US wants to increase offshore oil drilling through easing of pressure rules
The U.S. Interior Department announced on Thursday that it had implemented new guidelines regarding pressure differentials allowed in certain types of oil drilling, in part of Gulf of Mexico. The department expects the changes to boost U.S. output of oil. The Energy Dominance Council, led by Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary to President Donald Trump, is seeking ways to reduce costs for oil and natural gas producers, lower regulations, and increase oil production, which was at record levels during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.
Enverus: Weak oil prices and limited shale acres will impact energy M&A by 2025
Enverus, an analytics firm, said that the U.S. Upstream Oil and Gas M&A Market is bracing itself for the most challenging conditions in the past decade, as oil prices plummet and prime acreage disappears, despite the fact that dealmaking surged last quarter, making it the second best start to the year ever, despite the fact that the number of deals jumped to the highest level since 2018. After a string of record-breaking takeovers of oil and gas companies in recent years that culminated with a $192 billion deal in 2023…
Sources say that the EU is looking at tweaking its methane regulations for US gas in order to facilitate trade negotiations.
Three sources with knowledge of the situation said that the European Union was looking for ways to help U.S. exports comply with their methane emission rules. The bloc is trying to avoid a trade conflict with U.S. president Donald Trump. Both sides have indicated that energy may be included in a larger trade agreement. Trump has repeatedly said that the EU should purchase more American oil and natural gas in order to reduce its trade surpluses with the United States.
Bloomberg News reports that Abu Dhabi's ADNOC is considering a bid for Aethon US natgas assets.
Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported Friday that Abu Dhabi's state oil company ADNOC was considering a bid to acquire natural gas assets from investment firm Aethon Energy Management, which could be worth up to $9 billion. ADNOC is acquiring a number of companies in the gas and chemical industries, which it sees as important pillars to its future growth. The energy giant purchased a stake and a supply contract for 20 years in NextDecade’s liquefied gas export project located in Texas.
Canadian oil and Gas CEOs avoid rash decisions during the price crash
On Tuesday, CEOs of Canadian producers of oil and gas said they were trying to avoid taking sudden decisions as the global oil price hovers around four-year lows. Doug Bartole said that his Calgary-based company, InPlay Oil, does not expect to reduce production or capital expenditures in the near future, despite recent oil price drops due to tariffs. Don't take any rash decision. Bartole stated in an interview that it was best to take a long-term view and wait for the outcome.
Canadian oil and Gas CEOs avoid rash decisions during the price crash
Two Canadian oil and natural gas producers have said that they want to avoid taking rash decisions as the global oil price hovers around a four-year low and fears of a recession grow. Doug Bartole said that his Calgary-based company, InPlay Oil, does not anticipate reducing its production or capital expenditures in the near future, despite recent oil price drops due to tariffs. Don't take any rash decision. Bartole stated in an interview that it was best to take a long-term view and wait for the outcome.
Shell warns that Australia's gas reservations plan could worsen shortages
Shell warned Tuesday that Australia's proposal to force more gas from export onto the domestic market would end up discouraging investment and worsening shortages. Energy has become a major issue in the campaign ahead of Australia's general election on May 3. The conservative Liberal-National Coalition pledged to lower power bills and avoid a shortage on the East Coast through a reservation scheme. Shell Australia Chair Cecile wake said that export controls are not the best solution.
Jain and Boersma: US LNG exporters may run into a methane problem in Europe
New methane regulations may be a hindrance to the Trump administration's goal of "energy dominance", which is the United States' largest export market. The EU's President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that they may be willing import more U.S. LNG, in part to lower the EU's trade deficit. However, the process of making this happen can become complicated. Many utilities in the EU hesitate to sign long-term LNG agreements due to the uncertainty…
CEO CERAWEEK Woodside says that the Louisiana LNG investment decision may be delayed until Q2.
Meg O'Neill, the CEO of Woodside LNG Australia, said on Monday that the company may delay a final decision on the Louisiana plant's liquefied gas project until the second quarter 2025 if talks to sell the half of the project continue. Woodside is looking to sell up to 50% of the project. The company has been reported to be in discussions with several buyers, including Tokyo Gas and Japan's JERA. The goal is to have it ready by the end of the first quarter. O'Neill refused to identify the parties in talks with Woodside.
