Robert Bensh

2019 was a banner year for oil and gas discoveries, which topped a four-year high. According to data released by Rystad Energy, oil and gas companies discovered nearly 12.2 billion barrels of new oil in 2019. The data showed companies found 1.8 billion barrels of new oil reserves in Guyana alone.
From the North African nation of Mauritania to the Kara Sea, companies such as BP and ExxonMobil discovered billions of new barrels of oil in 2019. Many analysts predict 2020 could produce similar di...

There are several kinds of coronavirus found around the world. Some are mild diseases that cause little concern. The coronavirus now ravaging regions of China is a new strain. Its unofficial name is the Wuhan coronavirus. Wuhan is the extensive urban region in China where the disease is causing so much human suffering. While the disease, itself, is a continuing focus of worldwide concern, its aftereffects are only becoming apparent. One of the effects of this outbreak is the drop in the price...

Green energy is getting more and more popular. Many regions that were slow to embrace renewable power in the past have started to do so in the last few years. Africa’s progress is particularly significant. While the region does face some challenges, Africans have also found a great deal of success.
Solar Power is Key
Solar power is the foundation of the green energy policy in many African nations. The majority of the continent gets plenty of sunlight throughout the year, and most African nati...

Every culture has a lot of stories, folk wisdom and other knowledge to pass on. Ukrainian culture is no exception to this rule. As the world focuses on Ukraine and its implications for the US Presidential race, it’s a good time to reflect on the culture. Many of these proverbs are still used widely, and they’re very revealing about Ukrainian society and values. These sayings have been handed down for generations, and represent the enduring wisdom of the culture, collectively.
One famous Ukrai...

Back in 2001, a Ukrainian census was taken which revealed that almost 48.5 million people were living in the country. During the latest census, released on December 1, 2019, the number of residents fell to 37,289,000.
Since its 28-year independence, the country has witnessed a 15-million decrease in its population.
While the population count during the last census was not taken in the usual manual manner – it was taken electronically and the annexed regions of Crimea and occupied area of Donb...

Ukraine has seen a variety of broken agricultural records and new reforms. 2019 led to a record crop of grain and oilseed. Exports are booming. The government also ended their monopoly on alcohol production, and liquidated the country’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.
Broken Records
Even though 2019 saw a drought in the fall, Ukraine still produced a record crop of grain and oilseeds. The crop exceeded 75 million tons, which was 5 million tons more than last year. The majority of the cr...

Big oil is normally not the first thing anyone thinks of when asked to imagine a perfect customer for renewable energy resources. Yet in 2019 this is exactly the case. The fossil fuel empire could in fact stand to gain big by partnering with the greenest energy of all: wind power and solar power.
Offshore oil platforms are easily recognizable. Giant machines of metal that glow on the distant horizon at night. This is where hardy crews of men and women work long hours for weeks at a time to ma...

Robert Bensh shares a summary of future energy trends.

2019 was an exciting and consequential year for the oil and gas industry. Major stories included records in domestic production, increased exports, financial developments, and a reduction of oil rigs by privately held energy companies.
A major financial story of 2019 for the oil and gas industry is that there appears to be a financial divergence occurring among the industry players. Companies with strong internal cash flows are easily able to fund the exploration and development of new drilli...

The IEA, or International Energy Agency, is predicting that the United States of America will become a sustained net exporter of oil in 2020. This forecast by the IEA is based on information that was recently published in December of 2019.
It is worthwhile to note that the United States actually became a net exporter for a brief period of time in 2019. In September of 2019, the USA exported 89,000 more barrels of oil than it imported. A net exporter means that a country exports more oil than ...

Despite rapid growth of oil production in the United States the past decade, an unexpected rise in mergers and bankruptcies are in the energy sector’s forecast. New drillers that entered the hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking) market in the 2010s are now facing fierce competition from oil giants such as ExxonMobil and Chevron. Here’s a brief look at this scenario and how it affects players in the oil industry.
Rise of Frackers
The fracking industry rose during the Obama Administration as a re...

New international oil shipping regulations and rising demand for crude in Europe and the Mediterranean drove oil freight rates up to record levels in late 2019, according to Reuters. US Gulf Coast Aframax crude tankers, which are medium-sized delivery ships, have been directly affected by these new rules. The uptick in price and demand coincides with new rules set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which works toward improving shipping safety and security for the United Nations...

There are many options available for travelers to get around in the Eastern European country of Ukraine. Travelers can opt to use public transportation such as buses, trams, and metros in the big cities. Taxis are available in some areas, and there is also the option to hitchhike, although this can be risky and is not suggested. Driving by car is another option that has some pros but will cost significantly more than the other options.

Public Transportation in Ukraine

Most of the public trans...

Ukraine is generally in the news for political and military reasons, not its economy. However, these factors are of course intertwined. Until about 2013, this country’s most important trading partner was Russia. These days, things have changed. Political events caused Ukraine to look for other partners. Today, Ukraine’s trade with the EU has become more important than its relationship with Russia. Over time, though, trade with China is becoming ever more important for Ukraine’s economy.
Ukrai...

A brief look at the 3 hottest topics in the oil industry today as told by Robert Bensh.