Wash Post Oil and Gas Prices

Inflation fears drive dollar dip

Steven Mufson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Fears of inflation and large U.S. budget deficits drove the dollar on Wednesday to its weakest level since August 2008 and helped push oil prices to their highest in more than a year.

Oil Prices Up, but Future Direction Is Murky

Steven Mufson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Crude oil prices climbed to $77.58 a barrel Thursday, driven by the weakening of the U.S. dollar and rising optimism about prospects for a global economic recovery.

Mount Rainier Residents Turn to Corn as a 'Greener' Fuel Alternative

Avis Thomas-Lester — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa and some of his eco-conscious friends in northern Prince George's County were concerned about the effect of greenhouse emissions on the environment, so they erected a granary to provide corn fuel as a home-heating alternative to natural gas, oil or electric heat.

Mount Rainier Residents Turn to Corn as a 'Greener' Fuel Alternative

Avis Thomas-Lester — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:17:04 EDT

Book Review: 'Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil' by Peter Maass

Steven Mufson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Peter Maass takes readers on a vivid tour of troubled oil frontiers like Russia, Nigeria and Ecuador in "Crude World."

BP Finds 'Giant' Oil Source Deep Under Gulf of Mexico

Steven Mufson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

BP said Wednesday that it made a "giant" oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico, and analysts said that the find deep below the sea floor raised hopes that further exploration in the region could help sustain U.S. offshore oil production.

Affordability Is Martek's Challenge As It Looks to Turn Algae Into Fuel

Mike Musgrove — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Now that its flagship product is in nearly every container of infant formula sold in the United States, Martek Biosciences is looking to edge its way into the gas tank.

Trade Group Asks Oil Companies to Recruit Employees for ÂCitizen' Rallies

David A. Fahrenthold — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A petroleum industry trade group is asking oil companies to recruit employees and retirees to attend rallies attacking climate-change legislation, an approach to grass-roots politics that resembles strategies used recently by some opponents of health-care reform.

Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell Post Steep Dives in Profit

Steven Mufson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, the world's two biggest oil firms, reported sharply lower second-quarter profits Thursday, hurt by crude oil prices that are running at a little less than half of last year's record-shattering levels.

Oil Speculation Limits Weighed

Zachary A. Goldfarb — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Federal regulators moved closer on Tuesday to issuing new rules to limit oil speculation, addressing concerns that Wall Street firms may have manipulated the price of oil through financial trading.

Local Firms Snatch Up More Gas Stations as Big Oil Moves On

Steven Mufson — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

It's been 83 years since two road engineers, Jim Wills and Harold Swann, started Southern Maryland Oil to sell customers heating oil, kerosene and gasoline. Today, their firm has grown into one of the region's biggest fuel wholesale businesses.

Oil's Puzzling Spring Surge Reignites Debate About Speculators

Steven Mufson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:13:00 EDT

The run-up in oil prices that began earlier this year was not as steep as last summer's record climb, but it was almost as mystifying.

Oil's Puzzling Spring Surge Reignites Debate About Speculators

Steven Mufson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The run-up in oil prices that began earlier this year was not as steep as last summer's record climb, but it was almost as mystifying.

Alaskans Consider Palin's Legacy As She Prepares to Leave Office

Kimberly Kindy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

ANCHORAGE -- In November 2006, as Sarah Palin celebrated her gubernatorial victory at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, she told the crowd she would bring a "new energy" to the governor's office, stand up to "Big Oil" and usher in a new era of ethical reforms.

Price Squabbles, Security Concerns Lead Oil Giants to Pass On Iraq Fields

Ernesto Londoño, K.I. Ibrahim and Steven Mufson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

BAGHDAD, June 29 -- Iraq's effort to woo foreign energy companies to help resurrect its ailing oil fields fell flat Tuesday, as most companies balked at the financial terms offered by the government despite the lure of the country's vast reserves.

Nigerian Rebels Drive Up Oil Prices

Steven Mufson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A small group of insurgents in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta helped drive up oil prices around the world yesterday by announcing a strike against one of Royal Dutch Shell's two main export terminals in the West African nation.

