US producing more oil than any country in history

• December 19, 2023

By Matt Egan | CNN

As the world grapples with the existential crisis of climate change, environmental activists want President Joe Biden to phase out the oil industry, and Republicans argue he’s already doing that. Meanwhile, the surprising reality is the United States is pumping oil at a blistering pace and is on track to produce more oil than any country has in history.

The United States is set to produce a global record of 13.3 million barrels per day of crude and condensate during the fourth quarter of this year, according to a report published Tuesday by S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Last month, weekly US oil production hit 13.2 million barrels per day, according to the US Energy Information Administration. That’s just above the Donald Trump-era record of 13.1 million set in early 2020 just before the Covid-19 crisis sent output and prices crashing.

That’s been helping to keep a lid on crude and gasoline prices.

US output – led by shale oil drillers in Texas and New Mexico’s Permian Basin – is so strong that it’s sending supplies overseas. America is exporting the same amount of crude oil, refined products and natural gas liquids as Saudi Arabia or Russia produces, S&P said.

“It’s a reminder that the US is endowed with enormous oil reserves. Our industry should never be underestimated,” said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group.

Record-shattering US production is helping to offset aggressive supply cuts meant to support high prices by OPEC+, mainly Saudi Arabia and Russia. Other non-OPEC oil producers including Canada and Brazil are also pumping more oil than ever before. (Brazil is set to join OPEC+ next year.)

The strength of US output has caught experts off guard. Goldman Sachs analysts on Sunday cut their forecast for oil prices next year. The bank said the “key reason” behind the lowered forecast is the abundance of US supply.

Global demand for crude oil is set to hit a record in 2024 – but it will “easily be met” by the growth in supply, according to S&P’s projections.

Gas prices near $3

All of this has helped to keep oil prices relatively in check. After flirting with $100 a barrel earlier this year, crude has since tumbled back to the $70 to $75 range.

Energy prices have jumped this week after BP halted shipments through the Red Sea due to security concerns. Still, US oil is trading below $74 a barrel, well below where it was when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

Gas prices neared the psychologically important level of $4 a gallon in September. But prices at the pump have since fallen sharply, helping to ease inflationary pressure on the US economy.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas stood at $3.08 a gallon on Tuesday, down from $3.14 a year ago, according to AAA.

‘Biden’s war on energy’

Despite record-setting production, Biden has come under fire from Republicans for his energy policy.

In September, the House subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing titled: “Biden’s War on Domestic Energy Threatens Every American.”

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska warned in a floor speech that the Biden administration’s war on energy is a “gift to our adversaries.”

Earlier this month at a GOP presidential primary debate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to “open up all of our domestic energy for production” to “lower your gas prices.” DeSantis made a similar comment at the CNN town hall last week.

That the US is about to produce more oil than any country ever before undercuts the argument that Biden has waged a war on American energy.

Presidents don’t set oil production

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s Biden policies that have paved the way for record US oil production, nor that the White House would rush to take credit for that.

McNally, a former energy official to former President George W. Bush, said there isn’t that much presidents can do about US oil production, short of taking drastic emergency powers.

Unlike OPEC nations, the United States oil output is largely set by the free market.

“It’s not like President Biden or any president has a dial in the Oval Office to increase production,” McNally said.

Instead, the spike in US output has been driven by smarter and more efficient operations by oil companies. Energy firms have figured out ways to squeeze more and more oil out of the ground – often without increasing drilling dramatically.

The shale oil revolution has been driven by new drilling techniques that have unlocked new resources. But this technique can be more complex and requires vast amounts of water.

‘Kicking and screaming’

Yet McNally said the White House has been forced to shift its tone on fossil fuels from the climate-focused stance of 2020 and early 2021 to something more neutral.

Last year, gas prices spiked above $5 a gallon following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which set off a panic in the oil market. Biden urged US oil companies to pump more oil – exactly the opposite of what climate scientists are calling for.

In March, the Biden administration even approved the Willow oil drilling project, a controversial ConocoPhillips drilling venture in Alaska that had been stalled for decades. That green light came in the face of deep criticism from climate groups worried about the environmental and health risks.

