Germany's Wilhelmshaven Terminal offers May LNG Capacity
Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) said on Thursday that Germany's Wilhelmshaven liquefied natural gas terminal intends to market capacity for ships to discharge LNG in May 2025, adding that there would be limited slots available in the first quarter there and at another location.DET has been commissioned by Berlin since the height of Europe's energy crisis in 2022 to market regasification of gas volumes arriving on LNG tankers, as well as related storage and…
Karoon Energy, Australia's energy company, reduces its outlook for Brazil project
Karoon Energy, an Australian oil and gas company, said that it has reduced the production forecast for its Bauna Project in Brazil because of operational disruptions. After the disruptions, the company reduced its production forecast for 2024 for the Bauna Project to 7.2-7.4 millions barrels of crude oil. The previous outlook was 7.5-7.7million barrels. Karoon reported that two of the 16 chains used to lift the floating production storage offloading system (FPSO) failed. This caused the Bauna Project to be shut down in December 11.
DET: Germany's Wilhelmshaven Liquefied natural gas terminal will not operate in Q1
According to its operator, the government-owned Wilhelmshaven terminal in Germany, which was built to address Europe's energy shortage, will not be able to receive any LNG deliveries until at least the first quarter 2025. In a market announcement, Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH said that there would be no regasification activities at the terminal from Jan. 5, 2025 to April 1, 2025. However, this is not final, and plans could change in the short term. DET…
China's CNOOC sold US assets to Britain’s INEOS
CNOOC Ltd, a Chinese company, has sold its U.S. subsidiaries, along with its upstream oil assets and gas assets, in the Gulf of Mexico to British chemicals group INEOS. This was announced by CNOOC on Saturday. CNOOC Energy Holdings U.S.A., a subsidiary of INEOS, has entered into a sale agreement with a subsidiary of CNOOC relating to CNOOC’s upstream oil-and-gas assets in the U.S. portion of the Gulf of Mexico. The deal includes non-operator interest in oil and gas fields such as Appomattox, Stampede and Stampede.
Data shows that Tengiz oilfield's output in December was 20% lower than planned.
Estimates based on data from the Kazakh energy ministry and analysis service SAC TEK show that output from Kazakhstan's largest oil field Tengiz operated by U.S. giant Chevron was 20% below its planned plan in December. This helped Kazakhstan meet its OPEC+ production target. Tengiz had been expected to return to full oil production early in December after a maintenance program that began late in October. Kazakhstan, which depends on Tengiz, the Karachaganak, and Kashagan for most of its oil production, has to meet output targets because it is a member of OPEC+.
Britain announces plan to encourage the development of clean energy projects
The UK launched on Friday a plan that will make it easier for developers and investors to build clean energy project, which they hope will help them meet their climate targets as well as create jobs. The UK has set a goal to decarbonise the power sector largely by 2030. This will reduce its dependence on gas-fired plants and increase its renewable energy capacity rapidly. Last month, the National Energy System Operator said that a new system of connecting projects to the grid and a restructured planning process would be required to meet the target.
Shell to Add Two Wells at GoM Perdido Platform
Shell said on Thursday its unit has made a final investment decision to add two wells at the Perdido platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to boost production.The Shell unit, which operates the Perdido platform, said the two wells are expected to produce up to 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at peak rates.The wells will be located in the Silvertip Frio reservoir, where Shell is the operator with a 40% stake and Chevron holds the remaining 60%. First production from the wells is expected in 2026.
Serica Energy expands its North Sea operations with the acquisition of assets from Parkmead Group
Serica Energy, a North Sea-focused company, announced on Thursday that it will purchase exploration and production assets of Parkmead Group Plc at an initial cost of 6 million pounds (5 million pounds). Serica acquired all shares of Parkmead Ltd., including a 50% stake on the Skerryvore license in central North Sea, and a working interest of 50% in Fynn Beauly, an undeveloped UK oilfield. Serica stated that an additional 9 million pounds deferred will be paid in the next three-year period, as well as contingent payments based upon certain development milestones.
Russia extends deadline for Exxon to sell Sakhalin-1 stake to 2026 in a decree
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree extending by one year the period of sale for Exxon’s share in Russia’s Sakhalin-1 gas and oil project until January 1, 2026. Exxon will take a $4.6 billion charge in 2022 for abandoning its development on the Pacific Island of Sakhalin. This was the company's largest investment in Russia after the beginning of what Moscow refers to as a special military operations in Ukraine. Exxon Mobil Corp owned a 30% stake as operator in Sakhalin-1.
