Japex to invest in US tight-oil project as operator
A senior executive at Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex), said that the company is interested in investing in the U.S. tight gas and oil sector with a view to becoming an operator. Yutaka Nishimura said at a press conference that Japex is exploring investment opportunities for the U.S. tight gas and oil sectors. We are looking to become operators. He added that Japan's second largest oil and gas company, which has invested in U.S. tight gas and oil projects for the past few years, is looking to use the experience and expertise it has gained. Tight oil is crude oil that has been extracted from rock formations such as shale or sandstone.
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.
Petrobras' focus remains Brazil despite Africa plans, director says
Petrobras, the state-owned oil company in Brazil, has its main focus on its own country. Its director of exploration, production, said this Thursday. He added that Brazil remained a top priority, even though it plans to expand into Africa. Petrobras, which is looking to replenish its oil reserves in the future, has publicly expressed interest in expanding their oil fields in Africa. This move comes after years of the company focusing on Brazil. Director Sylvia dos Anjos said in an interview that the Brazilian oil giant has evaluated billion-dollar blocks across Africa. She added that over ten opportunities had been assessed by the company.
Malaysia won't stop South China Sea exploration, despite China protests says PM
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's Prime Minister, said that the country would not stop oil and gas exploration on the South China Sea in spite of Beijing's claims that Malaysia had infringed on its territory. Anwar, who is currently in Russia on an official visit, stated that Malaysia's exploration was within its own territory, and it wasn't meant to be provocative towards China. Anwar stated in a Vladivostok televised news conference that "we will of course have to operate within our waters in order to secure an economic advantage. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that it will investigate the leaked diplomatic note of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Minister: Russia welcomes foreign investments in geological exploration
Alexander Kozlov, Minister for Natural Resources and Ecology in Russia, said that the country would be happy to welcome foreign investors who wish to participate in its geological surveys. After the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, in February 2022, Russia experienced a mass exodus. Moscow has tried to strengthen cooperation with nations who did not support the sanctions in relation to the conflict such as energy-consuming China and India. Kozlov said to reporters at the Eastern Economic Forum, held in Vladivostok (a port located in Russia's far east), that foreign capital will help Russia develop.
New Zealand passes law to reverse oil and gas exploration ban
New Zealand announced on Monday that it will pass laws before the end of the year to reverse an offshore oil and natural gas exploration ban and to take urgent steps to eliminate regulatory hurdles for importing liquefied gas (LNG), amid energy shortages. The right-of centre government wants to attract investment into the oil and gas industry in the country. This law will end the ban on exploration that has been in place since 2018 outside of onshore Taranaki. Energy prices have risen to the highest level among developed economies due to severe shortages in the past few weeks, according to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Protecting Offshore Energy Sources via USV
When most people discuss energy sources such as fossil fuel and green energy, it is from an “either-or” perspective. Some favor the former while others advocate for the latter. However, what is often lost in the arguments on both sides is that regardless of the type of energy being extracted or generated, those platforms that are offshore, especially oil rigs, oil and gas pipelines, and wind farms, are incredibly vulnerable to anyone who wants to attack these sources in wartime, or just to make a political statement.One need look no further than the…
Denmark Might Not Reach Its 2030 Emissions Reduction Goal as It 'Relies on Unproven Tech'
Denmark risks not reaching its goal to cut carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 because it is too reliant on unproven technology, an independent council monitoring the effort said on Friday.The Nordic country in 2020 set one of the most ambitious and legally binding climate targets in the world - cutting CO2 emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, but its government has yet to come up with a detailed plan for how to achieve that target."The government has so to some extent picked the low-hanging fruit," Jorgen Elmeskov, second chair of the Climate Council said on Friday.With the government's current initiatives…
Offshore Oil Firm Eco Atlantic Launches Renewables Division
Eco Atlantic, an oil company with offshore oil and gas acreage in Guyana and Namibia, said Tuesday it had formed a new solar energy-focused company Eco Atlantic Renewables, citing, in part, a lack of oil and gas acquisition opportunities.Formed with Nepcoe Capital Partners Ltd. ("Nepcoe"), a renewable energy developer and investment company, the aim of Eco Atlantic Renewables is to source, acquire and develop an exclusive pipeline of potential high yield solar projects. Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Eco Atlantic") owns 70% of Eco Atlantic Renewables and the remaining 30% is owned by Nepcoe."Investment into renewables…
Trump Administration Rushing to Sell Arctic Oil Leases
The Trump administration on Monday issued a request to energy companies to identify what specific land areas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should be offered for sale, according to a government document.The Department of Interior said the nominations and any comments on the land tracts must be received 30 days after the document is published in the Federal Register. The “call for nominations” is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, but a version was posted on Monday.The move is a key step toward pulling off a sale of oil drilling leases in a pristine area of the Arctic before Democrat Joe Biden…
Virtual Conference to Focus on Transatlantic Marine Renewables
