Clients

Energy Industry

We are up-to-date on the latest upstream developments and we’ve got downstream down. From wellhead to consumer, clients from every facet of the energy industry rely on Baker & O’Brien’s experience and technical expertise to solve unique and complex challenges.

Energy Value Chain

We have assisted companies with operations in the following industry segments:

  • Oil and gas gathering
  • Pipeline, water, rail, and truck transportation
  • Natural gas processing, marketing, and distribution
  • Petroleum refining and marketing
  • Power generation
  • Chemical, petrochemical, agrochemical, and specialty chemical manufacturing

Complex Matters

We commonly address the following matters that require technical and commercial expertise:

  • Project management
  • Insurance claims
  • Asset valuations
  • Commercial contracts
  • Standard of care
  • Due diligence
  • Technology assessments
  • Competitive and market analysis
  • Feasibility studies
  • Operations analysis and optimization
  • Supply chain analysis
  • Best practices management
  • Accident investigation

Case Studies

Terminal Operator Access to Crude Oil Pipeline - Connecting the Dots

April 1, 2022

Pipeline regulatory agency involvement was required when a terminal operator sought to blend a heavy crude oil into a light sour crude oil shipped on a common carrier pipeline. Baker & O'Brien identified the regulatory requirements and determined the economic impact of the proposed crude oil blending. We submitted expert reports to assist the regulatory agency in evaluating the issue, which was decided without oral hearings.

Commercial Impacts of Butane Blending into Crude Oil

January 1, 2022

A pipeline crude oil quality dispute arose when one shipper on a common carrier pipeline complained that the price of its crude was reduced as a result of butane blending into the pipeline. We explored the butane content of light crude oils, price relationships between butane content and oil price, pipeline throughput impacts and the impacts on petroleum refiners. Baker & O'Brien's expert opinions and reports helped facilitate a settlement.

Helium Pricing - Understanding Market Structure as U.S. Reserve Privatization Loomed

October 1, 2021

Global helium resources are concentrated in only a few countries with limited suppliers and market off-take users, which results in an opaque fair market value. When privatization of a government-owned helium resource was mandated, we were asked to evaluate the market structure and the benchmark pricing basis as a reasonable contracting basis. This article describes our analysis of the helium market volatility in relation to the theory of using auction results to establish a commercially viable pricing basis.