EIA: US crude oil inventories are rising, but fuel consumption decreased last week.
The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude stockpiles unexpectedly rose last week while gasoline and distillate stocks fell. The EIA reported that crude inventories increased by 1.36m barrels, to 430.7m barrels for the week ending August 9, compared with the 2.2m barrels analysts expected in a poll. The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, fell by 1.7 millions barrels.
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…
US Natural Gas Producers Eye More Production Cuts as Prices Fall
After prices fell nearly 40% in just two months, major U.S. gas producers plan to curtail their production further during the second half 2024. The Henry Hub futures price has dropped below $2 per million British Thermal Units (mmBtu) while Waha gas prices in West Texas have fallen to a record low so far this year. As temperatures were cooler than anticipated, the demand for gas fell.
Wave of New LNG Export Plants Threatens to Knock Gas Prices
A flood of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects due online worldwide in mid-decade will vie against lower-cost renewable energy and a revived nuclear power sector, which could rock gas prices and hurt some proposed projects, analysts say.Proposed and approved new LNG plants would boost LNG supply by 67% increase to 636 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030 from 2021 levels…
US Regulator to Allow Freeport LNG to Resume Partial Operations in October
The second-largest U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter on Wednesday said it reached an agreement with a federal regulator that will allow it to resume some operations at its Quintana, Texas, plant in October.Freeport LNG shut the plant, which supplies about 20% of U.S. LNG exports, following an explosion and fire on June 8. Its closure helped to push up LNG prices in Europe and Asia, and dampening U.S.
Freeport LNG Targets Year End for Full Operations After Fire
Freeport LNG, one of the largest operators of liquefied natural gas export plants in the United States,on Tuesday said last week's fire damage to its Texas plant would keep it fully offline until September with only partial operation through to the year end.Natural gas prices slumped in the United States and soared in Europe on the lengthier shutdown as the Quintana, Texas, facility produces roughly 20% of U.S.
Freeport LNG Plant Suffers Explosion
A explosion occurred on Wednesday at the Freeport LNG liquefied natural gas plant on the Texas Gulf Coast, according to police, and prompting an evacuation of nearby residents in Quintana, Texas.The plant can process up to 2.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day into a supercooled liquid for export.Freeport LNG acknowledged an incident occurred around 11:40 a.m. local time with providing further details.
Schlumberger CEO Says Oilfield Growth Will Be at Structurally Lower Rate
Top oilfield service firm Schlumberger NV expects to return to 2019 level pre-tax margins by the end of next year, a sign the oil industry faces a long-haul to recover from the latest oil-price crash.Chief Executive Olivier Le Peuch told an energy conference on Tuesday that industry growth will be at a structurally lower rate in the future.
Baker Hughes Plots Low Carbon Future
Baker Hughes is pivoting to customers preparing for the transition to a low-carbon future, bolstering its footprint beyond oil and gas oilfield services, its chief executive said on Tuesday.The company will continue to downsize its oilfield services and equipment portfolio, CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said at the Barclays CEO Energy-Power conference, putting more emphasis on the energy transition and technology needed for renewables.
Wave of N. American Oil and Gas Bankruptcies to Continue at $40 Oil
A wave of oil and gas bankruptcies in North America is likely to continue this year as oil prices remain depressed and a new surge of COVID-19 cases threaten to stall any recovery in fuel demand, law firm Haynes and Boone said in a report released this week.Bankruptcies surged in the second quarter, including from major shale independents Chesapeake Energy and Whiting Petroleum…
U.S. Oil Firms Hit Brakes on Return-to-work as Virus Cases Soar
U.S. energy companies slammed the brakes on returning staff to their Houston offices as COVID-19 cases soared and top hospitals warned they could soon run out of beds for the most severely ill patients.A record number of new illnesses in Texas this week spurred local officials to impose restrictions as new cases topped 5,000 on two days in a row. Intensive care unit (ICU) beds were 97% full at Houston's Texas Medical Center…
'This could be the one that gets me,' Says Oilfield Service Veteran
Tim Harris was preparing to relocate for an assignment with energy services firm Halliburton Co for the fifth time in 15 years when his career came to a halt.A third-generation employee, Harris rose through the ranks at the top shale-oil services provider to oversee oilfield crews. He sailed through several busts, with the exception of a 9-month break in 2016.But April's historic price crash, which has left U.S.
Halliburton Lays Off 1,000 Employees at Houston HQ
Oilfield services firm Halliburton has laid off roughly 1,000 employees, or 22% of staff, at its corporate headquarters in Houston, a company spokeswoman said on Wednesday, as oil prices collapse.The cuts by one of the biggest names in oilfield services come with oil prices having plunged to around $24 a barrel, far below production costs for many firms, prompting oil and gas explorers to slam the brakes on drilling.
Schlumberger Posts Loss on $8.5 Bln Charge as Customers Accelerate Cuts
Schlumberger NV, the world's largest oilfield services firm, on Friday reported a first-quarter loss due to $8.5 billion in charges, as customers accelerated spending cuts amid the continuing decline in oil prices.Crude prices plunged 60% in March after Saudi Arabia and Russia vowed to pump full bore and the spread of the novel coronavirus crushed global fuel demand.
Halliburton Cuts 350 Jobs in Oklahoma
Oilfield services giant Halliburton on Monday said it will lay off an estimated 350 employees in Oklahoma, according to a filing with the state, as the spread of coronavirus and a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia sent energy prices reeling.The layoffs are anticipated to begin this week at its Duncan, Oklahoma facility, the filing said, and will be permanent. The facility is expected to remain open.
Oil Posts Biggest One-day Gain After Trump Touts Saudi-Russia Deal
Crude prices posted their biggest-one day gains on record on Thursday after President Donald Trump said he expects Russia and Saudi Arabia to announce a major oil production cut, and Saudi state media said the kingdom was calling an emergency meeting of producers to deal with the market turmoil.Trump said he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and…
Oilfield Equipment and Services Spending to Fall to 2005-Low
Global spending on oilfield equipment and services this year will fall 21% from 2019 to $211 billion, the lowest level since 2005, according to a report to be released on Wednesday by consultancy Spears & Associates, as oil and gas producers slash spending.The decline comes as the coronavirus pandemic has crushed oil and gas demand, and Saudi Arabia and Russia pump full bore in a grab for market share that has shale producers reeling. U.S.
Oilfield Services Giant to Cut Spending by 30%
Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield services company, on Tuesday said it would cut spending by 30% this year from last year's levels as the oil market has been roiled by the coronavirus outbreak and Saudi-Russia price war.The company expects a rapid reduction in active drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity, estimating the number of rigs in operation could…
NOV Warns Virus Fallout Could Hit Supply Chain
U.S. oilfield equipment supplier National Oilwell Varco on Friday called the coronavirus a "wildcard" in the oil industry's outlook, with an extended outbreak potentially hurting access to Chinese-make materials and foreign sales.The Houston-based company said further shutdowns at its Chinese suppliers could limit its production of certain products such as fiberglass resins and drilling pipe.For now…
Oilfield Services Giants Start Year with Asset Sales
Schlumberger, Halliburton Co, and Baker Hughes Co have kicked off the new year by putting units up for sale, as the three largest names in oilfield services seek to reshape their businesses and adjust to falling demand.Oilfield service providers are facing reduced spending by oil and gas producers as investors push for higher shareholder returns rather than more drilling activity.
