BP and Iraq agree on technical terms for redeveloping Kirkuk oilfields
The British oil giant BP announced on Thursday that it had reached an agreement with the Iraqi Government on the technical conditions for redeveloping the Kirkuk Oil and Gas Fields. In August, the company signed an agreement to explore and develop the Kirkuk oilfield located in the north of Iraq. This will include the construction of solar power plants and other energy infrastructure. Sources have said that unlike historic contracts, which offer foreign companies razor thin margins, new agreements will include a generous profit sharing model.
Alberta, Canada's oil province, will clean up 5% of its inactive wells by 2023
A regulatory report on Thursday said that the number of inactive gas and oil wells in Alberta, Canada’s largest fossil fuel producing province, dropped 5% from 2022 to 2023, indicating progress in reclamation and decommissioning work. Alberta has 79,000 inactive wells compared to 83,000 in 2012. Inactive wells are no longer producing oil or gas, and must be permanently plugged. The land surrounding them should also be restored. Canada is the fourth largest oil producer in the world and the sixth largest gas producer.
Sechin, Rosneft's boss, says that targets and costs are a hindrance to the appeal of green energy.
Igor Sechin is a well-known sceptic of green energy and the boss of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft. He believes that investors are losing interest in clean energy because of elusive targets, high cost and lack of funding. Russia, the world's largest producer of oil, natural gas and coal, as well as China, have set targets to achieve carbon neutrality in 2060. This is 10 years later than other developed countries. The Russian president Vladimir Putin criticised the green movements in Europe for exploiting people's fears over climate change.
Industry says that the US dependence on Canadian oil should discourage Trump tariffs
Canada's oil industry doesn't expect tariffs to be included in the protectionist measures proposed by Donald Trump, U.S. president-elect. This is because U.S. refineries depend on Canadian barrels. Some Canadian oil industry players saw Trump's victory as a positive, which would encourage energy investment in North America. It could also boost the value of U.S. dollar that Canadian producers get for their crude. Some however, said that any increase in U.S. production of oil and gas could put Canadian exports into competition with other countries.
Texas voters elect conservative Craddick as oil regulator
Texas reelected Christi Craddick, a conservative incumbent in her third term as the state's chief oil regulator. This is a victory for the industry which has seen its production increase during her tenure. According to the most recent government statistics, Texas, which is home to the Permian basin, is the United States' largest oil producer, producing around 5.8 million barrels of crude oil per day. The Texas Railroad Commission, which Craddick is set to chair for six more years, regulates this industry. It oversees everything from pipeline safety to well permitting.
Drone crashes into oil depot in Russia’s Stavropol Region
Vladimir Vladimirov, the local governor of Stavropol in southern Russia, said that a drone had crashed on an oil storage depot. This was the second suspected Ukrainian strike in a row on Russian energy and fuel targets. It followed a period of seven weeks after a fuel station in Tula, Russia was attacked on September 10. Vladimirov, on Telegram, said that there were no injuries in the incident at Svetlograd Oil Depot. Baza Telegram, a channel close to Russia's Security Services, has posted a CCTV footage purportingly showing the attack at the oil depot.
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. These setbacks are designed to protect the public against oil and gas pollution.
Nigeria's Belemaoil resumes oil lease 55 operations after a three-year hiatus
The Nigerian independent producer Belemaoil Producing announced on Monday that it has resumed its operations at Oil Mining Lease 55, after a three year shutdown due to theft-related damage. Belemaoil purchased OML 55 from Chevron Corporation in February 2015, which is located in an area of swampy to shallow waters, about 40km west of Bonny's oil export terminal. Belemaoil's spokesperson stated that the OML 55 operations were stopped in 2021 because of rampant thefts from the delivery line leading to Bonny.
Chevron CEO criticizes Biden's natural-gas policies and says fuel is essential for AI
Michael Wirth, CEO of Chevron, criticized U.S. president Joe Biden on Tuesday for "attacks" on the natural-gas industry. He also emphasized the critical role that Permian gas plays in accelerating the growth of artificial intelligence. The CEO's comments followed new plans by the government to ensure that power-hungry AI centers do not undermine U.S. Climate Goals. The White House created a taskforce on AI Datacenter Infrastructure last week to coordinate policies that align with government economic and environmental goals.
Rains hit India and Pakistan, evacuating thousands
Authorities warned of further heavy rains on Thursday after heavy rains flooded parts of India's western Gujarat state, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and causing utility lines to be cut. At least 28 people were killed. Television images showed that the army has joined in on the relief effort as people wade through waist-high water which had partially submerged roads and vehicles. Prabhu Soni, a resident of the coastal city Jamnagar, said that there had been no electricity for two days.