“President Biden has been dragged kicking and screaming from his initial keep-it-in-the-ground strategy towards a more pragmatic policy,” McNally said, noting the administration was “mugged by the reality of high gas prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

​ Orange County Register 

Irvine-based Masimo’s CEO open to settling Apple Watch rift

• December 19, 2023

By Mark Gurman and Caroline Hyde | Bloomberg

Irvine-based Masimo Corp. Chief Executive Officer Joe Kiani, head of the medical device maker that has put Apple Inc.’s smartwatch on the brink of a US ban, said he’d be open to settling with the company.

The executive, speaking Tuesday on Bloomberg TV, said the “short answer is yes,” when asked if he’d settle, but he declined to say how much money he’d seek from Apple. Kiani said he would “work with them to improve their product.”

“They haven’t called,” he said. “It takes two to tango.”

Company look-back: Masimo, Philips end patent dispute with $300 million settlement, partnership

The International Trade Commission ruled earlier this year that the Apple Watch violates two Masimo patents related to blood-oxygen sensing. The ITC imposed an import ban on the Ultra 2 and Series 9 models that goes into effect Dec. 25.

The restriction only applies to Apple’s own retail channels. Best Buy Co., Target Corp. and other resellers can continue to offer the products. But it’s put Apple in the unusual situation of having to pull a big moneymaker off its shelves during the all-important holiday season. The Apple Watch generated about $17 billion in revenue in the last fiscal year.

“These guys have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar,” Kiani said.

The medical industry veteran said he last spoke to Apple in 2013, when the iPhone maker discussed acquiring his company or hiring him to help with its in-house technology efforts. Any settlement talks would need to include an “honest dialogue” and an apology, he said.

An Apple spokesperson said that the ruling from the ITC is erroneous and should be reversed. The company plans to appeal the decision.Still, Apple is already preparing for the ban. It announced plans to pull the devices from its e-commerce site Thursday and will do the same at its physical retail stores on Christmas Eve.

Kiani called that move a “stunt” to pressure the Biden administration to veto the order. The US president has the ability to step in and cancel an ITC injunction.

“This is not an accidental infringement — this is a deliberate taking of our intellectual property,” Kiani said. “I am glad the world can now see we are the true inventors and creators of these technologies.”

He accused Apple of hiring more than 20 of his engineers — and doubling their salaries in some cases — to get them to work on similar medical technology for its watch.

“Apple could be an example of how to do things right and do things well, and they didn’t have to steal our people,” Kiani said. “We could have worked with them.”

In a statement, Apple said its teams “work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features.”

“Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is pursuing a range of legal and technical options to ensure that Apple Watch is available to customers,” the Cupertino-based company said. Apple also has said it believes Masimo began the legal fight to clear the market for its own smartwatch, which the iPhone maker said is a knockoff of its device.

A lawsuit Masimo filed against Apple over the issue ended this year with a federal court jury unable to reach a decision. Six of the seven jurors sided with Apple in the case.

The tech giant is working on a software update for the Apple Watch that it believes will resolve the ITC dispute, Bloomberg News previously reported.

Kiani pushed back on that idea in the interview Tuesday.

“I don’t think that could work — it shouldn’t — because our patents are not about the software,” he said. “They are about the hardware with the software.”

Asked if the import ban could be avoided, Kiani said that if Apple manufactured the watch and its components in the US, no such import ban would be possible. In contrast, he said, Masimo builds its technology in the US.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Colorado Supreme Court bars Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s ballot in 2024

• December 19, 2023

Donald Trump cannot appear on Colorado’s primary ballot, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in a legal challenge that has gained national notice as the former president seeks the 2024 Republican nomination.

The Colorado Supreme Court, in a 4-3 opinion, found that Trump is barred under a provision of the 14th Amendment that prohibits people who engaged in insurrection from running for office.

“We conclude that because President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three (of the 14th Amendment), it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Secretary to list President Trump as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot,” the court’s majority wrote in its opinion. “Therefore, the Secretary may not list President Trump’s name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot, nor may she count any write-in votes cast for him.”

It’s possible the losing side in Tuesday’s ruling could appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal experts said that was more likely to happen if Trump was disqualified from the ballot.

The state Supreme Court stayed its ruling until Jan. 4, the day before the state’s deadline to certify the primary ballots, in case an appeal is filed — in which case the state will be required to include Trump’s name on the March 5 primary ballot unless the federal justices order otherwise.

The legal challenge was brought under the Civil War-era Constitutional amendment. A group of Colorado Republican and unaffiliated voters, working with the liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed suit in early September against Trump and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat and outspoken Trump critic, in state court, but the legal battle has always been between the plaintiffs and Trump’s legal team.

