EIA: US crude and distillate stocks rise while gasoline inventories fall
The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude and distillate oil inventories increased while gasoline inventories decreased last week. The EIA reported that crude inventories increased by 6.2 millions barrels, to 439.8million barrels for the week ending on March 28. This was compared to analysts' expectations based on a poll of a 2.1-million barrel draw. The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, rose by 2.4 millions barrels. The crude prices have remained relatively unchanged despite the surprising build-up of inventories. Brent futures traded at $74.39 per barrel at 10:35 am EDT (1435 GMT), down 11 cents. U.S.
The LAPFF in Britain recommends voting against BP Chairman, annual report
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum in Britain (LAPFF), recommended to shareholders on Monday, that they vote against the reelection of BP Chairman Helge Lund and BP's Annual Report, remuneration reports, as well as abstaining on whether BP Chief Executive Murray Auchincloss is reelected. Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) as well as Glass Lewis, two influential proxy advisors, have advised that shareholders vote for the reelection of BP’s board of directors, management team and annual report during the annual general meeting on April 17. Auchincloss, BP's vice president of strategy, said that BP will reduce spending on renewables and increase its spending on oil.
Texas oil and gas upstream jobs increase in February, says industry group
The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, or TIPRO, announced on Friday that upstream oil companies increased hiring in February. This is the second consecutive month of growth. Hiring in upstream, which includes drilling and producing oil activities, can be an indicator of how the oil and gas sector is doing. More drilling could be expected if companies hire more staff. TIPRO represents more than 3,000 independent producers in Texas. The Permian Basin is home to some of the most prolific crude oil production in the United States, which, according to Energy Information Administration, accounts for less than half the total U.S. crude oil production.
BP approves Ginger Gas Project in Trinidad and Tobago
BP said that it has approved the Ginger gas project in Trinidad and Tobago. This is one of ten projects named by Murray Auchincloss, CEO, in a recent strategy overhaul to support BP's renewed emphasis on oil and natural gas. The company stated that Ginger will start production in 2027 and reach a maximum of 62,000 barrels equivalents per day. Trinidad and Tobago has encouraged BP and other producers of natural gas to increase production in order to meet demand for its flagship liquefied gas facility, Atlantic LNG and its petrochemical factories. LSEG preliminary data shows that BP owns 45% of Atlantic LNG.
China CNOOC 2024's net profit increases 11% on record production
CNOOC Ltd., a state-owned energy company in China, posted an increase of 11.4% on a record production in 2024 despite lower oil prices. The firm is continuing to focus on increasing its reserves and production. In a filing on Thursday to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, offshore oil and natural gas specialist reported net profit of 18.99 billion dollars. Sinopec Corp, a domestic rival, reported a 16.8% drop in net income to 50.3 billion yuan. CNOOC achieved its high-end target by increasing oil and gas production 7.2%, to 726.8 millions barrels of oil equal (boe). The company's total production costs have remained low, at $28.52 per boe. This is compared to $28.83 by 2023.
EIA: US crude stocks fall as refining increases.
The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude inventories dropped last week, as refiners increased production. Gasoline and distillate stocks also fell. The EIA reported that crude inventories dropped by 3.3 millions barrels, to 433.6 million in the week ending March 21. This was a far cry from the 956 thousand barrels analysts had predicted in a survey. Refinery crude production increased by 87,000 barrels a day. The refinery utilization rate also rose, by 0.1 percent, to 87%, for the third consecutive week, as refiners finished their seasonal maintenance. Brent crude futures, and U.S.
Glencore refinery in South Africa invests in cleaner fuels
Astron Energy, an affiliate of the global commodity trader Glencore will invest up six billion rands ($328 million) in order to install new equipment, and to become compliant with South Africa’s cleaner fuel specification before a 2027 deadline. Astron officials have said that the foundations for a Gasoline Hydrotreating Process, which will reduce petrol to Euro 5 specifications has already been laid in the 100,000 barrels a day crude oil refinery near Cape Town. The Clean Fuels II regulation in South Africa, which stipulated that the sulphur content in petrol and diesel must be reduced to 10 parts-per-million (ppm)…
Suriname's Staatsolie raises 515.8 millions dollars through bond issue
Suriname’s state-owned energy firm Staatsolie raised $515.8 millions through the issuance of debt bond aimed at raising capital for the small South American country’s first offshore oil and gas project. Staatsolie must raise $2.4 billion in order to acquire a 20% stake of the $12 billion GranMorgu Project, which will be operated by TotalEnergies. The first production is expected in 2028. The company is in negotiations with foreign banks for up to $1.5billion in financing. This year. The company also put aside cash reserves. The company had originally aimed to raise $304 million through the sale of bonds that will mature in 2033 with interest rates between 7.25 and 7.75%.
Iraq plans to increase oil production above 6 million barrels per day by 2029
Iraq plans to increase oil production to 6 million barrels per days (bpds) or more by 2029. This was announced on Sunday by the Iraqi oil ministry, according to Iraq's state news agency. Bassem Mohammed Khodeir, the undersecretary of the Oil Ministry, told Reuters that Iraq aims at achieving its target by oil exploration and drilling activities across the country. He cited a recent agreement with oil giant BP for redevelopment of four Kirkuk oil fields and gas fields. Officials from the oil ministry say that Iraq's current production of oil is around 4 million barrels per day. Last month, it reaffirmed its commitment to the output agreement of the OPEC+ Group.
Baker Hughes reports that US oil and gas rigs have risen for the first time in 3 weeks.
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. added oil and gas rigs this week for the first time since three weeks. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, increased by one in the week ending March 21. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still 31 rigs or 5% lower than this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by one this week to 486, while gas-rigs increased by two to 102. Oil and gas rig counts are expected to decline by 5% and 20% respectively in 2024, as the lower U.S.
