EIA: US crude and distillate stocks fall; gasoline increases last week
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday that crude oil and distillate stocks in the United States fell last week while gasoline inventories rose. The EIA reported that crude inventories dropped by 1 million barges in the week ended Jan. 17, to 411.7 million bars, marking the 9th consecutive weekly decrease. A poll of analysts had predicted a draw of 1.6 million barrels. The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, fell by 148,000 bbls. Crude futures extended their losses after the data showed the smaller-than-expected drawdown.
Senate Committee moves Trump's energy & interior nominees to the floor
The U.S. Senate Energy Committee approved Donald Trump's nominees for the U.S. Department of Interior and Energy. The U.S. Senate energy committee approved President Donald Trump's picks to lead the United States on Thursday.The panel approved former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the U.S. Department of Interior's new director and for a national council on energy to be formed to increase oil and gas production.The committee also approved Chris Wright, Energy Department's choice and CEO of oilfield service company Liberty Energy.Next, the full Senate will consider the nominations. The Senate is currently controlled by Trump’s Republican Party.
Can Trump reverse Biden's offshore oil drilling ban?
In an executive order issued on Monday, President Donald Trump revoked the ban placed by former Democratic president Joe Biden against new offshore oil-and-gas development along most of America's coasts. Trump will face legal challenges regarding his authority. What did BIDEN and Trump do? Biden used his authority, granted by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1970, to stop oil and gas drilling in federal waters along the East and Western coasts of the United States as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico. He also halted the drilling of portions of the northern Bering sea of Alaska. Biden said that the move was in line with his efforts to fight climate change.
India is likely to increase its purchases of US gas and oil following Trump's announcement
After President Donald Trump announced that he would increase U.S. production of oil and natural gas, India will likely increase its purchase of U.S. gas and oil. The Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said to reporters at the sidelines of an event that there was a chance of a larger energy purchase between India & U.S. The arrival of more U.S. Energy on the market will be welcomed. Trump said on Monday that he will declare an energy emergency immediately, promising to replenish strategic reserves and export American oil around the globe. Trump, in his first address following his inauguration, referred to U.S.
Republican-led states file suit against Biden administration for offshore drilling ban
A group of Republican states filed a suit on Friday to challenge a ban on offshore oil and natural gas development announced earlier this month by the outgoing Democratic U.S. president Joe Biden. According to a court document, the lawsuit is seeking a reversal Biden's prohibition with declaratory and judicial relief. The filing argues that Biden does not have the authority or power to impose a such a restriction and that this authority belongs to the U.S. Congress. Biden's announcement on January 6 was largely symbolic as it won't impact areas where oil-and-gas development is already underway. It will mainly cover zones where drillers don’t have any important prospects.
Executive: Bolivia and Argentina in talks to restart gas supply due to spike in demand
Bolivia's state energy company YPFB has begun talks with Argentina to resume gas exports, amid a spike in demand sparked by a heatwave this summer. This highlights the challenges facing the government of Buenos Aires in its quest to become self-sufficient in energy. Armin Dorgathen Tapiea, the YPFB's chief, told a reporter by phone on Friday that "we are in a discussion with Argentina about creating a spot contract." These talks were previously unknown. In September, after nearly two decades of exports to Argentina from Bolivia, the country increased its domestic production using its vast Vaca Muerta shale and began shifting toward becoming a net exporter of energy.
Financial Times - Jan 17
These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Owners of France's Natixis Investment Managers, and Italian insurer Generali, are nearing an announcement of an agreement for a joint venture in asset management that will bring together the two biggest European names. France's Bureau Veritas has ended merger talks with FTSE group Intertek and pursued a 37.91 billion pounds ($31.91 billion) merger with Swiss rival SGS. This shows the desire to consolidate the certification sector.
British Business - January 17
These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. BP announced on Thursday that it would cut 5% or more of its global workforce as part of the CEO Murray Auchincloss efforts to reduce costs, and restore investor confidence in BP. Rio Tinto has held preliminary talks with Glencore about merging their businesses. This would create a commodities titan, valued at around $158 billion. The UK gave permission to Rocket Factory Augsburg on Thursday to launch its first rocket into orbit from a northern Scottish site…
Trump's nominee for Interior Department says that boosting energy is key to US security
Doug Burgum, Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Interior Department said on Thursday that he would vigorously pursue President-elect Trump's goals to maximize energy production from U.S. Public Lands and Waters, calling it a key to national security. Burgum's remarks to lawmakers at his nomination hearing indicate a sharp change in policy. For years, President Joe Biden tried to limit oil-and-gas drilling by reducing federal leasing auctions and prohibiting future development in certain offshore waters in order to combat climate change. "America produces cleaner…
Oil Dips on Larger US Crude Draw, Russia Sanctions
Oil prices fell back slightly on Thursday, a day after settling at multi-month highs on U.S. President Joe Biden's latest sanctions targeting Russia and a larger than forecast fall in U.S. crude stocks.Brent crude futures were down 12 cents, or 0.15%, to $81.91 per barrel at 1415 GMT, after rising 2.6% in the previous session to their highest since July 26.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 18 cents, or 0.22%, to $79.86 a barrel, after gaining 3.3% on Wednesday to their highest since July 19.The Biden administration on Wednesday imposed hundreds of sanctions targeting Russia's military industrial base and evasion schemes…