Iraq Set to Invite Bids From Foreign Oil Companies

Ernesto Londoño and K.I. Ibrahim — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

BAGHDAD, June 27 -- Iraq is poised to open its coveted oil fields to foreign companies this week for the first time in nearly four decades, a politically risky move in a country eager to shake off the stigma of occupation.

Oil Markets Stay Calm Despite Political Unrest in Iran

Steven Mufson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Over most of the past three years, the world trembled at the thought that a U.S. conflict with Iran might disrupt oil supplies. Oil traders and analysts have said that an "Iran premium" was probably adding anywhere from $2 to $15 a barrel to the price of crude oil.

Expansive Energy Bill Advances In Congress

Steven Mufson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A Senate energy bill was voted out of committee yesterday, but not before losing the support of two Democrats and a dozen leading environmental organizations.

Warren Brown's Car Culture

Warren Brown — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Electric cars -- all-electric, gas-electric hybrid, and plug-in electric extended range models -- are becoming more popular. In some cases -- the new Ford Fusion Hybrid mid-size sedan and the revised Honda Insight Hybrid are examples -- they also are becoming more affordable, a welcome development that is bound to increase their appeal in the marketplace.

How President Obama Made His Energy Platform 'Pop'

Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

After a long day of campaigning on July 8, candidate Barack Obama arrived at his Chicago headquarters for a three-hour brainstorming session about a suddenly hot issue: energy and climate change.

How President Obama Made His Energy Platform 'Pop'

Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

After a long day of campaigning on July 8, candidate Barack Obama arrived at his Chicago headquarters for a three-hour brainstorming session about a suddenly hot issue: energy and climate change.

Not Mixing With Rest of Economy, Oil Floats Higher

Steven Mufson — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The price of crude oil once again seems to be defying the economic forces of gravity.

Ecuador Pursues Unusual Carbon-Credit Plan to Leave Oil Untapped

Joshua Partlow — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

QUITO, Ecuador -- Beneath the tropical jungles of northeastern Ecuador lies a vast pool of oil, representing one-fifth of the small Andean country's petroleum reserves and potentially billions of dollars in revenue. Directly above that pool, the Yasuni National Park is home to a diversity of wild...

Va. Candidates Weigh In on Offshore Drilling

Anita Kumar — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

RICHMOND -- The federal government's decision to lift its longtime ban on offshore drilling has thrust the hot-button issue of coastal drilling to the forefront of the Virginia governor's race.

House Panel Passes Limit on Greenhouse-Gas Emissions

David A. Fahrenthold — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A bill to create the first national limit on greenhouse-gas emissions was approved by a House committee yesterday after a week of late-night debates that cemented the shift of climate change from rhetorical jousting to a subject of serious, if messy, Washington policymaking.

U.S. Carbon Emissions Fall by Most Since '82

Steven Mufson — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide related to energy use fell 2.8 percent last year, according to an estimate by the Energy Information Administration, driven down by high oil prices and the sagging economy. The drop in carbon dioxide emissions was the steepest since 1982.

Cuba's Undersea Oil Could Help Thaw Trade With U.S.

Nick Miroff — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Deep in the Gulf of Mexico, an end to the 1962 U.S. trade embargo against Cuba may be lying untapped, buried under layers of rock, seawater and bitter relations.

Promise of Global Recovery Pushes Oil Past $60 a Barrel

Steven Mufson — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Here's an unwelcome sign of economic recovery: higher oil prices.

The Obama Administration's Bias Against Oil and Natural Gas

Robert J. Samuelson — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

In his zeal to create new energy jobs, Obama leaves out a vital sector.

Oil Rallies On Fed Plan To Pump Up Economy

Steven Mufson — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The price of oil climbed more than 7 percent to $51.61 a barrel yesterday as commodity prices rallied across the board, buoyed by a weakening dollar and the prospect of an economic recovery fueled by the Federal Reserve.