Libya's east-based government will close all oilfields
The Libyan government in the east said Monday that all oilfields were closing, stopping production and exports. However, Tripoli's National Oil Corp., which controls Libya's oil resources, did not confirm this. Libyan factions have been locked in a struggle for control over the central bank and its oil revenues. Khalifa haftar, the eastern Libyan military commander, controls most of the oilfields in Benghazi. Libya, the largest oil producer in the Mediterranean region, has experienced little stability since an uprising supported by NATO in 2011.
Brazil's fossil drive undermines Lula’s green ambitions
Brazil's government has invested heavily in fossil-fuels and plans to make the country the fourth largest oil producer by 2030. This month, President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law regulating the green hydrogen industry in the country. He will be hosting the United Nations COP30 Climate Summit next year. Which country can compete against us in energy transition? He asked this question at the signing ceremony. Lula said that he wants to make Brazil a global supplier of low-carbon fuels and the "Saudi Arabia" of renewable energy within 10 years.
Recession risk roils markets, but it's not alarming yet
The disappointing U.S. employment data has shaken the confidence that there will be a soft landing in the world's biggest economy. Global equity markets have tumbled and bets for interest rate reductions are surging. Investors abandoning popular carry trades in yen have played a major role in the recent selloff. This has complicated the message that asset prices are sending about the economy. Anyone can guess the likelihood of a U.S. recession. Goldman Sachs increased its odds of an American recession to 25%.
Sources say that the incoming Mexican government wants to open Pemex up to oil partnerships.
According to four sources with knowledge of the situation, the incoming Mexican government will encourage the state oil company Pemex, to form equity partnerships with private oil firms, a model that is not popular with the president. This move is to increase reserves in the face of a massive debt. These partnerships will be similar to previous Pemex joint-ventures with private oil companies, known as "farm-outs", that Mexico pursued via an energy reform implemented a decade earlier.
Exxon Secures Lead in top US Oilfield with $60B Buy of Shale Rival Pioneer
Exxon Mobil agreed to buy U.S. rival Pioneer Natural Resources in an all-stock deal valued at $59.5 billion that would make it the biggest producer in the largest U.S. oilfield and secure a decade of low-cost production.The deal, valued at $253 a share, combines the largest U.S. oil company with one of the most successful names to emerge from the shale revolution that turned the U.S. into the world's largest oil producer in little more than a decade.Exxon Chief…
Oil Drillers, Bitcoin Miners Bond over Natural Gas
On U.S. oil patches stretching along the Rockies and Great Plains, trailers hitched to trucks back up toward well pads to capture natural gas and convert it on the spot into electricity.The trailers - carrying pipes, generators and computers - are called “mining rigs.” But their owners aren’t there to drill for oil. They are using stray natural gas unwanted by oil companies to power their search for another treasure: cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.Cryptocurrencies are virtual coins exchanged without middlemen, such as central banks, to purchase goods and services.
Norway to Keep Oil Production Cut Unchanged after OPEC+ Deal
Norway, Western Europe's largest oil producer, has no plans to modify its existing plans for production cuts, following the OPEC+ group's agreement to extend a deal on record output cuts to the end of July, the oil ministry said on Monday.On Saturday, OPEC+ agreed to extend the deal to withdraw almost 10% of global supplies from the market by a third month to end-July, sending Brent crude price to over $43 a barrel."OPEC+ has played a key role in the ongoing stabilization of the oil market.
Lundin Cuts 2020 Oil Output Goal, Raises Long-term Target
Lundin Energy has cut its 2020 oil and gas output target after Norway's decision to reduce production along with OPEC+ producers, the Swedish company said on Monday.The company has a 20% stake in the Equinor-operated Johan Sverdrup field, which reached phase-one plateau output of 470,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in April. It also operates the Edvard Grieg oilfield.Lundin is now targeting daily volumes of 157,000 boepd day this year, down from a previous 160…
Chevron Cuts Spending, Says Asset Sales Lift Profits
Chevron Corp on Friday slashed its capital spending plans by another $2 billion as the coronavirus pandemic guts demand for oil and gas, while delivering a year-over-year 38% increase in profits.Global fuel demand has crashed by a third while many people shelter at home for an indefinite period. Major oil companies have largely reported losses as an oil glut and a shortage of storage space sends prices to historic lows.Earnings at Chevron beat Wall Street expectations and were $3.6 billion in the first quarter…
Norway Deciding Whether to Cut Oil Output
Norway's oil minister reiterated on Tuesday that Western Europe's largest oil producer was soon to conclude whether to cut its output following historical curbs agreed by the OPEC+ group.Brent crude front-month contract fell to $18.10 a barrel on Tuesday, its lowest since December 2001, after U.S. May futures dropped to minus $40 a barrel on Monday due to worries about the novel coronavirus pandemic's impact on fuel demand."We have not yet concluded. It will happen soon…
