, 2022 Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Monday said its first-quarter results could top a seven-year quarterly record, with operating profits from pumping oil and gas alone of up to $9.3 billion. A snapshot of the largest U.S. oil…
UN report on climate crisis confirms the world already has solutions – but politics are getting in the way
UN report on climate crisis confirms the world already has solutions – but politics are getting in the way April 4, 2022 The world is careening toward levels of global warming that will have irreversible impacts, a new landmark report says, but we already have the solutions — the only…
Federal agencies warn Russian cyber operations pose continued threat to U.S. energy infrastructure
Federal agencies warn Russian cyber operations pose continued threat to U.S. energy infrastructure March 28, 2022 In a joint advisory published this week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) assessed that state-sponsored Russian cyber operations…
War in Ukraine scrambles world oil markets, offers a spur to U.S. production
War in Ukraine scrambles world oil markets, offers a spur to U.S. production Energize Weekly, March 30, 2022 The war in Ukraine is leading to a pinch in Russian oil – through operational problems and sanctions – that could lead to a restructuring of world oil markets and a boost…
Natural gas power plant project for eastern Va. is scrapped
Natural gas power plant project for eastern Va. is scrapped Mar 21, 2022 A natural gas power plant project in eastern Virginia has been scrapped, a month after plans for a pipeline running through five counties to fuel it were put on hold following a regulatory ruling, and amid opposition…
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks March 21, 2022 President Biden warned on Monday that Russia is exploring the possibility of waging potential cyberattacks against the United States in retaliation for economic penalties imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Read more
U.S. natural gas production and LNG exports projected to rise as foreign markets grow
U.S. natural gas production and LNG exports projected to rise as foreign markets grow Energize Weekly, March 16, 2022 Natural gas production in the U.S. is poised to increase through 2050, spurred by exports – with a likely rise in shipments to Europe in the wake of the Russian invasion…
Russian invasion of Ukraine and West’s economic sanctions roil global energy markets
Russian invasion of Ukraine and West’s economic sanctions roil global energy markets Energize Weekly, March 9, 2022 The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the broad sanctions by western nations in its wake are roiling energy markets from Europe to Asia and may lead to structural changes in regional and global…
6G launch planning should start now to avoid another 5G mess – FCC
6G launch planning should start now to avoid another 5G mess – FCC Mar. 1st 2022 New Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel has today told delegates at the Mobile World Congress that 6G launch planning should begin now, even though switch-on is not expected until 2030. Her remarks follow the embarrassing clash between…
Rocky Mountain states to team up on hydrogen tech proposal
Rocky Mountain states to team up on hydrogen tech proposal February 24, 2022 Four Rocky Mountain states will cooperate on developing ways to make the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks and trains, the states’ governors announced Thursday. Colorado,…
Cyber insurance premiums soar for energy companies
Cyber insurance premiums soar for energy companies Feb. 18, 2022 Cyber insurance rates are rising because of geopolitics, ransomware, a growing threat to operational technology, and continued fallout from last year’s Colonial Pipeline attack, say experts. Read more
After a record-breaking 2021, Global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022
After a record-breaking 2021, global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022 Energize Weekly, February 9, 2022 After a record-breaking 2021, global electric passenger vehicle (EV) sales are poised to surge again in 2022, reaching 10.5 million, a nearly 60 percent annual increase, according to new analyses of…
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack Feb. 1, 2022 wo companies involved in storing and supplying oil and other materials said Tuesday they have been hit by a cyberattack that has impacted operations in Germany. Read more
Colorado to request $25M in federal aid to help clean up its more than 1,200 orphan wells
Colorado to request $25M in federal aid to help clean up its more than 1,200 orphan wells Jan 31, 2022 Colorado is seeking $25 million from a federal fund to plug orphan oil and gas wells, state officials said, in what could be the first installment of millions in cleanup…
Cleantech investments soar to a record $755 billion in 2021, BNEF says