Aided by Financial Crisis, China Snaps Up Natural Resources Worldwide

Ariana Eunjung Cha — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

SHANGHAI -- Chinese companies have been on a shopping spree in the past month, snapping up tens of billions of dollars' worth of key assets in Iran, Brazil, Russia, Venezuela, Australia and France in a global fire sale set off by the financial crisis.

OPEC to Maintain Oil Output, Urges Nations to Meet Quotas

Steven Mufson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Facing a global recession and falling oil demand, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reached a compromise yesterday in an effort to bolster oil prices without sending the world economy into a steeper decline.

The Beautiful Wind of T. Boone Pickens

Dana Milbank — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

T. Boone Pickens has his own way of saying things.

Ethanol Producers Press for Higher Limits

Steven Mufson — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

The nation's ethanol producers are urging the Obama administration to raise the 10 percent limit on ethanol in motor fuel to 15 percent or more, a move they hope will create new demand at a time when many distilleries are idle.

Trouble Trickles From Steep Drop in Oil Prices

Steven Mufson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

The precipitous fall in the price of oil in recent months, while good for consumers, has contributed to the confusion in the global economy, wreaking havoc with the budgets and economies of oil-exporting nations and putting many expensive energy projects on hold.

From Deep Fryer to Fuel Tank

Kafia A. Hosh — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

When gas prices soared last summer, John Larson didn't fret. And he didn't buy a hybrid car. Instead, the Leesburg resident whipped around town in his Volkswagen Beetle that was powered by a diesel engine he equipped to run on vegetable oil.

Salazar Voids Drilling Leases On Public Lands in Utah

Juliet Eilperin — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:03:01 EST

In a clear signal that the Obama administration is shifting the government's approach to energy exploration on public lands, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar yesterday canceled oil and gas leases on 77 parcels of federal land after opponents said the drilling would blight Utah's scenic southeastern...

Raise the Gax Tax, End Our Oil Addiction

Richard G. Lugar — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

There's a revenue-neutral way to treat our oil addiction.

Exxon Roars To Record In Oil Slump

Steven Mufson — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Exxon Mobil finished a roller-coaster year in the oil markets with an all-time record $45.2 billion in profits, despite fourth-quarter earnings that were a third lower than the same period a year before.

Corporate Survival Mode

Heather Landy and Peter Whoriskey — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

From oil drillers that have closed down rigs to retailers that have liquidated stores, companies across America are reshaping themselves with breathtaking speed to adjust to the rapidly spreading financial crisis.

Obama Announces New Energy, Environmental Policies

William Branigin, Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:48:55 EST

President Obama today promised new U.S. leadership in the fight against global warming as he announced a series of steps aimed at making American cars more fuel efficient and reducing greenhouse gases, including a directive to the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider granting California and...

At Senate Hearing, Chu Tempers Comments on Gas Tax, Coal

Steven Mufson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Steven Chu, President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for Energy secretary, presented strong views yesterday on the need to combat climate change while delicately handling questions from senators about his past criticism of coal use, endorsement of gasoline taxes and embrace of a cap-and-trade system...

Environmentalist Creates Uproar at Oil-Lease Auction by Running Up Prices

Karl Vick — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

LOS ANGELES -- Instead of joining his protester friends on the snowy sidewalk outside the Bureau of Land Management office in Salt Lake City, Tim DeChristopher took a seat inside. In a room milling with oil and gas men who knew one another by sight, he was the unknown in a red parka, registering as...

Road to Fuel Efficiency Is Lined With Orange Cones

Kendra Marr — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

DETROIT, Jan. 11 Within the halls of the North American International Auto Show, the world's automakers were jockeying yesterday to promote their electric cars.

Economy, Politics Stoke Russia-Ukraine Gas Quarrel

Philip P. Pan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

MOSCOW, Jan. 7 -- Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine have wrangled over fuel prices, with both sides holding a powerful bargaining chip. Russia has had the natural gas Ukraine needs to power its industries. Ukraine has owned the pipelines Russia depends on to transport the gas...

