An economic revival is taking hold in the U.S. Although no one expects easy solutions to the huge problems that still face the country and its economy, an overarching optimism has come back into vogue when it comes to the nation�� long-range prospects. We believe three areas in particular��n energy revolution, significant labor-market shifts and massive technological innovation��re propelling that optimism.
Energy independence
For almost 70 years, the U.S. has had to depend largely on imported energy. Now, even though the U.S. still imports roughly 25% of its energy��hiefly petroleum��here�� a growing consensus that the nation is well on its way to becoming energy-independent. The impetus for this is the boom in extracting oil and natural gas from shale rock formations, and the technological innovation that has made it economically feasible. Called hydraulic fracturing, or ��racking,��the environmentally controversial technology has already sparked an energy revolution, with natural gas as its cornerstone. According to some estimates, the country�� natural gas reserves could last an additional 100 years. Oil production is rising too��n 2012 the nation�� supply increased by a million barrels per day, the fastest growth of any non-OPEC country in the world. (Canada came in a distant second, with growth of less than 300,000 barrels.)
Hot Oil Companies To Invest In Right Now: Karoon Gas Australia Ltd (KRNGF)
Karoon Gas Australia Ltd (Karoon Gas) is an Australia-based exploration company. The Company is principally engaged in the hydrocarbon exploration and evaluation in Australia, Brazil and Peru. The Company operates in three segments: Australia, Brazil and Peru exploration. The Company�� Australia segment is involved in the exploration and evaluation of hydrocarbons in four offshore permit areas: WA-314-P, WA-315-P, WA-398-P and WA-482-P; The Company in its Brazil segment is involved in the exploration and evaluation of hydrocarbons in five offshore blocks including Block S-M-1037, Block S-M-1101, Block S-M-1102, Block S-M-1165 and Block S-M-1166. The Company under its Peru exploration segment is involved in the exploration and evaluation of hydrocarbons in two blocks in Peru, including Block 144 (onshore) and Block Z-38 (offshore). Advisors' Opinion:- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks seesawed in early Monday trade, with gains for miners and energy names helping support the market, as the S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) sat 0.1% higher at 5,325.90 after changing direction several times. Official Chinese data showing manufacturing holding its growth rate in October appeared to help some miners, as did gains for some commodity prices. Shares of Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) rose 0.5%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) added 0.7%, Oz Minerals Ltd. (AU:OZL) (OZMLF) advanced 1%, and Whitehaven Coal Ltd. (AU:WHC) improved by 1.9%. Likewise, an advance for gold futures sent Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) rallying 3.4%, and Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. (AU:KCN) (KSKGF) up 2.9%. Energy shares also traded higher, with Oil Search Ltd. (AU:OSH) (OISHF) up 1.3%, and Karoon Gas Australia Ltd. (AU:KAR) (KRNGF) adding 1.7%. On the downside, retailers were mostly lower, with David Jones Ltd. (AU:DJS) (DVDJF)
Hot Oil Companies To Invest In Right Now: Stone Energy Corporation(SGY)
Stone Energy Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and operation of oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico and the Appalachia region. As of December 31, 2010, it had estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves of approximately 473.9 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana with additional offices in New Orleans, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; and Morgantown, West Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
While the Bakken formation is already on most investor radars,�few American investors may realize that the formation stretches North into the oil and gas rich Canadian province of Saskatchewan where�stocks like Surge Energy Inc (TSE: SGY), Questerre Energy Corp (TSE: QEC), Crescent Point Energy Corp (TSE: CPG), Keyera Corp (TSE: KEY) and Centor Energy Inc (OTCBB: CNTO) have been pumping out a good flow of newsworthy news in recent weeks. I should mention that Canada�� oil reserves are ranked #3 after to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia with over 95% of these reserves being the oil sands of Alberta while the neighboring province of Saskatchewan (which the Bakken formation stretches into from South Dakota and Montana) along with offshore areas of Newfoundland also contain substantial production and reserves (Note:�Excluding oil sands, Alberta would have 39% of Canada�� remaining conventional oil reserves,�followed by�offshore Newfoundland with�28% and Saskatchewan with 27%).
Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: Husky Energy Inc (HUSKF.PK)
Husky Energy Inc. (Husky), incorporated on June 21, 2000, is an international integrated energy company. The Company operates in two segments: Upstream and Downstream. Upstream includes exploration for, development and production of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and natural gas liquids and other producers��crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, sulphur and petroleum coke, pipeline transportation and processing of heavy crude oil and natural gas, storage of crude oil, diluents and natural gas and cogeneration of electrical and thermal energy (infrastructure and marketing). Downstream includes upgrading of heavy crude oil feedstock into synthetic crude oil (upgrading), refining in Canada of crude oil and marketing of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, ethanol blended fuels, asphalt and ancillary products, and production of ethanol (Canadian refined products) and refining in the United States of crude oil to produce and market gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuels that meet United States clean fuels standards (United States refining and marketing).
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company had 512 retail locations in its light refined products operations, which consisted of 361 owned or leased locations (husky controlled) and 151 independent retailer locations. The Company is continually monitoring the owned and leased locations for environmental protection or to address regulatory compliance requirements, such as reporting.
Upstream Operations
Husky�� portfolio of Upstream assets includes properties with reserves of light crude oil (30掳 API and lighter), medium crude oil (between 20掳 and 30掳 API), heavy crude oil (liquid between 20掳 API and 10掳 API), bitumen (solid or semi-solid with a viscosity greater than 10,000 centipoise at original temperature in the deposit and atmospheric pressure), NGL, natural gas and sulphur. The Wenchang field is located in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin, approximately 400 kilometers ! south of Hong Kong and 100 kilometers east of Hainan Island. The Wenchang 13-1 and 13-2 oil fields are producing from 32 wells in 100 meters of water into an FPSO vessel stationed between fixed platforms located in each of the two fields. In December 2012, Husky signed a joint venture contract with CPC Corporation, Taiwan for an exploration block in the South China Sea. The exploration block is located 100 kilometers southwest of the island of Taiwan and covers approximately 10,300 square kilometers.
Husky has a 40% interest in approximately 621,700 acres (2,516 square kilometers) of the Madura Strait block, located offshore East Java, south of Madura Island, Indonesia. Husky�� two partners are CNOOC which is the operator and has a 40% working interest, and Samudra Energy Ltd., which holds the remaining 20% interest through its affiliate, SMS Development Ltd. Husky�� offshore East Coast Canada exploration and development program is focused on the Jeanne d��rc Basin on the Grand Banks, which contains the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields, as well as the White Rose field and satellite extensions including the North Amethyst, West White Rose and the South White Rose extensions. The White Rose oil field is located 354 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and approximately 48 kilometers east of the Hibernia oil field on the eastern section of the Jeanne d��rc Basin. Husky is the operator of the White Rose field and satellite tiebacks, including the North Amethyst, West White Rose and South White Rose extensions. The Terra Nova oil field is located approximately 350 kilometers southeast of St. John��, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Terra Nova oil field is divided into three distinct areas, known as the Graben, the East Flank and the Far East. As of January 16, 2013, Husky held a working interest in 17 Exploration Licences (ELs) offshore Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland. Husky is the operator of 13 of these ELs and has working interests ranging from 35% to 100%.
