Small but potentially critical item for the U.S. shale patch this week. With one state at the core of unconventional oil and gas production moving to shut down a swath of wells after some unexpected side effects. The place is Oklahoma. And the problem is — the ground is moving. On September 3, Oklahoma was … Read more

Critical report this week for all project developers across the natural resource space. Showing that investment in the sector is far from depressed. In fact, available funds for energy, mining and beyond are at all-time high. That analysis comes from investment fund trackers Preqin. Who Thursday released a comprehensive report on the state of assets under … Read more

I wrote late last year about an unusual trend emerging in oil and gas M&A. Namely, a wave of outgoing global investment from E&P firms in Russia. And news this week confirmed that Russia is on the rise when it comes to global petroleum deals. Russian petro-major Rosneft announced that it is near closing on one of its biggest … Read more

The recent rally in gold prices has been a welcome bright spot in metals. With prices soaring from $1,050 per ounce early in January to nearly $1,250 the last week. That’s had some observers suggesting a major rally may be at hand — with the yellow metal about to reclaim some of the big losses … Read more

Big news in energy project finance this week. With a mega-project that no one thought could succeed coming through with a massive finance package. That’s the Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in northern Russia. A multi-billion dollar development that appeared dubious just a few months ago — as sanctions against Russia seemed to be … Read more

One major event dominated mining news this week. Affecting nearly every major metal — from copper and nickel to gold and aluminum. An abrupt and unexpected change in mining laws from major producing nation Indonesia. As I wrote last Thursday, Indonesia’s mining sector has been in a state of flux. With exports of copper concentrates halting … Read more

It might be the biggest issue in mining you haven’t heard about. But events this week suggest that one “sleeper” problem may be about to leap to the main stage. That’s the introduction of a new mining charter in key producing nation South Africa. Which the government said is going ahead this coming month — … Read more

Brazil has been one of the hottest plays going in the oil and gas sector the last several years. But recent financial and corruption woes in the country are prompting some critical changes. The Brazilian Senate last week passed a bill to allow foreign E&Ps to take greater control of offshore fields. And late last … Read more

This week in Pierce Points: E&Ps kept their good credit. A survey of U.S. oil and gas producers shows bank lines have been cut much less than expected. China hinted at a plan to control Asia’s copper. Officials want to buy concentrate and build smelters along the Silk Road. Ecuador’s mining sector rebranded itself. The government is offering better tax rates to … Read more

Little-reported but extremely critical data point for the oil and gas industry emerged yesterday. With insiders in the debt business saying that risk levels in the sector have risen to unprecedented levels. That came from major ratings service Moody’s. With the firm saying that one of its proprietary indexes of credit problems in the oil and … Read more