For the third year in a row energy played a central role in President Obama's State of the Union address, with the president leaning hard this year on the twin themes of increased domestic oil and gas production and the need to invest more in renewable sources.
Bowing to public pressure, the Obama administration said Thursday it will delay a decision on the controversial Keystone oil sands pipeline expansion until at least 2013.
The Obama administration proposed more oil drilling in Arctic waters Tuesday, planning two new leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas off Alaska's north coast.
With job creation taking center stage in American politics, the oil industry Wednesday made a pitch for drilling more widely. With looser restrictions, the industry says it could deliver 1.4 million new jobs, boost tax rolls by $800 billion, and increase domestic energy production almost 50%.
It was the winter of 2006, and EOG Resources executive vice president Kurt Doerr had to be wondering what the heck he was doing prospecting for oil in the frigid central plains of North Dakota. Sure, wildcatters had been pumping modest amounts of crude out there for decades. However, nobody had ever found a true gusher, and the timing seemed odd given that EOG's core business -- drilling for natural gas, not oil -- was absolutely booming. EOG's net income had just doubled, natural-gas prices were fresh off all-time highs, and cutting-edge technologies were opening up vast new gas fields like Barnett Shale in Texas.
Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer, with exports worth $59 billion last year, but the industry has long been dominated by foreign players.
Seawolf Oilfield Services CEO Adolor Uwamu talks to CNN's Robyn Curnow about the cost of drilling for oil in Africa.
Jack Gerard has pretty much been in crisis mode since taking over as president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute in November 2008. Shortly after he arrived at the powerful oil-industry lobbying group, President Obama and a wave of Democrats swept into office, promising to fund alternative energy sources and take action on climate change. Last year the BP disaster poured more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and Gerard spent the summer prepping his members for more than 50 congressional hearings and eight separate investigations related to the spill and its aftermath. Then, in mid-May, executives from five oil companies appeared before a committee of the U.S. Senate and defended their earnings, which could hit record highs in 2011. "Don't punish our industry for doing its job well," Chevron CEO John Watson said. The performance was, by all accounts, a public relations disaster.
The oil industry isn't drilling on leases for millions of acres of land that could be producing energy.
The Senate rejected a Republican measure Wednesday to expand offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. coastal waters, signaling a continued partisan stalemate over energy policy and, more specifically, how to respond to rising gas prices.
Rep. Martha Roby discusses the importance of increasing U.S. energy production to lower gas price and increase security.
With gas topping $4 a gallon, President Barack Obama on Saturday announced new plans to speed up domestic drilling for oil.
Live underwater video or 'spillcam' changed how Americans viewed the BP oil spill. One year later, now what?
As they furiously typed computer code through the night in a small Capitol Hill office, little did they know they were about to change the way Americans would view what has become known as the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
Oil drilling is returning to the Gulf of Mexico, but slowly.
The Exxon Valdez catastrophe on March 24, 1989, no longer holds the distinction of being the largest oil spill ever in U.S. waters. In sheer size, it was eclipsed last April by the disastrous well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. But as the Pew Environment Group's video, "Lingering Oil," shows, the lessons of the Exxon Valdez spill are more vital than ever as we approach the first anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and contemplate drilling in the even more challenging Arctic Ocean.
The oil spill at BP's Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by a piece of drill pipe trapped in the platform's blowout preventer, which kept the device from working properly to stop the flow of oil into the Gulf, according to a report issued Wednesday.
The moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill ended back in October of 2010. Since then, the two companies, Ensco and Hornbeck (HOS),that sued the government, fearful of the damage the moratorium could do to their businesses, are poised to recover.
For consumers, the return of $100-a-barrel oil is nothing but bad news. But investors see an opportunity: They're piling into unconventional energy stocks, betting that high oil prices could translate into big profits for some smaller U.S.-based oil companies.
Interior Department officials announced an extensive restructuring of the agencies that oversee offshore oil drilling Wednesday, pledging "fundamental change" for a system widely criticized after the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
If the government does not take drastic steps, another deepwater oil spill like the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico could devastate the coastal areas of the United States, an oversight commission warned Tuesday in a long-awaited report to the president.
President Barack Obama's commission investigating last year's oil disaster is giving environmental groups hope that some change is on the horizon, but not the full scope of what they're looking for, two groups told CNN Thursday.
"Systemic" problems caused the Deepwater Horizon blowout and subsequent oil spill and only "significant reform" will prevent another, President Barack Obama's commission studying the disaster says in its soon-to-be-released report.
The American Petroleum Institute has a message to Congress as it starts work Wednesday: Open more areas for drilling and we will create more jobs for the American people.
In the coming weeks, the Obama administration will decide if it wants to significantly increase the amount of oil the country imports from Canada's controversial Alberta oil sands.
A plan to bring the first oil sands development to the United States is drawing stiff opposition from environmentalists concerned about global warming and water use, but backers of the project insist their new process is safe.
President Barack Obama will not be allowing new drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least seven years, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Wednesday.
The Obama administration formally reversed course on its plan to allow more U.S. oil drilling Wednesday, saying areas in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic Coast will remain closed for at least seven years due to the BP oil spill.
