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Upstream Pumping Solutions will debut in April 2010. In the meantime, click here to sign up for periodic email updates on upstream oil and gas pumping. Click here to read more about Upstream Pumping Solutions.

As you know, Pumps & Systems will produce Upstream Pumping Solutions next Spring. In the meantime, if you are looking for troubleshooting and practical tips on upstream oil and gas pumping, please go to the Upstream Pumping Solutions website. We have provided links to articles that we have run in past issues of Pumps & Systems that cover various topics in upstream oil and gas, including electric submersible pumps, screw pumps, seals and pumping in the oil sands. Check back periodically as this section continues to grow and includes articles exclusive to Upstream Pumping Solutions.

Next year, Pumps & Systems will introduce Upstream Pumping Solutions, a special supplement specifically directed toward upstream oil and gas professionals. Click here for more details and a subscription form.

If you are in the upstream oil and gas market, what are some of the problems you face in field? What are the issues you would like to see us cover? We would love to hear from you!

A barrel of crude is at a little less than $38 today. At that kind of price, investing in more offshore drilling and oil sands is not really practical. When oil was at a record $147 a barrel last July, it made sense to heavily invest in r&d for additional oil sources.

In related news, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement yesterday about the Obama administration’s drilling plan:

“The new Administration is stopping [the Bush administration's] headlong rush to open new offshore areas of drilling, calling for a thorough review, with much greater public participation. And Secretary Salazar is wisely initiating a review of the potential for offshore renewable energy, and moving forward with long-stalled rules to ensure that offshore renewable energy projects can proceed in an environmentally-responsible manner.

“We cannot drill our way to energy independence. But by harnessing all of our domestic energy resources, and aggressively pursuing new technology to unleash them, we move a giant step closer toward energy independence.”

Let’s just hope that people don’t go back to their old habits when it comes to oil usage–otherwise we’ll be right back in the same boat if a barrel of oil should surge in price again and gas prices rise dramatically. Because the price of oil doesn’t really lend itself to heavy oil drilling (and the Obama administration wants to move away from that plan), we don’t want to end up with shortages if people should overuse gas while the prices are low.