Tag: natural gas

How to Make Money with Clean Tech Energy

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The Energy Report: A large number of photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing firms went bankrupt during the past year. What is the outlook for solar energy firms?

Pavel Molchanov: Most of the solar bankruptcies that took place in the U.S., Europe and China have occurred among companies that manufacture solar modules. But it's important to note that a bankrupt company does not necessarily shut down production. About 75% of these companies, as measured by production capacity, have continued to operate, either on a stand-alone basis during bankruptcy or following an acquisition by a strategic partner.

Take, for example, China's Suntech Power Holdings (STP:NYSE). It was the largest solar manufacturer in the world as recently as 2011. It declared bankruptcy in March, and continues to operate and generate revenue. Solyndra, of course, has been wiped off the face of the earth. But such liquidation is a very rare outcome for large solar companies that take temporary refuge in bankruptcy.

TER: Are bankrupt, producing solar companies attractive investments? Continue reading "How to Make Money with Clean Tech Energy" →

Optimistic Banker Sees 'Encouraging Time in the Basins'

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The Energy Report: Bruce, the price of natural gas has remained well below $4 per thousand cubic feet ($4/Mcf). How long can junior and midcap explorers and producers (EPs) of natural gas keep on going at this rate?

Bruce Edgelow: They're in a better place than they were a year before. The marketplace isand I'll hesitantly use the word"enjoying" about a 4550% increase in prices year over year. This new price is, for the most part, bringing producers back to a break-even or a modest return on cash flow. However, they clearly need a more robust price to generate the returns that the market expects of them.

TER: The spread between West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent Crude prices has narrowed to just a few dollars per barrel. How is that affecting the crude EPs? Continue reading "Optimistic Banker Sees 'Encouraging Time in the Basins'" →

Electric Transportation Could Jump-Start Rare Earth Markets

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The Metals Report: You've said that the ratio of natural gas to oil prices [see price charts below] represents the largest arbitrage opportunity in history. What does that mean for the future of transportation and rare earth element (REE) consumption?

Patrick Wong: This trillion-dollar arbitrage will bring a lot of momentum into the electrification of transportation. You need REEs to make the permanent magnets that go into the electric drive motors, so they have a key role. In 10 years, we'll look back and recognize that this is the beginning of the end of a world dependent upon petrol-based transportation. Continue reading "Electric Transportation Could Jump-Start Rare Earth Markets" →

Enhanced Oil Recovery with Competitive Costs

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The Energy Report: On July 26, George Phydias Mitchell died at the age of 94. The late Texas oilman had pioneered the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Can you speak about his achievements?

Jim Letourneau: Mitchell was the founder of the entire shale oil/shale gas revolution. For decades, the Texas wildcatters had known that there was gas in the Barnett Shale, but it was very difficult to get it out. Mitchell did not invent the fracking technologies. He just wanted to get the gas out of the shale. And as the owner of an oil company, he got to challenge the technical people. He basically said, "If you guys can't figure it out, I'll find someone who can." He had the power and the money and the persistence to make it work. Mitchell Energy Development Corp. began working on the problem in 1981, and it took until 1999 to figure it all out. The company sold for $3.5 billion ($3.5B) in 2001! It is inspiring.

TER: Were other companies trying to develop fracking? Continue reading "Enhanced Oil Recovery with Competitive Costs" →

Morning Energy Commentary

Posted on by The INO.com Team

June crude oil was lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidates some of the rally off April's low. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If June extends the rally off April's low, April's high crossing at 98.06 is the next upside target. Multiple closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 91.93 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is April's high crossing at 98.06. Second resistance is February's high crossing at 99.52. First support is the 10-day moving average crossing at 93.85. Second support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 91.93.

June heating oil was lower overnight as it consolidates some of the rally off April's low. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If June extends the aforementioned rally, the February-April uptrend line crossing near 295.58 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 284.23 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. Continue reading "Morning Energy Commentary" →