Energy

Keri Belcher, who has worked in the oil and gas industry, says she's considering switching careers — even if it means less time outdoors, which is what attracted her to geology in the first place.

Economy

With Oil Collapse, A Geologist Struggles For Prospects; She's 'Just A Little Lost'

2:50pm May 26, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Keri Belcher has worked in the oil and gas industry. But she's considering switching careers — even if it means less time outdoors, which is what attracted her to geology in the first place.

Chart showing drop in total miles driven and miles coming back up.

Our Pandemic Habits Cut Carbon Emissions, But It's Not Clear They'll Last

8:33am May 21, 2020

by Jeff Brady

Energy demand plummeted because of the pandemic shutdown. A big question is whether new habits like telecommuting and flying less will endure, and mean lower oil consumption in the future.

Wyoming County Faces Challenges Amid The Crash Of The Crude Oil Industry

4:59pm May 12, 2020

by Cooper McKim

The sudden crash of the crude oil industry has left a Wyoming county reeling. Workers who had come to Converse County from across the country have left town and businesses are cutting staff.

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Lendon Partain, a well technician, has never seen so many pump jacks idled across Andrews County. "Right now it's scary," he said.

Historic Oil Bust Delivers A Gut Punch To A High-Flying Texas County

2:23pm May 11, 2020

by John Burnett

Oil companies have slashed production across West Texas and southeast New Mexico, where communities are also hurting from pandemic-driven business shutdowns.

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An idle pump jack near Karnes City, Texas, last month. The industry has been divided over a proposal to limit production amid a devastating drop in demand and prices since the pandemic shutdown.

National

Texas Was The Model For OPEC, But It's 'Not Likely' To Limit Oil Production Now

1:38pm May 05, 2020

by Mose Buchele

A controversial proposal to cut production aimed to stabilize prices amid a historic oil glut. But regulators and the industry were divided over the idea.

Calls Grow For Trump To Stop Saudi Oil From Reaching Gulf Coast Refineries

8:18am May 04, 2020

by Jackie Northam

A flotilla of Saudi tankers loaded with crude oil is heading to the U.S. at a time when the shale industry is teetering. U.S. producers and others are pressuring President Trump to block the tankers.

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Economy

Oil 101: Why Are Prices Jumping, And What Are 'Futures'?

4:47pm May 01, 2020

by Paddy Hirsch

Demand for oil has plummeted. Prices were expected to drop, too. But speculating investors have sent oil prices on a wild ride.

Regulators Consider Capping Oil Production For 1st Time In Nearly 50 Years

5:16pm April 30, 2020

by Mose Buchele

Both demand and prices for crude oil have plummeted due to the economic shutdown. Now, U.S. oil regulators are debating whether to cap production — for the first time since the 1970s.

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The San Gabriel Mountains are seen under a clear sky beyond downtown Los Angeles. Air quality in the U.S. and elsewhere has been improved by reduced traffic from coronavirus restrictions and weeks of rainstorms.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Predicted To Fall Nearly 8% — Largest Decrease Ever

1:25pm April 30, 2020

Global energy demand, particularly for coal, is falling sharply this year, the International Energy Agency says. The drop is caused by weather patterns and COVID-19 shutdowns.

Coronavirus Relief Efforts To Help Energy Industry Stall On Capitol Hill

11:51am April 28, 2020

by Jeff Brady

The Trump administration wants some of the trillions of dollars in congressional coronavirus relief funding to help the fossil fuel industry. But Democrats hope to use it to address climate change.

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