REFILE-ConocoPhillips plans layoffs as part of broad restructuring
ConocoPhillips plans to reduce staff. The company announced this on Tuesday. This is part of a broader effort to control costs and streamline operations following its $23 billion purchase of Marathon Oil. Job cuts are a sign of the pain that the oil and gas sector is experiencing as it faces higher costs and lower revenue due to prices hovering around $63 per barrel. Many companies claim they can't drill profitably at oil prices below $65 per barrel.
Oil below $60 puts US producers in a tough position regarding growth and capital returns
Analysts have warned that a drop in oil prices to below $60 per barrel as a result of an intensifying trade war could cause anxiety throughout the U.S. Oil Patch, forcing companies to take additional measures, including reducing share buybacks or capital expenditures. Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate futures (WTI) fell to their lowest levels since February 2021 as tariffs introduced by U.S.
ConocoPhillips is looking to sell assets in Oklahoma worth more than $1 billion, according to sources
People familiar with the situation said that ConocoPhillips has begun exploring the possibility of selling oil and gas assets it acquired from Marathon Oil when it bought the company for $22.5 billion last year. Sources said that the energy producer hired Moelis & Co as an investment bank to manage the sale of the assets. However, they added that talks were at a very early stage, and a deal was not guaranteed.
Gas giants claim that Australia's opposition plan to reserve supplies may worsen the shortage
Gas giants around the world said that a proposal made by Australia's coalition of opposition to force producers to divert more gas from exports into the domestic market in an attempt to win votes would discourage investment and not solve the looming gas shortages. The conservative Liberal-National Coalition has pledged to lower power bills by implementing a gas reservations scheme. The center…
EIA: Alaska crude oil production will grow in 2026 for the first time since 2017.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast on Wednesday that Alaska's crude oil production would increase in 2026. This is the first time since 2017. If realized, it will be the largest production since 2002. The 29 wells of the ConocoPhillips owned Nuna project are expected to produce combined 20,000 barrels per day (b/d) at its peak. Meanwhile, Santos and Repsol who jointly own the Pikka Project plan to produce up to 80…
Trump hosts top US oil executives as trade wars threaten
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, will be hosting top oil executives in the White House this Wednesday to discuss plans for boosting domestic energy production amid falling crude prices and trade wars. This will be Trump's first meeting with oil and gas executives since he returned to the White House in January for his second term. According to a source familiar with planning the event, it will include members of American Petroleum Institute (API)'s executive committee.
Trump's Energy dominance aims to attract more global companies to the US
Executives said that the market upheaval caused by U.S. president Donald Trump's protectionist policies on trade has not dampened interest from foreign investors in the U.S. Energy Industry. They praised his promise to reduce regulations and support fossil energies. Trump made energy dominance the cornerstone of his administration. He declared a national emergency on his first official day in office, and pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Experts say that Trump's tariffs against steel and aluminum will increase costs for US energy companies
The proposed U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs will increase costs for U.S. Oilfield Services companies that rely on this metal for their operations. Oilfield service firms like ChampionX and Patterson UTI are the backbone for the North American oil and natural gas industry. They provide essential equipment and services to drill, produce and maintain. Steel is the lifeblood of these industries - drilling platforms…
US Supreme Court dismisses state climate lawsuits against oil companies
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid from 19 Republican-led state led by Alabama, to stop five Democratic-led state from pursuing lawsuits against major oil companies for deceiving public about the role that fossil fuels played in climate change. The justices refused to hear a case filed directly at the Supreme Court by Republican attorneys general. This case targeted cases filed against Exxon Mobil and other companies such as Chevron…
ConocoPhillips sells Ursa and Europa Fields interests to Shell for $735 Million
ConocoPhillips announced on Friday that it will sell its interest in the Ursa Fields and Europa Fields for $735,000,000 to Shell as part of its plan to streamline the company's portfolio. After its $22.5 billion acquisition of Marathon Oil, the company is looking to sell non-core assets in order to reduce debt. Conoco announced earlier this month that it would be selling its Lower 48 non-core assets for $600,000,000.
Australia's Origin Energy lowers its APLNG production for 2025
Origin Energy announced on Friday that it expects Australia Pacific LNG to produce less in 2025. However, the company reported a sequential increase of 11% in its second-quarter revenues from its stake in this project due to higher gas prices. The power producer expects production in 2025 from APLNG, Origin's joint-venture with U.S. oil major ConocoPhillips (and Sinopec) -- to be between 670-690 Petajoules. This is 2%-3 % lower than its previous guidance.
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…
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.
Venezuelan request for annulment of Conoco award dismissed by arbitration court
The World Bank arbitral tribunal dismissed Venezuela's request to annul an $8.37 billion arbitration decision in favor of ConocoPhillips. This cleared the way for ConocoPhillips to claim compensation for its expropriation assets from Venezuela. In 2019, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes made a final ruling declaring that Conoco's expropriation was 'illegal' and ordering it to compensate Conoco.
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.
Norway's Troll field produced record volumes in 2024
Equinor, a Norwegian company, announced on Monday that the Troll field in the North Sea produced a record amount of natural gas in 2020. This is an increase of nearly 10% over the previous high in 2022. Equinor released a statement that stated the Troll field would deliver 42.5 billion standard cube metres (bcm), up from 38.8 in 2022. Equinor reports that Norway is Europe's biggest natural…
Report: Oilfield services consolidation will increase under Trump
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Oil and Gas Industry Outlook report, the oilfield services sector will consolidate in 2025. Donald Trump is expected to loosen regulations for the U.S. industry. This increase in services deals follows a wave mega-mergers between oil producers such as Exxon Mobil, Pioneer Natural Resources, and ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil. Deloitte is the largest consultancy in the world.
Elliott Affiliate's Citgo Bid to be Challenged
Companies seeking to claim proceeds from a court auction of shares in a parent of Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum are pressing a U.S. court to lift an exclusivity deal with an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management, which could pave the way for at least two new bids, sources close to the matter said.The auction of shares in the U.S. oil refiner's parent PDV Holding, aimed at paying 18 creditors up to $21.3 billion in awards against Venezuela…
Wall St. ends lower than expected as Meta and Microsoft highlight AI costs
The major U.S. indexes ended lower on Thursday, after Microsoft and Meta Platforms pointed out that artificial intelligence costs could impact their earnings. This dampened the enthusiasm for megacaps which have been driving this year's market rally. Microsoft and Meta Platforms, which own Facebook, saw their shares fall despite the fact that both companies beat earnings expectations in results announced after Wednesday's bell.
ConocoPhillips beats Q3 profits on higher production and share buyback
ConocoPhillips surpassed Wall Street's estimates for the third quarter profit on Thursday, as the Texas oil and gas company reaped benefits from higher production. Its shares rose 2.6% to $105.5 at premarket trading. The volatility of commodity prices has been a major topic in recent months. This is due to several factors, including the escalating conflict between the United States and the Middle East. Other factors include the weak demand in China, the rate decisions made by the U.S.