European Nations Report Halt or Drop in Russian Natural Gas Coming Via Ukraine

Philip P. Pan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

MOSCOW, Jan. 6 -- The flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe plummeted Tuesday, with more than a dozen countries reporting a complete halt or sharp drops in fuel shipments as Russia deepened its gas embargo against neighboring Ukraine in the middle of a winter cold spell.

Venezuela Ends U.S. Heating Aid

Steven Mufson — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

With sagging oil prices putting pressure on its own budget, the government of Venezuela has ended its three-year-old, $100 million program providing home heating-oil assistance for poor Americans in 23 states.

In Ukraine, Rivals Unite Over Russian Gas

Philip P. Pan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

MOSCOW, Jan. 1 -- Ukraine's feuding leaders united behind a common negotiating position and held firm in their fuel standoff with Moscow on Thursday as Russia followed through on a threat to halt all shipments of natural gas to the country.

Crude Oil Prices Sliding Despite Production Cuts

Annys Shin — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Oil prices slid yesterday to a four-and-a-half-year low as worries about a global economic slump overshadowed recent attempts by oil-producing nations to prop up prices with steep production cuts.

Stocks Plunge as Oil Hits 4-Year Low

Renae Merle — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Stocks tumbled yesterday on signs of more economic weakness, while crude oil slid to a four-year low, reaching $36.22 a barrel.

OPEC Agrees to Slash Output, but Oil Prices Slide Anyway

Steven Mufson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries yesterday agreed to cut production by 2.2 million barrels a day, slightly more than expected, and called on oil producers outside the group to join in output cuts in a bid to halt the five-month slide in world oil prices.

OPEC Plans Drastic Cut In Oil Production

Steven Mufson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Facing its biggest test in a decade, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is planning to make a major cut in oil output at a meeting in Oran, Algeria, tomorrow in an effort to stop the slide in oil prices, which have dropped by two-thirds since July.

Iran Confronts an 'Economic Evolution': Ahmadinejad's Plan to Curb Government Subsidies Threatens to Alienate Recipients

Thomas Erdbrink — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

TEHRAN, Dec. 3 -- Gasoline? It's 36 cents a gallon. Laundry detergent? Fifty cents for a standard-size box. Milk? About 20 cents a quart. These prices are so low because Iran's government spends half its national budget to subsidize many of life's necessities. Not for long.

OPEC Delays Decision About Cutting Output Until Dec. 17

Steven Mufson — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries yesterday delayed a decision on whether to cut the cartel's oil output, but demand that is falling in the United States and unexpectedly weak in China makes it likely that the group will lower production at its Dec. 17 meeting in Algeria,...

U.S. Moves Ahead on Oil, Gas Leases on Public Land

Juliet Eilperin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

A decision by federal officials this week to press ahead with a controversial sale of oil and gas leases in eastern Utah is stoking the debate over how to balance the nation's needs for fossil fuels against concerns over the environmental impact on iconic national parks and other sensitive areas.

Hit by Downside of Low Fuel Prices, United Looks for Cash

Sholnn Freeman — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

United Airlines yesterday moved to free up cash as losses mount on contracts intended to hedge against high fuel prices and as economic problems threaten to undermine demand for air travel.

Problems Plague U.S. Flex-Fuel Fleet

Kimberly Kindy and Dan Keating — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

The federal government has invested billions of dollars over the past 16 years, building a fleet of 112,000 alternative-fuel vehicles to serve as a model for a national movement away from fossil fuels.

Falling Prices Raise a New Fear: Deflation

Steven Mufson and Michael S. Rosenwald — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

With the stock market crumbling and the economy shrinking, a whiff of deflation is in the air.

Detroit Automakers Need Predictable Gas Prices

Allan Sloan — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

The big game in Washington these days consists of running around dealing with the problems of the Detroit Three automakers, formerly the Big Three.

Stocks Plunge On Bailout Shift, Retail Weakness

Kim Hart and Sholnn Freeman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Stocks tumbled yesterday after Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. said the government is shelving its initial plans to buy banks' toxic assets and is instead focusing on injecting capital into banks and companies that lend to households and businesses. That news, along with a steep drop in oil...

