Kurds Blame Baghdad For Oil Delays

The construction of four oil refineries in the Kurdish region of Iraq was delayed because of the failures of the Iraqi oil minister, Kurdish lawmakers say. Refineries in the cities of Kirkuk and Erbil, the Kurdish capital, would have produced nearly 200,000 barrels per day while another plant should have been slated at the Taq Taq field, the Kurdish Globe reports. Those projects were delayed due to the negligence of Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani.....Complete Story

Enterprise Products to Buy Teppco for $3.3 Billion

Enterprise Products Partners LP agreed to buy Teppco Partners LP for about $3.3 billion, combining pipeline operators controlled by Houston billionaire Dan Duncan to create the biggest U.S. energy partnership. Teppco owners will get 1.24 units of Enterprise for each of their units, a deal worth 15 percent more than when an initial offer was made in March, according to a statement today by the partnerships. The transaction is worth $31.36 per unit.....Complete Story

Natural Gas Trading Below 20 Day Moving Average

Natural gas is trading slightly lower, under 4.00, as it consolidates below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.10. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If August extends last week's decline, the reaction low crossing at 3.710 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.135 would temper the near term bearish outlook in the market.

Monday's pivot point for natural gas is 4.06

First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.10
Second resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.14

First support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 3.87
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 3.71

Oil, Gasoline Rise as Nigerian Militants Attack Shell Field

Crude oil and gasoline rose after an attack by Nigerian militants shut a field operated by Royal Dutch Shell Plc, cutting output from Africa’s largest producer. Shell said it closed the Estuary field near the Forcados export terminal after the assaults. Hostilities in the Niger River delta have cut more than 20 percent of the country’s oil exports since 2006. The International Energy Agency, an adviser to 28 developed nations, lowered its five-year forecast.....Complete Story

U.S. States Consider Gas and Oil Levies

Cash strapped states are considering raising taxes on oil production to plug yawning budget gaps, but they face strong resistance from oil companies, which warn the moves could lead to lost jobs and higher energy prices. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and California have proposed what are known as severance taxes on oil and natural gas produced in their states. A tax increase took effect in Arkansas at the beginning of the year, and Alaska last year raised its oil production tax.....Complete Story

Chevron's $27 Billion Problem

Sometime later this year a judge in the sleepy Ecuadoran town of Lago Agrio is likely to sock Chevron Corp. with as much as $27 billion in damages over pollution left over from oil drilling by Chevron's Texaco unit in the 1970s and 1980s. The funny part is, Chevron (CVX-news-people) wanted it this way. When the case was originally filed in New York in 1993, Texaco, then an independent company, argued it would be fairer to hear it in Ecuador.....Complete Story

Crude Oil Hints at Sideways Trading This Week

August crude oil was higher overnight due to light short covering but remains below the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.20. Stochastics and the RSI are turning bullish hinting that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.20 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If August renews last Monday's decline, the 38% retracement of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25 is the next downside target.

Mondays' pivot point, our line in the sand is 69.75

First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.20
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 71.29

First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 66.37
Second support is the 38% retracement level at 62.25

New Video: Energy Fields....and Gold?

In this new video we analyze the gold market in a way that "we've never divulged before." We will be talking about energy fields in the gold market and how you can put them to your advantage to make money. The video is short in duration, only four minutes, but I’ll give you specific levels to look at should certain events take place. I suspect that these events will occur and for the lucky few who are prepared the rewards will be great.

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Venezuela to Borrow to Pay Oil Debts

Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez' announcement that the state will borrow more money to help pay off national oil company debts follows the disclosure by President Hugo Chavez of a letter urging Moscow to cooperate in selling oil at $100 a barrel.
State petroleum company Petroleos de Venezuela has run up billions of dollars in debts to contractors since global oil prices began tumbling nearly a year ago. Although denying that PDVSA had cash-flow problems.....Complete Story

Green Bill's Biggest Test Awaits In The Senate

Following intense last minute wrangling among its members and lobbying from President Obama, the House of Representatives passed potentially landmark legislation Friday that seeks to reduce the release of carbon dioxide by making industry pay for its emissions. The Democrat sponsored American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed by a razor thin margin, with 219 votes in favor, including eight from Republicans just one more than the minimum needed.....Complete Story