OUTLOOK The improving economic scene, both here in the U.S. as well as worldwide, is the main driver of the current oil rally that has seen the commodity settling around the $80 per barrel level. But high levels of product inventories (particularly gasoline), along with still higher supplies, will limit any sustained crude gains, in our view. But way too many factors weigh on oil prices, from OPEC decisions and geostrategic tensions to the value of the U.S. dollar and seasonal variables, to definitively size up each one of them for their respective impact on prices.  In its latest release, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a less-than-anticipated increase in crude stockpiles, which rose by 800,000 barrels for the week ending October 23. However, current crude oil stocks, at 339.9 million barrels, still remain 9% above the year-earlier level as well as above the upper limit ...

Marathon Oil Corporation’s (MRO) third-quarter 2009 results came in better-than-expected, helped by the contribution from increased oil and natural gas production. Earnings per share, excluding mark-to-market and divestment losses, came in at 61 cents, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents. However, as has been the case with the other oil majors that have already reported -- Exxon (XOM), ConocoPhillips (COP) and Chevron (CVX) -- earnings and revenue comparisons with the year-earlier period were quite ugly, severely hampered by lower realized commodity prices and weak refining margins. Marathon’s adjusted earnings per share plunged 77.9%, while sales declined 37.9% to $14.5 billion. Lower Prices More Than Offset Increased Upstream Volumes Income from the upstream segment totaled $491 million during the quarter, down 43.5% from the year-ago level. The company reported production (available for sale) of 393,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day (BOE/d), ...

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. announced today that a new audio interview with Lucas Energy, Inc. (NYSE Amex:LEI), an independent oil and gas company based in Houston, Texas, is now available. The interview can be heard at http://smallcapvoice.com/blog/11-2-09-audio-interview-with-lucas-energy-inc-nyse-amex-lei/.

SmallCapVoice.com is a recognized corporate investor relations firm, with clients nationwide, known for its ability to help emerging growth companies build a following among retail and institutional investors. SmallCapVoice.com utilizes its stock newsletter to feature its daily stock picks, audio interviews, as well as its clients’ financial news releases. SmallCapVoice.com also offers individual investors all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the stocks they are interested in. Tools like stock charts, stock alerts, and investor fact sheets can assist with investing in stocks that are traded on the OTC BB and Pink Sheets. To learn more about SmallCapVoice.com and their services, please visit http://www.smallcapvoice.com/services.html.

Lucas Energy, Inc.

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Dr Stock Pick HOT News & Alerts!

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DrStockPick.com Watch List!

My Picks for Thursday October 29, 2009, are:

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AKAM, Akamai Technologies Inc.

AKAM provides market-leading managed services for powering video, dynamic transactions, and enterprise applications online.

AKAM’s Revenue for the third quarter 2009 was $206.5 million, a 5 percent increase over third quarter 2008 revenue of $197.3 million, and a 1 percent increase from second quarter 2009 revenue of $204.6 million.

More about AKAM at www.akamai.com

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CPE, Callon Petroleum Co.

CPE is engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and operation of oil and gas properties primarily in the Gulf Coast region. CPE’s properties and operations are geographically concentrated in Louisiana,

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Earlier today, Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) -- the largest independent refiner in the U.S. -- reported a weaker-than-expected third-quarter 2009 loss, reflecting depressed refining margins and lower throughput on the back of weak fuel demand and high inventories. This was partially offset by lower operating costs. The loss per share, excluding one-time items, came in at 39 cents, well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 26 cents. In the year-ago period, the Texas-based marketer of petroleum products earned $1.91 per share. Revenue was down 45.8% year-over-year to $19.5 billion. Operating loss for the quarter was $579 million ($162 million excluding one-time items), compared to operating income of $1.8 billion ($1.6 billion excluding one-time items) in the year-earlier quarter. The main factors causing the operating loss were lower diesel and jet fuel margins, coupled with smaller discounts on sour crude oil and other feedstocks. Throughput Volume...

Dune Energy provided an exploration and development operations update on its leased acreage in Texas and Louisiana. The update reported successful wells at several locations.

On its Texas acreage, the Wieting #32 well was drilled to a total depth of 12,750 feet, and hit 50 feet of gas bearing sands. The well is located in the Chocolate Bayou Field in Brazoria County and will be completed by November 2009. The well is non-operated by Dune Energy, but the company does have a 50% working interest.

Dune Energy has one well currently drilling in Louisiana, and plans one more before the first quarter of 2010. The company will also conduct several workovers of wells on its acreage here.

Dune Energy has total proved reserves of 132.9 Billion cubic feet (Bcf) equivalent, including 83.8 Bcf of natural gas and 8.2 million barrels of oil. Its properties are located in the

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Range Resources Corporation (RRC) on Wednesday provided its third quarter production results. Total volumes were 437 MMcfe (millions of cubic feet equivalent) per day, up 13% year over year. Despite selling its Fuhrman Mascho Field (production of 15 MMcfe per day) in West Texas at the end of June, the company recorded a 0.8% sequential production increase in the reported quarter. Notably, it was 27th consecutive quarter of sequential production increase.  Production results in the quarter were driven by excellent drilling performance in the Barnett and the Marcellus shale plays. Range’s Marcellus Shale production is currently about 80 MMcfe/d and the company is heading towards a target of 90 MMcfe/d to 100 MMcfe/d by the end of this year. Production in Barnett Shale averaged at 123 MMcfe/d.  Range is currently running four horizontal Marcellus rigs and is expected to enter 2010 with six custom-built horizontal rigs. ...

Yesterday, privately-owned Chaparral Energy, Inc. and publicly held United Refining Energy Corp. jointly announced that they have entered into a merger agreement. The combined company will be named Chaparral Energy, Inc. and will remain trading on the NYSE Amex until approval of a planned application to transfer listing to the NYSE. Once transferred, the company will use “CPR” as its symbol. The proposed transaction is valued at approximately $1.8 billion, and is expected to close by December 11, 2009.

Chaparral’s senior management team, including Chairman and CEO Mark A. Fischer; Joseph O. Evans, CFO; and Robert W. Kelly II, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, will continue to lead the company through this merger. John A. Catsimatidis, URX’s current CEO and Chairman, will act as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the combined company.

Founded in 1988, Chaparral has developed a substantial asset base of long-lived oil and gas

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Yesterday, after the market close, Chevron Corp. (CVX) released its third-quarter interim update, covering the first two months of the quarter. On the whole, the update is positive, with earnings expected to be higher than in the previous quarter. The company expects the upstream segment to benefit from an increase in crude oil prices as well as from gains of about $400 million associated with asset sales and tax items. Downstream results are likely to be relatively flat, as it continues to be hurt by weak refining margins. Chevron further said that unfavorable foreign currency movements will affect the segment profitability. Upstream The best part of the update pertained to upstream volumes, highlighting Chevron’s attractive growth profile among the super-majors. The company reported that oil and natural gas production average 2.687 million oil-equivalent barrels per day – better than estimates and nearly 10% above ...

Despite the low natural gas prices, Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) intends to increase its natural gas production in North America. The company has marked its deepwater discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico as well as from giant shale formations in western Canada, the Rockies and the Gulf Coast for this production growth.  While the company declined to say how much the expected North American gas production to grow, it believes that long-term natural gas prices will recover. Royal Dutch Shell has a leading position in natural gas.  The company is the second largest natural gas producer in the world and has led its super major peers in monetizing its substantial worldwide equity natural gas resource base by investing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Gas-to-Liquids (GtL) technologies. Royal Dutch Shell has emerged as a clear leader in the fast-growing LNG business.  The group continues to ...