Monday, March 31, 2025

Energy Firms News

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.

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 Shell, BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips. These lawsuits were brought by California, Connecticut Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts in almost all cases.

US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs in the US for the first time in six-weeks - Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. oil and gas companies have cut back on the number of oil rigs for the first six weeks. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by one in the week ending March 7 to 592. Baker Hughes reported that the total number of rigs is 30 or 5% lower than it was at this time last week. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs remained unchanged at 486 rigs this week while gas rigs dropped by one to 101. Oil and gas rig counts are expected to decline by 5% and 20% respectively in 2024, as the lower U.S.

Expand Energy is on track to increase US natgas production to meet the growing demand

Expand Energy, previously known as Chesapeake Energy, and the largest natural gas producer in America, announced on Thursday that it is on track to increase output by over 5% from the levels expected in 2020, as long as the market conditions allow for such an action. The CEO of Expand, Nick Dell'Osso, told analysts on the company's earnings call for the fourth-quarter that the company was ready to increase output from 6.4 billion cubic foot equivalents per day (bcfed), in the fourth quarter 2024 to 7.1 bcfed by 2025 or 7.5 bcfed by 2026 depending on the market conditions.

US drillers added oil and gas drilling rigs in the third week of a row, according to Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that U.S. firms added oil and gas rigs this week for the third consecutive week for the first since December 2023. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, increased by two in the week ending February 14 to 588. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still 33 rigs or 5% lower than this time last. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs increased by one this week to 481 while gas rigs grew by one to 101. Oil and gas rig counts are expected to decline by 5% and 20% respectively in 2024, as the lower U.S.

Baker Hughes: US oil & gas rig count at lowest since Dec 2021

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U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a third week in a row to the lowest since December 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes BKR.O said in its closely followed report on Friday.The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by four to 576 in the week to Jan. 24. RIG-USA-BHI, RIG-OL-USA-BHI, RIG-GS-USA-BHIBaker Hughes said this week's decline puts the total rig count down 45, or 7% below this time last year.Baker Hughes said oil rigs fell by six to 472 this week…

Stocks in the US react differently to Trump's first official day as president

Tesla, prison operators, and other "Trump trades", were volatile Tuesday as investors analyzed a flurry of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump just hours after taking his oath. Trump announced his plans to increase oil production, reduce immigration and impose tariffs on Monday as he began his second term as president of the United States. Investors braced themselves for increased volatility under Trump 2.0 as some "Trump Trades", or bets about what the president will say, rose on Monday while others fell. After a successful run up to the inauguration…

SOCAR sources: Russia and Ukraine cannot agree on gas deal mediated by Azerbaijan

Azeri SOCAR, a leading energy company in Azerbaijan, said on Friday that Moscow and Kyiv failed to reach an agreement on the deal brokered by Azerbaijan for Russian gas to be exported to Europe via Ukraine. Azerbaijan was asked by the European Union and Ukraine to facilitate talks with Russia regarding a gas-transit deal due to expire this year. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there was no chance of a new agreement with Kyiv for the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine. Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's invasion in Europe since February 2022 said that it would not renew a contract…

Oil Falls on Demand Worries, Market Awaits Fed Advice

Oil prices eased about 1% to a one-week low on Tuesday on demand worries following the release of negative economic news from Germany and China, while investors remained cautious ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.Brent futures fell 90 cents, or 1.2%, to $73.01 a barrel by 1:36 p.m. EST (1836 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 86 cents, or 1.2%, to $69.85. That puts both crude benchmarks on track for their lowest closes since Dec. 10 and cut the premium of Brent over WTI to a 12-week low of $3.56 a barrel…

EOG Resources to boost shareholder returns

EOG Resources announced on Friday that its debt levels would allow the oil and natural gas producer to use more than 100% free cash flow for shareholder returns. In afternoon trading, shares of the company rose by 4.8% to $132.54. The company announced that it would increase its debt to between $5 and $6 billion over the next 12-18 months. This would allow for additional cash to be available to pay out to investors. "In the short term, this does mean that we will be in a place to surpass the 70% (returns commitment) and quite frankly... at times... more than 100% return of free-cash flow to shareholders," said CEO Ezra Yacob.

Baker Hughes: US Rig Count Remains Steady

U.S. energy firms this week kept the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating unchanged for a record third week in a row, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes' data going back to 1987.The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, was steady at 585 in the week to Nov. 8, Baker Hughes said on Friday. Baker Hughes said that puts the total rig count down 31 rigs, or 5% below this time last year. Baker Hughes said oil rigs held at 479 this week, while gas rigs were unchanged at 102.The oil and gas rig count dropped about 20% in 2023 after rising by 33% in 2022 and 67% in 2021…

Drill, baby, drill in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale lands!

