February 3, 2019 -

Integrated Energy Companies: What They Are About And Their Benefits

Chris / February 3, 2019

According to energy company news, in a world driven by energy and technology, integrated energy companies are particularly important to our lifestyles and the way we do business. An integrated energy company is one that focuses on all options regarding the production, refinement, distribution, and exploration of oil and gas. Importantly, all these options speak to different aspects of industry operations, and it is the high-entry costs relating to many of these gas and oil industry operations, that has resulted in many of the world’s largest oil and gas companies being integrated operationally. Oil and gas operations are categorized into one of three categories. These categories are upstream, midstream, and downstream activities. These three categories function as follows: 1. Upstream activities – Upstream activities include all operational activities related to exploration and production endeavors 2. Midstream activities – Midstream activities focuses on the storage and transportation of oil and gas 3. Downstream activities – Downstream activities are operational activities that speak to refinement and marketing activities Integrated oil and gas energy companies often divide their operations into two major categories of activities – upstream and downstream. Benefits and challenges Faced By Integrated Oil and Gas Companies Unsurprisingly, each operational category mentioned above requires its own specialization and dedicated resources to manage the processes. As such, there are an standalone operators and companies in the industry that are able to focus its business activities. On the other hand, due to the integrated nature of their operations, integrated companies may struggle with potentially lowered market valuation due to the not being able to eliminate competing resource allocations. Still, they benefit from profit counterbalance when there are unfavorable market conditions in one of their operational areas. From the latest energy news, an integrated energy company does not need to determine their total profitability by volatile prices within the market. By having both upstream and downstream operations, the business of an integrated oil and gas company can experience expanded profits. For example, diminished profitability from declining crude oil prices may result in the opposite for integrated companies thanks to lower input costs from utilizing their refinement operations instead. Using the same example, an independent oil and gas company that one has one mode of operations, on the other hand, will be negatively affected by the decreased profitability of crude oil production. Major Players in the Integrated Energy Companies Market Some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies are, in fact, integrated in their operations. Such companies include Exxon Mobile and Chevron Corporation. Perhaps some of the benefits of integration mentioned above are responsible for their notable successes.

Gift Ideas

Thank You Gift Basket Ideas

Chris / February 3, 2019

Thank you gift baskets are the perfect way to express appreciation for someone’s efforts. Whether for business purposes and thanking a client for their patronage throughout the year, employee gifts for rewarding a job well done, or thanking a friend who stood by your side, thank you gifts can mark any occasion. The greatest thing about thank you baskets is that they are 100-percent fully customizable. They can be hand-picked for the person receiving it and show how well you appreciate and know them. Bath Product Gift Baskets When it comes to gift baskets, bath products have been a traditional choice for decades. Few things are more luxurious and special-occasion worthy than a basket brimming with lovely scented and relaxing bath products. Firstly, find out what types of bath products your recipient prefers. There are a lot of different options out there – bath oils, bubble baths, bath fizzles, bath bombs, bath soaps – and they are more than enough to fill a basket. Next, you need to think about fragrance. Popular fragrances include lavender and rose, and they are a nice classic choice, both known to encourage relaxation. Snack Product Gift Baskets Who doesn’t like snacks? Regardless of the recipient or the reason you are thanking them, snacks are always the perfect go-to gift. If you have taken the time to find out what type of snacks the person you are buying for prefers, this is perfect. You can fill the basket with perfectly customized items and show the person you know them or have paid attention. Popular snack items for gift baskets include wines, cheeses, crackers, meats, jerkies, spreads and nuts. For those with a sweet tooth, baskets full of sweet treats are fun to make and even funner to receive. For the chocolate fan, a variety of chocolates from individual boxes to specially-wrapped, chocolate bars, and rich and luxurious flavours of hot chocolate . Chocolate roses have become a nice option that look very attractive in a basket and an come in a variety of colours. Appreciation is not a dying art, and there are numerous ways to express gratitude for a special act, occasion, or person. As year-end employee gifts to mark the end of a year of good service, bath or snack gift baskets are ideal. For friends who have been there or helped you in some way, gift baskets are lovely ways to show you appreciate their efforts. Any occasion can only be enhanced with thoughtful and unique bath or snack gift baskets.