The plaintiffs took advantage of a Colorado law that allows voters to challenge a candidate’s eligibility. The suit invoked the third section of the 14th Amendment, which was aimed at keeping Confederates out of federal office. It bars people from holding off if they took an oath to support the U.S. Constitution and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion.

Democratic governors appointed all seven members of the Colorado Supreme Court. During oral arguments this month, the justices peppered both sides with questions that took direct aim at the 14th Amendment’s applicability to the presidency and more esoteric legal questions.

Which Constitutional oath — and which offices it covers — was a sticking point for the Denver District Court judge who ruled against the ballot challenge earlier.

Judge Sarah B. Wallace ruled in November that, while she found Trump did engage in insurrection surrounding U.S. Capitol breach and riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the amendment did not specifically bar insurrectionists from the presidency. The amendment specifies members of Congress, electors of the president and people who hold office under the United States or the individual states, but doesn’t single out the office of the president by name.

“Part of the Court’s decision is its reluctance to embrace an interpretation which would disqualify a presidential candidate without a clear, unmistakable indication that such is the intent of Section Three,” Wallace wrote in her ruling.

That ruling prompted both sides to appeal the ruling to the state’s highest court.

The petitioners argued it would “yield absurd results” if the amendment barred insurrectionists from every federal office but the highest one. Attorneys for Trump, meanwhile, argued Wallace made “multiple grave jurisdictional and legal errors,” including by finding Trump engaged in insurrection. His public comments around Jan. 6, they argued. were protected under the First Amendment and didn’t call for violence.

His legal team also questioned if the court, which held a five-day trial in October, was the proper venue for constitutional litigation and the establishment of “new, unprecedented, and unsupported legal standards.”

While Colorado isn’t the only state to hear 14th Amendment challenges to Trump’s candidacy, this case made it much further through the legal process than any other.

A similar lawsuit in Minnesota stalled when its high court ruled that political parties have discretion over their primary ballots — leaving open the chance for a challenge to resume if Trump wins the Republican nomination. In Michigan, a lower court judge ruled that it’s up to Congress to decide whether Section 3 applies to Trump.

Dozens of lawsuits challenging Trump’s eligibility have been filed in several states, with none succeeding so far. Among other cases with significant backing, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in November that Trump could remain on the ballot there because political parties have discretion over their primary ballots.

And a Michigan judge has ruled that Congress should decide if Section 3 applies to Trump. That ruling was appealed Monday.

It’s still possible that one of the cases, including Colorado’s, could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, which has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

​ Orange County Register 

Major pallet fire shuts both sides of 10 Freeway in Downtown LA

• November 11, 2023

Firefighters from 26 companies have been working Saturday morning to contain and extinguish a major fire that started in one downtown pallet yard, spread to another and consumed a fire engine that became stuck in its path.

The inferno shut down the 10 Freeway in the area in both directions. No time was given for reopening it.

Fire Engine 17 was the first on the scene and became stuck under the freeway overpass, according to a news videographer at the scene. It burned in the blaze.

The first pallet yard was under the freeway, and the California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert at 1:19 a.m. shutting down the freeway in both eastbound and westbound directions at Alameda Street and was diverting eastbound traffic at Alameda Street and westbound at Santa Fe Avenue.

Caltrans engineers were on scene to assess damage to the freeway and determine whether it was safe to reopen, Stewart said. Mop up was expected to continue through the morning.

At 2:33 a.m., Stewart reported pallets in both yards were mostly consumed by the flames and firefighters would use bulldozers to move debris and put out hot spots.

The fire was first reported at 12:22 a.m. in the 1700 block of East 14th Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Margaret Stewart.

The first pallet yard was 40,000 square feet and was fully involved with flames that engulfed multiple trailers, Stewart said.

The flames spread to a second pallet yard of similar size between Lawrence and Elwood streets, she said.

“Firefighters have successfully defended three exposed commercial buildings from fire extension,” Stewart said.

The Department of Water and Power assisted by boosting water pressure in the area for the high volume needed, Stewart said. The agency also dealt with the cross arm of energized high-tension wire that fell on 14th Street.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

NCAA women’s soccer: UC Irvine upsets defending champ UCLA

• November 11, 2023

The UC Irvine women’s soccer pulled off the big upset to start the NCAA Tournament, defeating defending champion and top seed UCLA 1-0 on Friday night.