Argentina's new, market-friendly government, and concerns about oil supplies from the Middle East, and elsewhere, are driving a boom in drilling and production in the Patagonian South, which is home to the giant Vaca Muerta shale, Spanish for "Dead Cow". In the flat, arid terrain, the production of shale oil and gas is surging. Fracking wells have been drilled in record numbers, and pipelines have been built to transport gas to the capital Buenos Aires – and beyond once LNG plants are operational. A huge blue billboard, erected by the state energy giant YPF in front of Anelo's shale-town…

Egypt reduces renewable energy targets to 40% by 2040, but keeps natural gas as the main focus

The Egyptian government has revised the renewable energy goal for 2040 from 58% to 40%, said Petroleum Minister Karim Badayi on Sunday. He also stressed that natural gas would remain an important part of Egypt's energy mix in years to come. Egypt committed to increasing renewable energy production by 42% to its energy mix before hosting the COP27 summit in 2022. Later, this target was advanced to 2030. Then-Electricity minister Mohamed Shaker announced in June 2024 an ambitious plan for this to reach 58% by the year 2040. This target has now been abandoned.

Arbitration awards Kosmos Energy Senegal LNG project to BP, as the sole purchaser

Kosmos Energy announced on Tuesday that a Paris arbitrator ruled in favor of BP, preventing Kosmos to sell liquefied gas from the Greater Tortue project off Senegal and Mauritania. LNG is a key part of BP's energy transition strategy. Energy major BP has established a significant LNG pipeline across the globe, including Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria, Angola Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea are already shipping significant volumes. The International Chamber of Commerce was asked to arbitrate a dispute between Kosmos Energy (a U.S. listed oil and gas exploration firm) and BP Gas Marketing (a BP subsidiary) over the planned LNG sales of Phase 1 of GTA.

Oil and Gas Rig Numbers Drop in the US

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U.S. energy firms today cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for the first time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes stated in its closely followed report on Friday.The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by three to 586 in the week to Aug. 2. the overall rig count down 73, or 11%, below this time last year. Baker Hughes said oil well were consistent at 482 this week, while gas rigs fell by three to 98. focused on paying for financial obligation and improving shareholder returns rather of raising output. U.S. while U.S. gas futures were down about 24 %up until now in 2024 after plunging by 44% in 2023.

Spain's Energy Firms Look to Central Europe Markets for Green Hydrogen Deals

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Spanish oil company Cepsa signed on Wednesday two agreements aimed at shipping green hydrogen between Spain and the Netherlands, a day after renewable energy giant Iberdrola took a similar step.The two Spanish companies are vying to become green hydrogen leaders, with planned investments worth billions of euros. The recent agreements will help them sell part of their expected production of green hydrogen and derivatives to industrial customers eager to decarbonize in Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany, and neighboring countries…

Valero Seeks US Approval to Import Venezuelan Oil

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Valero Energy Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil refiner, is seeking Washington's permission to import Venezuelan crude, according to four people close to the matter, hoping for a repeat of the approval granted to Chevron Corp in November after a four-year ban.President Joe Biden's administration has eased some U.S. sanctions on the OPEC-member nation in an effort to encourage a political dialogue with the country's opposition. That has led to further pressure from U.S., European and Asian energy firms, but Washington has resisted any additional major steps for now.Venezuelan oil resumed flowing to the U.S.

Watch the Webinar: How oil & energy firms can gain a competitive advantage by embracing the digital future

Copyright Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock

Watch the Webinar There is an increasing expectation that oil and gas firms can demonstrate their value and efficiency through more data-centric processes, managing costs, and reacting more quickly to changing market conditions.While the sector has typically been slow to adopt digital innovations, today’s offshore energy markets are fluid and fast-changing, and the ‘business as usual’ model will not necessarily yield the best future results.AI, automation, and data-driven solutions are helping companies across industries to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and cut emissions.

Baker Hughes Finds US Drillers Add Most O&G Rigs Since April

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U.S. energy firms this week added the most oil and natural gas rigs in a week since April as rising oil prices prompt more drillers to return to the wellpad.The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose 13 to 601 in the week to Jan. 14, its highest since April 2020, said Baker Hughes in its weekly report. The total count was up 228, or 61%, over this time last year.U.S. oil rigs rose 11 to 492 this week, their highest since April 2020, while gas rigs rose two to 109, their highest since March 2020. Specifically…

Digitalization: Leveraging Digital Innovation in Offshore Energy

Copyright Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock

There is an increasing expectation that oil and gas firms can demonstrate their value and efficiency through more data-centric processes, managing costs and reacting more quickly to changing market conditions. While the sector has typically been slow to adopt digital innovations, today’s offshore energy markets are fluid and fast-changing, and the ‘business as usual’ model will not necessarily yield the best future results.AI, automation and data-driven solutions are helping companies across industries to reduce costs, improve efficiency and cut emissions.

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