Marine industry experts from Portugal and Canada are staging a special Blue Economy conference to spark transatlantic business growth. WavEC Offshore Renewables is teaming up with the Embassy of Canada to Portugal to host ‘Advancing the Blue Economy through Intercontinental Collaboration’. It runs on December 09 and 10.The two-day online event includes a world-class roster of speakers. They will share knowledge on floating offshore wind, alongside latest advances in wave power, floating solar, hydrogen and offshore aquaculture.To register for the…
China to Boost Energy Reserve Capacity, Support Unconventional Gas Exploration
China said on Friday it will bolster the capacity of the country's energy reserves and offer lower gas and electricity charges to key industries, as it looks to ensure energy supply and offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.In energy announcements on the first day of the parliament, known as the National People's Congress (NPC), authorities also pledged to boost the country's oil and gas network and continue to support exploration for unconventional gas reserves.The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement it would push forward construction of crude oil reserves.The coronavirus pandemic has led to a slump in demand for crude oil…
Wintershall Dea Earnings Drop
German oil and gas company Wintershall Dea reported a sharp drop in earnings in the first quarter of 2020, prompting it to cut costs and reduce oil and gas exploration.Production amounted to 626,000 barrel of oil equivalent per day (mboe/d) in Jan-March, unchanged from the same 2019 period, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.Due to a weaker price environment for commodities, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization, and exploration expenses (EBITDAX) fell by 42% to 481 million euros ($526.36 million).Wintershall reported a loss of 78 million euros in adjusted net income after 320 million euros in the prior year.A previous plan to float Wintershall DEA…
New Offshore Acreage Licensing to Drop 60% in 2020, Rystad says
Newly licensed offshore oil and gas exploration acreage is likely to fall by about 60% and onshore acreage by 30% compared with 2019 levels, Rystad Energy has said, as the Norwegian energy market analytics company expects more than half of the world’s planned licensing rounds to be canceled this year due to the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the low oil prices."This year was slated to be another remarkable year for exploration with about 45 countries launching at least 52 lease rounds, about 60% of them in offshore areas. The decline in the expected number of lease rounds compared to last year’s 69 was not a sign of fewer countries offering new licenses…
USA Ups BOEM Offshore Wind Budget
The Trump Administration has proposed a $189m fiscal year 2021 budget for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), designating just under $27m for offshore wind.The FY 2021 budget includes approximately $26.5 million to advance offshore renewable energy development.In recognition of the role renewable energy can play in securing the Nation’s energy independence and supporting economic growth, BOEM continues to advance renewable energy through its leasing program and streamlining its permitting and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes.In addition…
China Opens Up to Foreign E&P Firms
For the first time, China will this year allow foreign companies to explore for and produce oil and gas in the country, opening up the industry to firms other than state-run energy giants, as Beijing looks to boost domestic energy supplies.The long-awaited opening accompanies a reshuffle of the so-called "midstream" pipeline business, but experts say it may not excite immediate interest from global drillers because of the poor overall asset quality of China's hydrocarbon resources.From May 1, foreign firms registered in China with net assets of 300 million yuan ($43 million) will be allowed to take part in oil and gas exploration and production, the ministry of natural resources an
Energean, DEPA Pact for EastMed Pipeline
UK-based international oil and gas exploration and production company Energean Oil & Gas and the Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA) have agreed to cooperate to further support the EastMed Pipeline Project.The have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the potential sale and purchase of 2 BCM natural gas per annum from Energean’s gas fields offshore Israel, where Energean is investing $1.7 billion for the development of the Karish & Tanin fields through the FPSO “Energean Power”.DEPA, as a 50% shareholder of the IGI Poseidon – a Joint Venture with…
Beach Energy Eyes Offshore New Zealand
Australian oil and gas exploration and production company Beach Energy Limited has signed an agreement with OMV GSB Oil Exploration to acquire a 30% participating interest in exploration permit (EP) PEP50119 in the Great South Basin, offshore New Zealand.Under the agreement, Beach will acquire a 30% participating interest in the permit in exchange for funding a 30% share of the Tawhaki-1 well cost and the associated work program and budget. The estimated capital exposure is approximately $25 million net to Beach.The transaction is subject to New Zealand government and regulator approval…
China to Launch State Pipeline Group
China plans to launch its long-awaited national oil and gas pipeline company on Monday, part of a sector-wide reform aimed at providing fair market access to infrastructure and boost investment in oil and gas production.Most of the country's pipeline infrastructure is controlled by energy giant PetroChina, CNPC's listed arm, and small, non state-owned oil and gas producers and distributors often don't have access to the pipelines at competitive rates, analysts have said.This also hinders companies from investing in oil and gas exploration as they are concerned about access to the pipelines.Beijing started considering reforming the sector nearly a decade ago to improve access but on
Energean Targets Net Zero Carbon Output by 2050
Mediterranean-focused oil and gas producer Energean has joined a U.N.-backed initiative and committed to reducing its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, its chief executive said on Monday.Oil and gas producers have come under heavy pressure in recent years to tackle greenhouse gas emissions as the world battles climate change.Energean's pledge came as the 25th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference — also known as COP 25 — begins in Madrid.The company said in a statement it was the first London-listed oil and gas exploration and production company to commit to the UN's efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels."We're doing this b