Hus! ky is the operator of two ELs offshore the west coast of Disko Island, Greenland. Tucker is an in-situ SAGD oil sands project located 30 kilometers northwest of Cold Lake, Alberta. Husky holds in excess of 550,000 acres in undeveloped oil sands leases and has a 100% working interest in all leases except in Athabasca South in which it has a 50% working interest. Husky�� heavy oil assets are primarily concentrated in a large producing region in the Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan area. The Company maintains a land position of approximately two million gross acres within this area. Over 90% of Husky�� proved reserves in the region are contained in the heavy crude oil producing areas of Pikes Peak, Edam, Tangleflags, Celtic, Bolney, Paradise Hill, Westhazel, Big Gully, Mervin, Marwayne, Lashburn, Gully Lake, Vermilion, Swimming, Morgan, Lindbergh, Aberfeldy, Marsden, Epping, Furness and Rush Lake, and in the medium gravity crude oil producing fields of Wildmere and Wainwright. As of December 31, 2012, the Company produces from oil and gas wells ranging in depth from 450 meters to 650 meters and holds a 100% working interest in the majority of these wells. In the Lloydminster area, the Company owns and operates 21 oil treating facilities which are tied into the Husky heavy oil pipeline systems. Husky operates 67 facilities in the area. Husky is the operator of a number of properties in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. The Foothills Northwest Plains area is located in western and northern Alberta and British Columbia. The area is made up of five distinct districts: Rainbow Lake, Northern Alberta, Northern Alberta & British Columbia Plains, Ansell-Galloway and Foothills.
Husky provides heavy crude oil feedstock to its Upgrader and its asphalt refinery, which are located at Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan. The combined dry crude feedstock requirements of the Upgrader and asphalt refinery are approximately equal to Husky�� heavy crude oil production from the Lloydminster area.! Husky al! so purchases third party volumes. Husky markets heavy crude oil production directly to refiners located in the mid-west and eastern United States and Canada. Husky markets its light and synthetic crude oil production to third-party refiners in Canada, the United States and Asia in addition to Husky�� Lima Refinery. NGL are sold to local petrochemical end users, retail and wholesale distributors and refiners in North America.
The Company holds a 50% interest in a 90 megawatts natural gas fired cogeneration facility adjacent to Husky�� Rainbow Lake processing plant. The cogeneration facility produces electricity for the Power Pool of Alberta and thermal energy (steam) for the Rainbow Lake processing plant. It provides power directly to the Power Pool of Alberta under an agreement with the Alberta Electric System Operator to provide additional electricity generating capacity and system stability for northwestern Alberta. The Company also operates and has a 50% interest in a natural gas storage facility at East Cantuar near Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Downstream Operations
The Lima Refinery, located in Ohio between Toledo and Dayton, has an atmospheric crude throughput capacity of 160 thousand of barrels/day. The refinery produces gasoline, gasoline blend stocks, diesel, jet fuel, petrochemical feedstock and other by-products. The feedstock is received via the Mid-Valley and Marathon Pipelines and the refined products are transported via the Buckeye and Inland pipeline systems and by rail car to primary markets in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and southern Michigan. During 2012, crude oil feedstock throughput at the Lima Refinery averaged 150 thousand of barrels/day. Production of gasoline averaged 77 thousand of barrels/day, total distillates averaged 56 thousand of barrels/day and total butanes averaged 17 thousand of barrels/day. The BP-Husky Toledo Refinery, in which Husky holds a 50% interest, has an atmospheric crude throughput capacity of 160 thousand of barrels/day. Pr! oducts in! clude low sulphur gasoline, ultra low sulphur diesel, aviation fuels, propane, kerosene and asphalt. The refinery is located in one of the highest energy consumption regions in the United States. Husky owns and operates the Husky Lloydminster Upgrader, a heavy oil upgrading facility located in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. The Upgrader is designed to process blended heavy crude oil feedstock into high quality, low sulphur synthetic crude oil. Production at the Upgrader averaged 61 thousand of barrels/day of synthetic crude oil, 13 thousand of barrels/day of diluent and 4 thousand of barrels/day of low sulphur diesel in 2012.
Husky�� Canadian Refined Products operations include refining of light crude oil, manufacturing of fuel and fuel grade ethanol, manufacturing of asphalt products from heavy crude oil and acquisition by purchase and exchange of refined petroleum products. Husky�� retail distribution network includes the wholesale, commercial and retail marketing of refined petroleum products and provides a platform for non-fuel related convenience product businesses. Husky�� Pounder Emulsions division has a market share in Western Canada for road application emulsion products. Additional non-asphalt based road maintenance products are also marketed and distributed through Pounder Emulsions. Husky�� asphalt distribution network consists of emulsion plants and asphalt terminals located at Kamloops, British Columbia, Edmonton and Lethbridge, Alberta, Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba and three emulsion plants located at Watson Lake, Yukon and Lloydminster and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Husky�� ethanol production supports its ethanol-blended gasoline marketing program. When added to gasoline, ethanol promotes more complete fuel combustion, prevents fuel line freezing and reduces carbon monoxide emissions, ozone precursors and net emissions of greenhouse gases.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Caiman Valores]
But as highlighted earlier Whitecap's Canadian light sweet crude is not as heavily discounted as Canadian heavy oil or bitumen. This does not leave it exposed to the same price risks and volatility as those companies that have a significant portion of their production made up by Canadian heavy oil and Bitumen, such as Husky Energy (HUSKF.PK), Suncor (SU), Imperial Oil (IMO) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ).
Hot Oil Companies To Invest In Right Now: Cameron International Corp (CAM)
Cameron International Corporation (Cameron), incorporated on November 10, 1994, provides flow equipment products, systems and services to worldwide oil, gas and process industries. Cameron operates in three business segments: Drilling and Production Systems (DPS), Valves & Measurement (V&M) and Process & Compression Systems (PCS). The DPS segment includes businesses, which provides systems and equipment used to control pressures and direct flows of oil and gas wells. The V&M segment includes businesses, which provides valves and measurement systems used to control, direct and measure the flow of oil and gas as they are moved from individual wellheads through flow lines, gathering lines and transmission systems to refineries, petrochemical plants and industrial centers for processing. The PCS segment includes businesses, which provides standard and custom-engineered process packages for separation and treatment of impurities within oil and gas and compression equipment and aftermarket parts and services to the oil, gas and process industries. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired LeTourneau Technologies, Inc. (LeTourneau) from Joy Global Inc. During 2011, it acquired Vescon Equipamentos Industrias Ltda. During 2011, it acquired 51% interest in Newmans Valves. In September 2012, TTS Group ASA sold its drilling equipment business to the Company. Effective August 5, 2013, Cameron International Corp acquired a 75% interest in Douglas Chero SpA, from Consilium SGR SpA.