Alyssa Moore scored the winning goal in the 87th minute with a header off a set piece served in by Aislynn Crowder.

The Anteaters managed just two shots on goal and they played the final 15 minutes down a player after Chloe Ragon received a second yellow card.

Glo Hinojosa recorded five saves as UCLA.

This is the third consecutive season UCI has defeated a national seed in the opening round of the tournament. Last season, UCI upset USC and eventually advanced to the third round of the tournament. In 2021, UCI also defeated UCLA in the first round.

UCI, the Big West tournament champion, will face either Gonzaga or Idaho on Thursday.

USC 1, GRAND CANYON 0: Helena Sampaio’s 66th-minute penalty kick led the Trojans to the win Friday.

The eighth-seeded Trojans (11-4-3) will take on top-seed BYU on Thursday in the second round.

Izzy Kimberly was fouled to set up the penalty kick. The goals was Sampaio’s sixth of the season.

In another first-round game, Stanford defeated Pepperdine 3-0.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Boys soccer preview: Orange County preseason Top 10

• November 11, 2023

ORANGE COUNTY PRESEASON TOP 10

1. JSerra: Last year’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 and CIF Southern California Regional Division I champion bring back several top players including Logan Mahoney, All-Orange County second team defender last season as a junior. Senior forward Noah Parks was last season’s Trinity League offensive player of the year.

2. Servite: The Friars will challenge JSerra for the championship of the always tough Trinity League. Among their top players are senior striker Justin Cuevas, senior goalkeeper Talin Morgan and senior midfielder Martin Rico.

Mater Dei’s Michael Cherico (23) heads the ball in to the goal past Servite’s Dylan Graham (12) and Elgin Nualart (6) during their Trinity League game at Servite High School in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Mater Dei defeated Servite, 4 to 2. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

3. Mater Dei: The Monarchs were second to JSerra in the Trinity League last season. They return nine starters including last year’s leading scorer Michael Cherico, a 6-4 senior who was All-Trinity League first team, and All-League second-team selection Kevin Abarca.

4. Godinez: The Grizzlies have 12 players returning from last season’s Golden West League championship team. Among them are seniors Omar Antunez, Jorge Orozco, Dominic Resendiz and Steven Sorto.

5. Orange Lutheran: The Lancers won the CIF-SS Division 4 and the CIF SoCal Regional Division IV championships last year. Xavier Alcantar, a senior, scored seven goals with nine assists last season. Goalkeeper Dillan Danks and Ayden Santa Ana combined for 16 shutouts.

San Clemente’s Finn Linas celebrates his first half goal in Long Beach on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. San Clemente won 2-0 to win the CIF-SS Division 2 boys soccer championship game at Veterans Stadium. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributing Photographer)

6. San Clemente: The Tritons last season won the CIF-SS Division 2 championship and advanced to the SoCal Regional Division II final. Jake Poole was CIF-SS Division 2 player of the year and All-County first team last season as a junior. Senior Finn Linas was All-O.C. second team.

7. Sunny Hills: The Lancers, a CIF-SS Division 1 finalist last season, have a new coach, Sunny Hills alum Jordan Brinkley who has coached at the school and at Cypress College. Senior attacker Isaac Morales was All-County second team and All-CIF. Another returnee is senior goalkeeper Abel Sandoval.

8. Valencia: The Tigers, who won 15 games last year and were a CIF-SS Division 1 playoff team, are expected to challenge for the Empire League championship again led by senior forward Joe Palacias, senior center-back Ethan Draft, sophomore center-midfielder Nathan Chinchilla and sophomore center-midfielder Omar Rubio.

9. El Dorado: The Golden Hawks should have another strong season. They advanced to the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals and to the SoCal Regional Division III final last year.

10. Anaheim: The Colonists are set for another good season after winning 17 games last season, winning the Orange League championship and advancing to the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Boys soccer preview: Orange County’s Top 10 players to watch

• November 11, 2023

TOP 10 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Xavier Alcantar, Orange Lutheran, Sr., Midfielder: He scored seven goals with nine assists last season when the Lancers won the CIF Southern Section Division 4 and CIF Southern California Regional Division IV championships.

Michael Cherico, Mater Dei, Sr., Forward: Cherico, a 6-4 matchup challenge, was All-Trinity League first team last season when he scored 13 goals with five assists.

Finn Linas, San Clemente, Sr., Defender: Linas was All-County second team and All-CIF last season for the CIF-SS Division 2 champion Tritons. 