TVO Contracts 4C Global Consultancy to Support UK Clients
Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore (TVO), a developer of innovative solutions for the offshore industry, has engaged Finlay Johnston, through 4C Global Consultancy, to lead business development efforts for TVO in the UK.“We recently appointed a country manager in Australia and are continuing to add to our global team,” says TVO President Jim Maher. “There is a long-term need for expert subsea support services in the UK, and by engaging a local representative, we are strengthening our commitment to the region, providing an avenue for North Sea operators to access our proven solutions…
Trump's nominee for Interior supports drilling on federal land
Doug Burgum, the nominee for Secretary of Interior by Donald Trump, will tell Congress during his nomination hearing Thursday that he is committed to maximizing energy production on America's public land and waters. He will call this a key element of national security. The comments are a sign of a policy shift that is about to occur. President Joe Biden tried for years to limit oil and gas drilling in federal waters by reducing federal auctions and prohibiting future development. This was part of his strategy to combat climate change. "Today…
BP to slash over 5% of workforce
BP will cut over 5% of its global workforce, it said on Thursday, as part of CEO Murray Auchincloss' efforts to reduce costs and rebuild investor confidence in the energy giant.Around 4,700 employees and 3,000 contractor positions will be cut this year, BP BP.L told Reuters. The cuts were announced in an internal memo seen by Reuters earlier on Thursday.BP shares were up 1% at 1200 GMT.Auchincloss last year said he would cut the British company's costs by at least $2 billion by the end of 2026 to boost returns and address investor concerns…
TotalEnergies reports a slight improvement in the fourth-quarter refining profit margins
TotalEnergies said that it expects the fourth quarter 2024 results downstream to benefit from a slight improvement in refining profit margins. The French oil major made this announcement in its trading update. The European refining mark-up was $25.90 per ton of metric weight in the fourth quarter last year. This is up from $15.40 the previous quarter. It noted that the fall of $5 per barrel in oil prices is expected to have a negative impact on Exploration and Production in the fourth quarter. The adjusted net income of Total has fallen for five consecutive quarters and reached a three-year-low at the end of September…
Trump's Energy Department pick calls for increased LNG and nuclear energy
Chris Wright, the nominee of Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Energy Department told U.S. Senators during his confirmation hearing that his top priority was expanding domestic energy production, including liquefied gas and nuclear power. Wright, 60 believes that fossil fuels will end world poverty and is a bigger problem than the "distant threat" of climate change, according to an article he wrote in his capacity as CEO of Liberty Energy, a company providing oilfield services. Protesters interrupted the hearing several times, with one protester…
New York City dismisses climate change lawsuit against Exxon BP Shell
A judge dismissed New York City’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil and BP for misrepresenting their products and commitment to renewable energy, as well as their fight against climate change. Anar Patel, a state Supreme Court justice, ruled on Tuesday that the city cannot claim to have climate-conscious citizens, but then let them down by oil companies who fail to disclose the contribution of their fossil fuels to climate change. Patel found that there was no evidence the oil companies or defendant American Petroleum Institute engaged in "greenwashing", including statements about alternative energy and clean energy, to increase sales of fossil fuels products in the city.
Trump's Energy Department pick calls for more LNG and Nuclear Power
Chris Wright, the nominee of Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Energy Department will tell U.S. Senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that his top priority is increasing domestic energy production, including liquefied gas and nuclear energy. Wright, 59 years old, believes that fossil fuels will end world poverty. This is a bigger problem than the "distant threat" of climate change, according to an article he wrote in his capacity as CEO of Liberty Energy, an oilfield services firm. Wright is in favor of some fossil fuel alternatives. These include small nuclear reactors that are not yet available commercially, as well as geothermal energy.
Iraqi oil minister: Iraq and BP will sign Kirkuk oil deal in first week of February
Iraq and British oil giant BP will be signing a mammoth agreement covering four Kirkuk gas and oil fields by the 1st week of February. This was revealed by Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani during a trip to Britain. He said the deal would be bigger than a TotalEnergies 2023 Basra deal, which was valued at around $27 billion. Iraq's official news agency reported on Wednesday that Baghdad had signed a preliminary deal with BP to evaluate the feasibility of redeveloping Kirkuk and its neighboring oil and gas fields. However, the report did not provide any further details.
Financial Times - Jan 15
These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. The French state auditor said that the French nuclear company EDF shouldn't make a final decision on its investment in Britain's Sizewell C project until they have reduced their exposure to Hinkley Point C, its other British project. Insolvent councils are threatening to derail the most comprehensive overhaul of local government that England has seen in decades. Before finalising an agreement with Mauritius, Britain will wait for Donald Trump to approve it. The deal concerns the future of the strategic UK-U.S.
New York Times Business News - January 14
These are the most popular stories from the New York Times' business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. The Securities and Exchange Commission fined Robinhood $45 million on Monday, for violations that occurred between 2019 and 2023. These included failures to safeguard sensitive customer data, the use of encrypted messaging apps by employees, and basic errors in bookkeeping. Cleveland-Cliffs' CEO Lourenco Goncalves announced plans on Monday for a possible takeover of U.S. Steel. He called it an "all-American solution" following the decision by U.S. Vice President Biden to block Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. Steel.
