TNK-BP partners reject BP’s Rosneft olive branch

BP’s partners in Russian joint venture TNK-BP have rejected a peace proposal by the British oil major to involve them in talks on joining a disputed BP alliance with Russia’s Rosneft. The TNK-BP board met in Paris on Saturday to consider a new proposal from BP’s representatives concerning a partnership with Rosneft, Russia’s top crude producer. “A proposal by BP’s... 

Japan radiation leak evokes Three Mile Island

The radiation leak in Japan immediately recalls memories of accidents at the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island power stations, and how it unfolds will be a critical test for international acceptance of nuclear energy. The Fukushima incident, brought on by the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Japan, took a turn for the worse on Saturday after a blast blew the roof off the facility. There are direct... 

U.S. issues second post-spill drill permit in Gulf

The government has given BHP Billiton the second new permit to drill in the Gulf of Mexico since the Macondo oil spill, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Saturday. A BHP spokesman confirmed that the new permit has been issued for resumption of drilling of a production well at Shenzi. BOEMRE issued the first new permit since the lifting of a moratorium on drilling because of the 2010 spill... 

Wall Street up on energy shares after Japan quake

Stocks rose on Friday, led by gains in energy shares after Japan’s biggest earthquake on record hurt the country’s oil refining capacity, but trade was choppy as investors tried to weigh the quake’s economic impact. The 8.9 magnitude quake that struck the northeast coast of Japan, the world’s third largest economy, triggered a tsunami and killed at least 1,000 people, while... 

Headwaters Incorporated Announces Closing of 7-5/8% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019

Headwaters Incorporated today announced the closing of its offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7-5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes are senior secured obligations of Headwaters and are guaranteed by certain of Headwaters’ existing and future domestic subsidiaries. Net proceeds from the offering were approximately $393.3 million (after deducting the... 

Analysis: Stocks-oil relation looks as it did in 2008 recession

The trading pattern of the prices of stocks and crude oil looks worryingly like it did just before the last recession. Oil and equity prices rise and fall more or less in tandem when demand and economic growth expectations dictate prices. But the short-term relationship has been turned on its head in recent weeks with investors worried that political unrest in oil exporting countries could hit oil... 

Former President Clinton backs Libya no-fly zone

Former President Bill Clinton said the United States should enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to allow a fair fight between insurgents and troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The international community has been debating whether to impose a no-fly zone as Gaddafi’s warplanes carry out air strikes unhindered by insurgent anti-aircraft guns mounted on the back of pick-up trucks. Clinton’s... 

Moody’s Confirms Nexen’s Investment Grade Credit Rating

Earlier today, Moody’s Investors Service announced the completion of their credit review and confirmed Nexen’s Baa3 rating with a negative outlook. We expect to retain this rating and remove the negative outlook by reducing our debt to levels commensurate with the rating by late this year or early 2012, and retaining sufficient cash to fund normal operating requirements. Meeting Moody’s... 

Vermilion Energy Inc. Files Annual Information Form and Annual Report

Vermilion Energy Inc. announces the submission of its Annual Information Form (“AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2010 to the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval. The AIF contains Vermilion’s Statement of Reserves Data and Other Oil and Gas Information as required under National Instrument 51-101. Vermilion has also filed its Annual Report which includes its audited consolidated... 

W2 Modifies the SunFilter 1 Reactor to Operate 300% More Efficiently on New Algae Strain

W2 Energy, Inc., a clean energy company is pleased to announce that as of March 1, it has converted the SunFilter 1 algae reactor to use Euglena Gracilis, a more efficient strain of algae. The Euglena Gracilis strain of algae grows in fresh water rather than saltwater, and can sequester 40% of the carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. The previously utilized algae produced a 10% return. This higher...