Cenovus' quarterly profit drops due to weak oil prices
Cenovus, a Canadian oil and natural gas company, reported a decline in profit for the fourth quarter on Thursday. Lower commodity prices and lower refining margins were offset by higher production. In mid-morning trade, the company's stock was down by 4.5%. The average Brent crude futures fell 3% in 2024 as the economy of the major consumer, China, remained weak. The OPEC+ producer's group also postponed their planned supply increases to 2026 and extended the deep cuts in output until the end of the year.
Egypt, Cyprus sign gas export deals, boosting Eastern Mediterranean energy cooperation
Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement on Monday that allows the export of natural gas from Cyprus offshore fields to Egypt, for liquefaction, and then re-export into Europe. Both countries are seeking to strengthen the role of the Eastern Mediterranean as an energy hub. The 2025 Egypt Energy Show deals formalise the long-anticipated plan of linking Cypriot reserves with Egypt's LNG facilities. This move leverages Egypt’s existing infrastructure for processing and shipping natural gas to European market.
US Judge rejects Republican challenge to Biden's ESG investment rule
A federal judge in Texas upheld a rule that was adopted by Democratic former president Joe Biden that allowed socially conscious investments by employee retirement plans. The judge said it remained valid after a U.S. Supreme Court decision that curbed the regulatory powers of agencies. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, in Amarillo Texas, has rejected the arguments of 26 Republican-led States, oil drilling company Liberty Energy, and an oil and Gas trade group, that this rule is inconsistent with federal laws. The U.S.
Cyprus and Chevron led group agree on updated offshore field plan
Cyprus and the Chevron-led group have reached an agreement on a new development plan for an offshore gas field near Cyprus. The two parties released a joint press release on Friday. Chevron tried to change a field development plan for 2019 and this led to protracted discussions on the future of the Aphrodite field, south-east from Cyprus. This plan was agreed upon between Cyprus and Noble, a former license holder and independent energy operator Chevron purchased in 2020. The Development and Production Plan announced on Friday included a floating production facility…
Chevron is struggling to replace its oil and gas reserves amid uncertainty surrounding the Hess deal
Chevron’s oil and natural gas reserves are at their lowest level in more than a decade. This highlights the importance of its planned acquisition of oil producers Hess, which has been stalled by a legal battle with Exxon Mobil. Investors in energy companies use reserve replacement as a key metric. It gives them an idea of how much gas and oil the company could produce, and how long. Chevron would be able to gain a stake on the lucrative oilfields in Guyana, which are run by Exxon, Chevron’s main rival.
TotalEnergies exceeds expectations in the fourth quarter profit and signals a stronger 2025
TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, beat the expectations for its fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday. Higher trading profits on the gas market helped to offset the impact of low fuel prices and weak demand. The adjusted net income for 2024's final quarter was $4.4 billion. This is down 15% on the $5.2 billion of the previous year, but still slightly above the $4.1 billion in the third quarter. According to a LSEG analyst consensus, the results exceeded expectations of $4.2 billion. The company expects to see higher gas prices, production upstream and sales of power in early 2025.
TotalEnergies' fourth-quarter profits drop on low oil demand
TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, reported a 15% decline in its fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday. The company closed out a year that was marked by low oil and fuel prices. This was partially offset by increased electricity sales and trading of liquefied gas. The adjusted net income for 2024's final quarter was $4.4 billion. This is down from the $5.2 billion it earned a year ago, but higher than the $4.1 billion in the third quarter. Visible Alpha, a consensus of six analysts, said that the results exceeded expectations.
Chevron's refining division posts its first loss in 4 years, missing earnings estimates
Chevron Corp. reported earnings for the fourth quarter below Wall Street expectations on Friday. Weak margins forced its refining division into a loss, its first since 2020. Shares fell more than 2%. Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron, said that the downward trend in margins for refining is expected to continue into this year. The second largest U.S. oil company posted a total profit of $3.24 Billion for the three-month period ending Dec. 31. This is up from $2.26 Billion in the same time last year.
ReconAfrica, a Canadian company, finds oil in the Naingopo onshore well
The chief executive of Canada's Reconnaissance Energy Africa, ReconAfrica, said that the company has discovered oil in its Naingopo exploration well on land and plans to increase drilling in this region. ReconAfrica, which is drilling near the Okavango Delta, a sensitive area in Namibia, has been criticized by Namibian communities and environmentalists for years. However, the government has given its approval to continue. The company is authorized to drill several wells. ReconAfrica CEO Brian Reinsborough stated in a press release that "we are excited about this well's results…
Chevron will build gas plants for data centers in the AI boom
The oil and gas company Chevron announced on Tuesday that it will build natural gas power plants near data centers in the U.S. as the energy demand for artificial intelligence growth is expected to grow. The second largest U.S. oil and gas producer has partnered with Engine No. The project is a partnership between Engine No. 1 and electric service company GE Vernova. Chevron announced the project a day after Chinese startup DeepSeek revealed an AI model it claims uses much less computing power than leading models in the United States.