Bulgaria claims Azerbaijan has stopped gas supply until January 11
Bulgargaz EAD, the Bulgarian gas state company, has received notification that Azerbaijan suspended gas supplies to Bulgaria for unspecified reasons from January 7 to 11. Bulgargaz reported that Bulgargaz has sourced replacement gas volumes from Botas in Turkey. The company said that it did not incur additional costs to replace the natural gas, nor did the outage affect the market for natural gas in the area. A source in the industry said that "an issue" was at BP's Alpha Platform at the Shah Deniz Gas Field. BP Azerbaijan announced on Friday it had suspended work at the Shah Deniz Alfa platform (SDA)…
Bulgaria claims Azerbaijan has stopped gas supply until January 11
Bulgargaz EAD, the Bulgarian gas state company, has received notification that Azerbaijan suspended gas supplies to Bulgaria for unspecified reasons from January 7 until January 11. Bulgargaz reported that Bulgargaz has sourced replacement gas volumes from Botas in Turkey. The company said that it did not incur additional costs to replace the natural gas, nor did the outage affect the market for natural gas in the area. A source in the industry said that "an issue" was at BP's Alpha Platform at the Shah Deniz Gas Field. BP Azerbaijan didn't respond to a comment request immediately.
Next week, a US Senate panel will hold hearings about Trump's energy choices
Mike Lee, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, announced on Thursday that nomination hearings will be held for Donald Trump's nominees to energy positions on Tuesday and/or Wednesday next week. On Tuesday, January 14th at 10:00 a.m. (14:00 GMT), the committee will hear Doug Burgum's nomination to be Secretary of Interior. Burgum served as the governor of North Dakota until last month, an oil-producing state. Burgum will also be expected to lead a National Energy Council that coordinates policies to increase U.S. production of energy. A day later, at the same time, the committee will conduct an hearing for Chris Wright. He is the nominee for Energy Secretary.
Next week, a US Senate panel will hold hearings about Trump's energy choices
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, Michael McCormack, announced on Thursday that nomination hearings will be held for Donald Trump's nominees to energy positions on Tuesday and/or Wednesday next week. On Tuesday, January 14th at 10:00 a.m. (14:00 GMT), the committee will hear Doug Burgum's nomination to be Secretary of Interior. Burgum served as the governor of North Dakota until last month, an oil-producing state. Burgum will also be expected to lead a National Energy Council that coordinates policies to increase U.S. production of energy. A day later, at the same time, the committee will conduct an hearing for Chris Wright.
ONGC reports that BP expects a 44% increase in the oil production from India's biggest field.
According to Oil and Natural Gas Corp, BP, a global energy giant, has committed to increasing oil production by 44 percent and gas output by 89 percent from India's biggest field, located off the west coast of India, over a ten-year contract. ONGC announced BP on Wednesday as its technical services provider to help boost output. The baseline production is 45.47 millions metric tons of crude oil and 70.40 BCM of gas. Shell, a major energy company, also took part in the tender. The company was looking for advanced technologies and expertise to manage complex mature reservoirs in order to boost production.
Shell downplays Namibia's oil discovery as a blow to the country
Shell has written down $400 million in oil discoveries offshore Namibia, which it considered commercially unviable. This is a major blow to Namibia's attempts to become a crude-producing country. Shell, its partners QatarEnergy, and Namibia's National Oil Company discovered hydrocarbons in block PEL39 2022. This discovery along with a second TotalEnergies in a block nearby sparked colossal global interest in this southern African nation that has no oil or gas production. Shell has drilled nine wells on the license in the last three years. In a different licence offshore. The British company faced technical and geological problems in developing the resources.
Alaska sues Biden Administration over ANWR Leases
The U.S. state of Alaska has sued the Biden administration for what it calls violations of a Congressional directive to allow oil and gas development in a portion of the federal Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).Monday's lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Alaska challenges the federal government's December 2024 decision to offer oil and gas drilling leases in an area known as the coastal plain with restrictions.The lawsuit said curbs on surface use and occupancy make it "impossible or impracticable to develop" 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of land the U.S.
India's ONGC partners with BP to increase production at its largest oil field
India's leading explorer Oil And Natural Gas Corp said on Wednesday that energy giant BP would act as a technical service provider in order to boost oil and natural gas production from the largest producing field of India, located off India's West Coast. BP has pledged an increase in oil and gas production from the Mumbai High Field, discovered in 1974. ONGC announced this in a filing to the stock exchange. According to the tender document published last year, the field's production peaked at 471,000 barrels of oil per day in March 1985. By April 2024 its output was down to 134,000 bpd.
Trump announces that he will immediately revoke the offshore drilling ban imposed by Biden
Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, said Tuesday that he would move quickly to lift a ban on offshore oil and natural gas drilling announced by Joe Biden, the outgoing Democratic president. "Banning off-shore drilling will not hold. Trump announced at a press conference that he would reverse the ban immediately. The Republican Trump will take office on January 20, but it may be difficult to reverse Biden’s order that 625 million acres (253.3 million hectares of ocean) would not be used for new offshore oil and natural gas development.
Biden bans offshore oil and gas drilling before Trump's term
The U.S. president Joe Biden has announced that he will ban all new offshore oil and natural gas development along the majority of U.S. coasts. This is a decision which President-elect Donald Trump who has pledged to increase domestic energy production may find hard to reverse. Biden, according to the White House on Monday, will exercise his authority under 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in order to protect federal waters along the East and Western coasts of the United States as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico. He will also use this authority to protect portions of Alaska's northern Bering sea.