Wind supply increases, resulting in a decrease in spot prices
The European prompt power price for Monday was untraded Friday, on the expectation of a rising wind supply across the board. This was slightly offset by a higher consumption expectation as temperatures fell. At 0942 GMT, the German and French baseload electricity contracts for Monday had not been traded. LSEG data indicated that German wind power production was expected Monday to increase by 2.3 gigawatts to 37.6 GW. French wind power was expected to grow 6 GW to 15 GW.
Toronto stock prices reach record highs after bank earnings
Canada's main index of stocks hit a new record on Wednesday. This was largely due to the performance of technology and financial companies, as well as investors' assessment of strong quarterly earnings by two major domestic lenders. The Toronto Stock Exchange S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 28.72, or 0.11% at 25,664.45, but was still trading below its record high. Angelo Kourkafas is an investment strategist with Edward Jones Investments. I would say that the market is showing some hesitation in light of last month's significant gains.
French spot prices rise due to increased demand and lower wind supply
The French prompt electricity prices increased on Monday due to the expectation of increasing demand and reduced wind output. LSEG data shows that the price of French baseload electricity for Tuesday at 0926 GMT was 132.25 Euros ($139.09 per megawatt-hour (MWh), up 29.7% compared to Friday's price for Monday's delivery. German day-ahead electricity was 139 euros/MWh. LSEG data revealed that the Monday contract had not been traded on Friday. Riccardo Paraviero, LSEG analyst, said: "The signal (on Tuesday) is bullish.
TotalEnergies targets new offshore exploration area
Documents from environmental consultants SLR on Tuesday showed that TotalEnergies has requested environmental authorization to drill up seven exploration wells off the west coast South Africa in the southern part Deep Water Orange Basin. Shell and other oil companies are looking at the west coast of South Africa, near the Namibian border, where recent discoveries in the Orange Basin promise more to come further south, as the basin extends. TotalEnergies EP South Africa, the operator, has targeted a new area south of DWOB.
New York grid operator warns about undersupply by 2033
The state grid operator warned on Thursday that New York City could face power shortages in summer 2033 due to a growing electricity demand and a decreasing supply of fossil-fired generators. The New York Independent System Operator stated that the trend to shut down power plants more quickly than they can be replaced by clean, new sources of supply, at the same time as electricity demand increases from electrification in buildings and transport, data centers, and chip makers, threatens the grid's stability.
Grid operator PJM faces a new complaint regarding power supply
Consumer advocacy group filed a complaint with PJM Interconnection. They claim that the U.S.'s largest grid operator unfairly awards record-high payments to power plants, driving up electricity prices for households and businesses. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission received a complaint on Monday, the second in recent times regarding PJM Interconnection’s capacity market auction for 2025-2026. This auction set prices that were over 800% higher than those of the previous year.
Germany Preps for More FSRU Vessels
Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply. Following are updates on key facilities and terminals being developed to host floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and hydrogen.STADEState-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) has said in German media reports that FSRUs at both Stade and Wilhelmshaven 2 will start operations before the winter…
RTE: French power exports to reach 22-year-high in 2024 due to abundant supply
French grid operator RTE stated on Wednesday that France's power output could be at its highest level in two decades, due to the abundance of gas for the winter months and the high availability of both nuclear and gas-powered power plants. The return of the nuclear fleet to the market at the start of this year and the heavy rains that boosted hydropower production helped lower the market prices, which had spiked during the energy crisis of 2022. RTE reported that France's electricity demand will reach 450 Terawatt-hours in 2024.
Japex to invest in US tight-oil project as operator
A senior executive at Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex), said that the company is interested in investing in the U.S. tight gas and oil sector with a view to becoming an operator. Yutaka Nishimura said at a press conference that Japex is exploring investment opportunities for the U.S. tight gas and oil sectors. We are looking to become operators. He added that Japan's second largest oil and gas company, which has invested in U.S. tight gas and oil projects for the past few years, is looking to use the experience and expertise it has gained.
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. Exxon confirmed that the assets had been sold but refused to reveal the buyer or the valuation.
German power prices are falling while France's are rising
On Tuesday, the European wholesale power markets moved in different directions. Germany's spot fell from its near two-year peak due to calm and overcast conditions that reduced its wind and solar production. The French power price for the day ahead rose by 30.4%, to 131 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh), at 0920 GMT. This was due to an increase in demand after Monday's Armistice holiday. The German equivalent remained lower, reflecting Germany's current import dependence.