The Obama administration didn't violate federal law when it incorrectly asserted that its plans for a six-month halt to offshore oil drilling had been "peer reviewed" by experts, an independent watchdog agency reported Wednesday.
CNN's Rob Marciano looks at the stubborn oil still being fought in the Gulf six months after the spill.
It was May when a fishing boat carrying Ed Overton and other scientists pulled away from what would become the largest accidental oil spill in history. The ocean was soupy and brown. The air tasted like gas. Some reporters looked green in the face. The oil stretched nearly from horizon to horizon.
With the end of the deepwater drilling moratorium, it seems that fears of massive job losses among drill workers may have been overblown.
The Obama administration is lifting the moratorium on deep-water oil drilling -- put in place after the Gulf oil spill disaster -- for operators who comply with tough new rules and regulations, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Tuesday.
CNN's Dan Lothian reports on the Obama administration's move to lift the deepwater oil drilling moratorium.
Gov. Bobby Jindal says the rescued workers are without serious injuries and some are in the process of being discharged.
A fire on a well connected to an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico is out and there is no indication of an oil sheen, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday.
A federal judge on Wednesday denied a motion by the Obama administration to dismiss a lawsuit that aims to block a government-imposed moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
The head of the government agency that regulates offshore drilling said Tuesday that it is "unlikely" a six-month moratorium on the practice will be extended.
The worst oil spill in U.S. history has heated up the debate about how to feed the nation with cleaner, safer energy.
Booming efforts to shield land from the oil spill aren't working. CNN's Sandra Endo explores areas around Grand Isle.
Yesterday, Democrats in the Senate rejected taking up a new oil spill response bill because of a dispute over who foots the costs of future spill cleanups and more importantly, how much those parties -- largely oil and exploration companies -- will pay. The Senate is voting on the bill, vaguely titled "a bill to promote clean energy jobs and oil accountability, and for other purposes" in response to BP's spill in the Gulf at the Macondo well.
The government was supposed to keep an eye on offshore oil drilling, it was supposed to make sure nothing went wrong.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal railed against the federal ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico at a rally on Wednesday, saying the "arbitrary moratorium" could cost the region hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Whether you call it a moratorium or a suspension, the government's new halt on deepwater oil drilling will cause economic harm, according to industry advocates and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.
BP says it has placed a new containment cap on its crippled well in the Gulf of Mexico that's been gushing oil since an explosion and fire April 20.
A federal appeals panel on Thursday upheld a district judge's order to block the Obama administration's six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
The first relief well BP is drilling in the Gulf of Mexico could intercept the leaking Deepwater Horizon well in seven to 10 days, the man heading the federal response to the oil crisis said Thursday.
Like other oystermen in the Gulf area, Vlaho Mjehovich is now finding his once-bountiful nets full of dead oysters.
The offshore drilling ban imposed after the BP disaster is only supposed to hit operations in deep water -- 500 feet or more.
A judge overturns the ban on drilling, but the rigs are still sitting idle. CNN's Chris Lawrence reports.
As the Gulf of Mexico oil spill enters its 65th day, the confirmed suicide of an Alabama fisherman served as a reminder Thursday of how the effects of the disaster can be felt from the national level to the neighborhood level.
Oil looks terrible right now. And while nobody wants to need what's gushing into the gulf, poisoning marine life and coating the coasts, our way of life depends on it. In fact, the U.S. needs the oil from the Gulf Coast and the jobs that deepwater drilling generates so badly, we can't afford to pause long enough to overhaul the regulators.
The Obama administration says it will fight the blockage of a drilling moratorium. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday called a six-month halt on deepwater drilling "needed, appropriate and within our authorities" in announcing he will issue a new order on a moratorium just hours after a federal judge blocked such a mandate.
The federal agency responsible for overseeing the oil industry has been renamed amid a massive reform effort following the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the Department of the Interior announced Monday.
The House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources questioned high-ranking officials from government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and private companies Thursday about how to best divide up the troubled Minerals and Management Service, the government agency that oversees offshore drilling, which has come under greater scrutiny since the Deepwater Horizon incident on April 20.
The extraction of oil from tar-soaked dirt is taking a harsh toll on Alberta's environment. Go to VBS.TV for more.
We thought that since you were feeling absolutely dejected watching BP's underwater gusher spoiling the ecology and economy of the Gulf of Mexico, well, we would try to cheer you up by reminding you how the otherwise environmentally conscious Canadians are degrading their own natural splendor and national soul with oil spillage and seepage on purpose.
Could another deep water- or even shallow water- oil drilling disaster be looming ahead? Experts warn it certainly could happen again.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday defended the Obama administration's six-month federal moratorium on deepwater drilling, which has come under fire from critics who argue that seeking offshore oil is vital for reducing the dependence on foreign supplies.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testifies on the increased safety measures for offshore oil drilling.
The Obama administration announced new rules on offshore drilling Tuesday, a move that the industry hopes will secure new permits for drilling operations and the thousands of jobs that depend on them.