Biden bans offshore oil and gas drilling before Trump's term
The U.S. president Joe Biden has announced that he will ban all new offshore oil and natural gas development along the majority of U.S. coasts. This is a decision which President-elect Donald Trump who has pledged to increase domestic energy production may find hard to reverse. Biden, according to the White House on Monday, will exercise his authority under 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in order to protect federal waters along the East and Western coasts of the United States as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico. He will also use this authority to protect portions of Alaska's northern Bering sea.
Bloomberg News: Biden will ban new oil drilling in vast areas of US Atlantic and Pacific waters
Bloomberg News reported that President Joe Biden will ban any new offshore oil and natural gas development on 625 million acres of U.S. coast territory (250 million hectares), effective immediately. According to the report, which cited unidentified sources familiar with the issue, the ban will be announced on Monday and prevent the sale of drilling licenses in certain areas of the Atlantic, Pacific and eastern Gulf of Mexico oceans. The report stated that Biden leaves the door open to new leasing of oil and gas in the western and central areas of the Gulf of Mexico. These two areas account for 14% of America's fuel production.
Dallas Fed: US oil executives will expect quicker permits under Trump
According to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas study released on Thursday, U.S. Energy executives expect quicker permitting times for drilling federal lands in the Trump administration. According to a survey conducted in December of 134 energy companies in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, the overall outlook improved, activity levels increased, and uncertainty decreased in the fourth quarter of 2024. Trump's "drill baby drill" slogan has led him to promise lower gas prices and faster approvals for energy projects. According to a third of the executives polled, they believe that the process for obtaining permits will be significantly faster in the next four-years.
US agency protects Nevada Mountains from energy development
The Biden administration took action on Monday to protect the Ruby Mountains of northeast Nevada for a period of 20 years from any oil, gas or geothermal development. Interior Department approved a request by U.S. Forest Service for the withdrawal of 264,442 acre federal land in Ruby Mountains from mineral or geothermal leases. After the application is approved, the land can be used for development for up two years. The public has 90 days to make comments on the 20-year withdrawal. The proposal is made three weeks before Donald Trump, the president-elect, takes over from Joe Biden as a Democrat, who sought to preserve large areas of public land.
Document filed by Venture Global LNG shows that it wants to extend the force majeure for its first plant until 2025.
Venture Global LNG intends to extend force majeure for its Calcasieu Pass plant in Louisiana until 2025. This would delay the first deliveries under long-term contract to three years following production. Due to power problems, the plant's prolonged commissioning has resulted in contract arbitration actions brought by BP, Shell, Edison, Repsol Galp and Orlen. Venture Global could lose the cases and be forced to pay billions in damages, according to an IPO filing on Friday. Venture Global informed potential investors that under the extended force majeure clause, customers will not be able cancel their purchase and sales agreements after June 20, 2025.
BP and Iraq agree on technical terms for redeveloping Kirkuk oilfields
The British oil giant BP announced on Thursday that it had reached an agreement with the Iraqi Government on the technical conditions for redeveloping the Kirkuk Oil and Gas Fields. In August, the company signed an agreement to explore and develop the Kirkuk oilfield located in the north of Iraq. This will include the construction of solar power plants and other energy infrastructure. Sources have said that unlike historic contracts, which offer foreign companies razor thin margins, new agreements will include a generous profit sharing model. Iraq is the second largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
North Dakota oil plants slow to return online after wildfires in October
The state's Industrial Commission reported on Wednesday that oil operators in North Dakota are still working to bring some of their facilities online after wildfires in October swept through counties with significant oil production. According to Justin Kringstad of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, the outages were limited to isolated production sites such as well pads that experienced local equipment damage, or a loss in electricity due to damaged electrical lines. Mark Bohrer is the assistant director of North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources' oil and gas division.
North Dakota oil operators are still bringing back some facilities online after wildfires in October
The state's Industrial Commission reported on Wednesday that oil operators in North Dakota are still working to bring some of their facilities online after wildfires in October ravaged key oil-producing counties. Mark Bohrer is the assistant director of North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources' oil and gas division. He said that the October production in the state was down by 520,000 bbls. This was primarily due to operators closing in wells in order to prevent damage from wildfires. Bohrer said that the (drop in production) number is significant.
US graphite miners ask Washington to impose tariffs of 920% on Chinese competitors
On Wednesday, North American miners of graphite asked the U.S. Government to impose tariffs as high as 92% on Chinese suppliers for the battery metal to combat what they call Beijing's "malicious" trade practices. This is the latest effort by Western suppliers of critical minerals to counter China's control over the extraction and processing of building blocks used in electric vehicles and electronic devices. Graphite can be produced synthetically or from natural sources. China is the world's largest producer of both types of graphite and has tightened its exports to the U.S. earlier this month.
Oil Climbs After US Crude Stocks Fall
Oil edged up on Wednesday after a drop in U.S. crude inventories, and as investors eyed a potential interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve while weighing its projections for 2025.Brent futures were up 62 cents, or 0.85%, to $73.81 a barrel at 10:40 a.m. ET, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 86 cents, or 1.23%, to $70.94.U.S. crude stocks and distillate inventories fell while gasoline inventories rose in the week ending Dec. 13, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday.Crude inventories fell by 934…
ADNOC Drilling partners with SLB and Patterson-UTI to form a 'unconventional energy venture'
ADNOC Drilling, a division of the state oil company in the United Arab Emirates, announced on Tuesday that it had signed an agreement for Turnwell Industries - a joint venture between oilfield service firms SLB, Patterson-UTI, and ADNOC Drilling. ADNOC Drilling owns 55% of the company, which was created to access unconventional energy resources such as oil and gas requiring advanced extraction techniques. SLB owns 30% of the company, while Patterson-UTI holds 15%. ADNOC Drilling reported that Abu Dhabi is estimated to have 220 billion barrels unconventional oil and 460 trillion cubic feet of unconventional natural gas.
