oil

The bust of the coal-bed methane industry has left Wyoming responsible for the exorbitant cost of plugging thousands of wells. The price tag for dealing with deep oil and gas wells may be even higher.

One of the most controversial aspects of the nuclear deal is the unfreezing of more than $100 billion in oil revenues. But concerns have been raised about what Iran might do with this windfall.

Against the backdrop of several fiery derailments, safety advocates are questioning whether new federal rules meant to prevent incidents go far enough. Opponents say the new rules are too costly.

Less than 20 percent of oil-sector workers are female. That's a problem for an industry that needs legions of new workers to replace retirees. So firms are looking to draw more women into the field.

Oil hit a new high for the year — closing at just under $61 a barrel. But some analysts say the global economic slowdown and the rise of alternative energy will mean less demand and lower prices.

Safety advocates say the regulations — which require a sturdier tank car design and a new brake system, among other changes — don't do enough to protect people who live near railways from derailments.

If a final agreement is reached, crippling sanctions on Iran's oil industry could be lifted. But the oil sector faces a number of challenges before ramping up production.