Dedicated to where the energy geosciences, public policy, politics, and business meet—both in the United States and abroad.

Energy Policy Blog

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is perhaps commercially viable but not proven at commercial scale, according to 100 clean-energy experts that recently released their recommendations to the White House: 'Powering Forward: Presidential and Executive Agency Actions to Drive Clean Energy in America.'

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

Not oil, not shale, but a huge resource! Industry interest in developing oil shale production technology rises and falls with oil prices and the availability of cheaper options. Shale oil in formations like the Bakken is currently more economically attractive and less risky. Chevron, Shell and Exxon-Mobil have ended their oil shale projects in the past year, but Red Leaf Resources is moving ahead.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

Are you interested in public policy? Are you interested in understanding how Congress works? Are you interested in applying science to policy decisions? Then consider applying for a fellowship or internship. Please share this information with others.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

January 8 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new rule on offshore hydraulic fracturing that takes effect on March 1. The rule adds additional effluent limits and monitoring requirements. Operators would be required to maintain an inventory of chemicals used in drilling operations and report any released into surrounding waters. The new EPA rule applies only to existing development and production platforms, and new exploratory drilling operations in federal waters off the Santa Barbara coast. There are 23 existing production platforms in California federal waters.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

Peer-reviewed research from the ongoing EPA hydraulic fracturing study is available, well ahead of the final report that is expected at the end of 2014.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

U.S. Senators. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and 13 of their Senate colleagues introduced S. 1600, the Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013 in October. The bill’s stated objectives is: “To facilitate the reestablishment of domestic, critical mineral designation, assessment, production, manufacturing, recycling, analysis, forecasting, workforce, education, research, and international capabilities in the United States.”

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

A slight majority of Americans are opposed to hydraulic fracturing according to a recent Pew Research survey: 49 percent oppose and 44 percent support increased use of fracking.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

“Best Available and Safest Technologies for Offshore Oil and Gas Operations: Options for Implementation” by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council (NAE/NRC), was released on October 28.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

The House is voting on several energy bills in November. These represent the first votes on energy issues since Republicans gained controlled of the House. Despite the Republicans’ enthusiasm for energy policy reform, none of the proposed bills is expected to become law because the Senate is unlikely to consider the legislation, and the White House has promised to veto at least the first two bills.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

Growth in US, Brazilian and Iraqi oil production, and rapid growth in energy demand in India and China will shift the global energy balance by 2035 according to projections by the International Energy Agency in their 2013 World Energy Outlook.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

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