Total Rejects Force Majeure Notice From Chinese LNG Buyer
French oil major Total has rejected a force majeure notice from a buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in China, a Total executive said during the company's full-year results presentation on Thursday."Some Chinese customers, at least one, are trying to use the coronavirus to say I have force majeure," said Philippe Sauquet, head of Total's gas, renewables and power segment."We have received one force majeure that we have rejected."A Chinese international trade promotion…
Coronavirus Paralyzes Oil, Gas Sales into China
Short-term sales of crude oil and liquefied natural gas into China almost ground to a halt this week as the coronavirus slows economic activity and cuts demand and buyers ponder legal action to avoid having to honor purchase agreements, trade sources said.Typically, trade would have revived after the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January, but China has extended the break into February to try to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has claimed nearly 500 lives.As a result…
CPIH, Equinor Team Up on Offshore Wind
Chinese power giant China Power International Holding (CPIH) and Norwegian energy firm Equinor have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on offshore wind projects off China and Europe.“China is rapidly increasing its use of renewables and natural gas. The country is set to become the world’s biggest offshore wind market by 2030. As an offshore wind major, Equinor is excited to collaborate with CPIH to develop offshore wind” says executive vice president New Energy Solutions…
Mitsui, JOGMEC join Arctic LNG-2
Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co and state-owned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) have signed a sales and purchase agreement with Russia’s Novatek for a 10% participation interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project.The share will be acquired through the Dutch Company, Japan Arctic LNG B.V., in which Mitsui has invested jointly with JOGMEC. The equity ratio of JOGMEC and Mitsui will be set at 75 percent and 25 percent respectively.The project will…
Novatek Pact with Chinese Duo on Arctic LNG 2
Russia's second largest natural gas producer, Novatek has signed share purchase agreements with two Chinese oil giants for the sale of participation interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project.Novatek announced that it has signed the Share Purchase Agreement with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in relation to the sale of a 10% participation interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project.The Agreement will close in the nearest future subject to approval by regulatory…
Natural Gas Consumption Up 10% in China
According to the preliminary estimate, the consumption of natural gas in China exceeded 27 million cubic meters in 2018, registering a YOY increase of more than 10%, said a report.The growing Chinese economy and stricter environmental protection policies drive the growth of natural gas consumption in China. In 2018, the Chinese government introduced several environmental protection policies to further prevent and control atmospheric pollution and replace coal with natural gas in key areas…
CNOOC in Cooperation Pact with Nine Oil Majors
China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), has signed Strategic Cooperation Agreements with 9 international oil companies including: Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Equinor, Husky, KUFPEC, Roc Oil, Shell, SK Innovation, and Total.According to the agreements, the Strategic Cooperation Areas are located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin offshore China, including Area A and Area B (existing mining license areas and the contract areas are not included).Area A is approximately 15…
Guangzhou Launches World's First Icebreaking LNG Tanker
The world's first liquid natural gas (LNG) carrier tanker was named 'Boris Sokolov' and delivered by Guangzhou Shipyard International in Guangzhou City.According to Chinese state media, the Arctic condensate tanker carrier designed to traverse the world's icy northern polar region.With a load capacity of 44,550 tons, the vessel, which is built for for Dynacom of Greece, can sail in the Arctic region without icebreaker-piloting, it said. The vessel is mainly used for transporting condensate oil for the Yamal LNG project in northwest Siberia…
Novatek Ships First LNG Cargo To China Via Arctic
Novatek Gas and Power Asia, wholly owned subsidiary of Russia’s largest independent natural gas producer Novatek, shipped a cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from the Yamal LNG project to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).The LNG cargo was delivered to Fujian LNG Terminal in China via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) by an Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier in 20 days, completing the NSR part of the journey in 7.5 days.A release from the natural gas producers quoted Leonid Mikhelson…
CNOOC Becomes China’s First OPITO Approved Safety Trainer
The largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas in China, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), has become the country’s first organization certified to train workers to OPITO safety standards.Its safety training facility, CNOOC Safety & Technology Services Co., Ltd, achieved the internationally recognized approval this summer and it’s anticipated that more than 1,000 of its personnel will be certified within the first 12 months.CNOOC is China’s third largest state-owned E&P firm.