Study Points to Major Source of Natural Gas in Alaska

Juliet Eilperin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Federal scientists have concluded that Alaska's North Slope holds one of the nation's largest deposits of recoverable natural gas in the form of gas hydrates, a finding that could open a major new front in domestic energy exploration.

Shrill, Baby, Shrill

Steve LeVine, — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

THE TYRANNY OF OIL The World's Most Powerful Industry -- and What We Must Do to Stop It

Bureau Proposes Opening Up Utah Wilderness to Drilling

Juliet Eilperin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The federal Bureau of Land Management is reviving plans to sell oil and gas leases in pristine wilderness areas in eastern Utah that have long been protected from development, according to a notice posted this week on the agency's Web site.

Yet Again, Exxon Breaks Its Record Quarterly Profit

Steven Mufson — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Exxon Mobil smashed its own U.S. record for quarterly profits yesterday, ringing up $14.83 billion in net income thanks to soaring summertime crude oil prices. But with crude oil prices now less than half their July peak and the economic outlook bleak, the record may stand for a while.

Airfare Surcharges Stay Despite Oil Price Drop

Sholnn Freeman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

When oil prices were rising rapidly, many financially-strapped airlines started adding special surcharges to ticket prices to cover the bill. So now that oil prices are falling, are the fees coming off? Not yet.

Oil's Dropped, but Price Contracts Haven't

Steven Mufson — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

As oil prices were spiking in July, Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary C. Kelly told a conference that his company was "very well prepared to weather the storm" and "prepared for $4 jet fuel." But it turned out that what Southwest wasn't ready for was $2 jet fuel.

Grocery Price Increases May Be Here to Stay, Analysts Assert

Christopher Leonard — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Worries over a global recession have pushed the price of oil to its lowest in more than a year. Don't expect the same for groceries, though, thanks to "sticky" prices.

Time to Change Gears for a Fuel-Efficient Future

Warren Brown — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

We have the chance to remake the automobile industry, to strengthen America's technological muscle. But we are frittering away the opportunity.

Deflated by Oil Price's Dive

Steven Mufson and Philip P. Pan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The world's petro-powers -- the oil-exporting nations armed with vast, high-priced crude reserves -- are looking a little less imposing now that prices are tumbling.

As Fuel Prices Fall, Will Push For Alternatives Lose Steam?

Steven Mufson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Just four months ago, a conference here on electric cars drew four times as many people as expected. District fire marshals ordered some of the crowd to leave, and the atmosphere was more like that of a rock concert than an energy conference. A brief film depicted an electric car owner driving of...

Oil-Fueled Nation Feels Pinch

Juan Forero — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has delighted in the economic meltdown in the United States, mocking the Bush administration for its bailout plan and predicting the end of American economic dominance.

George Keller; Bold Socal Head Led Historic Gulf Oil Takeover

Martin Weil — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

George M. Keller, 84, who, as head of Standard Oil of California, made business history in 1984 by taking over another huge oil company in an unprecedented $13 billion buyout that he characterized as a "bet-your-company deal," died Oct. 17 in California.

Oil Falls Below $70 a Barrel

Kendra Marr — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Oil prices are falling, but the industries that might benefit the most from cheaper fuel aren't celebrating. In fact, any hope that discounted crude oil might lift prospects has been swiftly crushed by the weight of the economic downturn.

Airlines Brace for Impact of Crisis

Sholnn Freeman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

For much of the year, it appeared the surging price of oil would be the chief challenge facing the airline industry. Now airline executives are bracing for another threat: the deteriorating economy.

Oil Prices Decline to 13-Month Low

Kendra Marr — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Oil prices slid below $75 a barrel yesterday, as OPEC reduced its petroleum demand forecast for next year in anticipation of a global economic slowdown.

In Gas Prices, A Silver Lining

Steven Mufson — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

U.S. gasoline prices are tumbling because of uncertain economic prospects and sagging consumption, providing a small bit of good news for Americans in a month of financial turmoil.

