Why the oil industry may be the most corrupt in the world

Jul 31, 2017
Two cases of illegal payments and bribery came to light recently. One is against the oil services company Halliburton in Angola. The other involves a mining subsidiary of Glencore doing business in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With government heavily involved and centralizing many so-called extractive industries, drilling and mining are more prone to corruption […]

Trump calls for 'energy dominance' as US oil and gas exports keep rising

Jun 26, 2017
In yet another branded White House initiative, it’s Energy Week. President Trump will be focused on American “energy dominance,” and touting the boom in U.S. fossil fuels and plans to support and increase energy exports. A ban on exporting U.S. oil and gas was lifted under the Obama administration. Energy companies may appreciate less oversight and more […]

Energy companies look to tech to make oil production easier and cheaper

May 26, 2017
The technology changes will also affect the industry workforce.
Jack Gregg, senior global marketing director with Honeywell Process Solutions, explains one of his company’s touch-screen control boards, used for a variety of remote operations centers in the oil and gas industry.
Travis Bubenik

Is selling half of the US petroleum reserve a good idea?

May 23, 2017
The Trump administration in its budget proposes to sell off half of the country’s strategic reserve of crude oil. The idea is that putting more than 300 million barrels of energy onto the market could raise more than $16 billion over the course of a decade. Proponents note that the oil market is more open, […]

Regulator pressure kills Halliburton-Baker Hughes merger

May 2, 2016
The oil industry slowdown also helped derail the merger.
A Halliburton facility in Louisiana. 
MIRA OBERMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Working in the oil fields is dangerous

Sep 18, 2015
The fatality rate for oil workers is five times that of the overall work force.

It's not just big oil that's struggling

Smaller companies are getting by plugging wells for customers.
Small oil companies are feeling the squeeze of falling prices, too.
Courtesy Plants & Goodwin Inc.

For public good, not for profit.

Methane leaks are pollution — and waste

Aug 18, 2015
The EPA is issuing rules limiting methane leaks in the drilling, production and transportation of natural gas and oil.

BP reaches $18.7 billion settlement over 2010 spill

Jul 2, 2015
The deal brings the company's total liability to more than $40 billion.

Oil layoffs start at wellheads and work their way up

Apr 17, 2015
Unemployment claims have doubled in Texas as the oil industry sheds workers.