Drilling & Production Systems Segment
Cameron�� products are employed in a range of operating environments, including basic onshore fields, complex onshore and offshore environments, deepwater subsea applications and ultra-high temperature geothermal operations. The products within this segment include surface and subsea production systems, blowout preventers (BOPs), drilling and production control systems, block valves, gate valves, actuators, chokes, wellheads, manifolds, drilling risers, top drive! s, mud pumps, other rig products and aftermarket parts and services. In addition, the DPS segment designs and manufactures structural components for land and offshore drilling rigs. The segment�� businesses also manufacture elastomers, which are used in pressure and flow control equipment and other petroleum industry applications, as well as in the petroleum, petrochemical, rubber molding and plastics industries. The businesses within this segment market their products directly to end-users through a worldwide network of sales and marketing employees, supported by agents in some international locations. Customers include oil and gas majors, national oil companies, independent producers, engineering and construction companies, drilling contractors, rental companies and geothermal energy producers. The businesses included in this segment are Drilling Systems, Surface Systems, Subsea Systems and Flow Control.
Drilling Systems is a global supplier of integrated drilling systems for onshore and offshore applications. Drilling equipment designed and manufactured includes ram and annular BOPs, control systems, drilling risers, drilling valves, choke and kill manifolds, diverter systems, top drives, draw works, mud pumps, other rig products and aftermarket parts and services. The products are marketed under the Cameron, Guiberson, H&H CUSTOM, H&H, Melco, LeTourneau, Lewco, OEM and Townsend brand names. Surface Systems is a global market in supplying surface production equipment, from conventional to high-pressure, high temperature (HPHT) wellheads, production systems and controls, block valves, gate valves, mudline systems, dry completion systems and aftermarket parts and services. The products are marketed under the Cameron, Camrod, IC, McEvoy, Precision, SBS, Tundra, Willis and WKM brand names. Cameron, which has a global base of installed equipment and an aftermarket presence in hydrocarbon-producing region worldwide, is the provider of surface production equipment. Surface Systems added new s! ales and ! aftermarket facilities in the Marcellus, Eagle Ford and Haynesville shale regions.
Subsea Systems is a provider of subsea wellheads, production systems and controls, manifolds and aftermarket parts and services to customers worldwide, from basic subsea tree orders to integrated solutions, as well as installation and aftermarket support. These products are marketed under the Cameron, Mars, McEvoy and Willis brand names. Flow Control provides chokes, actuators, gears, valve accessories and automation solutions to other Cameron businesses, as well as to other industry manufacturers and directly to end users under such brand names as Cameron, Dynatorque, Ledeen, Maxtorque, Test and Willis. Flow Control has expanded its subsea chemical injection metering valve (CIMV) product line, introducing a high-flow CIMV.
Valves & Measurement Segment
Cameron�� products include gate valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, Orbit valves, double block & bleed valves, plug valves, globe valves, check valves, actuators, chokes and aftermarket parts and services, as well as measurement products such as totalizers, turbine meters, flow computers, chart recorders, ultrasonic flow meters and sampling systems. This equipment and the related services are marketed through a worldwide network of combined sales and marketing employees, as well as distributors and agents in selected international locations. Customers include oil and gas majors, independent producers, engineering and construction companies, pipeline operators, drilling contractors and major chemical, petrochemical and refining companies. The businesses included in this segment are Distributed Valves, Engineered Valves, Process Valves, Measurement Systems and Aftermarket Services.
Distributed Valves provides a range of valves used in the exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas, with products sold through a network of wholesalers and distributors, primarily in North America and to upstream markets in A! sia-Pacif! ic and the Middle East. These valves are marketed under the brand names Cooper, Demco, Navco, Newco, Nutron, OIC, Techno, Texstream, Thornhill Craver, Wheatley and WKM. Engineered Valves provides a range of customized ball, gate and check valves serving the oil and gas production, pipeline, subsea and liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets. Products are marketed under the brand names Cameron, Entech, Grove, Ring-O, TK and Tom Wheatley.
Process Valves provides valves under the brand names of General Valve, Orbit, TBV and WKM for use in critical service applications that are often subject to extreme temperature conditions, particularly in refinery, power generation, including nuclear, chemical, petrochemical, gas processing and liquid storage terminal markets, including liquefied natural gas (LNG). Measurement Systems designs, manufactures and distributes measurement products, systems and solutions to the global oil and gas, process and power industries. The Company�� main product brand names include Barton, Caldon, Clif Mock, Jiskoot, Linco, Nuflo and PAAI. Aftermarket Services provides preventative maintenance, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spare parts, repair, field service, asset management and remanufactured products for valves and actuators.
Process & Compression Systems Segment
Integrally geared centrifugal compressors are used by customers worldwide in a range of industries, including air separation, petrochemical, chemical and process gas. Products include oil and gas separation equipment, heaters, dehydration and desalting units, gas conditioning units, membrane separation systems, water processing systems, integral engine-compressors, separable reciprocating compressors, two and four-stroke cycle gas engines, turbochargers, integrally-geared centrifugal compressors, compressor systems and controls. Aftermarket services include spare parts, technical services, repairs, overhauls and upgrades. The businesses included in this segment are Process System! s, Recipr! ocating Compression and Centrifugal Compression.
The process systems businesses provide custom-engineered process packages to oil and gas majors, national oil companies, independent operators and engineering, procurement and construction companies worldwide for separation and treatment of oil, gas, water and solids. Products offered include separators, heaters, dehydration and desalting units, gas conditioning units, membrane separation systems, water processing systems and aftermarket parts and services. PCS markets its process systems products under the Cameron, Consept, Cynara, Hydromation, KCC, Metrol, Mozley, NATCO, Petreco, Porta-test, Unicel, Vortoil and Wemco brand names.
Reciprocating Compression equipment is used throughout the energy industry by gas transmission companies, compression leasing companies, oil and gas producers and independent power producers. Reciprocating Compression products and services are marketed under the Ajax, Cooper-Bessemer, CSI, Enterprise, Superior, Texcentric and TSI brand names. Ajax integral engine-compressors, which combine the engine and compressor on a single drive shaft, are used for gas re-injection and storage, as well as on smaller gathering and transmission lines. Superior-brand separable compressors are used for natural gas applications, including production, storage, withdrawal, processing and transmission, as well as petrochemical processing. These high-speed separable compressor units can be matched with either natural gas engine drivers or electric motors. Reciprocating Compression also provides global support for its products and maintains sales and service offices in key international locations. During 2011, approximately 60% of the Reciprocating Compression revenues were generated by sales of aftermarket parts and services in support of the Company�� worldwide installed base of compression equipment. Customers for Reciprocating Compression products include oil and gas majors, national oil companies, petrochemical and re! fining co! mpanies, midstream natural gas companies, independent power producers and compressed natural gas distribution companies.
