Energy – Baker Institute Blog

Q&A: Is the Houston region prepared for a hurricane like Ida?

September 1, 2021kz29

Hurricane Ida, the powerful storm that devastated Louisiana’s coastal communities early this week, is a “prime example of a worst-case future for Houston,” says Rice Faculty Scholar Jim Blackburn. With three months still left in this year’s hurricane season, Blackburn discussed the Houston area’s vulnerability to flooding and storm surges and how rapidly intensifying storms due to climate change may change evacuation plans. Continue Reading →

The key to reducing methane emissions? Actual measurement

August 16, 2021am75

Effective methane reduction efforts require actual emissions monitoring. EPA and industry currently track methane emissions using inventory-based methods. Using these inventories for regulation or emissions certification will make it hard to get the methane emission reductions we need. Continue Reading →

A New Union Era in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta

August 12, 2021am75

Control of the oil workers union in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta will shift later this year from the more pragmatic Guillermo Pereyra, who has run the union since 1984, to the more combative Marcelo Rucci. Continue Reading →

Unlocking the sustainability potential of circular processes by applying systems thinking

August 9, 2021am75

The circular economy should be viewed as one possible approach for progressing the sustainability agenda rather than an end in itself. Sustainable, or even better, regenerative systems should, however, be a fundamental principle of the circular economy. Circular processes are not necessarily sustainable by default but have the potential to be if the global net sustainability of the system is improved. Continue Reading →

A Circular Economy Does Not Necessarily Translate to Sustainability

August 3, 2021am75

Circular economy (CE) principles are gaining momentum. Oftentimes used in conjunction or synonymously with CE is the term “sustainability.” However, although there is a relationship between sustainability and a CE, these two concepts are vastly distinct. Continue Reading →

“DUCs down” has made shale’s post-COVID bed softer … so far

August 2, 2021am75

Current levels of rigs and wells drilled in the U.S. shale patch are well below levels needed to sustain current production. And yet, production has been sustained. So what’s been the secret? They’ve been feathering their beds with “DUCs down”: their large inventory of drilled-but-uncompleted wells. Continue Reading →

The Saudi-UAE Bust-Up Is A Return To The Persian Gulf Status Quo

July 16, 2021am75

Saudi-UAE relations are in free fall. Should we be alarmed? No. These monarchies have a long history of bad blood and border disputes. This time, the breakdown turns out to be good for Iran. Continue Reading →