Hart Energy Expands Research Capabilities Across Upstream, Midstream and Downstream

HOUSTON, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Hart Energy has established new upstream oil & gas research and analytical capabilities within its Hart Energy Consulting business unit.  This move expands the reach of the Company's research activities into both upstream and midstream sectors of the industry.  Historically, Hart Energy research focused on the downstream side of the industry, e.g. refining feedstocks, finished fuels, and alternative fuels.

The expanded Hart Energy Research group will produce multi-client research studies for upstream, midstream and downstream audiences and contribute analytical content to Hart Energy publications (Oil and Gas Investor, E&P, Midstream Business and Fuel), to its various e-newsletters and web sites, and to Hart Energy's member-only services such as the International Fuel Quality Center (IFQC), Global Biofuels Center (GBC), World Refining & Fuels Service (WRFS), UGcenter.com and others.  

The research group's multi-client products include Hart Energy's heavy crude oil report, a long-term crude oil price forecast for WRFS members, and a short-term (quarterly) crude price forecasting service (available in November).  In February 2011, the group will release its first "International Shale Gas Report," a comprehensive study of shale basins worldwide and their commercial viability.

The upstream research team is under the direction of Dr. Michael Warren, Executive Director of Global Strategic Research for Hart Energy.   Prior to joining Hart Energy, he managed the Latin American Research Group inside Toyota Motor North America for 11 years.   In that role, he led a team conducting economic, political, automotive market and competitive intelligence research.  A former participating member of the Demand Task Group of the NPC's Oil & Natural Gas Study, he also served on the board of directors for Green Plains Renewable Energy.

"Our strengthened research capabilities will allow us to respond to Hart Energy customers who are asking for more robust research data and analytical content," Warren said.  "There are numerous research firms offering sophisticated but costly data and analytical services, and we believe there is a market opportunity to provide standardized reports and global analysis at lower cost to a broader range of clients."

This upstream research announcement comes three weeks after Hart Energy acquired mapping and GIS (geographic information system) database services provider Rextag Strategies, a move which significantly strengthened its midstream research and data capabilities.  The Rextag acquisition adds digital GIS databases, pipeline flow and capacity data, energy infrastructure maps, and reference data covering oil, gas, and other liquid pipeline operations throughout the United States to Hart Energy's growing content portfolio.

The expanded upstream research group under Warren's direction already boasts four distinguished research professionals:

• Opoku Danquah serves as Director of Upstream Research for Hart Energy and as its expert on natural gas markets.  Prior to joining the Company, Danquah was a North American analyst for Wood Mackenzie and focused on natural gas production, infrastructure, transportation and markets.  Before that, he specialized in modeling and market analysis within the global gas team at IHS-CERA (Cambridge Energy Research Associates) and was instrumental in building the team's supply models.  His previous experience includes consulting for Bank of America's country risk group and conducting research at Institutional Investor.
• Conrad Barnes is Manager of Research and will lead Hart Energy's oil price forecasting service.  Prior to joining the Company, Conrad was an Associate at IHS-CERA where he led the Capital Cost Analysis Forum's modeling and research on global markets for steel and offshore drilling rigs and structures.  He spent three years in IHS-CERA's global oil group doing fundamental analysis of crude oil and refined products.
• Laura Atkins has worked for Hart Energy as the author of its Heavy Crude Oil Study and joined the Company full-time as Director of Petroleum Research upon her return to Houston in 2010.  She has more than 20 years experience in the oil industry, serving as a Senior Research Analyst for OPEC studying energy technologies affecting oil demand, as well as for ARCO and AMOCO, in the US and the Middle East.
• Hanwen Chang has joined the team as a Research Analyst.  A 2010 graduate of Texas A&M University (where he earned his MS in Industrial Engineering), he was a research intern in the North America Gas Service at Wood Mackenzie.  He will conduct regression analysis on pipeline infrastructure and gas demand forecasting models.

This research team draws upon news, data and other information aggregated by the Hart Energy organization worldwide in preparing its analyses and reports.  The group will benefit from the Company's broad exposure to all segments of the industry – upstream, midstream and downstream.

Hart Energy Publishing, LLLP provides specialized data/information products and member-only services to targeted audiences worldwide and ranks among the leading providers of news, data and analysis for the global energy industry.  Its core publishing and consulting expertise has been extended to online products (databases, maps) and services (web sites, market information) as well as industry conferences and exhibitions.  Hart Energy clients derive from the energy industry, the financial and investment community, engineering and automotive industries, utilities, leading NGOs and the world's major governments.

SOURCE Hart Energy Publishing, LLLP