Iraq Opens Bidding on Oil Field Contracts

Mary Beth Sheridan — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

BAGHDAD, Oct. 13 -- Iraq opened bidding Monday on the first round of contracts to develop its oil fields since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a move intended to jump-start a sector crucial to the country's rebuilding.

Gulf States Lose Their Swagger Amid Regionwide Sell-Off

Ellen Knickmeyer and Faiza Saleh Ambah — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

CAIRO, Oct. 9 -- The oil-rich princes and financial titans of the Persian Gulf went into the week touting their immunity from the financial turmoil of the West, but stock markets in the region ended it posting sharp losses.

A Record Fall on Wall St.

Heather Landy and Renae Merle — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

NEW YORK, Sept. 29 -- Without a federal bailout plan to prop up confidence in the U.S. financial system Monday, stocks fell sharply around the globe, oil sank, gold soared and yields on government debt skidded closer to zero as traders ran from risk and sought safe-haven investments.

Gas Shortage In the South Creates Panic, Long Lines

Steven Mufson — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Gasoline shortages hit towns across the southeastern United States this week, sparking panic buying, long lines and high prices at stations from the small towns of northeast Alabama to Charlotte in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Oil's Wild Ride

Steven Mufson — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The price of the benchmark crude oil catapulted to $120.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange yesterday, a $16.37 increase and the biggest one-day dollar rise ever, driven largely by a scramble by one or more financial firms to make purchases before the expiration of oil contracts for...

Russia Again Halts Stock Trading

Philip P. Pan and Anthony Faiola — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

MOSCOW, Sept. 17 -- Russia suspended stock trading for a second straight day and took other emergency measures in an attempt to halt a severe crash Wednesday as market turmoil spread to Latin America and raised fears the U.S. crisis will test the strength of the emerging economies that supply oil...

The Power of Oil Consumers

Henry A. Kissinger and Martin Feldstein — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

By coordinating their energy policies, the strong can end their blackmail by the weak.

Markets, Liquidity Concerns Roil Industry

Steven Mufson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Market turbulence continued to ripple through the energy industry yesterday.

Oil's Dramatic Price Retreat Ripples Around the World

Steven Mufson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:28:58 EDT

Just two months ago, spiking petroleum prices were emboldening confrontational oil exporters such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran, fueling inflation anxiety at the Federal Reserve, raising expectations at American biofuel producers, and crimping the budgets of airlines and ordinary households alike.

Oil's Dramatic Price Retreat Ripples Around the World

Steven Mufson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

House Passes Bill To Expand Drilling, Fund Renewables

Paul Kane — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The House approved a package of energy initiatives yesterday, including measures that would allow oil drilling as close as 50 miles off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and finance the long-term development of alternative energy sources.

Oil Drops Below $100 A Barrel

Steven Mufson — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Crude oil prices plunged 5.4 percent yesterday, falling below $100 a barrel for first time since Feb. 15 as traders and investors worried about lower oil demand from a weakened economy and the prospect that troubled financial firms would curtail oil trading or liquidate positions.

Gas Prices Continue to Rise as Hurricane Destroys Oil Facilities

Nancy Trejos and Spencer S. Hsu — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Gasoline prices once again soared across the country yesterday as federal officials said a preliminary survey of damage found that a number of production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico had been destroyed by Hurricane Ike.

Offshore Drilling Is Coming to a Vote

Paul Kane — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Congressional Democrats, balancing political reality against a policy they have long opposed, are on the cusp of approving legislation that would open the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to oil drilling as close as 50 miles offshore.

Ike Roars Through Gulf Coast

Keith Richburg, Joel Achenbach and Spencer S. Hsu — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

HOUSTON, Sept. 13 -- Texas and Louisiana on Saturday began a massive recovery effort, including searching for the stranded and missing, after Hurricane Ike, a colossal storm stretching about 600 miles, pulverized the Gulf Coast. Winds reached about 100 mph as the storm flattened houses, ripped the...

Storm Takes Toll at the Pump, Curbs Energy Production

Nancy Trejos and Spencer Hsu — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

It didn't take long for consumers to feel the impact of Hurricane Ike at the gas pumps.

