Sunday, January 11, 2026

Oil Industry News

Exxon CEO: We are ready to assess reentering Venezuela and will send a team within a few weeks.

Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods stated?on Friday that the U.S. 'oil major could start from the ground up in Venezuela, and was prepared to evaluate the possibility of returning to the country. Woods stated that it was "absolutely critical" to have a technical team in place for the purpose of assessing the state of 'the industry. He added that a team could be on the ground in a matter of weeks. The remarks?were?made during a meeting at the White House with U.S. president Donald Trump and other oil executives, to discuss the future oil industry of the OPEC country. U.S.

Trump meets with oil companies in Venezuela

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, began a meeting at the White House with executives of some of the largest oil companies in the world on Friday. He said that increasing crude production from Venezuela will benefit the United States. The meeting reflects Trump's importance for oil in his strategy towards the OPEC nation, after U.S. troops?seized South American leader Nicolas Maduro during a brazen raid overnight on the?capital of the country January 3. Officials in the Trump administration have stated that they must control Venezuela's revenue and oil sales for as long as possible to ensure it acts "in America's interest".

Trump's "drill baby, drill" agenda in Venezuela hurts producers at the home

Trump wants $50 oil but it's below the profit level of U.S. Venezuelan oil redirected to squeeze U.S. Venezuelan oil to benefit U.S. HOUSTON, January 9 - U.S. Oil Producers already struggling with low oil prices face renewed pressure as President Donald Trump presses them to increase output in Venezuela – a move which would weaken oil markets, reduce revenues and hurt the industry at home. Trump's policies, he claims, will unleash American energy while lowering prices at the pumps. This promise would benefit U.S. customers but would squeeze revenues from the oil industry. Lower profits means oil companies will drill less and not more.

White House oil meeting includes independents and has strong ties to Denver

On Friday, the White House will be inviting oil executives to meet with them in order to discuss possible investment in Venezuela. While the list of attendees includes some big names from American oil, such as Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, it also contains smaller independents, private equity-backed companies, and other players. Only the largest U.S. An oil industry source said that oil producers in Venezuela have the experience and scale to operate there. It is noteworthy that smaller companies from Venezuela were included in the meeting, given that most of them operate in the U.S.

Trump has announced that he will be meeting with Venezuelan Machado in the next few days

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, announced on Thursday that Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado would be visiting Washington next week. In an interview with Fox News' "Hannity", Trump was asked whether he planned to?meet? Machado after the U.S. attacks on Venezuela, which resulted in Maduro being captured. When contacted for more information about the meeting, The White House didn't immediately respond. Machado said earlier this week she had not spoken to Trump since October, when she received the Nobel Peace Prize. The future of South America's governance is still in question.

Vitol, Trafigura and the White House invited to Venezuelan oil discussions on Friday

Four sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has invited the heads of commodity trading companies Vitol and Trafigura to meet at the White House this Friday to discuss the marketing Venezuelan crude oil. European trading houses dominate global oil trading, and could assist the U.S. in selling oil from Venezuela despite Washington's desire for U.S. oil majors to take the lead. White House announced that it would host U.S. Oil Majors on Friday. However, the invitation for trading houses was not previously reported.

Equinor, a Norwegian company, awards ten-billion-dollar five-year contracts to suppliers

Equinor announced on Thursday that it had signed framework agreements with a group of suppliers worth 100 billion Norwegian crowns (9.93 billion dollars) for the maintenance and modification of its offshore?and onshore?installations. Aibel Group, Wood Group and IKM Group as well as Head Energy, Rosenberg Worley and Aker Solutions signed new five-year deals with the option to extend them by another three and two years. These deals replace those signed in 2016 with Aibel and Apply, Wood Group, Aker Solution, and Reinertsen, which expire in the month of March. Aker Solutions bought Reinertsen’s offshore business in 2017.

FT reports that US oil companies need guarantees before investing in Venezuela.

The Financial Times reported that U.S. Oil Companies want "serious assurances" from Washington before making large?investments into Venezuela. President Donald Trump wants them to support his efforts to reshape the energy?markets. The FT, citing sources familiar with the issue, reported that U.S. officials met with energy executives on Wednesday in Miami. Washington and Caracas are progressing, so the talks will come. Donald Trump has urged American oil companies to invest in Venezuela's energy sector and to provide up to 50,000,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil to the United States.

ROI-Trump's Venezuela oil grab revives 'petrodollar' debate: McGeever

The arrest and capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by the United States on Saturday was likely motivated by many factors, but one that has been little discussed is the White House's concern about the declining global prominence of "petrodollar". Venezuela's oil production is modest, at just 1 million barrels a day. However, its reported reserves are huge - around 300 billion barrels or 17% of global stocks. Donald Trump has made it clear the U.S. wants to tap this huge potential. He plans to get U.S. energy companies?revitalize? the Latin American country's faltering oil industry. Keep all future production in the U.S.

US oil companies benefit after Trump signals access Venezuelan reserves

U.S. Oil Companies' Shares jumped Monday fueled by the prospect that the U.S. could gain access to Venezuela's vast reserves of oil after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was taking control of Venezuela following the arrest of their president. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, but its production has plummeted over the past decades because of?mismanagement?, a lack of foreign investment after the nationalization and sanctions on the oil industry. Trump stated on Saturday that the U.S.