The widows of two men killed on the Deepwater Horizon drill rig urged lawmakers Monday to allow drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to continue, saying the oil industry is a major source of income for families in the region.
The government ban on deep water oil drilling could stifle economic activity and lead to job losses and higher energy prices, an industry group said Friday.
Minerals Management Service Director Elizabeth Birnbaum resigned Thursday as head of the Interior Department's scandal-plagued Minerals Management Service, the department's chief said. Two sources told CNN that Birnbaum had been fired.
President Obama says the administration is doing everything possible to stop the Gulf oil leak.
A stern-faced President Barack Obama on Thursday announced steps to limit new oil drilling and exploration as the investigation of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill continues, telling the American people that he is "fully engaged" and ultimately responsible for what he called a catastrophe.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar reiterated Wednesday that the U.S. government is doing all it can to put an end to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and to enforce ethics requirements in the federal agency responsible for inspecting oil wells.
Seven members of the environmental group Greenpeace were arrested Monday after protesting at a private ship that the group says is scheduled to depart for Alaska this summer as part of a drilling mission.
The head of offshore drilling at an Interior Department agency criticized after the Gulf Coast oil spill is retiring a month earlier than planned, an administration official told CNN on Monday.
Critics blast BP for not releasing video showing the extent of the Gulf Coast oil spill. CNN's Ed Lavandera reports.
The Obama administration, eager to show it is responding to the Gulf Coast oil spill, will announce plans Tuesday to split up an Interior Department agency that oversees offshore drilling, White House officials confirmed.
The Obama administration, eager to show it is responding to the Gulf Coast oil spill, will announce plans Tuesday to split up an Interior Department agency that oversees offshore drilling, White House officials confirmed.
The Obama administration took the first concrete steps Thursday to make good on its pledge to halt new offshore drilling projects, suspending the approval process for new wells off of the Virginia coast.
The president travels to southern Louisiana to view areas affected by the massive Gulf Coast oil leak.
A month after announcing plans to expand offshore drilling, President Obama visited ground zero of the Gulf Coast oil disaster and warned that residents could be facing a "potentially unprecedented environmental disaster."
As the oil slick from the recent offshore oil rig disaster makes its way to Gulf Coast shores -- expected to devastate the precious ecosystem and hurt struggling businesses -- the seeds of political fallout for the Obama administration are beginning to sprout.
The ever-growing oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico may threaten more than the environment. It will make it significantly harder to open up more coastal areas for oil drilling.
While the search continued Friday for 11 missing workers from BP's sunken oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, attention turned to fears of a major oil spill.
Wednesday's speech from President Obama unveiling his new strategy on offshore drilling, which will keep some sensitive coastal areas open for drilling, hits close to home for me.
Several environmentalists expressed disappointment and dismay Wednesday over President Obama's decision to open key Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters to oil and gas drilling.
Sierra Club members talk to CNN's Ali Velshi about their opposition to Pres. Obama's offshore drilling plan.
President Obama's plan, announced Wednesday, to expand oil drilling off the nation's coasts has the potential to lead to a slight easing in gas prices, more jobs and more money for cash-strapped government coffers.
President Obama unveiled plans Wednesday to open large swaths of U.S. coastal waters in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico to oil and natural gas drilling -- a move likely to please the energy industry but upset the administration's environmentalist supporters.
President Obama announces plans to open parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Virginia coastline to oil drilling.
Continental shelves beneath the retreating polar ice caps of the Arctic may hold almost double the amount of oil previously found in the region, scientists say.
Canada-based oil sands company Syncrude acknowledged that 1,600 birds -- 1,100 more than initially estimated -- drowned after landing on its settling basin in Aurora a year ago.
Obama's choice for the Interior Department isn't all green say some, CNN's Jessica Yellin reports.
Remember "drill, baby drill"? In its last weeks in office, the Bush administration is starting to make it happen by quietly starting the process of exploration and drilling off the coast of Virginia.
The oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico is getting ready for Hurricane Ike in case it slams into the energy infrastructure.
Oil prices gave up more than $3 in gains Monday as a strengthening dollar and slumping global demand countered Hurricane Ike's threat to Gulf production.
As oil companies sent crews back to their rigs to perform in-depth safety checks some operations see production beginning to come online as early as Wednesday.
Democrats' stance against offshore drilling has shifted more, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaling on Saturday her willingness to consider opening up more coastal areas to oil and gas exploration
President Bush announces he is lifting an executive ban on offshore oil drilling.
Sen. Barack Obama responded Saturday to criticism that he has changed his position on opposing offshore oil drilling.
New poll impact?
updated: Fri Aug 01 2008 09:48:00
Did Obama's trip abroad do him any good or any harm? CNN's Bill Schneider will take a look at the latest poll.
A new poll out Thursday indicates that fewer than a quarter of Americans think things are going well in the country.
President Bush calls on Congress to lift the offshore drilling ban.
Top congressional Republicans Thursday called for a special session of Congress to deal with the oil crisis plaguing the country.
Republicans on Wednesday pressured congressional Democrats for a vote to lift a ban on offshore drilling before Congress begins its summer recess.
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