Heart of U.S. Oil and Gas Industries Shut Down as Storm Approached

Steven Mufson — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The arrival of Hurricane Ike in southern Texas shut down the heart of the nation's oil and gas industry, as companies evacuated production platforms and closed down refineries along the Gulf Coast.

Texans Flee Coast as Ike Threatens Houston Area

William Branigin and Spencer S. Hsu — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Hurricane Ike, a massive storm with enormous potential for destruction, bore down on the Gulf Coast of Texas yesterday, prompting authorities to order mandatory evacuations, close the port of Houston and shut down much of the region's oil industry.

Speculators Did Not Raise Oil Prices, Regulator Says

Steven Mufson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A federal regulator said yesterday that market speculators probably were not responsible for recent increases in the price of oil, contrary to the assertions of some experts and members of Congress.

Report Says Oil Agency Ran Amok

Derek Kravitz and Mary Pat Flaherty — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Government officials in charge of collecting billions of dollars worth of royalties from oil and gas companies accepted gifts, steered contracts to favored clients and engaged in drug use and illicit sex with employees of the energy firms, federal investigators reported yesterday.

OPEC to Pare Back Production by Enforcing Its Own Quotas

Steven Mufson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:56:59 EDT

Faced with slumping energy demand from weakening industrialized economies, OPEC oil ministers said last night that petroleum markets are "oversupplied" and vowed to stick to self-imposed quotas that could carve 520,000 barrels a day out of world production.

OPEC to Pare Back Production By Enforcing Its Own Quotas

Steven Mufson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Congress's Return Adds Another Facet to Elections

Jonathan Weisman and Paul Kane — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A suddenly unsettled presidential race will have a new variable added to the mix this week: Congress.

Drilling For Clean Energy

Jim Marshall and Roscoe Bartlett — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Lift the bans, but use the revenue to develop green alternatives.

BP Concedes to Russian Partners

Philip P. Pan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

MOSCOW, Sept. 4 -- The British energy giant BP and its billionaire partners in Russia's third-largest oil company said Thursday that they had resolved an ugly, high-profile battle for corporate control that had become a test of Moscow's openness to foreign investment.

U.S. Airlines Improve On-Time Performance

Harry R. Weber — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The nation's airlines were on time more often in July and there were fewer complaints about baggage handling, according to a monthly survey by the Transportation Department.

U.S. Airlines Improve On-Time Performance

Harry R. Weber — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The nation's airlines were on time more often in July and there were fewer complaints about baggage handling, according to a monthly survey by the Transportation Department.

In Gustav's Wake, Bush Touts Drilling

Dan Eggen — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

President Bush said yesterday that the relatively little damage suffered by oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico because of Hurricane Gustav should prod Congress to open more coastal areas to offshore oil drilling, sounding a political note in the wake of the storm.

Oil Industry Waits to Assess Storm's Impact

Steven Mufson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Relief that Hurricane Gustav's high winds were less severe than expected drove crude oil prices down 4 percent in electronic trading yesterday to $111.23 a barrel, the lowest level since mid-April, as traders assumed that the oil and gas industry's offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico would...

Wash Post Oil and Gas Prices

Inflation fears drive dollar dip

Oil Prices Up, but Future Direction Is Murky

Mount Rainier Residents Turn to Corn as a 'Greener' Fuel Alternative

Mount Rainier Residents Turn to Corn as a 'Greener' Fuel Alternative

Book Review: 'Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil' by Peter Maass

BP Finds 'Giant' Oil Source Deep Under Gulf of Mexico

Affordability Is Martek's Challenge As It Looks to Turn Algae Into Fuel

Trade Group Asks Oil Companies to Recruit Employees for ÂCitizen' Rallies

Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell Post Steep Dives in Profit

