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The Edge

Weekly insights from our chairman and chief analyst, Simon Flowers, on the issues shaping your industry

 

Meet our Chief Analyst

Welcome to the Edge, the exclusive column from our Chairman & Chief Analyst, Simon Flowers. Drawing on the expertise, intelligence, deep insight and data from across the business, Simon gives his views on the subjects driving debate and shaping our markets.

View Simon's full profile

Latest Post

What changed energy markets in the 2010s?

Can a decade be a turning point? So much happened in the energy sector, the 2010s might be seen as just that.

Recent Posts

Identifying key risks and uncertainties in 2020

Energy markets are in the midst of profound change – we're getting used to that. But what big, identifiable key risks might lurk in the shadows in the next 12 months that could make us change our view for 2020 and beyond? Here are five.

Kicking the hydrocarbon habit – Part II

Carbon emissions and global temperatures will continue to rise and the world is in danger of falling well short of the 2 °C path set out in the Paris Agreement. That’s the July conclusion of our base case outlook for global energy supply through 2040. We’ve now flexed the base case to look at what might be possible in an accelerated energy transition scenario.

OPEC‘s challenge in 2020: balancing an oversupplied oil market

Will oil demand growth recover in 2020? Is global supply still growing apace? How is US tight oil investment and production being affected by negative investor sentiment? Have the production cuts of 2019 balanced the market? Do they need to be extended or adjusted? Will fundamentals or geopolitics determine oil prices? We answer some of the big questions on OPEC’s agenda ahead of its December meeting in Vienna.

Brazil, giant oil projects and the Majors

Big Oil’s risk appetite has changed. It needs to continue to replace reserves for the foreseeable future but is looking for lower risk options than exploration. Discovered resources can be part of the solution, though opportunities to develop a giant oil field such as Buzios in Brazil, in the heart of an industry hot spot, only come around once in a blue moon. So why the lack of bids from the Majors?

The Edge: Asian NOCs, the energy transition and ESG

Where does Asia stand on the energy transition? What are energy companies in the region doing to adapt? Are some further down the road than others? Much of LNG’s strong growth outlook reflects Asian demand but are its credentials as a bridging fuel for the transition all that good? And what does the US-China trade dispute mean for the region?

Private equity – big buyers of oil and gas in the downturn

Private equity firms have been among the big buyers of oil and gas assets in the last few years, taking advantage of portfolio restructuring among traditional players during the downturn. What’s the plan for success? And how are the exit options shaping up?

How to stay investible – the oil industry’s challenge

Big Oil faces sluggish oil demand, weak gas prices, the energy transition and the implications of next year’s US Presidential election. How can Big Oil stay investible in this environment?

The Majors have got bigger – but are they better?

Bigger the Majors may be, but are the companies better placed to cope with future price uncertainty and the energy transition? Find out in this week's Edge.

Shipping fuels, crude oil markets and the environment

How will the new IMO 2020 regulations affect the demand for different crudes? Will the refining industry cope with the change specification? Who will be the winners and losers among producers and refiners? Latest analysis here.