India increases gas prices starting April
India's government website revealed on Monday that the price for its locally produced oil field gas has increased by almost 4%, to $6.75/million metric British Thermal Units (mmBtu), compared to $6.50/mmBtu the previous month. This is the first price revision for gas produced in old fields in two years. India set a price cap of $6.50 for two years in 2023. The third year will see a 25-cent increase per annum.
Equinor's new Arctic Oilfield will pay off $8 billion investment within 2 years
Equinor said that its Johan Castberg oilfield, located in the Arctic Barents Sea, began production Monday, after several delays. The company expects to recoup the 86 billion Norwegian crowns ($8.14 billion), which it paid for the field, in less than two year. Castberg is now the second oilfield to come on stream in the Norwegian Barents Sea sector after Vaar Energi Goliat in 2016.
Wood Group UK flags problems within its Projects Unit, Shares Slump
Wood Group, a British engineering and oilfield services company, said that it has identified "material failures and weaknesses" in its financial cultures within its Projects Business Unit following an independent Deloitte review. Early trade saw shares of the company fall about 25%. They have fallen about 68% since November's announcement.
The US has revoked the specific license of French oil company M&P for its activities in Venezuela
Maurel et Prom, a French oil company, announced on Monday that the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department has revoked its specific licence to operate in Venezuela. Last week, U.S. president Donald Trump issued an order declaring any country that purchases oil or gas from Venezuela would pay a 25% duty on all trades with the United States.
Xinhua reports that China's CNOOC has discovered a 100 million-ton oilfield on the South China Sea.
Xinhua reported Monday that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation has discovered an oilfield with reserves of more than 100 million tonnes in the South China Sea. Huizhou's 19-6 oilfield, recently discovered, is not located in an area of the South China Sea that has been contested. It lies within China’s Exclusive Economic Zone which extends for 200 nautical mile or 370 kilometers from its coast.
Texas oil and gas upstream jobs increase in February, says industry group
The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, or TIPRO, announced on Friday that upstream oil companies increased hiring in February. This is the second consecutive month of growth. Hiring in upstream, which includes drilling and producing oil activities, can be an indicator of how the oil and gas sector is doing. More drilling could be expected if companies hire more staff.
Liberty CEO Gusek views steel tariffs as having a modest impact on oilfield services
Ron Gusek, Liberty Energy's Chief Executive Officer, said that the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on steel imports will have a modest impact on oilfield service providers' earnings. Trump has imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium on March 12 and could be imposing more on April 2. Dallas Federal Reserve's survey of…
UK watchdog warns SLB-ChampionX could harm competition
The British Competition Regulator said that the proposed $8 billion acquisition of smaller competitor ChampionX by oilfield services firm SLB could lead to a significant lessening in competition in the United Kingdom. SLB and ChampionX will not be allowed to proceed with an in-depth investigation unless they offer corrective measures, said the Competition and Markets Authority.
Energy assets affected due to sanctions and standoff between Russia and the West
On Tuesday, the United States and Russia reached separate agreements to stop attacks on energy and maritime targets. Washington also agreed to press for the lifting of some sanctions against Moscow. In the event that a peace agreement is reached between Russia and Ukraine, the potential for a relaxation of U.S. sanctions and EU sanctions…
Wood Group extends deadline for deal negotiations with Dubai's Sidara. FT reports
The Financial Times reported that the British oilfield engineering and services firm Wood Group agreed to extend its deadline for talking with Dubai's Sidara about a potential takeover after an unsuccessful attempt six months earlier. Reports citing sources familiar with the issue said that the extension would give time to Deloitte's independent review of Wood’s Projects Division.
Eni sells stakes to Vitol in upstream projects in Ivory Coast and Congo
The Italian energy group Eni announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to sell its stakes in the upstream assets of the Ivory Coast, and the Republic of the Congo, to the global energy trader Vitol. Eni stated that the deal is worth $1.65bn based on an appraisal from January 1, 2024. However, there will be a cash payment at closing.
Kazakhstan fires its energy minister amid tensions between OPEC+ and oil majors
The country's president announced on Tuesday that Kazakhstan's Energy Minister will step down as a minister. This comes amid the government's struggle to convince U.S. companies and European oil firms to reduce production levels above OPEC+ targets. In a Tuesday decree, the president's office announced that Almasadam Sakaliyev would become the new head of the newly-created atomic agency.
Chevron says it's confident about merger after buying 5% of Hess shares
Chevron said it had bought 4.99% of Hess Corp common shares in this year. This shows its confidence that the planned acquisition will be completed, according to a filing made by the oil giant on Monday. In October 2023, the second largest U.S. oil company agreed to purchase Hess for $53 billion in an all stock deal to acquire a key stake in Guyana’s oil-rich Stabroek Block.
OPEC holds view that demand is not a concern, despite claims by Kazakhstan to lead the jump in OPEC+ production
OPEC announced on Wednesday that Kazakhstan was the country responsible for a significant increase in crude production in February by the wider OPEC+ group. This highlights a challenge facing the producer group to enforce adherence of agreed output targets. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reported that OPEC+ - which includes OPEC…
OPEC data show that Kazakhstan was the biggest laggard of OPEC+ in February.
OPEC data on Wednesday showed that Kazakhstan contributed over half of the overall OPEC+ rise in oil production during February. However, it lags behind its pledges for reducing production. Kazakhstan consistently exceeded its production quota of 1.468 millions bpd, as per the agreement struck between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and their allies, including Russia.
Trump's Energy dominance aims to attract more global companies to the US
Executives said that the market upheaval caused by U.S. president Donald Trump's protectionist policies on trade has not dampened interest from foreign investors in the U.S. Energy Industry. They praised his promise to reduce regulations and support fossil energies. Trump made energy dominance the cornerstone of his administration.
BP CEO: It's time to increase U.S. production of gas
HOUSTON, 11 March - BP will increase U.S. Natural Gas production in its onshore shale operation following the recent rise of domestic gas prices. CEO Murray Auchincloss announced this on Tuesday. Auchincloss said at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston that "with rising gas prices, it is time for the Haynesville basin" in eastern Texas. As new LNG export terminals on the Gulf Coast ramped-up, the benchmark U.S.
Experts say that Trump's tariffs against steel and aluminum will increase costs for US energy companies
The proposed U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs will increase costs for U.S. Oilfield Services companies that rely on this metal for their operations. Oilfield service firms like ChampionX and Patterson UTI are the backbone for the North American oil and natural gas industry. They provide essential equipment and services to drill, produce and maintain.
Kazakhstan commits to reducing oil production after April. Russia claims OPEC+ could reverse output.
Alexander Novak, the deputy prime minister of Russia, said that the OPEC+ had agreed to increase oil production starting in April. However the group could change its mind if market imbalances occur. Officials from Kazakhstan, who have often exceeded the OPEC+ production quotas in recent years, spoke at a briefing online almost simultaneously with Novak. They pledged to reduce output in March April and May.
Baker Hughes and Frontier Infrastructure form a carbon capture partnership
Baker Hughes announced on Monday a partnership between Frontier Infrastructure and the United States' largest carbon capture and storage solutions (CCS). Oilfield Services provider adds that it will provide technology solutions for carbon capture projects, power generation and datacenters. Baker Hughes announced that it will leverage key technologies in well design…