Oil Speculation Limits Weighed

Local Firms Snatch Up More Gas Stations as Big Oil Moves On

Oil's Puzzling Spring Surge Reignites Debate About Speculators

Oil's Puzzling Spring Surge Reignites Debate About Speculators

Alaskans Consider Palin's Legacy As She Prepares to Leave Office

Price Squabbles, Security Concerns Lead Oil Giants to Pass On Iraq Fields

Nigerian Rebels Drive Up Oil Prices

Iraq Set to Invite Bids From Foreign Oil Companies

Oil Markets Stay Calm Despite Political Unrest in Iran

Expansive Energy Bill Advances In Congress

Warren Brown's Car Culture

How President Obama Made His Energy Platform 'Pop'

How President Obama Made His Energy Platform 'Pop'

Not Mixing With Rest of Economy, Oil Floats Higher

Ecuador Pursues Unusual Carbon-Credit Plan to Leave Oil Untapped

Va. Candidates Weigh In on Offshore Drilling

House Panel Passes Limit on Greenhouse-Gas Emissions

U.S. Carbon Emissions Fall by Most Since '82

Cuba's Undersea Oil Could Help Thaw Trade With U.S.

Promise of Global Recovery Pushes Oil Past $60 a Barrel

The Obama Administration's Bias Against Oil and Natural Gas

Oil Rallies On Fed Plan To Pump Up Economy

Aided by Financial Crisis, China Snaps Up Natural Resources Worldwide

OPEC to Maintain Oil Output, Urges Nations to Meet Quotas

The Beautiful Wind of T. Boone Pickens

Ethanol Producers Press for Higher Limits

Trouble Trickles From Steep Drop in Oil Prices

From Deep Fryer to Fuel Tank

Salazar Voids Drilling Leases On Public Lands in Utah

Raise the Gax Tax, End Our Oil Addiction

Exxon Roars To Record In Oil Slump

Corporate Survival Mode

Obama Announces New Energy, Environmental Policies

At Senate Hearing, Chu Tempers Comments on Gas Tax, Coal

Environmentalist Creates Uproar at Oil-Lease Auction by Running Up Prices

Road to Fuel Efficiency Is Lined With Orange Cones

Economy, Politics Stoke Russia-Ukraine Gas Quarrel

European Nations Report Halt or Drop in Russian Natural Gas Coming Via Ukraine

Venezuela Ends U.S. Heating Aid

In Ukraine, Rivals Unite Over Russian Gas

Crude Oil Prices Sliding Despite Production Cuts

Stocks Plunge as Oil Hits 4-Year Low

OPEC Agrees to Slash Output, but Oil Prices Slide Anyway

OPEC Plans Drastic Cut In Oil Production

Iran Confronts an 'Economic Evolution': Ahmadinejad's Plan to Curb Government Subsidies Threatens to Alienate Recipients

OPEC Delays Decision About Cutting Output Until Dec. 17

U.S. Moves Ahead on Oil, Gas Leases on Public Land

Hit by Downside of Low Fuel Prices, United Looks for Cash

Problems Plague U.S. Flex-Fuel Fleet

Falling Prices Raise a New Fear: Deflation

Detroit Automakers Need Predictable Gas Prices

Stocks Plunge On Bailout Shift, Retail Weakness

Study Points to Major Source of Natural Gas in Alaska

Shrill, Baby, Shrill

Bureau Proposes Opening Up Utah Wilderness to Drilling

Yet Again, Exxon Breaks Its Record Quarterly Profit

Airfare Surcharges Stay Despite Oil Price Drop

Oil's Dropped, but Price Contracts Haven't

Grocery Price Increases May Be Here to Stay, Analysts Assert

Time to Change Gears for a Fuel-Efficient Future

Deflated by Oil Price's Dive

As Fuel Prices Fall, Will Push For Alternatives Lose Steam?

Oil-Fueled Nation Feels Pinch

George Keller; Bold Socal Head Led Historic Gulf Oil Takeover

Oil Falls Below $70 a Barrel

Airlines Brace for Impact of Crisis

Oil Prices Decline to 13-Month Low

In Gas Prices, A Silver Lining

Iraq Opens Bidding on Oil Field Contracts

Gulf States Lose Their Swagger Amid Regionwide Sell-Off

Trade Group Asks Oil Companies to Recruit Employees for ÂCitizen' Rallies