Shale Oil, Illusion of Independence

U.S. crude oil and energy product exports surged to an all-time high in the third week of June, making the country a net exporter of oil and products for the third time since November 2018. This change lends credence to American officials’ presumption that amid growing U.S.-Iran tensions in the Persian Gulf, Washington is less compelled to police oil transit routes in the region, especially the Strait of Hormuz, than…

Tankers War

A growing confrontation between the U.S. and Iran that began with the American withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the reimposition of sanctions has recently turned into a conflict over tankers between Iran and the UK. The impounding of an Iranian tanker by the British Royal Marines off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4 was followed by the boarding and seizure of a selectively chosen UK-flagged tanker by…

Crude Oil Exports Data

Crude Exports 2013– December Update Crude Exports 2012 Crude Exports 2011 Crude Exports 2010 Crude Exports 2009 Official Selling Price 2014– January Update Official Selling Price 2013 Official Selling Price 2012 Official Selling Price 2011  Official Selling Price 2010 Crude Exports 2010 – Allocations vs Nominations Somo Lifters Products Imports 2010 Somo Presentation May 2011 (Arabic)

Al-Maliki: Iraq Ready To Step Up

18 July 2008 Feeling buoyant about beating back Al-Qaeda in Iraq and reining in Iraqi militias in southern Iraq and Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is now taking the initiative on the economic and diplomatic fronts. He wants to spur the much-delayed reconstruction efforts, including those in the oil sector, by moving the decision-making process from bureaucratic ministries to a new council with powers to award contracts. He also…