Tag Archives: oil

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: New oil spill in Gulf of Mexico. Oil market bubble bursting? Blame War for your high prices! U.S. backed Oil War continues in Sudan. India #1 buyer of Iranian oil

“The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting an over flight assessment for a report of a rainbow sheen approximately one mile by 10 miles spotted near the Mississippi Canyon block 807 in the Gulf of Mexico……trying to identify the responsible party.”-Petty Officer Bill Colclough, U.S. Coast Guard

April 12, 2012, the USCG is investigating a report, by Royal Dutch Shell, of an oil spill located between two Shell off shore platforms, near the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Shell says it is not coming from its Mars and Ursa rigs.  It could be natural seepage.

The International Energy Agency says international oil stockpiles are so high, and demand is so low, that it expects oil prices to continue to drop.

Isn’t it funny how not even a  year ago the oil industry “experts” kept telling us that demand was still high, and that we could expect $150 per barrel, or more?

“Easing first quarter 2012 fundamentals have seen prices recently lose most of the $5 per barrel they gained in March. The muted impact so far is partly because much of this extra supply has been stockpiled on land or at sea.”-IEA statement

But don’t expect lower gas prices, as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said, the Northern Hemisphere summer driving season is always used as an excuse to raise prices: “U.S. oil demand remains a key uncertainty to the existing demand assessment. The upcoming driving season might be affected by high retail gasoline prices and the pace of the economic recovery.”-OPEC statement

The International Energy Agency says consumers can blame the high fuel prices on wars and rumors of wars: “We cannot discount the possibility that prices will remain high so long as geopolitical uncertainties remain.”-IEA statement

Sudan launched an offensive to re-take the largest oil field from South Sudan: “Within the next 72 hours, we shall have pushed all of their troops out of our territories.”-Rabie Abdelaty, Sudanese spokesman

The Heglig field produces about 60,000 barrels per day.  Last week U.S. supported South Sudan captured the Heglig.

India has just surpassed China, as Iran’s number one oil buyer.  In the first quarter of 2012 India imported 433,000 barrels per day from Iran.  China’s import rate for Iranian oil was only 256,000 bpd.  That’s according to  Petrologistics.

It could be that China had made a huge oil deal with Russia, but now Russian courts could threaten that deal.

Russian prosecutors are investigating the 30 year deal, over a discount giving to China.  That discount results in a reduction in profits, over the 30 years, of $3 billion USD.  Many Russians are not happy about that.

China imports 300,000 bpd from Russia’s Eastern Siberian oil fields.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran can stop all oil sales for three years, without harm to its economy

“Some people think that they can trouble Iran through oil sanctions but I should say that we have so much reserves that even if we don’t sell oil for two to three years, the country will be administered easily.”-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, April 10, 2012

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: Iran stops oil shipments to Germany, Iran imposes sanctions on 100 European companies

April 11, 2012, Iran follows through on threat to cut off oil to Germany, now Italy is next.

Iran also announced sanctions against 100 European Union companies.  Sasan Khodaei, Deputy President of Iran Trade Promotion Organization, said the companies will no longer be able to sell products to Iran.

One reason for the sanctions is that Iran is now able to make the products for themselves.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: China demands “responsible protection” for Syria

“Recently, China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution draft on Syria. Some people accuse China and Russia of not being ‘cooperative’ or ‘responsible’. In my view, our decision was the responsible one. We should not forget the lesson in Libya.”-Le Yucheng, Assistant Foreign Minister of China

Chinese officials believe a U.S. led war on Syria would have the same results as in Libya.  They compered the U.S. led war on Libya to “surgery that kills the patient”.   Libya is now in a full on civil war.

China’s Assistant Foreign Minister blasted the United States: “China does not do things just to please certain countries. China never takes its cue from others or pays the bill without asking the price. Being responsible means saying ‘no’ to such ‘protection’. What we need is not just ‘the responsibility to protect’ but also ‘responsible protection’.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran officially stops oil shipments to Spain & Greece. Germany and Italy next.

April 10, 2012, Iran has officially halted oil exports to Spain and Greece.

The official government announcement comes after Iran canceled oil shipments to two Greek companies on April 5.

Back on March 16 Iran had named the next countries on its oil export ban list.  Those countries are Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.  This is in retaliation for the up coming European Union oil sanctions that go into effect on July 1.

Iran had already halted oil shipments to France and United Kingdom back in February.

According to an April 10 Reuters report, Iran is now considering halting oil exports to Germany as well.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Saudi oil pipeline blown up in Yemen, again. Yemen in full blown Civil War

“…an armed group fired more than three rocket propelled grenades on the pipeline, setting it on fire for the second time in less than two weeks.”-unnamed witness

For the second time this month, an oil pipeline, belonging to Saudi Nimir Petroleum Company, was blown up in Yemen.  April 11, 2012, a pipeline carrying crude oil from Shabwa to the Bir Ali terminal on the Gulf of Aden was blown up.  It was last attacked on April 2.

