African energy exploration company Rhino Resources discovers light oil offshore Namibia
Namibia got a boost Thursday after Rhino Resources found "high-quality" light oil at its latest well. U.S. oil company Chevron also announced that it is considering a drilling campaign for 2026 or 2027. The southern African nation, a global hotspot for exploration, aims to produce its oil by the end of the decade, following a series of recent discoveries by Shell, TotalEnergies, and Galp Energia. The African energy explorer Rhino Resource found light oil in Capricornus 1X, its second successful exploration, which was drilled off the coast of Namibia in the prolific Orange Basin.
Devon Energy to boost free cash flow by $1 billion by 2026
Devon Energy announced on Tuesday that it intends to increase its annual free cashflow by $1 billion by 2026. This sent its shares up by 3.5% in the premarket. This is what the U.S. oil-and-gas producer hopes to achieve by reducing costs for drilling and completion and improving operating margins. Devon is expecting to save $300,000,000 through capital efficiency. Another $250,000,000 will be saved by reducing production and operational costs. A further $300,000,000 will be saved through enhanced commercial contracts.
Hammerfest LNG Plant in Norway will be closed for maintenance from July until August
Equinor announced that its Hammerfest LNG Terminal, Europe's biggest liquefied gas export facility, was shut down on Tuesday for planned annual maintenance. According to a regulatory document, the maintenance outage, which began at 0400 GMT at the Hammerfest LNG plant (also known as Melkoeya LNG), is expected to last until 10 July. A spokesperson for Equinor confirmed that the company had begun an extensive maintenance shutdown to ensure robust operation for "at least 3 new years". The spokesperson said that this included preparations for future Melkoeya projects as well regular maintenance tasks…
Chevron announces the first oil production at Ballymore Project in US Gulf
Chevron announced on Monday that it had begun oil and gas production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This brings the company closer to its goal of increasing production by 50% from the ocean basin this year. Ballymore is a $1.6 billion project located 160 miles south of New Orleans. It consists of three wells and is expected to yield up to 75,000 barrels equivalents per day (boepd). Chevron wants to increase oil and gas production in the Gulf region to 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) by 2026. At the same time, the company is cutting costs up to $3 billion across its business.
Indonesia awarded five oil and gas blocks as it seeks energy security
Indonesia has awarded five oil blocks and gas blocks to various companies, the energy ministry announced on Wednesday. The country is trying to increase its oil reserves and energy security. In the next few years, the government will offer more than 60 oil and natural gas blocks in an effort to reverse the decade-long decline of production. In an online broadcast of Wednesday's awards, Tri Winarno said that the government hoped these auction winners would be able contribute to Indonesian energy security in the future.
Brazil prepares a new oil auction amid trade war threats to budget, sources claim
Four people with knowledge of the situation said that Brazil is planning to auction off stakes in offshore oil fields this year as a way to increase revenue. The plan has gained momentum amid declining oil prices and increasing global trade uncertainty. Two sources who spoke under condition of anonymity said that the auction would involve smaller and uncontracted portions of the Tupi, Mero, and Atapu pre-salt fields. They hoped to raise approximately 20 billion reais (US$3.4 billion) as a worst case scenario. The Brazilian Finance Ministry and Ministry of Mines and Energy have not responded to comments immediately.
Eni anticipates that investors will value Plenitude at over $11 billion
Eni's executive said that investors who are interested in buying a minority stake of its retail and renewables arm, Plenitude will value the company at more than 11 billion dollars, including debt. Eni, under its "satellite strategy", plans to sell another minority stake in Plenitude. This comes after the Swiss fund Energy Infrastructure Partners purchased an initial stake valued at 10 billion euro. "We received binding offers for another stake in Plenitude... Francesco Gattei said that there are five bidders, Eni's Chief transition and financial officer, on the sidelines an energy conference in Ravenna.
Chevron will pay $740 Million to restore Louisiana's coastline, reports AP
The Associated Press reported that Chevron had been ordered to pay $740m to repair damages caused by the oil and gas giant to the coastal wetlands of southeast Louisiana. Report: The jury's verdict awarded $575,000,000 for compensation for land losses, $161,000,000 for contamination, and $8,000,000 for abandoned equipment. The original lawsuit was filed in 2013 by the Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana. The AP reported that jurors determined that Texaco, a company purchased by Chevron back in 2001, violated state regulations governing coastal resource management by failing to restore wetlands impacted from dredging…
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. Equinor released a statement saying that the field would produce for at least 30 years, enhancing Norway's position as a long-term and reliable energy supplier. It is estimated that the field holds between 450 and 650 million barrels worth of oil recoverable.
BP approves Ginger Gas Project in Trinidad and Tobago
BP said that it has approved the Ginger gas project in Trinidad and Tobago. This is one of ten projects named by Murray Auchincloss, CEO, in a recent strategy overhaul to support BP's renewed emphasis on oil and natural gas. The company stated that Ginger will start production in 2027 and reach a maximum of 62,000 barrels equivalents per day. Trinidad and Tobago has encouraged BP and other producers of natural gas to increase production in order to meet demand for its flagship liquefied gas facility, Atlantic LNG and its petrochemical factories. LSEG preliminary data shows that BP owns 45% of Atlantic LNG.