Sources say that Elliott met with BP investors in order to discuss further changes.
Two shareholders have confirmed that Elliott Management, an activist investor in BP, has met with several of the company's largest shareholders to form a consensus on more changes. These could include cost reductions and a possible leadership reshuffle. BP's stock has performed worse than rivals Shell, Exxon and Shell in the past five years. Investors have blamed this in part on 2020 plan of the company to focus on its renewable business and cut oil and gas production. After watering down this plan, BP accelerated the pivot back to hydrocarbons with a new strategy last month. Elliott and the two shareholders who attended separate meetings said they both wanted deeper changes.
UK's Energean terminates Carlyle deal
Energean, a UK-based gas company, announced on Friday that it had terminated its agreement with Carlyle to sell some of its assets because regulatory approvals were still pending in Italy and Egypt. In June 2024, the two companies struck a $945 million deal that would allow Carlyle to establish a new Mediterranean-focused oil and gas company, led by former BP CEO Tony Hayward, by utilizing Energean's assets in Egypt, Italy, and Croatia. "While I'm disappointed that Carlyle wasn't able to obtain the necessary approvals for Egypt and Italy, I want reaffirm this outcome doesn't change our strategic directions or our commitment to shareholder returns and growth…
Shell plans to deliver gas from Venezuela to Trinidad by 2026, according to sources
Shell Plc aims to start producing natural gas in Venezuela's Dragon field and export it to Trinidad and Tobago, an hour earlier than the initial 2027 start date. The project demonstrates the industry's hope that sanctions against Venezuela will remain in place despite recent tighter enforcement. The people stated that the partners intend to begin survey work in January and decide to drill three wells. They will also need to renew their U.S. licence later this year. U.S. sanctions are aimed at virtually the entire Venezuelan gas and oil industry which is controlled and owned by PDVSA, the state-owned company.
Russell: OPEC and IEA are focused on China's oil demand but it is the crude imports that matter.
What is more important to the crude oil market? Which is more important: the growth forecasts by major agencies of Chinese oil demand or the actual weakness of imports? The International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), both talk about the demand for oil when they forecast the future of the oil industry in China, the largest crude importer of the world. It is a practice that has been around for a while and is not challenged by the market. There is a disconnect in the fact that China's oil exports are actually declining.
Follow This, a BP activist investor, urges voting against Chair Lund on energy transition
BP activist investor Follow This intends to ask shareholders at the 17th April shareholder meeting to vote against Helge Lund being reappointed, claiming he had a duty to give investors a voice on the scrapping of energy transition targets. In a February strategy overhaul, CEO Murray Auchincloss announced that BP would cut spending on renewables while increasing investment in oil and natural gas. This was a revamp of the 2020 strategy, which had predicted a 40% reduction in its oil and natural gas output by 2030. The main criticism of Follow This is that the shareholders haven't been given a chance to vote directly on the new strategic direction.
Russell: OPEC and IEA are focused on China's oil demand but it is the crude imports that matter.
What is more important to the crude oil market? Which is more important: the growth forecasts by major agencies of Chinese oil demand or the actual weakness of imports? The International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), both talk about the demand for oil when they forecast the future of the oil industry in China, the largest crude importer of the world. It is a practice that has been around for a while and is not challenged by the market. There is a disconnect in the fact that China's oil exports are actually declining.
Mexico's Pemex has confirmed that it is in discussions with Slim regarding Ixachi investments.
Claudia Sheinbaum, president of the Mexican Energy Company Pemex, said that Pemex was in discussions with Carlos Slim's companies about an investment into Ixachi, Mexico's largest natural gas field. Last week, it was revealed that officials from Pemex's and Slim’s companies were considering an alleged mixed contract for Ixachi field in Veracruz and a joint operation agreement for deepwater Zama in the Gulf of Mexico. Sheinbaum said that GrupoCarso, which is one of Slim’s companies, was already involved with some aspects of Ixachi’s operation. It currently drills deep wells. Sources have said that mixed contracts would be used in Ixachi.
Mexican tycoon Slim targets two of Pemex’s key fields to gain clout within the energy sector
Sources familiar with the matter say that the Mexican state energy company Pemex has been in contact with Carlos Slim, and the billionaire could be asked to help fund two of the most promising crude oil fields and natural gas deposits in the country. These negotiations, which were not previously reported, show Slim's increasing influence in Mexico's energy sector. His business empire, which includes telecommunications and banking, retail, insurance, and hospitality, is expanding. Slim, who is one of the richest men in the world, has developed close ties with the leftist government…
Executives say that AI will lead to cheaper and faster oil production. CORRECTED.
Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston explained that artificial intelligence has accelerated oil and gas drilling, and has prompted companies to reconsider areas they previously deemed too expensive or difficult to develop. AI was a major topic in several sessions of the largest energy conference. Oil producers are looking for ways to stay profitable amid a plummeting price of oil and concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs may slow down global energy demand. Ann Davies, BP’s senior vice-president of wells, revealed that the UK oil giant BP uses AI to predict problems and steer drill bits before they occur.
Executives say AI will lead to cheaper and faster oil production.
Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston explained that artificial intelligence has accelerated oil and gas drilling, and is prompting companies take a second glance at areas they previously deemed too expensive or difficult to develop. AI was a major topic in several sessions of the largest energy conference. Oil producers are looking for ways to stay profitable amid a plummeting price of oil and concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs may slow down global energy demand. Ann Davies, BP’s senior vice-president of wells, revealed that the UK oil giant BP uses AI to predict problems and steer drill bits before they occur.