UK replaces windfall oil tax with consultation on clean energy future
Britain announced that it will end the windfall taxes on North Sea oil producers by 2030, and replace them with a new mechanism for responding to price increases. It is pushing ahead with its plan to turn the North Sea into an energy hub. On Wednesday, the government held two consultations. One was on how to transform the North Sea into a clean-energy area, while another focused on how taxes would be applied when energy prices were high. This will give producers more certainty about future tax rates.
Stock prices of US natgas producers soar as gas futures soar
Gas futures prices have risen by 27% in the last seven days, reaching a two-year high. The extreme cold of recent days has pushed U.S. Gas Futures up to $4.42 per million British Thermal Units (mmBtu) at midday on Wednesday. This puts the front-month just a few cents away from the closing high of $2.258, which was reached on January 16 of this year. The increase in gas futures has helped Devon Energy's stock, which announced earnings on February 18th, to reach a three-month high at $38.58 by midday Wednesday.
Venture Global LNG says it will begin commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass Louisiana facility in April.
Venture Global LNG announced on Monday that it will start commercial operations in Louisiana at its Calcasieu Pass facility on April 15th, three years after shipping its first LNG cargo and following a dispute of two years with its customers. The company has informed long-term clients, including Shell and BP, of the beginning of commercial operations. Venture Global's failure years after it began selling superchilled gases on the spot market…
Sources: Validus Energy will buy natural gas producer, 89 Energy III, for $850 Million.
Sources familiar with the deal said that Validus Energy, a privately owned U.S. gas and oil producer, has agreed to purchase 89 Energy III, a rival company, for $850 million including debt. According to sources, the deal will add more than 25,000 barrels equivalent to oil per day to Validus’s growing footprint in Oklahoma's Anadarko Shale Basin, making it one of the biggest private players in U.S. Mid-Continent region oil. According to its website, 89 Energy III produces 70% gas.
Venture Global LNG has almost completed repairs at Calcasieu Pass Power Plant -FERC
A federal inspection report released on Wednesday said that Venture Global LNG may be able to complete power generator repairs before the end of the month. This could pave the way for the completion of the nearly three-year long commissioning process of the Calcasieu Pass LNG Plant. Venture Global has become the most valuable U.S. gas company after its initial public offering, which took place on Thursday. It blamed equipment failures and unreliability…
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 industry has been pushing to reduce costs and increase output by using more efficient technologies rather than drilling new wells.
Sources say that OMV's Romanian subsidiary has agreed to supply gas to Germany
Three people with knowledge of the situation have confirmed that OMV's Romanian subsidiary has signed a contract to supply Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project starting in 2027. This comes as Europe looks for new ways to increase energy security following the breakup with Russia. The deal, which was not disclosed before, is for a five-year supply of 15 terawatts of natural gas to be delivered by the Neptun Deep Project. This comes after Russia…
Sources say that Austria's OMV Romanian unit has agreed to supply gas to Germany
Three people with knowledge of the situation have confirmed that Austria's OMV Romanian has signed a contract to supply Germany's Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project from 2027. This is as Europe looks for new ways to increase energy security following its breakup with Russia. The deal, which was not disclosed before, is for a five-year supply of 15 terawatts of natural gas to be delivered by the Neptun Deep Project. This comes after Russia…
Sources: Austria's OMV has agreed to supply Romanian Gas to Germany
Three people with knowledge of the deal said that Austria's OMV will supply Germany's Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project from 2027. This comes as Europe looks for new ways to increase energy security following the breakup with Russia. The deal, which was not disclosed before, is for a five-year supply of 15 terawatts of natural gas to be delivered by the Neptun Deep Project. This comes after Russia stopped gas deliveries via Ukraine last…
Cenovus Energy predicts increased production by 2025 for new projects
Cenovus Energy, a Canadian energy company, forecasted higher oil and natural gas production in 2025. It expects to benefit from the new projects that will be coming online. According to LSEG, the company expects upstream production of between 805,000 and 845,000 boepd by 2025. The midpoint is higher than analyst estimates of 820140 boepd. The company anticipates between 770,000 and 810,000 boepd this year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has predicted that power consumption in the U.S.
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. Deloitte says that small oilfield companies may seek to buy out their customers as they consolidate and shrink.