Oil Falls as Chinese Demand Sags, Fed Ponders Rate Cut
Oil futures slipped from the highest levels in several weeks on Monday on weakness in consumer spending in China, which is the world's largest oil importer, and as investors paused buying ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.Brent crude futures fell 39 cents to $74.10 a barrel by 1:10 p.m EST, after settling on Friday at their highest since Nov. 22.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude shed 35 cents to $70.94 after registering its highest close since Nov. 7 in the previous session.Last week, oil benefited from the expectation that supply would tighten with additional sanctions on crude producers Russia and Iran…
Sources say that the US study is likely to refrain from concluding that LNG exports are not in the public interest.
Two industry sources familiar with the matter said that the administration of President Joe Biden will release a report on Tuesday regarding the export of liquefied gas. The study is not expected to conclude that the trade does not serve the public's interest. Biden halted in January the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. LNG imports to major consumers in Asia, Europe and the Middle East in order to allow his administration to study the economic and environmental impacts of this booming industry. Donald Trump, the president-elect, has stated that he is against this pause and will act quickly to reverse it.
Phillips 66 sells stake in Texas pipeline to $865 million
Phillips 66 announced on Monday that it will sell its 25% stake of the Gulf Coast Express pipeline, located in Texas, to an ArcLight Capital Partners affiliate for $865 millions. This puts the U.S. refiner in a position to surpass its asset sale goal. Phillips 66, despite a decline in refinery profits, has chosen to maintain stable payouts for investors by reducing costs and setting a target of $3 billion via non-core assets sales. Before Monday's announcement, the company had already sold fuel stations, pipelines and a share in a joint venture retailing in Switzerland to raise $2.7billion.
Arcius Energy, a joint venture between BP and ADNOC’s XRG, will supply Egypt's gas.
BP and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s international investment arm XRG announced on Monday that they had closed a deal to create a natural gas joint-venture in Egypt. ADNOC is expanding its efforts abroad. Arcius Energy is a joint venture owned by BP (51%), and XRG (49%). The joint venture will initially operate in Egypt. Naser Saif Al Yafei is a former ADNOC executive who was appointed as Arcius CEO. Most recently, he was responsible for strategy, sustainability, and transformation in ADNOC Gas. Katerina papalexandri was named chief financial officer. She is BP's vice president for gas and low-carbon energy growth.
Kansai electric, a Japanese company, has invested in Iberdrola’s offshore wind project worth 1.3 billion euros.
The company announced on Friday that Japan's Kansai electric power Co had agreed to purchase a 49 percent stake in Iberdrola’s Windanker offshore project in Germany. This agreement expands a partnership between the Spanish renewable energy giant and the Japanese firm. The wind farm, located in the German portion of the Baltic Sea will have a capacity installed of 315 Megawatts. It is expected to begin operating at the end of 2026. Kansai has not disclosed the amount it paid for its share. Iberdrola will retain 51% of the project and values it at 1.3 billion euro. This is Kansai's fifth offshore wind project, bringing the total offshore wind capacity to 3 gigawatts.
Shell to Add Two Wells at GoM Perdido Platform
Shell said on Thursday its unit has made a final investment decision to add two wells at the Perdido platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to boost production.The Shell unit, which operates the Perdido platform, said the two wells are expected to produce up to 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at peak rates.The wells will be located in the Silvertip Frio reservoir, where Shell is the operator with a 40% stake and Chevron holds the remaining 60%. First production from the wells is expected in 2026.
Exxon CEO: We want to extract value from Hess Guyana's assets
Two of Exxon Mobil's top executives stated on Wednesday that they wanted to "participate in" Hess Corp. selling its Guyana oil assets and extract value from its work developing the country offshore fields. In May, a three-person panel will decide whether Hess can proceed with its deal to sell to Chevron on the original terms. Exxon and CNOOC Ltd have challenged the deal, which is the second largest in recent oil megamergers. "We calculated the value of this asset." Exxon CEO Darren Woods said to Wall Street analysts that we have the right, in this transaction to take into consideration the value of the asset and then to exercise an option on it.
Equinor, BP and TotalEnergies invest in Britain's carbon-capture projects
They announced on Tuesday that Equinor, BP, and TotalEnergies have made the final investment decisions for two of Britain's first projects to capture and store carbon in the north. The Northern Endurance Partnership Project, which is a joint venture between the three companies, will store carbon dioxide permanently for an initial amount of 4 million tonnes per year. Equinor holds 45% of NEP. BP has 45%, and TotalEnergies 10%. Equinor, BP and BP are also partners on the Net Zero Teeside Power Project. This project is a 742 megawatts (MW), gas-fired plant with carbon capture. BP owns 75% of this project and Equinor 25%.
British Business – Dec 10,
These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. BP will spin off its offshore wind business and form a joint venture worth $5,8 billion with Jera, a Japanese energy company. Vivendi's shareholders approved the separation of Canal+ and Vivendi, with the aim to list the Paris-based firm in London on Monday. Sky UK has signed a multi-year agreement with Warner Bros Discovery. Under the deal, Sky's parent Comcast will bundle WBD's Max service and Discovery+ for Sky subscribers starting April 2026.
