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An Edmonton author crafts a formula to walk clean oil talk (more…)

Oil traders gave the financial community a wild ride that could only be matched by the gut-wrenching thrills of the roller-coasters at Alberta’s summer fairs. (more…)

Brazil steps forward to share the spotlight with Alberta as a naturally well-endowed candidate to take care of U.S. energy appetites (more…)

Drilling activity shifts westward

The Montney tight gas resource play has been recognized as a resource of impressive proportions. Pay Zone columnist Chris Feltin looks at the numbers behind the surging activity in northeast British Columbia and northwest Alberta. (more…)

Changing Alberta’s economic DNA

Economically speaking, many regard Alberta as a land of milk and honey. But good times are never guaranteed. ATB senior economist Todd Hirsch muses about the future need for a structural transformation of the province’s energy-based economy. (more…)

Comparing Performance

Amongst Gas Producers

The rise and fall of a natural gas producer’s performance should not be seen in isolation, but assessed relative to a host of variables, particularly the activity of market peers. Bill Gwozd of Ziff Energy Group turns to the analogy of golf for a colourful explanation of the intricacies of performance analytics. (more…)

Fallout from the royalty review’s “unintended consequences”

Contrary to a popular misconception, the conventional industry in Alberta is now natural gas, not oil. A perfect storm of negative factors may be buffeting this mainstay industry with high labour and material costs, a strong dollar and low gas prices. However – as Paul Ziff, CEO of Ziff Energy Group, points out – the most significant cause for dramatically declining natural gas drilling activity is “Made in Alberta” and warns against the adoption of the new royalty review regime while gas prices are low. (more…)

Investment Opportunities in the Crude Cocktail Value Chain

Most investors are aware of the characteristics of the heavy, tar-like bitumen produced in the oilsands, yet not as well understood is the variety of end products being marketed by oilsands developers. Commonly referred to as the “value chain”, the increasing quality from low-value heavy crude to high‑value refined products provides a broad spectrum of development options for players (Figure 1). The decision regarding how far along this chain of links to upgrade and refine bitumen is a function of risk, primarily associated with capital costs and expected long-term commodity prices. (more…)

Investigating the Decoupling Theory

When America sneezes, Canada catches a cold. Not only have we all heard this cliché, most of us believe it. Or do we? Todd Hirsch, senior economist at ATB Financial, takes a critical look at a popular theory, and suggests the times have changed. (more…)

Aside from inspiring an entire cottage industry of overnight experts, one side effect of this fall’s Alberta royalty review was the practice of faultfinding – particularly of the oil & gas industry. But in accepting the overall message of the review panel that industry has been blatantly robbing past, present and future Albertans of their fair share of the economic rent from hydrocarbon production, the government may have done more than sow the seeds of its own corpulent destruction. It just might take the rest of us with it. Sebastian Gault explores the issue. (more…)