Centrifugal Compression manufactures and supplies integrally geared centrifugal compressors and provides aftermarket services to customers worldwide. Centrifugal air compressors, used in manufacturing processes (plant air), are sold under the Turbo-Air. Engineered compressors are used in the process air and gas industries and are identified by the MSG. The process and plant air centrifugal compressors deliver oil-free compressed air and other gases to customers, thus preventing oil contamination of the finished products. Centrifugal Compression also provides installation and maintenance services, parts, repairs, overhauls and upgrades to its worldwide customers for plant air and process gas compressors. It also provides aftermarket service and repairs on all equipment it produces through a worldwide network of distributors, service centers and field service technicians utilizing an extensive inventory of parts marketed under the Joy brand name. Centrifugal Compression customers include oil and gas majors, national oil companies, air separation companies, independent power producers, petrochemical and refining companies, midstream natural gas companies and durable goods manufacturers.
The Company competes with Aker Solutions, Balon Corporation, Circor International, Inc., Dover Corporation, Dril-Quip, Inc., Emerson Process Management, FlowServ Corp., FMC Technologies, Inc., GE Oil & Gas Group, Stream-Flo Industries Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Inc., Zy-Tech Global Industries company, Flotek Industries, Inc., Pibiviese, Robbins & Myers Fluid Management Group, SPX Corporation�� Flow Technology Segment, Tyco International Ltd., Weatherford, Ltd., Ariel Corporation, Compressor Engineering Corporation, Demag, Dresser-Rand Company, FS-Elliott Company LLC, Endyn Energy Dynamics, Hoerbiger Group and IR Air Solutions.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Benjamin Shepherd]
Why is there such a disconnect between oil and gasoline prices? Despite the fact that oil and gasoline make just about everything go and demand has been steadily rising for decades now, oil production has had difficulty keeping pace. And since 2005 most production growth has come from the increased exploitation of shale formations and hydraulic fracturing.
Since 2005, global production of crude oil has grown by 2.3 million barrels per day (MBPD) and over that same time period U.S. production of shale oil has grown by 3.5 MBPD. Not only is the U.S. essentially responsible for all the production global production growth since 2005, it has also made up from 1.2 MPBD of lost production elsewhere in the world.
While the gasoline price spike since October can be largely attributed to seasonal factors ��traveling increases in the holiday and summer seasons ��tight global oil production could result in higher gasoline prices becoming a fact of life. Here in the U.S. nearly 75 percent of the oil we consume goes to transportation and higher gasoline and other distillate prices are the only effect mechanism for rationing it.
That pricing mechanism, coupled with rapid advancements in drilling technologies and know-how, has also made it economical to produce once-untouchable oil reserves, such as those in deepwater or in shale formations and oil sands. It has also driven a huge push to increase global oil production in the coming years and created an opportunity to not only profit from the energy boom but also hedge your portfolio against the damaging impact of energy inflation.
One interesting play on that theme is Cameron International (NYSE: CAM). Cameron provides separation and pressure control equipment, flow control, compressors, valves and other equipment to the global energy industry, as well as the services to install and maintain it. About 20 percent of its $2.4 billion in first quarter revenue was generated through equipment and serv - [By David Smith]
A Foolish takeaway
After 51 acquisitions in the past four years -- including its biggest, Robbins & Myers, which closed during the quarter -- National Oilwell Varco appears to be catching its breath. Beyond that, it's noteworthy that Cameron International (NYSE: CAM ) , a competitor of Varco in some areas (blowout preventers, for instance) also reported results last week that came in under expectations. - [By Isac Simon]
However, Houston-based Cameron International (NYSE: CAM ) , a competitor of National Oilwell Varco, seems to hold a lot of promise. The company provides flow equipment systems and services to operators globally. Its stock has risen 50% in the past 12 months.
- [By David Smith]
I recently described to Fools why I believe National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV ) , Cameron International (NYSE: CAM ) , and Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII ) all stand to benefit from the steady march of the global oil industry into progressively deeper waters.
Hot Oil Companies To Invest In Right Now: Western Gas Partners LP (WES)
Western Gas Partners, LP (the Partnership) is a master limited partnership (MLP) organized by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. The Partnership operates in East and West Texas, the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming) and the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma) and are engaged primarily in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil for Anadarko and third-party producers and customers. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� assets consist of 11 gathering systems, seven natural gas treating facilities, seven natural gas processing facilities, one NGL pipeline, one interstate pipeline, and interests in a gas gathering system and a crude oil pipeline. Its assets are located in East and West Texas, the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), and the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma). In August 2012, it has acquired an additional 24% membership interest in Chipeta Processing LLC from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
On January 13, 2012, the Partnership completed the acquisition of Anadarko�� 100% ownership interest in Mountain Gas Resources, LLC, which owns the Red Desert Complex (Red Desert), a 22% interest in Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (Rendezvous) and related facilities. Red Desert includes the Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, 1,295 miles of gathering lines and related facilities. Rendezvous owns a 338-mile mainline gathering system serving the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields in south-western Wyoming, which delivers gas to the Granger complex and other locations. In July 8, 2011, the Company acquired the Bison gas treating facility from Anadarko. In February 28, 2011, it acquired a natural gas gathering system and cryogenic gas processing facilities, collectively referred to as the Platte Valley assets, financed with borrowings under its revolving credit facility. On February 28,! 2011, Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Gas Partners, LP (the Partnership), acquired midstream assets from Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. These assets are located in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, northeast of Denver, Colorado, and consist of an approximately 1,054-mile natural gas gathering system and related compression and other ancillary equipment, and gas processing facilities with current cryogenic capacity of 84 one million cubic feet per day.
Rocky Mountains
The Bison treating facility consists of three amine treaters with a combined treating capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day located in the north-eastern corner of Wyoming. The assets also include three compressors with a combined compression of 5,230 horsepower and five generators with combined power output of 6.5 megawatts. The Company operates and has a 100% working interest in the Bison assets, which provide carbon dioxide (CO2) treating services for the coal-bed methane gas gathered in the Powder River Basin. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Anadarko provided approximately 73% of the throughput at the Bison treating facility, and the remaining throughput was from one third-party producer. The Bison treating facility treats and compresses gas from the coal-bed methane wells in the Powder River Basin. The Bison Pipeline, operated by TransCanada, is connected directly to the facility, which is the only inlet into the pipeline. The Bison treating facility also has access to the Ft. Union and Thunder Creek pipelines.
