The IEA confirms what I've been saying all along: There isn't enough oil supply on the planet to meet demand. And that's not about to change anytime soon. A new oil supply crunch looms as oil companies have put the brakes on sorely needed investment to increase oil production to satisfy future demand and to offset the accelerating declines of today's aging fields. This at a time when opportunities to invest are more constrained than ever. Bullish for oil? You bet. My longer-term target of $200 oil remains intact.   Energy agency warns of supply crunchNovember 12, 2008, LONDON (AP) — The International Energy Agency on Wednesday called for massive investment in producing more oil to prevent a supply squeeze in coming years, saying energy demand will rise 1.6 percent a year on average between 2006 and 2030.The IEA's base scenario for energy demand has fallen due to

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Gazprom is slated to start drilling on the Venezuelan shelf this month, but back at home the economic crisis could stymie oil and gas production and development, delaying the Shtokman field project. China and Kazakhstan have signed a natural gas agreement, while China also signed on with Transneft to build and operate a crude pipeline from Skovorodino in Siberia to Daqing in China. Meanwhile, pipeline politics in the Caucasus involve a variety of plans to cut out Russia.

One of the most interesting things that nature does is place the most remarkable items where they seem least likely to be found. Medications in the deepest jungle of the Amazon, or large waterfalls deep underground don’t seem like they should be found in those locations, but they are. Looking for new areas of investment can often follow the same unexpected formula. If an investor looks for a solid investment in a place where they might not ordinarily look, investors may find a way to profit.

American Energy Group Ltd., a Connecticut-based developmental oil and gas exploration company, works to develop and exploit oil and gas deposits primarily in Pakistan. The company currently has ongoing construction and development plans at two sites within the country.

Although one might not consider Pakistan as a primary supplier of oil and gas, it does hold solid potential for domestic oil and gas production and consumption.

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One of the most interesting things that nature does is place the most remarkable items where they seem least likely to be found. Medications in the deepest jungle of the Amazon, or large waterfalls deep underground don’t seem like they should be found in those locations, but they are. Looking for new areas of investment can often follow the same unexpected formula. If an investor looks for a solid investment in a place where they might not ordinarily look, investors may find a way to profit.

American Energy Group Ltd., a Connecticut-based developmental oil and gas exploration company, works to develop and exploit oil and gas deposits primarily in Pakistan. The company currently has ongoing construction and development plans at two sites within the country.

Although one might not consider Pakistan as a primary supplier of oil and gas, it does hold solid potential for domestic oil and gas production and consumption.

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We are maintaining our Buy recommendation on Plains Exploration & Production Co. (PXP) and increasing our target price from $84 to $91 per share. The company is poised for solid growth over the next several years with Piceance, Panhandle and Gulf Basin assets helping to drive production in a meaningful way.

However, the recent 20% acquisition of Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s (CHK) Haynesville Shale play will likely be the cornerstone of the company’s long-term growth story, as there are more than 20 Tcfe of reserves in place on its gross acreage. Additionally, the company has hedged a meaningful portion of its oil and gas production for '09 at favorable pricing, thus mitigating the risk of volatile prices.

We estimate that even if crude prices fell to $85/Bbl and natural gas prices fell to $6.50/Mcf, PXP would still realize oil and gas prices around $100 per barrel and $8 per Mcf in

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Surge Global Energy, Inc., (SRGG.OB), an oil and gas exploration company based in Solana Beach, California, is a company that should be on your watchlist. At a time when analysts predict a continuing decline in world oil production, while at the same time predicting a continuing increase in oil demand, Surge is going after underdeveloped foreign and domestic oil and gas projects.

Specifically, Surge intends to explore and develop oil and gas projects on a worldwide basis, with the current focus being on Canada, Argentina, and the United States. The company already has projects in Alberta (Sawn Lake Project and Red Earth Project) and in Argentina (Santa Rosa Dome Project).

Surge recently acquired leases over nearly 2,500 acres in northern Nevada (the Green Valley prospect) to drill for oil, with the initial test well to be drilled within a year. The cost of the leases was $1/2 million, but the

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A major pullback in European markets recently has contributed to many investors growing concerned about a global economic slowdown. But have European stocks pulled back too far? We met with Zacks senior European markets analyst Santiago Burgaleta, CFA recently to get his outlook.

Were there any major earnings surprises in the just-reported quarter among companies in your coverage?

In the oil sector and among commodities-based stocks, there is one. Total S.A. (TOT) reported net income of 4.73 billion euros ($7.36 billion) versus 3.41 billion euros a year earlier. Adjusted profit was 3.7 billion euros, higher than the 3.1 billion-euro estimate we had.

Total's earnings come after European competitors Shell (RDS.A) and BP Plc (BP) reported earlier this week jumps in dollar-denominated profit of 33 percent and 28 percent respectively but exploration and production [E&P] beat expectations on the back of stronger-than-forecast volume growth, which is

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Trading on the American Stock Exchange and headquartered in Traverse, Michigan, Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation (AOG) is an independent energy company. Their focus is on natural gas and crude oil exploration, acquisition, development, and production. Their primary areas of operation are in the Michigan Antrim Shale and the New Albany Shale of Indiana and Kentucky. They also have projects in the Woodford Shale of Oklahoma.

Founded in 1997, they completed a reverse merger with Cadence Resources Corporation in 2005. This resulted in one enterprise focused on development of their existing acreage and on growth through acquiring properties. The company’s strategy is to pursue a continuous drilling program in the New Albany Shale. Here, they have one rig capable of drilling approximately twenty wells per year. Aurora Oil & Gas will drill, test, and immediately hook each well into their production system. They also plan to add another rig, and extend

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Powder River Petroleum International Inc. (OTCBB: PWDR) announced today that Jerry W. Walters will take over the position as Operations Manager. Walters has over 30 years experience in oil and gas. He has a wealth of knowledge in this sector, ranging from research and development to design, management and consulting.

“I am thrilled to have Mr. Walters join the Powder River Petroleum International Inc. team. I believe his experience and expertise in this industry will be an excellent addition to our production and operations team,” stated Powder River Petroleum International Inc. CEO Brian Fox.

Powder River Petroleum International Inc. is actively seeking acquisitions of oil and gas properties and companies operating in these venues in the United States and Canada. The company is also a marketer of crude oil and natural gas. Powder River Petroleum recently purchased a drilling and service company. The company expects an increase

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Gene Marcial, Business Week’s stock-picking guru, recommended Exxon Mobil (XOM) on 6/3/08:

a. It has been piling up billions upon billions of dollars each year in eye-popping profits.

b.The real story here is why Exxon Mobil is a must-own for long-term investors.

c. You can’t expect spectacular returns going forward, but predictable profitability is attractive in a volatile market.

d. According to Marcial, the company is still very much undervalued.

e. The stock now trades at just 10 times 2008 estimated earnings of $9 a share. That is about in line with, or less than, its smaller peers.

f. The company’s return on equity went to 34.5% last year from 26% in 2006. And dividend growth is at a yearly clip of 9.1%, with the shares yielding 1.7%. Exxon Mobil bought back about $8 billion of its stock in the first quarter of 2008.

g. oil and gas production accounted for only 7.3% of revenues

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