BP's offshore Wind Head to Step Down
A spokesperson for BP announced on Monday that Matthias Bausenwein, the head of offshore winds, is leaving the firm. This comes after the oil giant announced its intention to spin off its offshore operations into a JERA-JERA joint venture. Bausenwein, who joined BP in August 2022 from the Danish renewables giant Orsted, will lead BP's expansion of offshore wind project. Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath - a former CEO at RWE Renewables - left the company last April after less than two years on the job. The spokesperson confirmed that Richard Sandford will be taking on the interim role of offshore wind. He also joined BP from RWE Renewables in 2022.
TWMA Appoints Group Commercial Director
Drilling waste management specialist, TWMA, has announced the appointment of Jonathan Parkes as its new Group Commercial Director. This strategic hire comes as the Aberdeen-based company continues to build on a period of rapid international growth and expansion.Joining the company in October 2024, Jonathan brings 20 years of commercial and strategic expertise across the energy market. His new role follows seven years at an energy, maritime and defence company where he held the position of Divisional Director.His extensive experience and proven…
Oil Rises as Syria's Assad Departs, China eases Monetary Policy
Oil prices rose by nearly 2% on Monday on increased geopolitical risk after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and as top importer China flagged its first move towards a loosened monetary policy stance since 2010.Brent crude futures were up $1.34, or 1.9%, to $72.46 per barrel at 11:25 a.m. ET (1625 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were up $1.5, or 2.23%, to $68.70."Events in Syria over the weekend could impact the crude market and increase the geopolitical risk premium on oil prices in the weeks and months to come amid yet more instability in the Middle East region…
Petrobras Slashes Platform Decommissioning Budget
Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras PETR4.SA cut $1.1 billion in planned investments in decommissioning oil and gas platforms in its strategic plan for the 2025-2029 period, compared to what was earmarked in its 2024-2028 plan, the company told Reuters.Petrobras expects to invest $9.9 billion in platform decommissioning through 2029, compared with more than $11 billion previously estimated for the 2024-2028 period.The plan now is to decommission 10 floating platforms, down from 23 originally. Seven of the platforms are located in Brazil's Campos basin…
Oil Slips, Weekly Loss Looms
Oil prices fell 1% on Friday and were headed for a weekly loss as analysts projected a supply surplus next year despite an OPEC+ decision to delay output hikes and extend deep production cuts to the end of 2026.Brent crude futures were down 85 cents, or 1%, to $71.24 per barrel at 11:04 a.m. EST. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 were down 92 cents, or 1%, to $67.38 per barrel.For the week, Brent was on track to fall by more than 2%, while WTI was on course for a nearly 1% drop.On Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting…
Sources say that BP is looking for buyers to buy its US Natural Gas Pipeline System stake.
Four people familiar with the matter have confirmed that BP is looking for buyers to take a stake in their U.S. Natural Gas Pipeline Network. Two people have said that the British energy company may be able to raise $3 billion through the sale. One of them added that BP could sell as much as a 49 percent stake in its business. Two other people confirmed that the sale is part of BP's CEO Murray Auchincloss’s efforts to reduce the debt levels at the company, which have risen in the last year. BP refused to comment. The four individuals spoke under the condition of anonymity, as they had not been authorized to speak in public.
Sechin, Rosneft's boss, says that targets and costs are a hindrance to the appeal of green energy.
Igor Sechin is a well-known sceptic of green energy and the boss of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft. He believes that investors are losing interest in clean energy because of elusive targets, high cost and lack of funding. Russia, the world's largest producer of oil, natural gas and coal, as well as China, have set targets to achieve carbon neutrality in 2060. This is 10 years later than other developed countries. The Russian president Vladimir Putin criticised the green movements in Europe for exploiting people's fears over climate change. He also questioned Germany's commitment towards phasing-out coal.
Source: Bank sold US oil futures worth $270 million ahead of OPEC+ meeting.
One bank sold large volumes of U.S. Oil Futures Contracts in early afternoon trading Wednesday, according to a source with direct knowledge. This caused prices to drop more than 1% in minutes, and traders scrambled to figure out the reason. The transaction, which took place just hours before an OPEC+ virtual conference at which the group was expected to extend its supply cuts to the end of first quarter, had traders scrambling for the reason behind the sale. A person stated that the bank sold 4,000 barrels of U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil Futures at $69.21 per barrel in a single transaction around 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT).
Oil Rises on Lebanon Fears, possible OPEC cuts
Oil prices rose more than 2% on Tuesday as Israel threatened to attack the Lebanese state if its truce with Hezbollah collapses, and as investors positioned for OPEC+ to announce an extension of supply cuts this week.Brent crude futures posted their biggest gains in two weeks, rising by $1.79, or 2.5%, to settle at $73.62 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures also rose the most since Nov. 18, gaining $1.84, or 2.7%, to close at $69.94 per barrel.Israeli forces have continued strikes against what they say are Hezbollah fighters ignoring last week's truce agreement in Lebanon.
