When investigators try to determine exactly what transpired prior to any accident, a portion of their research boils down to two key questions: "What did you know, and when did you know it?"

Today, these two questions figure prominently in the ongoing investigation on the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and the cement used in the well. A letter from Fred H. Barlit Jr., the lead investigator for the presidential commission examining the Gulf blowout, reportedly casts doubt on the efficacy of the cement as well as the communications between BP and Halliburton before the cement was used in the well.

The presidential commission is continuing its work and will produce a report on its findings. At this point, it's much too early to speculate on a cause, or perhaps the causes, of the accident. What is... more »

Next Tuesday, Americans across the country will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, and we encourage everyone to do so.

But should we support candidates who want us to produce more domestic oil and natural gas, or candidates who oppose it? Should we vote for politicians who want to increase taxes on oil companies? Energy questions like these may not be on the ballot, but our elected officials make important energy decisions that affect our lives and our nation's future.

Americans understand the important consequences of these questions:

• A September, Rasmussen poll found that 63 percent of voters continue to support both offshore and deepwater drilling.
• A Harris Interactive survey from that same month showed that more than 60 percent opposed increasing oil and natural gas... more »

U.S. oil and natural gas drilling increased markedly in the third quarter this year, according to API's 2010 Quarterly Well Completion Report: Third Quarter. An estimated 11,297 oil wells, natural gas wells and dry holes were completed, which was 45 percent higher than during the same period in 2009.

"I think this really demonstrates the oil and natural gas industry's continued commitment to finding new energy sources to meet growing U.S. and world demand, as well as the importance of new supply areas, many of which were only opened recently thanks to the industry's ability to apply innovative techniques to existing technologies," said Hazen Arafa, director of API's statistics department.

An estimated 4,434 U.S. natural gas wells were completed in the third quarter, as drillers used horizo... more »

When you think about it, all of us in some way are connected to the oil and natural gas industry, and its impact on the U.S. economy is massive.

Did you know that the oil and natural gas industry supports 7.5 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? From the 9.2 million Americans whose jobs are supported by the industry, to the millions more who are invested in oil companies through IRAs, mutual funds and pension funds, American families, business and the U.S. economy have a stake in the success of the oil and natural gas industry.

Yet despite all of this, there are some in Congress who are calling to increase taxes on the... more »

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell yesterday signed an executive order halting natural gas development on state lands. In a statement, he said the ban was needed "to protect our un-leased public lands from this [drilling] rush." But many believe the executive order was driven by politics, not environmental protection.

Under the state budget plan, Rendell had an agreement with Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass a natural gas extraction tax, also called a severance tax, before they adjourned for the Nov. 2 elections. The state House of Representatives passed the measure in September, but the Senate did not act on the bill. Rendell signed the order a few days after admitting the tax "is dead this year."

"Holding hostage important natural gas development and the... more »