Cleantech investments soar to a record $755 billion in 2021, BNEF says Energize Weekly, February 2, 2022 A record $755 billion was invested in energy-transition technologies in 2021 – a 27 percent increase over 2020, according to energy consultant BloombergNEF (BNEF). In addition, climate-tech companies raised $165 billion in equity…
US natural gas faces wild 2022 as foreign crises exert pull
US natural gas faces wild 2022 as foreign crises exert pull Jan 1, 2022 U.S. natural gas is in for another wild year as the insularity that once shielded North American energy consumers from overseas turmoil disintegrates. Benchmark American gas futures climbed almost 45% in 2021 for the strongest annual…
After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022
After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022 Energize Weekly, December 29, 2021 The shale oil sector’s recent financial recipe of generating cash flow and tamping down capital expenditures may change in 2022 as drilling budgets increase due to factors ranging from…
BP to buy out U.S. pipeline partnership in $723 mln deal
BP to buy out U.S. pipeline partnership in $723 mln deal December 20, 2021 BP (BP.L) will acquire the remaining stake in its U.S. pipelines partnership BP Midstream Partners LP (BPMP.N) that it doesn’t already own in a more than $700 million deal, as the energy giant looks to simplify its structure. Read more
Permian oil output forecast to hit record high in January-EIA
Permian oil output forecast to hit record high in January-EIA DECEMBER 13, 2021 The largest U.S. shale basin’s output will surge to a record in January, according to a monthly forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Monday. Read more
U.S. set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter with Asia and Europe as its biggest customers
U.S. set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter with Asia and Europe as its biggest customers Energize Weekly, December 15, 2021 The U.S. is poised to become the world’s largest liquified natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2022 with the addition of two new liquefaction units coming online along the…
Exxon Looking Towards Permian Net-Zero Emissions By 2030
Exxon Looking Towards Permian Net-Zero Emissions By 2030 December 07, 2021 Supermajor ExxonMobil has revealed its plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from operated assets in the U.S. Permian Basin by 2030. Read more
Coal Creek carbon capture, hydrogen hub among projects seeking clean energy funding
Coal Creek carbon capture, hydrogen hub among projects seeking clean energy funding 11/30/2021 A new arm of state government tasked with vetting funding applications for clean energy projects will evaluate eight proposals in the coming weeks, including one involving a carbon capture system at Coal Creek Station and another related…
New natural gas pipeline capacity expands access to export and Northeast markets
New natural gas pipeline capacity expands access to export and Northeast markets NOVEMBER 17, 2021 In our recently updated Natural Gas Pipeline Projects Tracker, we estimate over 4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of new natural gas pipeline capacity entered service in the third quarter of 2021, primarily supplying Gulf…
Oversight finds ‘small lapses’ in security led to Colonial Pipeline, JBS hacks
Oversight finds ‘small lapses’ in security led to Colonial Pipeline, JBS hacks 11/16/21 A series of “small lapses” in cybersecurity led to several recent successful ransomware attacks, the House Oversight and Reform Committee concluded in a staff memo released Tuesday. Read more
Traders Refocusing on Return of 2 Bearish Factors
Traders Refocusing on Return of 2 Bearish Factors November 16, 2021 The carnage on oil prices spilled into this week as the market now seems to be less concerned about the current supply tightness, expecting it to be short-lived. Read more
Microsoft: Chinese hackers are targeting Zoho ManageEngine software
Microsoft: Chinese hackers are targeting Zoho ManageEngine software November 9, 2021 Microsoft has sent an alert about a sophisticated Chinese hacker group targeting an obscure bug in Zoho software to install a webshell. Read more
Shell and Norsk Hydro team up for green hydrogen
Shell and Norsk Hydro team up for green hydrogen November 9, 2021 Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL) are looking into jointly producing hydrogen from renewable electricity in a push to decarbonise their own operations as well as supply heavy industry and transport customers, Hydro said on Tuesday. Read more
U.S. won’t share Europe’s natural gas woes this year, says gas pipeline chief
U.S. won’t share Europe’s natural gas woes this year, says gas pipeline chief 11/8/2021 Americans should have enough natural gas to keep homes warm and factories running, avoiding the kind of shortages that are crippling Europe and Asia, even if the coming winter gets particularly cold. That’s because surging prices…
Why Texas isn’t ready for another deep freeze