The Company is the managing member of Chipeta, a limited liability company owned by the Partnership (51%), Ute Energy Midstream Holdings LLC (25%) and Anadarko (24%). The Chipeta complex includes a natural gas processing plant with two processing trains, the Natural Buttes plant, and a 100% Partnership-owned 17-mile natural gas liquid (NGL) pipeline connecting the Chipeta plant to a third-party pipeline. The Chipeta assets has cryogenic and refrigeration ! processin! g capacity of 670 million cubic feet per day. These assets provide processing and transportation services in the Greater Natural Buttes area in Uintah County, Utah. During 2011, Chipeta began construction of a second cryogenic train at the Chipeta plant with processing capacity of approximately 300 million cubic feet per day. During 2011, Anadarko is a customer on the Chipeta system with approximately 94% of the system throughput. The Chipeta system has access to Anadarko and third-party production in the area with excess available capacity in the Uintah Basin. Anadarko controls approximately 217,000 gross acres in the Uintah Basin. Chipeta is connected to both Anadarko�� Natural Buttes gathering system and to the Three Rivers gathering system owned by Ute Energy and a third party. The Chipeta plant delivers NGLs through its 17-mile pipeline to the Mid-America Pipeline (MAPL), which provides transportation through the Seminole pipeline in West Texas and ultimately to the NGL markets at Mont Belvieu, Texas and the Texas Gulf Coast. The Chipeta plant has natural gas delivery points through the pipelines, which includes Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG), Questar Pipeline Company�� pipeline, and Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd.
The 47-mile Clawson gathering system, located in Carbon and Emery Counties of Utah, to provide gathering services for Anadarko�� coal-bed methane development of the Ferron Coal play. The Clawson gathering system provides gathering, dehydration, compression and treating services for coal-bed methane gas. The Clawson gathering system includes one compressor station, with 6,310 horsepower, and a CO2 treating facility. During 2011, Anadarko is the shipper on the Clawson gathering system with approximately 97% of the total throughput delivered into the system, and the remaining throughput on the system was from one third-party producer. Clawson Springs Field has approximately 7,000 gross acres and produces primarily from the Ferron Coal play. The Clawson gathering s! ystem del! ivers into Questar Transportation Services Company�� pipeline. The Fort Union system is a 324-mile gathering system operating within the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, starting in west central Campbell County and terminating at the Medicine Bow treating plant. The Fort Union gathering system consists of three parallel pipelines and includes CO2 treating facilities at the Medicine Bow plant. At CO2 levels, the system is capable of treating and blending over one billion cubic feet per day while satisfying the CO2 specifications of downstream pipelines. Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC is a partnership among Copano Pipelines/Rocky Mountains, LLC (37.04%), Crestone Powder River LLC (37.04%), Bargath, Inc. (11.11%) and the Partnership (14.81%). Anadarko is the field and construction operator of the Fort Union gathering system. The NGLs have market access to Enterprise�� Mid-America Pipeline Company (MAPCO), which terminates at Mont Belvieu, Texas, as well as to local markets.
The 810-mile natural gas gathering system and gas processing facility is located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The Granger system includes eight field compression stations with 41,950 horsepower. The processing facility has a cryogenic capacity of 200 million cubic feet per day and refrigeration capacity of 100 million cubic feet per day with NGL fractionation. During 2011, Anadarko is the customer on the Granger system with approximately 54% of throughput, and the remaining throughput was primarily from five third-party shippers. The Granger system is supplied by the Moxa Arch, the Jonah field and the Pinedale anticline across, which Anadarko controls approximately 568,000 gross acres. The Granger gas gathering system has approximately 690 receipt points. The residue gas from the Granger system can be delivered to the pipelines, which includes CIG, Kern River and Mountain Gas Transportation, Inc (MGTI) pipelines through a connect with Rendezvous Pipeline Company, Northwest Pipeline Co (NWPL), Overthrust Pipeline OTTCO, a! nd Questa! r Gas Management Company (QGM).
The 67-mile Helper gathering system, located in Carbon County, Utah, built to provide gathering services for Anadarko�� coal-bed methane development of the Ferron Coal play. The Helper gathering system provides gathering, dehydration, compression and treating services for coal-bed methane gas. The Helper gathering system includes two compressor stations with a combined 14,075 horsepower and two CO2 treating facilities. Anadarko is the shipper on the Helper gathering system. The Helper Field and Cardinal Draw Fields are Anadarko-operated coal-bed methane developments on the south-western edge of the Uintah Basin that produce from the Ferron Coal play. The Helper Field covers approximately 19,000 acres as of December 31, 2011 and Cardinal Draw Field, which lies immediately to the east of Helper Field, also covers approximately 20,000 acres. The Helper gathering system delivers into the Questar Transportation Services Company�� pipeline. Questar provides transportation to regional markets in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah and also delivers into the Kern River Pipeline, which provides transportation to markets in the western United States, primarily California.
The 1,056-mile Hilight gathering system, located in Johnson, Campbell, Natrona and Converse Counties of Wyoming, built to provide low and high-pressure gathering services for the area�� conventional gas production and delivers to the Hilight plant for processing. The Hilight gathering system has 11 compressor stations with 32,263 combined horsepower. The Hilight system has a capacity of approximately 30 million cubic feet per day and utilizes a refrigeration process and provides for fractionation of the recovered NGL products into propane, butanes and natural gasoline. Gas gathered and processed through the Hilight system is from numerous third-party customers, with the nine producers providing approximately 75% of the system throughput during 2011. The Hilight gathering system serves the g! as gather! ing needs of several conventional producing fields in Johnson, Campbell, Natrona and Converse Counties. The Hilight plant delivers residue gas into its MIGC transmission line.
The MIGC system is a 256-mile interstate pipeline regulated by FERC and operating within the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The MIGC system traverses the Powder River Basin from north to south, extending to Glenrock, Wyoming. The MIGC system is well positioned to provide transportation for the natural gas volumes received from various coal-bed methane gathering systems and conventional gas processing plants throughout the Powder River Basin. MIGC offers both forward-haul and backhaul transportation services and is certificated for 175 million cubic feet per day of firm transportation capacity. During 2011, Anadarko is the firm shipper on the MIGC system, with approximately 86% of throughput, with the remaining throughput from 11 third-party shippers. As of December 31, 2011, Anadarko has a working interest in over 1.7 million gross acres within the Powder River Basin. Anadarko�� gross acreage includes substantial undeveloped acreage positions in the expanding Big George coal play and the multiple seam coal fairway to the north of the Big George play. MIGC volumes are redelivered to the Glenrock, Wyoming Hub, which accesses the interstate pipelines, which includes CIG, Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transportation Company, Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company, and Wyoming Interstate Gas Company. Volumes are also delivered to Anadarko�� MGTC, Inc. (MGTC) intrastate pipeline, a Hinshaw pipeline that supplies local markets in Wyoming.