Engine No. 1: Chevron and Engine No. GE Vernova will power US datacenters
Chevron, the world's largest energy company, announced on Tuesday that it had signed an agreement to invest with Engine No. 1 and GE Vernova will build natural gas-based energy plants in the U.S. to power co-located data centres. The announcement came just one week after U.S. president Donald Trump announced a private investment of up $500 billion in infrastructure for artificial intelligence. This was done to keep pace with rival nations. The project will use GE Vernova natural gas…
Kazakhstan wants better terms for oil production sharing agreements
Kazakh President Kassym Jomart Tokayev ordered the government on Tuesday to intensify talks with international oil giants about an extension existing Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) at "better conditions". Central Asia is one of the top 10 oil producing countries in the world. It has a chequered past when it comes to international oil companies. They have been sued for billions of dollars. The government, according to foreign companies, is only seeking to increase the share of its oil and gas projects. This "resource nationalism" they call it.
Kazakhstan's daily crude oil production at a record high amid Chevron led expansion
Official data show that oil production in Kazakhstan hit a record of 278 499 metric tonnes on Sunday, just a few days after the country began expanding its largest oilfield - Tengiz led by Chevron. Kazakhstan, which depends on Tengiz, and two other large fields, Karachaganak, and Kashagan for the majority of its production, is subjected to output targets because it's a member of OPEC+. This alliance of OPEC, other top producers, led by Russia, has set out specific output goals. OPEC+ named Kazakhstan…
Big Oil is not rushing to "drill, baby drill" this year despite Trump's agenda
Wall Street believes that U.S. energy companies will keep spending under control in 2025, and focus on shareholder returns despite President Donald Trump's calls to "drill baby, drill". This week, Big Oil will report its fourth-quarter results. The outlook for the next year should reflect Trump's agenda to maximize oil and gas production and the expectations of investors. In recent years, the industry has been pushing to reduce costs and increase output by using more efficient technologies rather than drilling new wells.
Minister: Greece will launch gas exploration bid on Friday
The Greek energy minister announced that Greece will hold a tender on Friday for new rights to explore gas in its southwest waters after a U.S. oil company, Chevron, expressed interest. Chevron has submitted its non-binding expression of interest in exploring for energy on a deep sea block located south of the Peloponnese Peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea. Theodore Skylakakis, Energy Minister of Greece, told Greek Radio that the tender process would begin today. He added that the winner would be announced by the end the year.
Oil industry unlikely rush to Alaska despite Trump’s call for drilling
U.S. companies will not expand their development in Alaska or the Arctic after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allows them to do so. Industry representatives and company officials said this, pointing out that a future president would be able to reverse Trump's decision. U.S. Oil Production is Already at Record Levels. This is largely due to the increased production of oil in more accessible areas such as Texas and New Mexico. Companies have also limited their spending on new projects, focusing on returning cash to investors.
New York City dismisses climate change lawsuit against Exxon BP Shell
A judge dismissed New York City’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil and BP for misrepresenting their products and commitment to renewable energy, as well as their fight against climate change. Anar Patel, a state Supreme Court justice, ruled on Tuesday that the city cannot claim to have climate-conscious citizens, but then let them down by oil companies who fail to disclose the contribution of their fossil fuels to climate change. Patel found that there was no evidence the oil companies or defendant American Petroleum Institute engaged in "greenwashing"…
Chevron CEO: Chevron targets a growth of $6-8 billion in free cash flows next year.
Michael Wirth, CEO of Chevron, said on Wednesday that the company is in a position to increase its cash flow from free to $8 billion and to reduce expenses "by a couple of billion dollars". The U.S. oil producer No.2 expects to benefit from the start of new or expanded oil production projects in Kazakhstan, U.S. shale and offshore Gulf of Mexico. The No. 2 U.S. Oil Producer expects to see positive results from new or expanded oil projects in Kazakhstan, U.S. Shale and offshore U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
PDVSA 2024 Oil Exports Climb in Choppy Year
Venezuela's oil exports rose 10.5% last year despite political instability and changes to the U.S. sanctions regime on the country, as partners of state oil company PDVSA took more cargoes under licenses granted by Washington.As President Nicolas Maduro gets ready to start his third term in office next week following disputed election results, the OPEC country's oil exports rose for a second consecutive year, providing revenue to contribute to economic growth.U.S.-sanctioned PDVSA PDVSA.UL and its joint ventures exported an average of 772…
Hess CEO gives upbeat forecast on oil demand, but says Guyana has only scratched the surface of its potential
HOUSTON, January 7 - Hess Chief Executive John Hess said on Tuesday that he believes the oil market is closer to being in balance than it is oversupplied, despite concerns about China's demand and increased production by non-OPEC and U.S. producers. In remarks made to investors at Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech and Utilities Conference, he expressed an optimistic outlook on the shale market and Guyana's prospects as an oil producer. Hess warned that the market may be volatile in 2018, citing political risks in Iran and Venezuela. Hess said that the demand was stronger than expected.