Why Texas isn’t ready for another deep freeze Nov 01, 2021 It’s been more than eight months since a glacial chill — the magnitude of which nobody quite anticipated — crept across Texas, forcing power plants offline, freezing natural gas wells and wreaking havoc on every part of the state’s…
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure November 1, 2021 The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a congressional committee leader agree that officials must take precautionary steps to identify “systemically important critical infrastructure” to reduce risks of pervasive supply chain cyberattacks. Read more
UGI Utilities gets approval from Pennsylvania commission for RNG pilot program
UGI Utilities gets approval from Pennsylvania commission for RNG pilot program October 25, 2021 UGI Utilities got the okay from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) as part of a five-year pilot program. The pilot program seeks to explore how UGI Utilities can integrate renewable…
Climate-driven weather disasters threaten global energy infrastructure, IEA says
Climate-driven weather disasters threaten global energy infrastructure, IEA says Energize Weekly, October 20, 2021 Energy and infrastructure systems built over the last century are becoming more vulnerable to the ravages of climate change-driven extreme weather events, according to a series of reports. “Extreme weather events over the past year have…
Spire Asks Supreme Court to Keep Pipeline Operational
Spire Asks Supreme Court to Keep Pipeline Operational Oct. 12, 2021 The St. Louis-based natural gas company Spire Inc. is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to keep operating a pipeline through Illinois and Missouri, warning that a winter shutdown could be devastating to St. Louis-area customers. Read more
OPEC+ Holds Both the Knife and the Cake
OPEC+ Holds Both the Knife and the Cake October 05, 2021 OPEC+ holds both the knife and the cake in the oil market, especially as the group boasts the lion’s share of the remaining unused supply capacity in the world. Read more
Offshore Drilling Rigs Eyed for LNG Conversion
Offshore Drilling Rigs Eyed for LNG Conversion September 24, 2021 Aberdeen-based offshore rig inspection company ADC Energy has said it has won a contract with an unnamed U.S.-based LNG company to help it identify and select offshore drilling rigs suitable for conversion for LNG operations. Read more
Oil and gas sector shows recovery in second quarter led by private companies, higher prices
Oil and gas sector shows recovery in second quarter led by private companies, higher prices Energize Weekly, September 22, 2021 The U.S. onshore oil and gas industry saw the beginnings of a rebound in the second quarter of 2021 buoyed by strong commodity prices, strategic mergers, and increased efficiency, according…
DOE to invest $10 million to reduce natural gas supply constraints, improve energy consumption
DOE to invest $10 million to reduce natural gas supply constraints, improve energy consumption September 13, 2021 A new funding opportunity announcement from the United States Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) will offer approximately $10 million in funding for cost-shared research and development projects…
Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico After Ida Linked to Abandoned Pipeline
Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico After Ida Linked to Abandoned Pipeline Sept 7, 2021 More than a week after Ida hit the Gulf of Mexico, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the hurricane made a huge mess of the oil and gas activities there. The government is investigating hundreds of reports of oil spills…
Gas Prices Unlikely To Skyrocket As Oil Companies Assess Hurricane Ida Damage
Gas Prices Unlikely To Skyrocket As Oil Companies Assess Hurricane Ida Damage August 31, 2021 Oil companies are still assessing the damage at the oil rigs, platforms and refineries that were struck by Hurricane Ida. Read more
Alpha Wireless Unveils Antenna Solutions to Enable Utility Network Modernization
Alpha Wireless Unveils Antenna Solutions to Enable Utility Network Modernization Aug 24th, 2021 Alpha Wireless is launching the Alpha Wireless AW3874 dual-band antenna, engineered to empower utilities to modernize and digitize their communications infrastructure. With support for both 900 MHz and 3.5 GHz / Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum…
NM could get billions in new federal funding
NM could get billions in new federal funding August 23, 2021 Congress is gearing up to approve the largest federal investments in infrastructure and social programs since the Great Depression in the 1930s, and New Mexico could reap huge benefits. Read more
API Files Lawsuit Against Biden Administration
API Files Lawsuit Against Biden Administration August 17, 2021 The American Petroleum Institute (API) has announced that it, along with 11 other energy industry trade groups, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) indefinite pause on…
