Explainers

How energy, mining & technology actually work.

Plain-English guides to the concepts behind the headlines — from carbon credits and power purchase agreements to the electrical grid and critical minerals. 119 explainers and counting.

Oil & Gas

How do energy sanctions work and what is their market impact?Modern energy sanctions increasingly work by engineering market terms, such as the G7's price cap on Russian oil, rather than simply freezing assets, aiming to cut a target government's revenue while keeping supply flowing.
How are natural gas prices determined?Natural gas prices are determined by the interaction of supply and demand in competitive markets, with prices set through trading at physical and virtual hubs, most notably at Henry Hub in Louisiana, which serves as the primary benchmark for North American natural gas.
What is upstream, midstream, and downstream in oil and gas?Upstream, midstream, and downstream are the three major segments of the oil and gas industry, representing exploration and production, transportation and storage, and refining and distribution, respectively.
What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is the world's largest emergency crude oil stockpile, maintained by the U.S. government in underground salt caverns to protect the economy from major oil supply disruptions.
How does oil refining work?Oil refining transforms crude oil into usable products through a series of physical and chemical processes that separate, convert, and treat hydrocarbons based on their molecular properties.
What is LNG and how is it produced?LNG is natural gas cooled to approximately -162°C (-260°F), reducing its volume by 600 times for efficient storage and transport across oceans.
What is OPEC+ and how does it affect oil prices?OPEC+ is an expanded alliance of oil-producing nations that coordinates production levels to influence global oil prices and market stability.
What does the oil rig count mean for energy markets?The oil rig count is a leading indicator of future crude oil production that helps investors and analysts gauge market sentiment and anticipate supply changes.
Energy 101: How Oil Prices Are DeterminedOil prices affect everything from gasoline costs to airline tickets, but few people understand how crude oil is actually priced. This guide explains Brent vs WTI, the role of futures markets, and what drives daily price movements.
Energy 101: Understanding Natural Gas MarketsNatural gas powers electricity generation, heats homes, and serves as industrial feedstock. This guide explains how gas is priced, the difference between pipeline and LNG markets, and what drives price volatility.
What is the difference between WTI and Brent crude?WTI and Brent are the two most widely used global oil benchmarks, differentiated by their geographic origin, production characteristics, and the markets they serve.
How does the oil futures market work?Oil futures are standardized contracts that allow traders to buy or sell oil at a predetermined price on a future date, enabling price discovery and risk management across the energy industry.
What is hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?Hydraulic fracturing is a well stimulation technique that uses pressurized fluid to create fractures in rock formations, allowing oil and natural gas to flow more freely to the surface.

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