Russia’s Use of the “Energy Weapon” in Europe

This brief quantifies the potential exposure of key European countries to Russian gas price and supply manipulation, shows how Moscow has used energy as an instrument of coercive diplomacy since the early 1990s, and briefly assesses the impacts and future policy implications of Russian entities’ past use of the “energy weapon” in and near Europe. Although it has not been widely successful to date in the former Soviet zone, Russia's use of the energy weapon against Western European countries in various forms still constitutes a strategic threat that warrants close attention from policymakers in Washington and throughout Europe, writes fellow Gabriel Collins

A Growing Portion of China’s “Oil Products” Demand Growth Does Not Actually Come From Crude Oil

As China’s demand for light oil products continues to drive incremental consumption growth, it is becoming apparent that commodities framed as “oil products” are increasingly not actually made from crude oil. Fellow Gabriel Collins explores the possible ramifications of this situation in this issue brief. He writes that oil producers — whether in Riyadh, Moscow or the Permian Basin — should take stock of how China’s growing use of “oil products” that do not actually come from crude oil may translate into effective reductions in demand and prices for the crude oil they produce

Seeking Scalable, Cost-effective Reductions in Gasoline Demand and Tailpipe Emissions? Focus on Pickup Trucks, Not Priuses

Larger trucks and SUVs with powerful, high-displacement engines are the low-hanging fruit for any policymaker seeking the most efficient path to reducing gasoline use and the associated emissions. Energy fellow Gabriel Collins explains why in "Seeking Scalable, Cost-effective Reductions in Gasoline Demand and Tailpipe Emissions? Focus on Pickup Trucks, Not Priuses.

Frac Ranching vs. Cattle Ranching: Exploring the Economic Motivations Behind Operator-Surface Owner Conflicts Over Produced Water Recycling Projects

The recycling of produced water in Texas oilfields threatens more lucrative frac water sales by landowners.

Oilfield Produced Water Ownership in Texas: Balancing Surface Owners’ Rights and Mineral Owners’ Commercial Objectives

Under long-established Texas law, the surface estate owner clearly owns oilfield produced water. However, the law does not address how, if at all, the producer would need to split revenues with the surface owner for a sale or a for-value transfer of produced water. Fellow Gabe Collins analyzes the ambiguity related to revenues from this commodity and discusses potential transaction structures for produced water in Texas

Assessing an NGO’s Attempt to Use Federal Courts to Bypass Oklahoma’s State Legislative and Regulatory Authority Over Produced Water Policy

A spike in earthquakes in Oklahoma is likely linked to deep disposal wells used to store wastewater from oil and gas drilling. In a lawsuit against several oil & gas operators, the Sierra Club offers a novel interpretation of a federal regulation in its bid to curtail wastewater disposal operations. In this brief, fellow Gabriel Collins lays out the implications of the Sierra Club's strategy, arguing that state regulators and legislators — not federal courts — should get first crack at resolving problems arising from seismic activity related to wastewater injection

Iran’s Looming Water Bankruptcy

Iran is on the brink of “water bankruptcy” in large part because the Iranian government’s aspirations for wheat self-sufficiency are driving high agricultural water use, fellow Gabriel Collins writes in this research paper. The paper analyzes Iran’s water situation and proposes policy solutions to slow the rapid depletion of the country’s groundwater

A Maritime Oil Blockade Against China—Tactically Tempting but Strategically Flawed

The political, economic, and financial aspects of sustaining an oil blockade against China mean that even a militarily successful blockader could find its political, economic, and diplomatic position untenable well before a blockade could exert its full effects

Brains vs. Grains: US Technological Leadership Faces a Stiff Challenge as Competition With China Heats Up

As the competition between the U.S. and China intensifies, energy fellow Gabriel Collins calls for U.S. leadership in a technology race that will determine global influence for decades to come