The 179-mile Newcastle gathering system, located in Weston and Niobrara Counties of Wyoming, was built to provide gathering services for conventional gas production in the area. The gathering system delivers into the Newcastle plant, which has gross capacity of approximately two million cubic feet per day. The plant utilizes a refrigeration process and provides for frac! tionation! of the recovered NGLs into propane and butane/gasoline mix products. The Newcastle facility is a joint venture among Black Hills Exploration and Production, Inc. (44.7%), John Paulson (5.3%) and the Partnership (50.0%). The Newcastle gathering system includes one compressor station with 560 horsepower. The Newcastle plant has an additional 2,100 horsepower for refrigeration and residue compression. Gas gathered and processed through the Newcastle system is from 12 third-party customers, with the four producers providing approximately 92% of the system throughput during 2011. The producer, Black Hills Exploration, provided approximately 62% of the throughput during 2011. The Newcastle gathering system and plant primarily service gas production from the Clareton and Finn-Shurley fields in Weston County. Propane products from the Newcastle plant are typically sold locally by truck, and the butane/gasoline mix products are transported to the Hilight plant for further fractionation. Residue gas from the Newcastle system is delivered into Anadarko�� MGTC pipeline for transport, distribution and sale.
The Platte Valley system, located in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, consists of a processing plant with current cryogenic capacity of 100 million cubic feet per day, two fractionation trains, a 1,099-mile natural gas gathering system and related equipment. The Platte Valley gathering system has 13 compressor stations with a combined 17,011 of operating horsepower. During 2011, approximately 8% of the Platte Valley system throughput was from Anadarko and the remaining throughput was from various third-party customers, the EnCana Corporation. There are 713 receipt points connected to the Platte Valley gathering system as of December 31, 2011. The system is connected to its Wattenberg gathering system. The Platte Valley system is primarily supplied by the Wattenberg field and covers portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Elbert, and Weld Counties, Colorado. The Platte Valley system de! livers NG! Ls through the pipelines, which includes local markets, ONEOK Overland Pass Pipeline, and the Wattenberg Pipeline owned and operated by DCP Midstream (formerly the Buckeye Pipeline). In addition, the Platte Valley system can deliver to the CIG and Xcel Energy residue gas pipelines.
The Wattenberg gathering system is a 1,781-mile wet gas gathering system in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, north and east of Denver, Colorado, and includes six compressor stations and combined 72,579 of operating horsepower. The Fort Lupton processing plant has two trains with combined processing capacity of 105 million cubic feet per day. During 2011, Anadarko-operated production represented approximately 66% of system throughput. Approximately 29% of Wattenberg system throughput was from two third-party producers and the remaining throughput was from various third-party customers. There are 2,129 receipt points and over 5,900 wells connected to the gathering system as of December 31, 2011. The Wattenberg gathering system is primarily supplied by the Wattenberg field and covers portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield and Weld counties. Anadarko controls approximately 762,000 gross acres in the Wattenberg field. Anadarko drilled 472 wells and completed 2,090 fracs at the Wattenberg field during 2011, and had identified 1,200 to 2,700 opportunities to increase production, including new well locations, re-fracs and recompletions. The Wattenberg gathering system has five delivery points, with the primary delivery points, which includes Anadarko�� Wattenberg processing plant, Fort Lupton processing plant, and Platte Valley processing plant.
The White Cliffs pipeline consists of a 526-mile crude oil pipeline that originates in Platteville, Colorado and terminates in Cushing, Oklahoma. It has an approximate capacity of 80,000 barrels per day. At the point of origin, it has a 100,000-barrel storage facility and a truck-loading facility with an additional 220,000 barrels of storage. The pipeline is a! joint ve! nture owned by SemCrude Pipeline LP (51%), Plains Pipeline LP (34%), Noble Energy, Inc. (5%) and the Partnership (10%). The White Cliffs pipeline has two throughput contracts with Anadarko and Noble Energy. During 2011, Anadarko was the shipper on the White Cliffs pipeline. The White Cliffs pipeline is supplied by production from the Denver-Julesburg Basin and is the only direct route from the Denver-Julesburg Basin to Cushing, Oklahoma. The White Cliffs pipeline delivery point is SemCrude�� storage facility in Cushing, Oklahoma, a major crude oil marketing center, which ultimately delivers to the mid-continent refineries.
Mid-Continent
The 1,953-mile Hugoton gathering system provides gathering service to the Hugoton field and is primarily located in Seward, Stevens, Grant and Morton Counties of Southwest Kansas and Texas County in Oklahoma. The Hugoton gathering system has 44 compressor stations with a combined 92,097 horsepower of compression. Anadarko is the customer on the Hugoton gathering system with approximately 76% of the system throughput, during 2011. During 2011, approximately 19% of the throughput on the Hugoton system was from one third-party shipper with the balance from various other third-party shippers. The Hugoton field is a natural gas fields in North America. The Hugoton gathering system is connected to DCP Midstream�� National Helium plant, which extracts NGLs and helium and delivers residue gas into the Panhandle Eastern pipeline. The system is also connected to the Satanta plant, which is owned by Pioneer Natural Resources Corporation (51%) and Anadarko (49%), for NGLs and helium processing and delivers residue gas into Kansas Gas Services and Southern Star pipeline.
East Texas
The 323-mile Dew gathering system is located in Anderson, Freestone, Leon and Robertson Counties of East Texas. The Dew gathering system has 10 compressor stations with a combined 36,175 horsepower of compression. Anadarko is the only shipper on the ! Dew gathe! ring system. As of December 31, 2011, Anadarko has approximately 833 producing wells in the Bossier play and controls approximately 122,000 gross acres in the area. The Dew gathering system has delivery points with Pinnacle Gas Treating LLC, which is the primary delivery point and is described in more detail below, and Kinder Morgan�� Tejas pipeline.
The Pinnacle gathering system includes the Partnership�� 266-mile Pinnacle gathering system and its Bethel treating plant. The Pinnacle system provides sour gas gathering and treating service in Anderson, Freestone, Leon, Limestone and Robertson Counties of East Texas. The Bethel treating plant, located in Anderson County, has total CO2 treating capacity of 502 million cubic feet per day and 20 long tons per day of sulfur treating capacity. During 2011, Anadarko was shipper on the Pinnacle gathering system with approximately 90% of system throughput and the remaining throughput on the system was from four third-party shippers. The Pinnacle gathering system provide gathering and treating services to the five-county area over, which it extends, including the Cotton Valley Lime formations, which contain concentrations of sulfur and CO2. The Pinnacle gathering system is connected to Atmos Texas pipeline, Enbridge Pipelines (East Texas) LP pipeline, Energy Transfer Fuels pipeline, Enterprise Texas Pipeline, LP�� pipeline, ETC Texas Pipeline, Ltd pipeline, and Kinder Morgan�� Tejas pipeline. These pipelines provide transportation to the Carthage, Waha and Houston Ship Channel market hubs in Texas.
West Texas
The 118-mile Haley gathering system provides gathering and dehydration services in Loving County, Texas and gathers a portion of Anadarko�� production from the Delaware Basin. During 2011, Anadarko�� production represented approximately 69% of the Haley gathering system�� throughput, and the remaining throughput is attributable to Anadarko�� partner in the Haley area. As of December 31, 2011, in the great! er Delawa! re basin, Anadarko has access to approximately 355,000 gross acres, is a portion of which is gathered by the Haley gathering system. The Haley gathering system has multiple delivery points. The primary delivery points are to the El Paso Natural Gas pipeline or the Enterprise GC, LP pipeline for delivery into Energy Transfer�� Oasis pipeline. It also delivers into Southern Union Energy Services��pipeline for further delivery into the Oasis pipeline. The pipelines at these delivery points provide transportation to both the Waha and Houston Ship Channel markets.
