Policy Choices and Global Energy Leadership
Mark Green
Posted May 7, 2015
Many Variables Dictate N. America’s Emergence as Global Energy Force
Oil & Gas Journal: North American businesses and governments must work together toward the collective goal of advancing the continent’s energy aspirations. That was the message delivered by producers and government officials during a May 5 panel discussion at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston.
The US and Canada represent two of the world’s top five oil producers, and Mexico hopes to ramp up its production in the coming years once its energy reforms are fully realized.
Gustavo Hernandez Garcia, general director of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), said a primary challenge faced by his country is rising technical commercial complexity including deepwater, heavy oil, unconventional, and LNG. To attract the players capable of developing these resources, Mexico must offer attractive contractual and fiscal terms; transparent and clear roles for regulators and operators; an agile and competitive national oil company; and minimal political intervention, he said.
Pemex benefits from its geographic proximity to major producers and their unique skillsets in the US. Paula Gant, deputy assistant secretary for oil and natural gas in the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy, said there’s “a tremendous need” to build on public data, statistics, and mapping in North America; for modern and resilient infrastructure; and for best practices for unconventional oil and gas.
Gant emphasized the necessity of constant and clear communication among government agencies in the three countries, and boasted that the US is “the envy of the world” with its existing natural gas pipeline system. Building out infrastructure and sustaining output growth in the US also relies on public confidence, she noted, adding that the office of oil and gas at DOE “provides scientific base from which politicians can make decisions.”
Read more: http://bit.ly/1P3KkaX
More industry news:
- Senator Pushes Bill to Speed Up Pipeline Approval: http://bit.ly/1DUdKMW
- Commentary – Interior Dept. Should Usher in Era of Atlantic Development: http://bit.ly/1zFLbaU
- Hawaii Lawmakers Vote to Nix Ethanol Mandate: http://bit.ly/1Il1zPs
- Mexico’s Energy Expansion to be Fueled by U.S. Natural Gas: http://on.mktw.net/1Km1t9a
- Minister – Iran Determined to Regain Share of Oil Export Market: http://reut.rs/1DUMwpo
- EIA – Implications of Higher Domestic Crude Output for U.S. Refining: http://1.usa.gov/1bAwwSN
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.