National media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor and Reuters, recently featured expert commentary from SMU faculty about the Deepwater Horizon oil catastrophe. In addition, an upcoming Discovery Channel special on the BP oil spill crisis is expected to include analysis from SMU.

SMU Cox experts on the petroleum industry and economics stand ready to continue to provide commentary on the situation and the related consequences. Contact SMU News and Communications by e-mail at communications@mail.cox.smu.edu or call Andrea Hugg (214)768-4474 to schedule interviews with these experts.

			THE FACTS SURROUNDING THE OIL SPILL Bruce Bullock Director of the Maguire Energy Institute Bullock can discuss what caused the oil spill and how long it will take to contain.  How much oil has escaped? How much damage has been caused and what are the long-term implications?  Bullock can also discuss issues related to natural gas, and the recent gas line explosion in Texas. Bruce recently talked with The Washington Post about what went wrong at the BP site, saying ""They had the least unknowns about the well than at any other stage in drilling the well."
			THE FUTURE AND POLITICS OF OFFSHORE DRILLING Bud Weinstein Associate Director of the Maguire Energy Institute and Adjunct Professor of Economics The Obama administration has issued an offshore drilling moratorium, which some argue worsens the harm to a Gulf Coast economy due to loss of jobs and income. In response, he is working quickly to establish new drilling regulations to allow operations to reopen. Will this increase our dependence on foreign oil? Weinstein can discuss the implications.  Read more.
			WHAT DO INVESTORS NEED TO KNOW? Brian Bruce Director of the Alternate Asset Management Center Bruce can discuss what investors should do in light of BP's tumbling stock price.  Is now the time to sell or to buy?  Will BP be acquired? Can the company recover financially? What about the impact on deep water drilling. Is this a good time to invest in the energy sector?  Bruce identifies which stocks will benefit and which ones will suffer from the BP disaster.
			THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF THE BP OIL SPILL Mike Davis Senior Lecturer of Economics and Finance Davis can address the long-term economic implications of the BP oil spill. Will taxpayers eventually feel the pinch? He can also address the potential hazards of ethanol vehicles.