Venezuelan oil reserves: No quick fixes

Even if U.S. Oil Majors invest the billions that President Donald Trump announced just hours after he took office, Venezuela's crude production is unlikely to increase significantly for many years. Venezuela may have the largest oil reserves in the world, but its production has dropped?over the last decade due to a lack investment by foreign firms. In the 2000s Venezuela nationalized oil operations that included?assets? of Exxon Mobil & ConocoPhillips. Analysts warned that companies who might invest in Venezuela would have to contend with issues such as security…

Bousso: ROI-Permian will retain US oil crown after peaking even though it has reached its peak

The Permian Basin is set to reach its peak oil production in December. This will be a turning point for the U.S. Shale Boom that has reshaped the global energy markets over the last 15 years. But drilling innovations will ensure that the output of America's most prolific patch of oil will remain stable for many years. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the Permian Basin, which spans West Texas, and Southeast New Mexico, will produce a record 6.76 million barrels of oil per day in December. This is only slightly more than November's production. The U.S.

Bousso: ROI-Permian will retain US oil crown after peaking even though it has reached its peak

The Permian Basin is set to reach its peak oil production in December. This will be a turning point for the U.S. Shale Boom that has reshaped the global energy markets over the last 15 years. But drilling innovations mean that output in America's largest oil patch will remain stable for many years. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the Permian Basin, which spans West Texas and southeastern New Mexico will produce an unprecedented 6.76 million barrels of oil per day in December. This is only a little higher than November's total. The U.S.

In Brazil, oil majors have united to oppose the Subsea7/Saipem merger

Public documents show that oil majors in Brazil are united against a merger proposed between energy contractors Subsea7 & Saipem. Cade, the antitrust agency, has requested new data from both firms on Friday for its investigation. In a filing in November to Cade, the Brazil oil industry group IBP stated that a new company, called Saipem7 would be strong enough to impose extra costs, delay projects, and force some clients into exclusive, long-term contracts. Cade, weeks after IBP's comment, which represents the oil majors of Brazil, sent Cade a request for additional data on Friday.

Sources say that RPT-Gunvor is weighing the US energy push, which could strengthen Washington ties.

Sources familiar with the situation said that Gunvor, a commodity trader, has been in active discussions to invest into U.S. oil and gas producing assets. This could help to repair relations with the Trump Administration after the fallout of Gunvor's attempt to purchase the foreign assets of the sanctioned Russian company Lukoil. Gunvor dropped its offer to purchase Lukoil assets after the U.S. Gunvor was interested in increasing its U.S. investment even before the failed Lukoil bidding, but such a move would now help it improve relations with President Donald Trump's administration…

Documents show that Alberta oil regulators stopped enforcing gas flare limits after government pressure.

Documents seen by have revealed that the regulator responsible for environmental enforcement in Canada’s largest oil-producing province, bowed to pressure from both the provincial government and major oil companies in order to remove a limitation on natural gas flare ups as Canadian oil production increased. Alberta's decision to remove its 20-year old flaring limit, after companies exceeded the limit twice in a row with no objections by the federal government is a good example of Canada's challenges in reconciling environmental commitments and a renewed focus of economic growth.

Gunvor considers US energy push, which could strengthen Washington ties

Sources familiar with the situation said that Gunvor, a commodity trader, has been in active discussions to invest into U.S. oil and gas producing assets. This could help to repair relations with the Trump Administration after the fallout of Gunvor's attempt to purchase the foreign assets of the sanctioned Russian company Lukoil. Gunvor dropped its offer to purchase Lukoil assets after the U.S. Gunvor was interested in increasing its U.S. investment even before the failed Lukoil bidding, but such a move would now help it improve relations with President Donald Trump's administration…

Lukoil Trading Arm Falls Apart Under US Sanctions

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U.S. sanctions are dismantling what remains of Lukoil's Litasco, once Russia's biggest oil trader and a rival to top Swiss houses and oil majors, five sources told Reuters.The measures, which also target state-owned Rosneft, took effect on Friday as Washington seeks to choke off Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine. They have thrown Lukoil’s global operations into limbo, from oilfields in the Middle East to fuel pumps and refineries across Europe.Cut off from the global financial system, Litasco has dismissed most traders and operational staff…

White House hosts oil and biofuel discussions as Trump administration closes to a decision on refinery exemptions

Four sources familiar with these discussions say that the White House held separate meetings this week with oil refiners as well as biofuel producers to try to resolve an ongoing dispute about billions of gallons in biofuel blending requirements waived by the U.S. for small refineries. Discussions indicate that the Trump administration will soon make a final decision about whether or not larger refiners are required to compensate for the waived gallons. This decision was originally expected at the end of October, but the shutdown of the federal government delayed it.

Chevron: Argentina's costs are still challenging, despite reform progress

Mark Nelson, Vice Chairman of Chevron, said that the cost of doing business remains high in Argentina despite the promising geology. The government of Javier Milei has made progress to promote the oil industry. Mark Nelson, Vice Chairman of Chevron, said that the geology in Argentina is excellent despite the progress made by the government under President Javier Milei to promote the oil economy. Chevron holds exploration and development interest in the Vaca Muerta Formation in southern Neuquen Province, where the estimated ultimate recovery is 50% higher per well than the average in the Permian Basin in Texas.