This latest attack on the pipeline came one day after anti-government Mujahideen launched a full blown attack against a U.S. supported Yemen army base.  Officials, and local elders, say 60 soldiers were killed,  and 54 Mujahideen were killed.

The Yemen Mujahideen also blew up a natural gas pipeline on March 30.

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syria begins troop withdrawls, Russia reprimands the United States

“We have already withdrawn some military forces from several Syrian provinces.”-Walid al-Moualem, Foreign Minister of Syria

The Foreign Minister of Syria made the announcement at the same time U.S. and European media were creating rumors to the contrary.

“The U.S. and other countries which have influence over the Syrian opposition had better stop pointing the finger at China and Russia all the time, but rather use their leverage to convince everyone to stop shooting.”-Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia

Russia says the Syrian government is justified in asking for written guarantees of ceasefire from the U.S./Israeli supported rebels.

The Syrian government has until midnight, April 10/11, to get troops out of cities under the United Nations ceasefire deal.  The UN ceasefire plan actually is scheduled to begin on April 12.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Trilateral Commission Plan in Motion: Japan to join U.S. & U.K. in creating joint military force! Preperations for Total World War?

“We have decided to identify a range of appropriate defense equipment for joint development and production….which contributes to both countries’ security and presents industrial opportunities.”-Japan-U.K. joint statement

Back on March 14, 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama stated, at a White House press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, that the U.S. and U.K. would be uniting their militaries, and military industries.  I watched the conference live and not one reporter questioned him on that.  Now Japan has announced they want to join in!

April 10, 2012, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and British Prime Minister David Cameron, have agreed to study the possibility of Japan becoming a partner in joint defense and military research.

Japan has already been working on revising their constitution so their military industries can begin selling weapons to other countries.

This joint military talk comes as Obama issued an executive order, very quietly on March 16, that paves the way for Total War.  The main stream media never reported it.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Big explosions in Afghanistan, conflicting reports

“When a suicide bomber tried to enter the district headquarters, he was stopped by the police but then he detonated his explosives, right at the gate. The explosion was so strong, there are casualties among police and civilians.”-Naser Ahmad Popul, inside the building at the time of the blast.

Big explosion in Herat Province on April 9, 2012. Afghan media reports 9 people killed, 22 wounded.

Afghan media said it was a suicide bomber using a Toyota 4×4, who blew himself up in front of a district office west of the city of Herat.

Another explosion took place in Helmand Province.

U.S. media reports four Afghan police were killed.  Three people wearing explosive vests attacked a police station. Police shot and killed one, but the other two exploded themselves.

Interestingly the Afghan media is not mentioning the Helmand incident, so far.  Also, the U.S. media says the “Taliban” have claimed responsibility for both attacks, yet Afghan media says no one is claiming responsibility.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Intelligence officers attacked, U.S. will continue night raids despite “deal”, South Carolina sends 500 troops, Mujahideen keeps out Al Qaeda

April 9, 2012, in Baghlan Province an explosion left seven people wounded.  Three are Afghan intelligence officers.

Officials say a bomb was placed in a culvert, and exploded as the vehicle carrying the intelligence officers drove over it.  Four civilians are wounded as well.

And it has been revealed that despite yesterday’s “deal” signing, U.S. led forces will still conduct night raids, and other special operations.

The deal supposedly gave the Afghan military the lead role in special operations. Even Afghanistan’s Defense Minister said night raids would be done by Afghan forces: “From now on only Afghan forces can search the homes and private properties as part of night operations.”-Abdul Rahim Wardak

Yet the deal allows Afghan military leaders to request that U.S. led forces still carry out such operations “as required or requested”.

The U.S. state of South Carolina is sending 500 members of their state militia to
Afghanistan.  The 169th Fighter Wing of South Carolina’s Air National Guard deployed on Easter Sunday.

The Christian Science Monitor has published an article that tries to explain who and what the “Taliban” Mujahideen groups are, and shows that they are not the same as al Qaeda, and in fact it is the Mujahideen (not the United States) that have prevented al Qaeda from gaining a foothold in Afghanistan:  “Such differences cause natural tensions between the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda has not been able to hijack the insurgency the way it did in Iraq.”– NATO intelligence officer

The Pashtuns (who make up the majority of Afghans) consider the Mujahideen “Taliban” to be their only legitimate political representatives: “One of the most important things to an Afghan, especially in the context of the last 30 years of open warfare, is personal security. The central government and to a degree NATO/Coalition forces have failed in this regard. The Taliban, in the view of ordinary Pashtuns, is the only entity able to impose law and order.”-Matthew DuPee, Afghan Affairs U.S. Naval Postgraduate School