Logan Mahoney, JSerra, Sr., Defender: He started in every game the past two seasons. Mahoney was All-Trinity League first team and All-Orange County second team last year.

Isaac Morales, Sunny Hills, Sr., Midfielder: Morales was All-CIF last season after helping the Lancers advance to the CIF-SS Division 1 final.

Noah Parks, JSerra, Sr., Forward: Parks was the Trinity League offensive player of the year last season. He scored 14 goals with eight assists.

Jake Poole, San Clemente, Sr., Defender: He was CIF-Southern Section player of the year in Division 2 after leading the Tritons to the Division 2 title.

Martin Rico, Servite, Sr., Midfielder: Rico is a leader for the Friars who will contend for the Trinity League championship.

Steven Sorto, Godinez, Sr., Midfielder: Sorto is among the leaders of a deep and talented Grizzlies team.

Ethan Sullivan, Aliso Niguel, Sr., Goalkeeper: He was All-Orange County first team last season when he had a 0.38 goals-against average.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Boys soccer preview: JSerra ready for challenges that come with being a champion

• November 11, 2023

When a boys soccer team wins everything that can be won, that team becomes every opponent’s World Cup final.

That team is JSerra this season.

The Lions last season won the Trinity League championship, the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship and the CIF Southern California Regional Division 1 championship.

JSerra junior defender Tanner Casey said it a good and welcomed challenge.

“It feels good,” said Casey, All-Trinity League second team last year. “It brings a sense of urgency of trying to win it all again. We want to create a legacy that’s not been created here before.”

JSerra coach Erik Kirsch said the Lions have the talent to repeat last season’s success, and some luck would be helpful.

“We’ve got a good group of guys and a good group of talented players,” said Kirsch, last season’s Orange County boys soccer coach of the year. “It’s just a matter of staying healthy and seeing if we can deal with the distractions that come with winning like we did the year before.

“Can we keep the motivation up when everyone’s coming at you? We might lose one here or tie one there, but that shouldn’t affect how you finish at the end of the season.”

Casey is confident the Lions can manage it.

“Our culture plays a big part in that,” Casey said. “We’re really positive people.”

Players and coaches for the JSerra boys soccer team pose for a group photo after winning the CIF Southern California Division I Regional title with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham on Saturday, March 4. (Photo by Manny Alvarez)

Defense again will be a major part of JSerra’s game. The Lions shut out Sunny Hills 2-0 in the CIF-SS Division 1 final and blanked Birmingham 3-0 in the regional final a year ago.

Also returning from that team are junior forward Gavin Allegaert, senior defender Logan Manohey, senior midfielder Greyson Moreno, senior goalkeeper Noah Nesson and junior forward Jake Tatch.

The Lions begin their season Nov. 29 with a home game against Anaheim.

NOTES

Soccer referees in some parts of the CIF Southern Section have threatened to strike this season’s games if they do not get an immediate raise in pay. CIF-SS soccer referees receive $75 per game according to a contract that went into effect last season. Tom Freker, director of the Orange County Soccer Officials, said O.C. officials would not strike as a group but could not rule out individual boycotts of games. Some referee associations in L.A. County have said their members plan to strike.  …

The season begins Monday, Nov. 13. The CIF-SS playoffs begin Feb. 5. The 2023-24 boys soccer season will have an Open Division. The number of teams selected for the Open bracket will be decided at the end of the regular season. The CIF Southern Section has seven playoff divisions in boys soccer. …

The CIF-SS released its “watch list” of teams that could be in CIF-SS divisional polls as the season progresses. Among the 16 teams on the Division 1 watch list are Orange County’s Godinez, JSerra, Los Alamitos, Orange Lutheran, San Clemente, Servite, Sunny Hills and Villa Park. Other county teams that are on division watch lists are Anaheim, Corona del Mar, Esperanza, Fairmont Prep, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Newport Harbor, Orange, Sage Hill, St. Margaret’s, Santiago, Tesoro, Troy, Tustin and Yorba Linda. …

Joe Moyer, an All-Trinity League first-team player at Servite last season as a junior, will not play high school soccer this season. He will play club soccer instead, Servite coach Eddie Soto confirmed. …

The SoCal College Showcase tournament at Chapman University, Dec. 27-29, includes co-hosts San Clemente and Cathedral. Also in it are Orange Lutheran and Servite.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register