Low Oil Price and Alaska Economy Thread (Eielson AFB: maintenance, taxes)

[Dakster]

And now with the current executive order on ANWR and the pending one on the Arctic Ocean coming things could get interesting.

[keyman51]

Agreed, I am thankful that we are semi-retired and that we
can afford to start over if we have to.

[NomadicBear]

I'm not one to relish in, or take advantage of, others' misfortunes, but I would welcome much cheaper real estate prices because I'd buy some vacation property. I'd like a few acres of land in a nice area where I can build a small cabin and visit each year. Somewhere without property taxes and building codes. High priced property for such a thing does not interest me, especially when it would sit vacant much of the year and be subject to possible vandalism/etc. Things seem dramatically overpriced up there.

[Rance]

I heard Obama slipped that order in without anyone knowing about it until it was said and done.

[jdhpa]

Shell is trying to re-start its arctic drilling this summer:

Shell Looks to Resume Arctic Drilling This Summer | Fox Business

[riceme]

Halliburton to Cut 8% of Workforce

Oil-Field Services Company Says Layoffs Aren’t Related to Pending Baker Hughes Acquisition

By Dan Molinski
Feb. 10, 2015 10:21 a.m. ET 0 COMMENTS

Halliburton Co. , the world’s second-largest oil-field services company, said Tuesday it plans to shed up to 8% of its global workforce as low oil prices force energy companies to rein in spending.
The job cuts could amount to 6,400 layoffs; the company says it has more than 80,000 employees around the world.
“We are faced with the difficult reality that reductions are necessary to work through this challenging market environment,” the company said in an emailed statement.
Halliburton said the job cuts aren’t related to its pending acquisition of oil field rival Baker Hughes Inc., which was announced late last year.
In its statement Tuesday, the company didn't specify where in the world the layoffs would take place but said they would affect its entire line of business.
In December, the company said it would cut 1,000 jobs outside the U.S.
In response to questions from The Wall Street Journal earlier this week, Halliburton said U.S. employees being laid off receive outplacement benefits; services for workers outside the U.S. vary by country.
Other top oil-field services firms have also announced job cuts. Schlumberger Ltd. , the biggest oil-field services company, said last month it is laying off 9,000 employees, or 7% of its global workforce. Last week, Weatherford International said it is reducing head count by 8,000, nearly 15% of its total workforce.
Oil prices have collapsed since June, falling by more than 50%. A barrel of crude was recently trading at around $51.


Halliburton to Cut 8% of Workforce - WSJ

[Dakster]

That can't be good for Alaska. Obviously not all of those workers are here... But it is a harbinger of things to come.

[thedwightguy]

I always laugh when very large companies use these times to trim 8%. They use this as an excuse to get rid of a hit list and then re-hire new blood when things turn around. Suncor is doing the same 8% in Alberta for much the same reasons.

[Dakster]

Government here can't do that. Last in, first out. Some of the larger companies have similar policies. Can't speak for Canada though.

In a right to work state, pretty darn easy to get rid of the hit list or dead wood. Just fire them and be done with it.

[RayinAK]

More news:
UAF layoff notices expected to start next month - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Local News