The Company competes with QEP Field Services Company, El Paso Midstream Group, Inc., XTO Energy, ETC Texas Pipeline, Ltd, Enbridge Pipelines (East Texas) LP, Kinder Morgan Tejas Pipeline, LP, MIGC, Thunder Creek Gas Services, Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company, TransCanada, Williams Field Services, Enterprise Gas Processing, LLC, Jonah Gas Gathering Company, QEP Field Services Company, Anadarko�� Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC, Enterprise GC, LP, Targa Midstream Services LLC, Southern Union Energy Services Company, DCP Midstream, Merit Energy, ONEOK Gas Gathering Company, Pioneer Natural Resources and AKA Energy.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Fickling]
Wesfarmers Ltd. (WES), Australia�� largest private-sector employer, fell the most in more than two years in Sydney trading after it said earnings from its Target department stores would drop as much as 43 percent from a year earlier.
Hot Oil Companies To Invest In Right Now: RPC Inc (RES)
RPC, Inc. (RPC), incorporated on January 20, 1984, is a holding company. The Company provides a broad range of specialized oilfield services and equipment primarily to independent and oil and gas companies engaged in the exploration, production and development of oil and gas properties throughout the United States, including the southwest, mid-continent, Gulf of Mexico, Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions, and in selected international markets. The Company operates in two business segments: Technical Services and Support Services.
The services and equipment provided include, among others, pressure pumping services,downhole tool services coiled tubing services, snubbing services (also referred to as hydraulic workover services), nitrogen services, the rental of drill pipe and other specialized oilfield equipment, and well control. RPC acts as a holding company for its operating units, Cudd Energy Services, Patterson Rental and Fishing Tools, Bronco Oilfield Services, Thru Tubing Solutions, Well Control School, and others.
Technical Services
Technical Services include RPC�� oil and gas service lines that utilize people and equipment to perform value-added completion, production and maintenance services directly to a customer�� well. The demand for these services is generally influenced by customers��decisions to invest capital toward initiating production in a new oil or natural gas well, improving production flows in an existing formation, or to address well control issues. This business segment consists primarily of pressure pumping, downhole tools, coiled tubing, snubbing, nitrogen, well control, wireline and fishing. The principal markets for this business segment include the United States, including the southwest, mid-continent, Gulf of Mexico, Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions, and in selected international markets. Customers include multi-national and independent oil and gas producers, and selected nationally owned oil companies.
Fracturing services are performed to stimulate production of oil and natural gas by increasing the permeability of a formation. Fracturing is particularly important in shale formations, which have low permeability, and unconventional completion, because the formation containing hydrocarbons is not concentrated in one area and requires multiple fracturing operations. The fracturing process consists of pumping fluid gel and sometimes nitrogen into a cased well at sufficient pressure to fracture the formation at desired locations and depths. Sand, bauxite or synthetic proppant, which is often suspended in gel, is pumped into the fracture. When the pressure is released at the surface, the fluid gel returns to the well surface, but the proppant remains in the fracture, thus keeping it open so that oil and natural gas can flow through the fracture into the production tubing and ultimately the well surface.
Acidizing services are also performed to stimulate production of oil and natural gas, but they are used in wells that have undergone formation damage due to the buildup of various materials that block the formation. Acidizing entails pumping volumes of specially formulated acids into reservoirs to dissolve barriers and enlarge crevices in the formation, thereby eliminating obstacles to the flow of oil and natural gas.! Acidizin! g services can also enhance production in limestone formations.Throug. TTS provides services and downhole motors, fishing tools and other specialized downhole tools and processes to operators and service companies in drilling and production operations, including casing perforation at the completion stage of an oil or gas well. The services that TTS provides are especially suited for unconventional drilling and completion activities.
Coiled tubing services, involve the injection of coiled tubing into wells to perform various applications and functions for use principally in well-servicing operations and more recently to facilitate completion of horizontal wells. Coiled tubing is a flexible steel pipe with a diameter of less than four inches manufactured in continuous lengths of thousands of feet and wound or coiled around a reel. It can be inserted through existing production tubing and used to perform workovers without using a larger, more costly workover rig. Principal advantages of employing coiled tubing in a workover operation include: not having to shut-in the well during such operations, the ability to reel continuous coiled tubing in and out of a well significantly faster than conventional pipe, the ability to direct fluids into a wellbore with more precision, and enhanced access to remote or offshore fields due to the smaller size and mobility of a coiled tubing unit compared to a workover rig.
Snubbing involves using a hydraulic workover rig that permits an operator to repair damaged casing, production tubing and downhole production equipment in a high-pressure environment. A snubbing unit makes it possible to remove and replace downhole equipment while maintaining pressure on the well. Customers benefit because these operations can be performed without removing the pressure from the well, which stops production and can damage the formation, and because a snubbing rig can perform many applications at a lower cost than other alternatives. There are a number of uses fo! r nitroge! n, an inert, non-combustible element, in providing services to oilfield customers and industrial users outside of the oilfield. For its oilfield customers, nitrogen can be used to clean drilling and production pipe and displace fluids in various drilling applications.
For its oilfield customers, nitrogen can be used to clean drilling and production pipe and displace fluids in various drilling applications. Increasingly, it is used as a displacement medium to production in older wells in which production has depleted. It also can be used to create a fire-retardant environment in hazardous blowout situations and as a fracturing medium for its fracturing service line. In addition, nitrogen can be complementary to its snubbing and coiled tubing service lines, because it is a non-corrosive medium and is frequently injected into a well using coiled tubing. For non-oilfield industrial users, nitrogen can be used to purge pipelines and create a non-combustible environment.
Cudd Energy Services specializes in responding to and controlling oil and gas well emergencies, including blowouts and well fires, domestically and internationally. In connection with these services, Cudd Energy Services, along with Patterson Services, has the capacity to supply the equipment, and personnel necessary to restore affected oil and gas wells to production. During the past several years, the Company has responded to well control situations in several international locations including Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, Mexico, Qatar, Taiwan, Trinidad, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Abu Dhabi and Venezuela.
Wireline is classified into two types of services: slick or braided line and electric line. In both, a spooled wire is unwound and lowered into a well, conveying various types of tools or equipment. Slick or braided line services use a non-conductive line primarily for jarring objects into or out of a well, as in fishing or plug-setting operations. Elect! ric line ! services lower an electrical conductor line into a well allowing the use of electrically-operated tools such as perforators, bridge plugs and logging tools. Wireline services can be an integral part of the plug and abandonment process, near the end of the life cycle of a well.