China CNOOC 2024's net profit increases 11% on record production
CNOOC Ltd., a state-owned energy company in China, posted an increase of 11.4% on a record production in 2024 despite lower oil prices. The firm is continuing to focus on increasing its reserves and production. In a filing on Thursday to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, offshore oil and natural gas specialist reported net profit of 18.99 billion dollars. Sinopec Corp, a domestic rival, reported a 16.8% drop in net income to 50.3 billion yuan. CNOOC achieved its high-end target by increasing oil and gas production 7.2%, to 726.8 millions barrels of oil equal (boe). The company's total production costs have remained low, at $28.52 per boe.
NEO Energy and Repsol to Merge UK Oil and Gas Assets
NEO Energy and Repsol Resources UK have entered into strategic merger, creating one of the largest U.K. North Sea independent oil and gas companies under the name of NEO NEXT.Under the terms of the transaction, the combined business will be jointly owned by NEO (55%) and Repsol UK (45%) and will have a large and diverse asset portfolio which is expected to generate material cashflows and provide a platform for organic and inorganic growth.Repsol will retain $1.8 billion of the decommissioning liabilities related to its legacy assets…
The deadline for Petrobras' deal with the vessel puts pressure on Foz do Amazonas
According to a government document, Petrobras must receive an environmental permit to drill in the Foz do Amazonas sensitive region before the end of April. Otherwise it will not have enough time to complete the contract for a drilling vessel in October. The document, made public on Tuesday, sets a deadline for Petrobras. It has been waiting for the Brazilian environmental agency Ibama, since May 2023, to make a decision about its request to drill off the coast of Amapa, a state in northern Brazil. The presentation stated that Petrobras…
Suriname's Staatsolie raises 515.8 millions dollars through bond issue
Suriname’s state-owned energy firm Staatsolie raised $515.8 millions through the issuance of debt bond aimed at raising capital for the small South American country’s first offshore oil and gas project. Staatsolie must raise $2.4 billion in order to acquire a 20% stake of the $12 billion GranMorgu Project, which will be operated by TotalEnergies. The first production is expected in 2028. The company is in negotiations with foreign banks for up to $1.5billion in financing. This year. The company also put aside cash reserves.
UK's Energean terminates Carlyle deal
Energean, a UK-based gas company, announced on Friday that it had terminated its agreement with Carlyle to sell some of its assets because regulatory approvals were still pending in Italy and Egypt. In June 2024, the two companies struck a $945 million deal that would allow Carlyle to establish a new Mediterranean-focused oil and gas company, led by former BP CEO Tony Hayward, by utilizing Energean's assets in Egypt, Italy, and Croatia. "While I'm disappointed that Carlyle wasn't able to obtain the necessary approvals for Egypt and Italy…
Energean reports a rise in its annual profit and flags exploration costs
Energean, a UK-based gas company, reported a 2% increase in its annual profit after taxes on Thursday. However, it also flagged $241 million in impairments relating to assets located in Egypt, Morrocco, and Greece. The company reported a profit of $188 millions for the year ending December 31, 2024. This is up from $185 in 2023. The company stated that the increasing demand for electricity and the government's plan to phase out coal in Israel have increased the demand for natural gas in Israel, which is the majority of the country's production. It added that its operations in Israel were not affected by the Middle East conflict.
Financial Times – March 13,
These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Intel named Lip-Bu Tan, a former board member who has worked in the chip industry for many years, as its new CEO on Wednesday. Pat Gelsinger was ousted by the board of the struggling U.S.-based chipmaker back in December. Keir starmer, the British Prime Minister, will pledge on Thursday to reshape government services by tackling a "cottage-industry of checkers and blocks" and using AI to achieve efficiencies. However Downing Street has insisted that he won't take a "chainsaw" to state. The U.S.
Guyana's tax agency will begin dispute resolution with Exxon regarding expenses
The Natural Resources Ministry of Guyana has instructed the country's Tax Agency to start a dispute resolution process with Exxon Mobil regarding the recovery from the U.S. Oil Major, about $214 million worth of expenses. Exxon's expenses as part of operations on the Stabroek block offshore are closely watched because a consortium headed by the U.S. giant can export up to 75 percent of the crude oil it produces under the name "cost oil", whereas Guyana is entitled to the other half. The government followed the mechanisms in the contract that were included to have expenses audited and verified by an external consultant firm.
Tanzania announces that it will launch a round of oil exploration licensing in May
Tanzania announced on Thursday that it would launch its fifth round of oil and gas licensing in May, in which 26 explorations blocks will be auctioned to attract new investment to the hydrocarbon sector in east Africa. Charles Sangweni of the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority in Tanzania (PURA), the director general, said that 23 blocks are located offshore in the Indian Ocean, while three others are in Lake Tanganyika. This will be the first round of oil and gas licenses in Tanzania for more than 10 years. Exploration in the past led to the discovery that more than 57 trillion cubic feet of natural gas were available.
Source: Kazakhstan increased oil production to a record of 2,12 million bpd during February.
A source said that Kazakhstan increased crude oil and condensate output in February by 13% compared to January, reaching a record of 2,12 million barrels a day. This was again a higher production than its quota for the OPEC+ oil producing group. According to a source familiar with official statistics and calculations that take into account Kazakhstan’s tons per barrel ratio of 7, the crude oil production in January was up 15.5%. Last month, it reached 1.83 million barrels per day. Kazakhstan consistently exceeded its production quota of 1.468 millions bpd…
