Sources: Exxon will sell its older Permian assets for $1 billion to Hilcorp
Four sources with knowledge of the matter said that Exxon Mobil Corp, the top U.S. oil company, has agreed to sell its conventional oil drilling assets located in the Permian basins of Texas and New Mexico for a price around $1 billion to Hilcorp Energy. This deal is part of a growing trend among U.S. oil companies to sell off older properties after a wave of record-breaking acquisitions. Hilcorp, a private operator, has been one of the most active buyers.
Who would be the best person to run Trump's energy policy?
Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, has pledged to overhaul U.S. Energy Policy. He aims to maximize oil and gas production in this country which is already at record levels by rolling back regulations and accelerating permits. Who will he select to lead the departments and agencies that are critical to completing this task? These are some names that have been considered.
Deep sea oil drilling drillers are now subject to new safety regulations in the US
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, or BSEE, released new rules on Tuesday for U.S. off-shore drillers. This is because breakthrough technology allows them to operate in extreme subsea conditions and unlock untapped oil reserves worth billions of dollars. BSEE final rule was issued after Chevron, in August, started production on its Anchor asset. It is owned by TotalEnergies and it was the first project ever to operate with 20,000 pounds per sq inch (PSI) pressure.
New Mexico considers oil drilling restrictions which would reduce output and revenue
New Mexico is the second largest oil producer in the U.S. A leading economist released this week a study about potential drilling restrictions. The study showed that they could affect up to 5,4% of the future crude production and cost billions in revenue. The study evaluated the setback proposals that were made during the legislative session of 2024, which would limit how close operators could drill to certain environmental and structural areas.
New Mexico considers oil drilling restrictions which would reduce output and revenue
New Mexico's chief economic officer said in a recent report that the state is currently studying new drilling restrictions. These could affect up to 5.4% its future crude production and cost the state billions in revenue. The study looked at proposed setbacks, or restrictions on how near operators can drill certain structures and areas of the environment. These are meant to protect people from oil and gas contamination. Ismael T.
MARA, a cryptominer, taps the power generated by U.S. Shale Patch in a new pilot program
MARA Holdings Inc. has announced that it is now producing electricity in the U.S. Shale Patch as part of a program pilot to power 25 megawatts for its mining operations using excess natural gas. The company said that the move was made in response to the intensifying competition between Big Tech AI data centers for electricity, which has caused the crypto industry to change its business strategy and either market AI or find a way around the power battle.
Dallas Fed: Regional oil activity declines but electrification gains.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported on Wednesday that oil and gas activity in Texas and Louisiana, as well as New Mexico, decreased in the third quarter. According to executives surveyed, third-quarter oil and natural gas production is mixed. Data suggests that oil production has increased, while gas production has decreased. A fifth of oil executives have said that they have converted their drilling rigs to electric power and are using hydraulic fracturing to reduce pollution.
Oil continues to fall on the back of weak China data and the prospect of increased OPEC+ supplies
The oil prices continued to fall on Monday, as OPEC+ is expected to increase production in October. Meanwhile, signs of sluggish consumption in China and America, the two biggest oil consumers in the world, have raised concerns over future growth. Brent crude futures dropped 61 cents or 0.8% to $76.32 a bar by 0450 GMT, while U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell 52 cents or 0.7% to $73.03 a bar. Last week, Brent fell by 0.3% and WTI dropped 1.7%.
Oil prices continue to fall on the prospect of increased OPEC+ supplies
The oil prices continued to fall on Monday as investors weighed higher OPEC+ output in October against a sharp decline in Libyan production amid sluggish demands in China and the U.S. Brent crude futures dropped 57 cents or 0.7% to $76.36 per barrel at 0108 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude fell 50 cents or 0.7% to $73.05 per barrel. Last week, Brent fell by 0.3% and WTI dropped 1.7%.
US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs a second time in 3 weeks - Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that U.S. firms have cut oil and gas rigs this week for the second time within three weeks. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by two in the week ending August 16. Baker Hughes reported that the total number of rigs is down by 56 or 8.7% from this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by two this week to 483 while gas rigs increased by one to 98.
OPEC+ Sees No Need to Meet US Call for More Supply
OPEC and its allies, including Russia, believe oil markets do not need more oil than they plan to release in the coming months, despite U.S. pressure to add supplies to check an oil price rise, four sources told Reuters.The price of international benchmark Brent crude has risen 35% this year towards $70 a barrel, driven by economic recovery from the pandemic and supply restraint by the Organization…
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…
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…
Explosion at China's Yanchang Petroleum Kills 5
An explosion at an oil drilling plant owned by China's government-backed Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group has left five dead, five injured, while three are missing, a local county government said in a statement on Monday.The accident occurred after the plant, Qilicun, started testing a new thermal technology to increase output on Sunday evening, according to the statement.The plant, located 40 kilometers east of Yan'an city in northwestern province Shaanxi…
Saipem Push with US Drillers Draws a Blank
Italian oil services company Saipem is trying to lure big U.S.
Oil Drops 3 pct, U.S. Supply Surges
Oil prices fell about 3 percent on Friday and were set for a second straight week of declines after disappointing U.S. job growth revived concerns about a slowing global economy and weaker demand for oil.With surging U.S. oil supply also unsettling markets, Brent crude futures fell $1.85, or 2.8 percent, to $64.45 a barrel by 10:42 a.m. EST (1542 GMT). The international benchmark was on track to fall about 1 percent for the week.U.S.
CNPC to Develop New Shale Oilfield
China's state-owned CNPC has started developing a new offshore shale oilfield near the Bohai Rim Basin, the company said via its official newspaper on Thursday.CNPC aims to produce 50,000 tonnes of shale oil from the Bohai Rim Basin in 2019 and to achieve production capacity of 1 million tonnes by 2028.The new drilling venture is in response to president Xi Jinping's call to step up national energy security…
Government Shutdown: Atlantic Seismic Permitting Blocked by Judge
A federal court judge on Friday ruled that the federal government cannot process seismic testing permits for offshore oil drilling during the ongoing government shutdown, dealing a blow Trump administration's energy agenda.Judge Richard Gergel of the U.S. District Court in South Carolina issued the decision in response to a motion filed by a range of conservation and business groups and coastal cities opposed to the adminstration's efforts to expand U.S.
US Working on Arctic Oil Leases Despite Shutdown
Even as a partial shutdown halts the functions of many U.S. government departments, forcing the Department of the Interior to close national parks, the Trump administration is continuing to push for the expansion of oil drilling on sensitive, federally owned lands in Arctic Alaska.The Alaska Bureau of Land Management (BLM), part of the Interior Department, was scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday night in Wainwright…
Exxon Continues Drilling Offshore Guyana
Exxon Mobil Corp said on Wednesday its oil drilling and development activities offshore Guyana were unaffected despite neighboring Venezuela's navy stopping two seismic survey vessels the company had hired.The closest of 10 oil finds Exxon has made off Guyana's coast is 110 km (68 miles) away from the northwest part of the Stabroek block, where the navy halted seismic data collection on Saturday, the company said.
