Devon Energy's production increases help it beat the fourth-quarter profit forecast
Devon Energy, a Devon Oil subsidiary, beat the analysts' estimates for its fourth-quarter profits on Tuesday as higher production offset lower prices. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that total oil production reached a record of 13.6 millions barrels per day during December. This was due to improved efficiency, which allowed oil producers to pump more. Devon's quarterly production increased by 28% compared to the same period last year, reaching 848,000 barrels equivalent per day (boepd).
Colombia's Ecopetrol extends joint venture agreement with Occidental Petroleum for Permian Basin
Ecopetrol, a Colombian energy firm, announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Occidental Petroleum to renew their oil joint venture in the U.S. Permian Basin in Texas. The future of the joint-venture was uncertain after Ecopetrol – which is majority owned by the Colombian government – backed out from a separate agreement last August, to purchase $3.6 billion worth of assets in the Permian Basin from Occidental, on President Gustavo Petro's orders. Petro's government has set as a priority the weaning of Andean countries off fossil fuels.
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. Venezuela then filed a request for rectification of the amount and for annulment.
European firms exposed as Trump targets US offshore wind
U.S. President Donald Trump in his first day of office on Monday suspended new federal offshore wind leasing pending an environmental and economic review, saying wind mills are ugly, expensive and harm wildlife.Former President Joe Biden supported the offshore wind industry, setting a target for 30 gigawatts (GW) of projects by 2030, up from 42 megawatts at the end of 2023, prompting many European project developers to acquire leases and plan wind farms in the United States.Trump's executive order is not expected to stop existing U.S.
Judge rejects bids to block Gramercy Fund lawsuits
A U.S. court ruled on Monday that three companies can continue their lawsuits to increase their chances of receiving proceeds from an auction of Citgo Petroleum's parent shares. In a motion to block parallel lawsuits, the court officer who oversees the auction at federal court in Delaware said that the decision could reduce any proceeds from a sale. Citgo parent PDV Holding shares are up for auction to pay $21 billion of claims by Venezuelan and PDVSA state oil company PDVSA. PDV is an American subsidiary of PDVSA, and the sole indirect stockholder in Citgo.
Wall Street Journal, Dec 3,
These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. A Delaware judge ruled Monday that Tesla CEO Elon Mots is not entitled to a $56 billion package of compensation despite the fact that shareholders of the electric car company voted to reinstate it in July. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger was forced to resign less than four months after taking over the company. He has handed control of the company to two lieutenants…
US Court Ready to restart Citgo Auction
A court advisor recommended Tuesday that the auction of shares in Citgo Petroleum's parent company to pay Venezuelan claims needs to be reworked. He acknowledged that a year-long process had been in disarray and needed a fresh start.The U.S. District Court in Delaware auctions shares in PDV Holding in order to pay $21.3 billion in claims made against Venezuela and the state oil firm PDVSA due to expropriation and default on debt.A court filing made the recommendation…
Grid operator PJM faces a new complaint regarding power supply
Consumer advocacy group filed a complaint with PJM Interconnection. They claim that the U.S.'s largest grid operator unfairly awards record-high payments to power plants, driving up electricity prices for households and businesses. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received a complaint on Monday, the second in recent times regarding PJM Interconnection’s capacity market auction for 2025-2026. This auction set prices that were over 800% higher than those of the previous year.
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, has become…
US Extends Protections for CITGO to March 2025
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday extended a license protecting Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum from bondholders to March 2025, a key decision amid a seven-year-long legal case in which the refiner's parent might be auctioned to pay creditors.Citgo's parent, PDV Holding, was found liable by the court for Venezuela's debts from asset expropriations and debt defaults. The case has opened a route for creditors to fight for a piece of Venezuela's crown jewel - Citgo's 807…
Sources say ConocoPhillips is exploring the sale of Permian Shale assets worth more than $1 billion.
ConocoPhillips has been looking at selling some of its Permian basin shale assets worth more than $1billion, after two unsuccessful years of trying to sell the same assets. Houston-based oil producer, Texas, is preparing to complete its $22.5 billion acquisition of Marathon Oil before the end of the year. As part of the deal it will assume approximately $5.4 billion in debt from Marathon Oil and plans to raise an additional $2 billion by selling assets. Sources…
US Governors push back against PJM following record-high prices for power plants
Five governors urged PJM Interconnection on Tuesday to change its process for determining the price of power plants, after the auction that saw record prices. Prices in the most recent PJM auction were almost 10 times higher than last year. This was largely due to a shrinking supply of electricity and an increasing demand for electricity. Prices were set at levels that raised concern about the cost of electricity for homes and businesses on PJM territory. Environmental groups filed a complaint to PJM over its pricing process.