Fishing involves the use of specialized tools and procedures to retrieve lost equipment from a well drilling operation and producing wells. It is a service required by oil and gas operators who have lost equipment in a well. Oil and natural gas production from an affected well typically declines until the lost equipment can be retrieved. In some cases, the Company creates customized tools to perform a fishing operation. The customized tools are maintained by the Company after the particular fishing job for future use if a similar need arises.
Support Services
Support Services include RPC�� oil and gas service lines that primarily provide equipment for customer use or services to assist customer operations. The equipment and services include drill pipe and related tools, pipe handling, pipe inspection and storage services, and oilfield training services. The demand for these services tends to be influenced primarily by customer drilling-related activity levels. The principal markets for this segment include the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, mid-continent, Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions and project work in selected international locations in the last three years including primarily Canada, Latin America and the Middle East. Customers primarily include domestic operations of multi-national and independent oil and gas producers, and selected nationally owned oil companies.
Rental tools accounted for approximately 5% of 2012 revenues. The Company rents specialized equipment for use with onshore and offshore oil and gas well drilling, completion and workover activities. The drilling and subsequent operation of oil and gas wells generally require ! a variety! of equipment. The equipment needed is in part determined by the geological features of the production zone and the size of the well itself. As a result, operators and drilling contractors often find it more economical to supplement their tool and tubular inventories with rental items instead of owning a complete inventory. The Company�� facilities are strategically located to serve the staging points for oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico, mid-continent region, Appalachian region and the Rocky Mountains.
Oilfield Pipe Inspection Services, Pipe Management and Pipe Storage includes pipe inspection services include Full Body Electromagnetic and Phased Array Ultrasonic inspection of pipe used in oil and gas wells. These services are provided at both the Company�� inspection facilities and at independent tubular mills in accordance with negotiated sales and/or service contracts. Its customers are oil companies and steel mills, for which it provides in-house inspection services, inventory management and process control of tubing, casing and drill pipe. Its locations in Channelview, Texas and Morgan City, Louisiana are equipped with capacity cranes, specially designed forklifts and a computerized inventory system to serve a variety of storage and handling services for both oilfield and non-oilfield customers.
Well Control School provides industry and government accredited training for the oil and gas industry both in the United States and in limited international locations. Well Control School provides training in various formats including conventional classroom training, interactive computer training including training delivered over the Internet, and mobile simulator training. Energy Personnel International provides drilling and production engineers, well site supervisors, project management specialists, and workover and completion specialists on a consulting basis to the oil and gas industry to meet customers��needs for staff engineering and well site management.
!The Company competes with Halliburton Energy Services Group, , Baker Hughes and Schlumberger Ltd.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Arie Goren]
After running this screen on May 21, 2013, before the markets' open, I discovered the following eight stocks: Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (SXL), Leggett & Platt Inc (LEG), Copa Holdings SA (CPA), RPC Inc. (RES), Tupperware Brands Corp. (TUP), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF), John Wiley & Sons Inc. (JW.A) and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW).
- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of oilfield service company RPC (NYSE: RES ) lost 12% of their value today after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue dropped 15% in the first quarter to $425.8 million, well below the $470.1 million estimate. Net income dropped 57% to $35.1 million, or $0.16 per share, and analysts expected a $0.25-per-share profit. �
- [By Tim Brugger]
For the third straight quarter, the board of directors of Atlanta-based oilfield equipment and services supplier RPC (NYSE: RES ) has declared a $0.10-per-share dividend, the company announced today.
Hot Oil Companies To Invest In Right Now: Helmerich & Payne Inc (HP)
Helmerich & Payne, Inc., incorporated on February 29, 1944, is engaged in contract drilling of oil and gases wells for others and this business. The Company's contract drilling business is composed of three reportable business segments: U.S. Land, Offshore and International Land. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company's U.S. Land operations drilled in Oklahoma, California, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Arkansas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia. Offshore operations were conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, and offshore of California, Trinidad and Equatorial Guinea. During fiscal 2012, the Company's International Land segment operated in six international locations: Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Tunisia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. The Company is also engaged in the ownership, development and operation of commercial real estate and the research and development of rotary steerable technology. Each of the businesses operates independently of the others through wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company's real estate investments located exclusively within Tulsa, Oklahoma, include a shopping center containing approximately 441,000 leasable square feet, multi-tenant industrial warehouse properties containing approximately one million leasable square feet and approximately 210 acres of undeveloped real estate. The Company's subsidiary, TerraVici Drilling Solutions, Inc. (TerraVici), is developing rotary steerable technology. As of September 30, 2012, it had 176 rigs under fixed-term contracts. During fiscal 2012, the Company leased a 150,000 square foot industrial facility near Tulsa, Oklahoma for the purpose of overhauling/repairing rig equipment and associated component parts.
U.S. Land Drilling
As of September 30, 2012, the Company had 282 of its land rigs available for work in the United States. During fiscal 2012, the Company's U.S. Land operations contributed approximately 85% of the Compan! y's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was approximately 89%. During fiscal 2012, the Company's fleet of FlexRigs had an average utilization of approximately 97%, while the Company's conventional and mobile rigs had an average utilization of approximately 11%. As of September 31, 2012, 231 out of an available 282 land rigs were working.
Off Shore Drilling
During fiscal 2012, the Company's Offshore operations contributed approximately 6% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was approximately 79%. During fiscal 2012, the Company had eight of its nine offshore platform rigs under contract and continued to work under management contracts for four customer-owned rigs. During fiscal 2012, revenues from drilling services performed for the Company's offshore drilling customer totaled approximately 56% of offshore revenues.
International Land Drilling
During fiscal 2012, the Company's International Land operations contributed approximately 9% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was 77%. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had nine rigs in Argentina. During fiscal 2012, the Company's utilization rate was approximately 52%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Argentine drilling operations contributed approximately 2% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. The Argentine drilling contracts are with international or national oil companies. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had seven rigs in Colombia. During fiscal 2012, the Company's utilization rate was approximately 79%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Colombian drilling operations contributed approximately 3% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, revenues from drilling services performed for the Company's customer in Colombia totaled approximately 1% of consolidated operating revenues and approximately 16% of inter! national ! operating revenues. The Colombian drilling contracts are with international or national oil companies. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had five rigs in Ecuador. During fiscal 2012, the utilization rate in Ecuador was 97%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Ecuadorian drilling operations contributed approximately 2% of consolidated operating revenues. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had two rigs in Tunisia, four rigs in Bahrain and two rigs in United Arab Emirates.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividends4Life]
Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP) is the holding company for Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Company, an international drilling contractor.
Yield: 3.0% | Years of Dividend Growth: 41 - [By Richard Moroney, Editor, Dow Theory Forecasts]
Helmerich & Payne (HP) has paid a dividend without interruption since 1959 and raised the distribution in 40 straight years.
Following a pair of hikes in less than 12 months, Helmerich's quarterly dividend stands at $0.50 per share, compared to $0.07 per share a year ago.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP ) is expected to report Q3 earnings on July 26. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Helmerich & Payne's revenues will expand 3.1% and EPS will compress -2.2%.
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