Brian Crossman is a partner in Estevan-based Independent Well Servicing. The opinions expressed in this column are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of Independent Well Servicing.
Well, here we are. We managed to get through Christmas. (Snow? What snow? Oh, right. We finally got some.) The lack of moisture will hopefully change for the sake of the farmers and the groundwater. But it is sure getting colder now. But fortunately for us Canadians, we have an energy industry that not only provides the fuel to keep us warm and cozy, but we can also all benefit financially from as well. This is how life is supposed to work. That is unless, of course, you share the opinion of the current federal government. Then we don’t need to be warm and cozy, not to mention having the ability to drive somewhere warm. No worries though, you can always take the company jet (jets?) to Jamaica. Again. No worries, someone is picking up the $9300/night hotel tab to “help out.”
So, what will occur in the next 365 days? How does one prepare for events yet to transpire? Luckily for ya’ll, I will once again attempt to predict what going to happen in 2024. I have attempted this in previous years, with, uh mixed results. So once again, with the help of the “Fantasmical Prognostication Machine” AKA, my management decision making device AKA, my “Magic Eight Ball” we shall give it a whirl.
#1.WTI oil price – “Will it continue to rise?” The eight ball gave me the “OUTLOOK HAZY” last year. What really happened; December 2023 WTI average price was around $77.65 ($75.21 in 2022). It currently sits around $73.30. Commodity prices were not as volatile as I thought they might be, with the Russians still in Ukraine, and now Hamas causing trouble in the Gaza strip. (Sorry Israeli haters, Hamas started it.) Demand for crude oil continues to rise despite the ongoing political instability. Experts are predicting the price to be mid-seventies for WTI, so I ask and shake the “Magic 8 Ball” and receive a “MOST LIKELY” for my trouble. I agree as OPEC says demand continues to rise, and people still love things made with plastic and need to get from point A to point B.
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#2. COVID 19 – “Will it get better?” “BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW” was the answer to this question. Last year it was “SIGNS POINT TO YES.” There seems to be a resurgence of COVID, along with more colds and influenzas. If getting vaccinated and wearing a mask all the time gives you comfort, by all means go right ahead. I believe if you eat right, take your vitamins, wash your hands and stay away from high-risk areas, your body will take care of it, as that is how it is designed. My buddy Mike gargles with Listerine everyday and whenever he returns home from shopping. He never gets sick and never had COVID. Imagine that.
#3. “Will I win the lottery?” Shake it- “VERY DOUBTFUL.” I shake it again for good measure and it shows “ASK AGAIN LATER.” Shit, I appreciate the honesty…
#4. “Are operating costs going to continue to rise?” “BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW” is the reply. “Is this the Magic Ball telling me that there could be an election this year?” The carbon tax continues to be a primary cause of this, despite what Steven Guilbeault will tell you. Interest rates will only exacerbate this ongoing issue. We do need a change in government at the federal level.
#5. Since we are talking about the carbon tax, my next question (once again) is, “Will the current Prime Minister continue to be a dumpster fire?” I give it a good shake- “SIGNS POINT TO YES.” Just to be fair, I shake it again– “YES.” I think even the “MAGIC EIGHT BALL” is tired of being lectured about climate from a guy that needs two jets to take his Christmas vacation.
#6. The next and obvious question is, “Will there be an election this year?” (Last year the ball said, “SIGNS POINT TO YES.”) I was sure hoping so, but alas, no. I give it a good shake for 2024 and the response is “CANNOT PREDICT NOW.” I continue to hope/pray for an election to steer the country in a stable direction, but the ball isn’t onboard just yet. The economy continues to get worse despite what CBC News will tell you. The country is spending money that people not yet born will have to pay back. (The interest that Canada paid to service the debt in Q3 last year was $11.3 BILLION.) This alone is shameful on Jagmeet Singh’s behalf for continuing to prop up this gong-show.
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- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
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#7.” Will the demand for fossil fuels drop?” I asked this last year and was told “BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW.” This year I have “MY SOURCES SAY NO” for an answer. Personally, I see a continued need for crude oil, based on what has been happening. I noted earlier that OPEC predicts increased demand, and it seems to be a consensus with economists in general. Most analysts are commenting that even to manufacture EVs and the “energy transition” will take a huge amount of fossil fuels to accomplish. So, when the Liberal government says we can’t have ICE vehicles by 2035, they are full of you-know-what. Transition or no transition, we will continue to need oil and gas.
#8. And of course, because we live in Saskatchewan; “Will the Riders win the Grey Cup in 2023?” (They did not….) I got a “REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN” last year. I asked about 2024 and received a “BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW.” The Rider organization has made some changes, but I do not see a Grey Cup appearance next fall. I will still cheer for them, but I don’t see it turning around that quickly.
Once again, just for fun I give it a prolonged shake and say out loud “Is everything gonna be alright?” “ASK AGAIN LATER” says the device. This actually makes sense to me. With everything going on in the world who can say. Multiple wars, some potential conflicts and our neighbors to the South are edging toward a philosophical civil war, if not a real one. Here in Canada, the Liberal Party continues to push the ideological issues that alienate the West economically and philosophically, and if there are no changes, the results will be predictable.
Brian Crossman is a partner at Independent Well Servicing. Don’t worry friends; there is no charge for these predictions, because all these and $2.50 will get you a coffee.
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- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
- 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001