Animals and Pets

Important Dog Bite Statistics That You Should Know

Chris / February 3, 2019

Dogs may be our cuddly best friend but they can still be dangerous creatures. According to the dog bite statistics gathered by the Center for Disease Control, almost 5 million cases of dog bites happen every year in the US alone. The vast majority of these tend to be minor with no medical attention necessary in the aftermath. However, about 800,000 are serious enough to merit the care of a doctor. Think about these numbers as they relate to the overall US population. There are just over 300 million Americans as per the latest surveys. That means a small but significant portion of them are at risk of getting bitten. Note that dogs vary in their behaviors and tendencies. Certain breeds show greater aggression than others including bulldogs, pit bulls, Chihuahuas, German shepherds, Jack Russel terriers, and Lhasa Apsos. The latest estimates show that there are 90 million dogs in the country – that is almost one dog per 4 residents. Although the risk of getting bitten is fairly high, the probability of dying due to bites is very low. Bee strings, accidental gunshots, massive hurricanes, and plane crashes claim more lives every year. This shows that although bites are a real threat, it is not a cause for alarm. What This Means for Owners These are not meant to dissuade people from owning pets. Dogs can bring tremendous benefits to every household. They can guard the house and alert owners about trespassers. They can prevent thieves from entering the house by scaring them off. They can bring comfort to the owners in times of stress and provide companionship to those who are alone. Many will attest to their loyalty and unconditional love. However, the numbers do not lie. People must be careful around dogs. They should train these from an early age to reduce aggressive behaviors and make them easy to control. The Need for an Animal Behavior Expert Most dogs are fairly responsive to training. If done early in their development, they are more likely to adopt the desirable behaviors and maintain them until adulthood. Appropriate techniques should also be used to enforce good behaviors while discouraging them from adopting bad ones. Several tools are also available to aid in this activity including treats, leashes, shock collars, and so on. Owners should pay attention to this as they may be held liable if their pets injure other people. Animal Behavior experts can be called in for advice in extreme cases. They may be able to figure out what’s wrong and train the dog the right way.

Gift Ideas

What To Put In Keepsakes Boxes

Chris / February 3, 2019

Storing keepsakes can be very beneficial for people who want to preserve things that matter to them most. The question is, what exactly should go in these keepsakes boxes? It might not be an obvious answer, because there is only a certain amount of space for a person to utilize. Putting too much in a box is going to make things overwhelming as well, so people want to make sure everything is organized. Here are a few ideas on what to fill the box with. These ideas are all coming from what a family should consider. Since there are a number of people sharing the same box, there will be different items from different parts of life. With children, saving the first things in their life is a good way to go. Things like their first lost tooth, their first lock of hair after a haircut, their hospital wristband from when they are born and more is very memorable. They might not have a lot of value as far as money is concerned, but they are invaluable to a family and all memories. As a child ages, there are still some things that are huge moments in their life. Adding photographs on a consistent basis will eventually lead to a collection to look at later on in life. Any big certificates or awards can also fit into the box to remember the moment. Adults are going to have quite a few keepsakes boxes as well, so never overlook ideas for that. For some people, storing old tickets from memorable events can bring back memories. There are also notes from people, journal entries and more that can give insight on how he person was thinking at the time. Not everyone loves to take photos, but photos do capture moments in time. These days, people should always backup photographs as much as possible. Having printed copies in the box might just be the best way to go. It is important to remember that a lot of keepsakes are going to deteriorate over time if they are not properly stored. That is why so many people invest in a box that is very heavy duty and protected from the outside elements. The last thing anyone wants is to open up their box and see that things do not look as nice as they once did. That can be a pretty frustrating thing, and pretty much defeats the purpose of a box in the first place.

Legal

Understand The Process Of Making An Insurance Claim

Chris / February 3, 2019

In most cases, having to make an insurance claim is unfortunate. When the worst happens, however, you have every right to seek compensation from your insurer for losses you incur due to the occurrence. If the loss is substantial, insurance claim specialists may be called in to determine the validity of your claim and calculate how much you should be paid. That aside, it is important to know the necessary steps you should take to ensure success when making a claim. 1. Be Safe Your safety always comes first. Whatever situation you find yourself in, ensure that you are safe. For example, don’t attempt to enter a damaged building until the necessary authorities declare it safe. The same goes for all members of your family and other people whose safety you are responsible for. 2. Notify the Police When an accident, crime or disaster happens, the police should never be left out of the list of the first entities to be notified. Remember it is your responsibility to let the police know about it as soon as possible so that they can take the necessary action. In addition, you should provide as much information to them. They will give you an incident or report number which will go a long way in helping you during the process of making your insurance claim. 3. Review Insurance Company Guidelines If it is possible, review the guidelines laid out by the insurance company to determine whether your claim is valid. Remember that most companies, while desiring a smooth claim process, may still not pay the full amount of the losses incurred. Therefore, you should be ready to meet some of the expenses. 4. Make a Claim The final step is the actual making of the claim. You may need to prove that you have indeed suffered the losses identified in the claim. Documents such as medical or police reports as well as invoices and receipts of the costs that you incurred in the course following up the claim will come in handy. In addition, you may need to prove that you own the items in the claim. Conclusion Most insurance companies will pay up for a claim without any undue struggle. Nevertheless, keep in mind that they are in business and they would do anything they can to keep their losses at a minimum. One way they can do this is by engaging the services of insurance claim specialists to not only determine whether your claim is valid but also point out areas that should or not be covered according to the insurers’ guidelines.