LNG traders divert cargoes to Asia from Europe as demand in the east increases
Analysts and shipping data indicate that three LNG cargoes bound for Europe were diverted to Asia in order to meet the stronger Asian demand, and because gas prices have decreased in Europe. The rapid change of course shows the agility of the trading firms to send LNG supplies either to Europe or Asia. As Asian prices rise, the arbitrage window for sending U.S. and African Liquefied Natural Gas to Asia opens. The price of a million British thermal unit (mmBtu), the most expensive this year, rose to $15.00 per mmBtu on Friday due to colder temperatures in North Asia.
QatarEnergy signs LNG long-term deal with Shell to deliver LNG to China
State-owned QatarEnergy signed a long-term agreement with Shell, the oil and gas giant, to supply LNG to China. QatarEnergy said in a Monday statement that the deal will see the LNG supply increase to three million tons per year. The agreement is expected to begin in January 2025. QatarEnergy said that the agreement highlighted the continued growth in China's market for LNG, but did say how long it would last. Four sources in the industry and trading have confirmed that Shell will use these volumes to supply its China portfolio. China is the largest LNG importer in the world.
EIA reports that US oil production fell by the most in September since January.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) data showed that the crude oil production in the United States fell by 157,000 barrels a day (bpd), month-over-month, to 13,20 million bpd during September. This was the biggest decline since January. As Hurricane Francine, and Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Gulf of Mexico in September, many oil and gas facilities were forced to close for extended periods of time. EIA data released on Friday showed that output from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore fell by 12% in September, to 1,58 million bpd. This is the lowest level in three years.
Brazil will offer 91 oil blocks permanently
Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy said in a statement on Friday that it will sell 91 oil blocks permanently. This could result in signing bonuses of up to 2.4 billion Reis ($394.11m) at the next auction. The government will offer 39 blocks within the Sao Francisco Basin of Minas Gerais, 41 blocks, and a marginal accumulating field in Rio Grande do Norte's Potiguar Basin, as well as 11 blocks located in Brazil's pre-salt region. Companies can bid on a block in the permanent offer model. These blocks will be included in the next auction cycle scheduled for 2025.
Mexican firefighters put out a second fire at Pemex in a week
The fire at the refinery of Pemex, Mexico's state oil company, has been put out, according to both the firm and authorities on Thursday. No injuries have been reported. Pemex has not yet revealed what caused the accident at its Minatitlan Refinery, located in eastern Veracruz State. The refinery can process up 285,000 barrels of oil per day. Pemex stated in a press release that the fire did not affect its employees or facilities. When contacted, the firm declined to comment on whether or not production had been affected at the refinery. This week, a separate fire broke out in the Salina Cruz refinery of Pemex in southwest Oaxaca.
President says Mexico is experimenting with different payment methods for Pemex debt
On Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Pemex's debt burden with its suppliers will be reviewed. She also said that various payment methods are being refined and studied. Despite the efforts made by Sheinbaum’s predecessor Andres Lopez Obrador to reduce the debt, the company is still one of the most indebted companies in the world. She said, "A review is taking place, and that is normal", during her usual news conference. The association representing the interests of some the most important oil services providers in Mexico has asked the state company Pemex for a payment of 103.6 billion pesos (about $5 billion) of overdue debts.
Energean CEO urges Israel issue new oil and Gas Exploration Licences
Energean, a gas company based in Israel, urged Israel on Thursday to issue new oil and gas exploration licenses offshore to meet the growing demand for gas in the region. Mathios rigas also called upon governments to develop new routes of export from Israel to Egypt and Cyprus. "We need to talk to the government (Israeli) about new licenses and exploration because we have to find more natural gas." Rigas stated that we need to develop additional gas. Energean reported on Thursday that it produced 153,000 barrels equivalent to oil per day during the first 10 month of this year.
Woodside CEO: Louisiana LNG project to be partnered with several companies by March
Woodside Energy's CEO said that the company expects to have several partners in its Louisiana liquefied gas project by the time it gives financial approval to the U.S. Project, which is expected to be the first quarter of 2020. Woodside, a company listed in Australia, is looking to sell 50% of its Louisiana LNG project. It now owns the entire project after acquiring Tellurian Inc. for $1.2 billion in October. The U.S. Gulf Coast plant could convert U.S. Shale Gas into up to 27,7 million tons of LNG per year. Woodside has held talks with U.S.
US energy lobby groups cautious about Trump tariffs
The U.S. oil industry said that they are concerned about President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the United States, stating that such policies may affect consumers, industries and security. Trump, who will take office on January 20, has promised to impose a tariff of 25% on imports coming from Canada and Mexico. These are two of America's largest trading partners. He said he would do this until these countries crack down on drugs - particularly fentanyl - and migrants at the border. This move appears to be in violation with a free trade agreement.
Chinse CNPC aims to produce 12.4 mln bbls at shale project, according to state media
China's state-owned energy group CNPC aims at producing 1.7 million metric tonnes of shale crude oil or 12.4 millions barrels in the next year as part of a pilot project, according to a report by Xinhua, the state news agency. The Jimsar Shale Gas Project, located in Junggar Basin, is one of three pilot shale oil projects that state oil companies are trying develop. Other two projects are Gulong, in northeast China, and Jiyang, in east China. According to Xinhua, CNPC produced 1.011 millions tons of oil at Jimsar this year, which is 7.4 million barrels. China's shale-gas resources are believed to be massive.
