Bound for Vegas - Art Bergmann (1989)

We are pleased to be a return exhibitor at the OPIS National Supply Summit now in its 12th year to take place at The Palazzo in Las Vegas, NV next week October 24th through the 26th.

Stop by and visit us at Booth 109 and see what's new in energy education and training whether it be instructor-led, in-house or web-based. Try your luck at our Energy Wheel of Fortune for a chance to win free web-based courses as well as discounts on our public courses.

Yours truly, Jobert Abueva, Director - Global Marketing and North American Sales, will be on hand along with Jane Goddard, Senior Account Executive, to answer any questions.

To set up an appointment ahead of time please contact us: info@oxfordprinceton.com.

See you in Vegas.

Jump - Van Halen (1984)

So oil jumps back past $80 a barrel last Friday to $81.58 on November futures making it the first time since early August. It looks like a turbulent F/X market with central banks seeming to devalue their currencies left and right is having an impact.

How will it fair as we progress into the month? Some experts figure that if the U.S. Federal Government expands its stimulus plan in the beginning of 2011, then oil prices could rise as much as 6% to around $83 a barrel.

What do you think? Also, where might the price end up when 2010 is said and done? We are looking to award the closest guestimate with a prize. See our future monthly e-newsletters and this space for further details.

Part of the Plan - Dan Folgerberg (1975)

Some of you are true forward planners and want to know what the course schedule will be for 2011. Well, we did listen up and you now have access to the calendar. The first half is up and the rest of the year should be up in a week. Reserve your seat today on some of the most sought after energy training courses anywhere in the world.

But do note there is still plenty of training to be had in 2010.

50 Candles - Boyz II Men (1994)

OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, marks its 50th year on Friday, September 10th. Back in 1960, the five founding members of Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela convened in Baghdad. Today, OPEC is 12 member countries strong and includes Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. (Indonesia suspended its membership in January 2009).

It would be tough to argue against the influence this cartel has had, and continues to do so today, on the oil supply and world markets as members strive to coordinate and unify their petroleum policies. No training on oil supply and trading can be complete without some acknowledgement of OPEC’s reach and that is certainly the case with The Oxford Princeton Programme’s unsurpassed array of such courses.

For more on OPEC’s observance of this milestone, log onto http://www.opec.org/.

Read a Book - Pylon (1980)

If you are still looking to squeeze in a book or two into what remains of your summer reading list, here are "Five Best" titles on the oil industry as suggested by Peter Maass (author of Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil, Vintage) in this weekend's edition of The Wall Street Journal:

1. The History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida M. Rabell, McClure, Phillips, 1904

The rise of the company's and it's owner, John D. Rockefeller.

2. The Seven Sisters by Anthony Sampson, Viking, 1975

Political clout wielded by the largest Western oil companies during the 1970s.

3. The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier, Oxford, 2007

Exploring the paradox of oil's baleful effects including corruption and dictatorship.

4. Cities of Salt by Abdelrahman Munif, Random House, 1987

A fictional account of oil's discovery in the Middle East; think "Giant" the movie in the desert.

5. A Month and a Day by Ken Saro-Wiwa, Penguin, 1995

Ecological and political travesties that led the author to put his life on the line within the Niger Delta.

Energy Dance - Gary Moore Band (1973)

Quick, name the seven countries that have made the largest investments in alterative energy which includes wind, solar, biofuels, low carbon, geothermal, marine and small hydroelectric.

Took me awhile and I got only four of them right.

Here they are, according to Fast Company:

1. China - $34.6 billion (147.5% - 5-year growth rate in investment)

2. USA - $18.6 billion (102.7%)

3. UK - $11.2 billion (127.5%)

4. Spain - $10.4 billion (79.7%)

5. Brazil - $7.4 billion (147.8%)

6. Germany - $4.3 billion (75.3%)

7. Canada - $3.3. billion (70.2%)

To learn more about the key drivers of this accelerating sector check out our Overview of the Renewables Industry web-based course.

Back to Chicago - Styx (1990)

If you are headed to the LDC Gas Forum in Chicago running next month from Monday, September 13th through Wednesday, the 15th, why not extend your stay the rest of the week and round out your knowledge of the marketplace with two of our exclusive North American Nat Gas courses?

Overview of the North American Natural Gas Industry
Thursday, September 16, 2010

North American Natural Gas Transportation and Storage
Friday, September 17, 2010

Last year, a number of LDC Forum delegates did take advantage of the convenient schedule and found it quite beneficial as the courses provided an opportunity to confirm and further comprehend what they took away from the conference still very fresh on their minds.

Even if you aren't attending the Forum, we welcome you to join us for this education event.