Hoegh Backs Out of Chile LNG Project but Buoyant on Market
Hoegh LNG said on Thursday it had let agreements lapse in Chile that tied one of its floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import vessels to a project there because approvals for the initiative were likely to be delayed again.The Norwegian company was due to provide a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to GNL Penco for 20 years under a 2015 deal, with an original start date of the second quarter of 2018, but regulatory permits were slow in coming.Hoegh…
Aker Solutions to Supply Umbilicals for Liuhua FPSO
Aker Solutions said it has been contracted to deliver power umbilical systems to China National Offshore Oil Corporation's (CNOOC) Liuhua oil fields in the South China Sea, off Hong Kong.The order, which is said to be worth more than NOK 350 million ($36.6 million), was booked in the third quarter of 2018. The work scope includes more than 35 kilometers of dynamic and static power umbilicals for the Liuhua 16-2, 20-2 and 21-2 fields, linking the subsea development to a new floating production…
China Surpasses US as Largest Crude Oil Importer
China took the crown as the world’s largest crude oil importer in 2017, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration press release. China imported 8.4 million barrels per day, and the United States imported 7.9 million barrels per day. China had become the world’s largest net importer (imports minus exports) of total petroleum and other liquid fuels in 2013. New refinery capacity and strategic inventory stockpiling combined with declining domestic oil production were the major factors contributing to the recent increase in China’s crude oil imports.
Mexico Awaits Next Oil Round with Cautious Optimism
Mexico is looking forward to its next round of offshore oil auctions on Monday with guarded optimism thanks to robust interest from oil majors for the shallow-water tenders. On Monday, Mexico auctions 15 oil and gas blocks along the southern coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the next stage of the country's historic opening of the industry following a 2013-14 energy reform. In December 2013 Congress changed the constitution to end a 75-year production and exploration monopoly enjoyed by state oil company Pemex in a bid to reverse years of declining output.
Philippines' Offshore Oil Still in Doubt
The Philippines, eager to resume development of vital oil and gas reserves off its coast, will likely need to reach an accord with a Chinese government infuriated by last week's ruling that granted Manila a big victory in the South China Sea. The Philippines relies overwhelmingly on imports to fuel its fast-growing economy. That reliance will grow further in a few years when the main source of domestic natural gas runs out, so the clock is ticking for it to develop offshore fields that China shows no sign of loosening its grip on.
China Pull Online Rig Location after Vietnam Complaint
Chinese maritime officials on Friday removed an online notice giving the location of a $1-billion deepwater oil rig in the South China Sea two days after issuing it, following a warning from Vietnam about drilling in disputed waters. Vietnam closely tracks the movement of the oil rig, which in mid-2014 caused the worst diplomatic rift between the neighbours in decades, when China parked it for 10 weeks in waters Vietnam considers its own. Annual trade between the communist neighbours exceeds $60 billion but anti-China sentiment is strong in Vietnam…
China: Rig Not Drilling in Disputed Waters
In mid-2014, rig caused worst breakdown in ties in decades. China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that a $1-billion deepwater oil rig was not drilling in disputed territory in the South China Sea, in response to a warning from Vietnam against such activity. Vietnam closely tracks the movement of the oil rig, which in mid-2014 caused the worst diplomatic breakdown between the neighbours in decades, when China parked it for 10 weeks in waters Vietnam considers its own.
China Leverages Gas Prices In Shell-BG Review
Chinese regulators ask Shell to cut long-term LNG prices. Chinese regulators vetting Royal Dutch Shell's proposed merger with BG Group are pressing the Anglo-Dutch company to sweeten long-term gas supply contracts in a move that could cast new doubt over the near-term benefits of the $70 billion tie-up. For China, the opportunity to re-negotiate existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply contracts with Shell, which combined with BG would supply around 30 percent of its imports by 2017…
$1.7 bln Gas Development Announced for Queensland
QGC Pty Limited, along with joint venture partners China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Tokyo Gas, today announces a two-year, A$1.7 billion development of its natural gas tenements west of Wandoan to support gas production. The investment, which follows receipt of Commonwealth and State Government environmental approvals, has been approved by QGC’s parent company BG Group and the joint venture partners. BG Group’s share of the investment is within the Group's previously disclosed capital expenditure program.
China's CNOOC Tenders to Sell Third Australian LNG Cargo
China National Offshore Oil Corporation has tendered to sell a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo of Australian origin, trade sources said. The tender, launched earlier this week, suggests a loading date in late December from the BG Group-operated Queensland Curtis LNG export plant, one trader said. CNOOC owns a stake in the plant. In September, CNOOC launched its first tender to sell two LNG cargoes from the facility. The decision to offload supply onto the spot market…