Looney, former BP boss, to lead US data company Prometheus Hyperscale
The U.S. data company announced on Sunday that former BP CEO Bernard Looney will chair Prometheus Hyperscale. Prometheus Hyperscale announced that Looney, the former CEO of British energy giant BP, resigned from his position in 2023, after serving four years as the company's chief executive, for failing to disclose all details about past personal relationships. He will now provide strategic guidance in developing the growth plans of the data-driven firm. Prometheus Hyperscale announced that Looney's new position will include assisting with work at the company’s $10 billion flagship data center in Evanston Wyoming.
Sources: Petrobras is in discussions with Raizen, BP, and Inpasa about a joint venture for ethanol
Two sources familiar with the matter said that Brazilian state-run Petrobras was in discussions with Raizen, BP, and Inpasa about a potential joint venture for ethanol. Earlier that day, Petrobras' director of energy transformation, Mauricio tolmasquim, told reporters that the company was investigating a joint venture for ethanol. He did not name the companies with which it might partner. Petrobras Raizen BP Inpasa and BP did not respond immediately to comments. Tolmasquim said that Petrobras plans to invest $2.2 billion over the next five-year period in ethanol distilleries.
US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs in the US for the second week running - Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. firms have cut back on the number of natural gas and oil rigs for the second week running for the first since early October. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by one in the week ending November 22 to 583, the lowest level since early September. This brings the total number of rigs down by 39 or 6% from this time last. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs increased by one this week to 479, while gas-rigs decreased by two to 98.
BP and its partners invest $7 billion into a carbon capture project in Indonesian Papua
BP and its partners announced that they will invest $7 billion into a carbon-capture project and the development of gas fields in Indonesia's easternmost Papua Region, which could unlock an additional 3 trillion cubic feet in gas resources. The British oil producer announced its investment in London on Thursday during a meeting between President Prabowo Subito, who was visiting London. The company said that production at Ubadari is expected to begin in 2028. Gas from the field will be processed in the Tangguh liquefied gas plant in West Papua.
Indonesian regulator confirms Tangguh LNG disruption
Indonesia's upstream gas and oil regulator SKK Migas confirmed that there was an outage on the third train at BP's Tangguh liquefied gas (LNG), facility in West Papua. It said operations would begin to resume from Saturday. Hudi Suryodipuro, spokesperson for SKK Migas, said on Thursday that an accident occurred on Train 3 Tangguh LNG in November 16 due to instrumentation problems at an onshore reception facility. This caused an emergency shut-off valve to be closed. Hudi said that after repairs were carried out by the BP team, and the startup process was completed, a leak in the actuator was discovered. This required parts to be repaired and replaced.
US Judge Proposes CITGO Auction Solution
The U.S. judge overseeing an auction of shares in a Citgo Petroleum parent to pay Venezuela-linked creditors on Wednesday proposed major procedural changes to advance a case stalled by wide opposition and lawsuits by creditors in other courts.Judge Leonard Stark recommended a series of changes to encourage higher bids in a seven-year-long court case brought by companies pursuing up to $21.3 billion in claims for debt defaults and expropriations in Venezuela.An up to $7.3 billion bid by an affiliate of activist investor Elliott Investment Management could soon be challenged by the court's recommendation to choose a "starting point bidder" to move forward with the auction.
EIA: US Crude, Gasoline Inventories Rise
U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories last week rose more than forecast, while distillate stockpiles posted a larger-than-expected draw, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.Crude inventories rose by 545,000 barrels to 430.3 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 15, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 138,000-barrel rise.Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub fell by 140,000 barrels in the week, the EIA said. Net U.S. crude imports rose last week by 237,000 barrels per day to 3.3 million bpd…
Rystad reports that oil majors have over 40 biofuel projects planned by 2030.
Rystad, a consultancy, said that major oil and gas companies are investing more in biofuels, betting on sustainable aircraft fuel (SAF). By 2030, 43 projects should be completed, the report stated. Energy research firm says that industry giants like ExxonMobil and Shell could increase production by 286,000 barrels a day. SAF is produced by using wastes and residues like organic crops or used cooking oils. It emits the exact same amount of CO2 as kerosene. It is considered to be less polluting because it is made from plants or leftovers, rather than new oil that releases more greenhouse gases.
Sources say that Whiting refinery, a BP facility in Indiana, is delaying its return to service.
Industry sources say that the return to service for BP Whiting Indiana refinery is delayed. BP began the planned turnaround activity for its refinery that produces 435,000 barrels per day in late September. In early November, the refinery restarted units that were involved in the turnaround. Sources claim that at least two units are experiencing startup delays. Sources said that the refinery's 250,000 barrels per calendar day (bcd), sour crude distillation unit, and its 102,000 bcd coker had issues with the restart. These units should be online by this week. Whiting, the largest refinery in the Midwest of the United States, produces liquid fuels.
Chris Wright, CEO of the oil industry, is appointed Energy Secretary by Trump
Donald Trump, the President-elect, announced on Saturday that Chris Wright, an oil and gas executive who is a staunch supporter of fossil fuels, will be his choice to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the founder of Liberty Energy in Denver, a firm that provides oilfield services. He will likely support Trump's plans to increase oil and gas production and seek ways to increase electricity generation, which is on the rise for the first decade. He will also probably share Trump's opposition against global cooperation in fighting climate change.
Baker Hughes: US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs in the US for the first time in 4 weeks.
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 time since four weeks. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by one in the week ending Nov. 15 to 584, the lowest level since early September. This is a reduction of 34 rigs, or 6% from the same time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by one this week to 478. This is their lowest level since the week of July 19. Gas rigs were also down by one, to 101.