Citgo creditors attack Elliott bid in auction, seeking rival offers
Creditors of the company said that the key terms of an agreement proposed by a U.S. court with a hedge fund to control Venezuelan oil refiner Citgo Petroleum would lock in its low-ball offer. The reaction to Elliott Investment Management’s Amber Energy, a wholly owned company by Elliott Investment Management, has ended any hope of changing Citgo's ownership this year to satisfy Venezuela's debt defaults or expropriation. Creditors, who were seeking cash proceeds at a court auction and wanted to know if the offer was viable or not, asked that it be re-opened.
Citgo auction at risk as Venezuelan bondholders file parallel claims
Holders of billions in Venezuelan bonds, notes and other securities have emerged in the last minute as protagonists in an American court case that will decide ownership of oil refiner Citgo Petroleum. They threaten to derail a compensation auction for more than a dozen firms to compensate them for unpaid debts or expropriations. Two groups of holders have taken their cases to other U.S. court to enforce them, and are pursuing the Citgo assets which industrial conglomerates, oil companies, and mining firms have pursued for years.
Maguire: Slow rollout of charge points could stall US EV sales momentum
The United States has seen a 140% increase in electric vehicle sales since 2023. However, further growth could be hindered if public charging stations are not rolled out more evenly and at a slower pace. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. electric vehicle registrations will reach just over 3.5 millions by September 2024. This is up from 1.4m registrations in 2023 and represents the steepest growth rate ever in EV adoption in the country. AFDC…
Maguire: Slow rollout of charge points could stall US EV sales momentum
The United States has seen a 140% increase in electric vehicle sales since 2023. However, further growth could be hindered if public charging stations are not rolled out more evenly and at a slower pace. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. electric vehicle registrations will reach just over 3.5 millions by September 2024. This is up from 1.4m registrations in 2023 and represents the steepest growth rate ever in EV adoption in the country. AFDC…
Viper Energy will buy certain Permian minerals assets from Tumbleweed Royalty at $461 million
Viper Energy is a subsidiary owned by oil and gas producer Diamondback Energy. It announced on Wednesday that it had entered into an agreement with Tumbleweed Royalty to purchase mineral and royalty interests from the company for $461,000,000 in cash. According to the agreement, an additional payment of $41 million could be made in the first quarter 2026 based on average U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude prices in 2025. Viper issued an 8.5-million share offering to finance the acquisition. Shares fell over 4% following the close of the market.
Equinor and Dominion win US Central Atlantic Offshore Wind Auction
The Interior Department announced on Tuesday that Equinor, a Norwegian company, and Dominion, a U.S.-based power company, were the successful bidders at an auction by the U.S. Government for two offshore wind areas near the coasts Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The Biden administration's offshore wind lease auction generated bids of less than $93 millions, placing it as one of the least profitable. The U.S. president Joe Biden put offshore wind development at the forefront his climate change agenda.
US Harbor Craft: Measuring Opportunity for Zero Emissions
There are more than 4,000 harbor craft vessels in the U.S. deemed highly suited for zero-emissions operations, according to a recent report produced by CALSTART in partnership with Intelatus Global Partners.The report - “Sizing the U.S. and California Harbor Craft Market” - looked at the U.S. commercial harbor craft and inland and nearshore vessels above 600 kilowatts (kW) or 805 brake horsepower. Approximately 10,000 vessels were counted in total, including crew and supply boats…
Exxon reports 59 job losses at Texas agency following the acquisition of Pioneer
Exxon Mobil laid off 59 employees following the acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion, according to an application filed with the Texas Workforce Commission. Exxon has confirmed that more than 1,500 Pioneer workers will be offered new jobs as a result of the merger. Around 2,200 people worked for Pioneer. According to the filing, 39 workers were laid off from Las Colinas in Irving, Texas - a Dallas suburb that was home to Pioneer Natural Resources’ former headquarters.
