The Opportune 2023 Study has been conducted to independently calculate the OCS plugging and abandonment (P&A) liability, assess the risk such liability poses to the U.S. taxpayer, and perform a cost-benefit analysis of how...more
7/18/2023
/ Asset Valuations ,
BSEE ,
Energy Sector ,
Offshore Drilling ,
Oil & Gas ,
Orphan Wells ,
Outer Continental Shelf ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Risk Assessment ,
Surety Bonds
Natural gas doesn’t tend to get as much attention as oil does, probably because we all buy gasoline directly every week, but much of our consumption of natural gas is hidden in other things we buy (electricity, food, and...more
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the landmark “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA) into law, which contains several renewable energy tax breaks to help companies and U.S. consumers transition to clean energy. While the...more
I read a very informative essay recently in Foreign Affairs magazine, titled “When Trade Leads to War: China, Russia and the Limits of Interdependence”, by Dale Copeland. It examines the Russian invasion of Ukraine and...more
There have been media reports recently that have discussed the disposition of crude oil that is being released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). You may recall that the Biden Administration ordered emergency sales...more
7/14/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Crude Oil ,
Energy Information Association (EIA) ,
Energy Market ,
Exports ,
Global Market ,
Imports ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Prices ,
Oil Reserves ,
Refineries
I had the pleasure of moderating one of the panels at the World Oilman’s Minerals and Royalty Conference (MARC) held in Houston. The title of our session was “Managing Risk”, which of course is an extremely broad topic. We...more
If you’re like me, you probably feel that the volatility of oil prices has been very high in the past couple of years. After all, oil prices were well above $100/bbl recently and had a negative price scarcely two years ago....more
Over the last several months (and right up to today) some of the headlines published in various media outlets have addressed the slower-than-expected response of operators to increase drilling activity as oil prices have...more
Last week, the Independent Petroleum Associate of America (IPAA) hosted its annual Private Capital Conference in Houston. This year’s theme was “The Realities of the Energy Transition” and I thought it was one of the better...more
Developing a carbon sequestration project requires multiple technical disciplines, excellent project management skills, and the ability to adapt the technical work processes to the unique aspects of the specific project....more
At the 2021 NAPE Summit, decision-makers, prospect generators, financiers, E&P operators, and service providers will finally return in person in Houston at the George R. Brown Center on August 18-20 (virtually from August...more
8/16/2021
/ Acquisitions ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Energy Information Association (EIA) ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Exploration and Production Assets ,
Gas Prices ,
Industry Consolidation ,
Mergers ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Prices ,
Remote Working ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government
Steve Hendrickson, President of Ralph E. Davis Associates, an Opportune LLP company, Grant Johnson, Assistant Chairman of the NAPE Advisory Board and current President of Lone Star Production Company and Helmsman Minerals...more
Find out why underground natural gas storage can serve as a useful analog when developing large-scale carbon capture and sequestration projects....more
7/7/2021
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Operation & Maintenance ,
Safe Drinking Water Act ,
Underground Injection Wells ,
Underground Storage Tanks
Are publicly traded upstream oil and gas companies’ trading multiples reflecting a size premium?...more
As interest in carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) grows, it also creates a significant opportunity for the upstream oil and gas industry....more
3/8/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Investors ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Incentives ,
Upstream Contracts
As growth slows and investor expectations change, achieving positive cash flow will be crucial going forward in 2021.
Originally published in NAPE Magazine, January 2021 ...more
Steve Hendrickson, President of Ralph E. Davis Associates, an Opportune LLP company, gives his perspective on what to expect in the natural gas market in 2021....more
Looking ahead, here are a few themes I think will play a role in 2021, which are a continuation or evolution of where we’ve been in 2020....more
2020 was a tumultuous year for the oil and gas industry, but there’s still reason for optimism.
Originally published in The Weekly E&P Update Newsletter, December 22, 2020. ...more
12/24/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Exporters ,
Exports ,
Industry Consolidation ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Prices ,
OPEC ,
Supply and Demand
Haynes and Boone recently released its fall Borrowing Base Redeterminations Survey. Since 2015, the firm has conducted the survey twice annually to ask executives at banks, producing companies, private equity sponsors,...more
Things may not always be what they seem when interpreting initial production (IP) rate data from unconventional wells....more
With dramatic improvements seen in employee productivity over the years, is upstream oil and gas consolidation needed? ...more
Find out why the recent improvement in natural gas prices is a welcome respite for upstream oil and gas producers....more
Is A&D activity picking up in the upstream oil and gas sector and, if so, is now the right time to find attractive deals? ...more
Are the methodologies used by government agencies and data analytics companies to track DUC counts in Texas comprehensive enough to draw accurate conclusions? ...more