With the global economy heading towards a severe oil crunch probably by 2015 or thereabouts, an analysis of Saudi oil fundamentals is causing the world disquiet and worry bordering on panic. Oil-importing nations have long treated Saudi Arabia as an infinitely deep well of crude oil supplies....

There is a great hype about Brazil's pre-salt oil potential and the impact it will eventually have on the global oil market. Some sources say that it could vault Brazil to seventh place in the world rankings in terms of proven oil reserves behind Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and...

We analyze the rate of return (ROR) and risk factors faced by Shell Exploration, an international oil company (IOC), in its Soroosh and Nowrooz buy-back service contract in Iran. In particular, based on our models of cash flow, we analyze the buy-back contract specific risk factors that can...

Low oil prices have led to CAPEX cuts across the world and especially in the US. We have examined a sample of US sub-investment grade oil and gas producers to assess the risk to production levels of a prolonged period of low oil prices. We assessed their hedging books, production levels and...

Although global oil demand growth was exceptional during 2015 at 1.7mn b/d, it began to weaken during the last quarter of the year across all markets with the exception of India and the Middle East. We believe demand will grow by 1.1mn b/d in 2016. Non-OPEC supply grew by 1mn b/d in 2015 thanks...

Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in the collapse of the crude oil prices by refusing to cut production and also prevailing on OPEC not to do so. This has so far inflicted incalculable damage on the global economy. Saudi Arabia has taken a huge gamble by flooding the global oil market with...

The recent dramatic fall in oil prices has led to extensive capital rationing in international oil companies, and subsequent fierce competition between resource extraction countries to attract scarce investment. This situation is not adequately addressed by the large literature on international...

Iran holds the largest combined oil and natural gas reserves in the world. Proximity and access to major energy demand centers make Iran a major player in global energy supply. However, the country's isolation and the absence of investments by international companies in its oil and gas industry...

Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) is becoming the focus of many oil and gas companies around the world. It is a critical aspect of the Exploration and Production business which has suffered professional neglect for too long. As a subject matter, the principles of ARO owe credence to both...

For a country with supposedly the third largest proven crude oil reserves in the world and the fifth largest oil exporter, the prospect of ceasing to be a major oil exporter by 2015 might seem like a nightmare scenario. Yet, already Iran is looking at the future of its oil industry with mounting...