Oil Edges to 2-Week High on Ukraine News
Oil prices edged up about 1% to a two-week high on Friday as the intensifying war in Ukraine this week boosted the market's geopolitical risk premium.Brent futures rose 66 cents, or 0.9%, to $74.89 a barrel by 11:39 a.m. EST (1639 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose 77 cents, or 1.1%, to $70.87.That put both crude benchmarks up over 5% for the week and on track for their highest closes since Nov. 7 as Moscow steps up its Ukraine offensive after Britain and the U.S. allowed Kyiv to strike deeper into Russia with their missiles."The…
Kremlin claims new U.S. Sanctions are an attempt by the U.S. to halt Russian gas exports
The Kremlin said on Friday that the new U.S. Sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank are an attempt by Washington, to hinder the Russian gas export. However, a solution will be found. Washington imposed new restrictions on Gazprombank Thursday, which prevent it from completing any new energy transactions that could affect the U.S. Financial System. It also banned its trade with Americans as well as freezing its U.S. Assets. Gazprombank, one of Russia's biggest banks, is owned in part by the Kremlin gas company Gazprom. Ukraine has been pressing the U.S. for more sanctions against the bank that receives payments from Gazprom customers in Europe.
US Judge Proposes CITGO Auction Solution
The U.S. judge overseeing an auction of shares in a Citgo Petroleum parent to pay Venezuela-linked creditors on Wednesday proposed major procedural changes to advance a case stalled by wide opposition and lawsuits by creditors in other courts.Judge Leonard Stark recommended a series of changes to encourage higher bids in a seven-year-long court case brought by companies pursuing up to $21.3 billion in claims for debt defaults and expropriations in Venezuela.An up to $7.3 billion bid by an affiliate of activist investor Elliott Investment Management could soon be challenged by the court's recommendation to choose a "starting point bidder" to move forward with the auction.
Petrobras and Yara Sign Agreement for Diesel Exhaust Fluid Sales in Brazil
Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company, has signed agreements with ANSA and fertilizer firm Yara. Yara could sell AUS 32 diesel-exhaust fluid in Brazil. Brazil imports AUS32, or 32% solution of aqueous Urea, to reduce the emissions from diesel cars. ANSA will produce AUS 32 in its plant in Parana in the south of Brazil, which should be operational again in May. This is also another step in Petrobras's goal to enter the fertilizer industry. Petrobras stated that Yara will supply the urea for AUS 32, and then sell the finished product. Petrobras and Yara signed a second agreement to conduct joint studies on fertilizers and industrial products.
Repsol targets renewables deals, seeks 'solution' for North Sea business
Josu Imaz, the chief executive of the Spanish oil company Repsol, said that the company is currently working on new deals for its renewable operations both in Spain and in the United States. It also wants to find a solution to its exploration and production business in the North Sea. Repsol has a strategy that focuses on selling minorities in renewable projects, to fund the expansion of green energy capacity and biofuels. It also focuses its upstream activities on key markets such as the U.S. The CEO of the company told analysts that the divestment will be completed by the end of this year or early in next year.
Svendborg Brakes' Yaw Brake Solution Transforms Wind Turbine Maintenance
When damaged yaw brake discs were preventing numerous wind turbines from operating in optimum conditions, their operator was looking for an economical maintenance service that would ensure the turbines’ availability. Svendborg Brakes, a Regal Rexnord Brand, developed a new solution to quickly restore operations - cutting disc resurfacing activities and exchange pads to only 3 days, while requiring only a day and a half of true downtime. As the Wind Industry navigates short-term challenges and sustained growth potential, Regal Rexnord’s decades of industry experience…
RSC Bio Solutions Launches FUTERRA Compressor Oils
RSC Bio Solutions launched FUTERRA Compressor Oils, synthetic lubricants designed to meet the performance demands of industrial and marine sectors while addressing sustainability needs.FUTERRA Compressor Oil is formulated with a synthetic, sustainable base oil, offering outstanding thermal stability, long service intervals, and inherent biodegradability. This product is tailored to rotary screw, reciprocating, and other high-performance air compressors in applications where reliability and environmental compliance are critical.FUTERRA Compressor Oil provides a solution for industries that operate in environmentally sensitive areas…
EU Energy Ministers Discuss Ukraine Energy Crisis and Russian LNG
Officials said that EU energy ministers met on Tuesday in Luxembourg to discuss the rising Russian LNG imports into the EU, Ukraine's energy shortages before winter and how to equalize energy prices among member states. In June, the EU approved a 14th set of sanctions including a ban of transhipments of Russian Gas as of March of next year. However, it did not impose a complete ban. Belgium and the Netherlands saw a dramatic increase in imports since then. In a Monday letter, France and nine countries asked the European Commission for stricter reporting requirements on Russian LNG (liquefied natural gases) by storage companies and suppliers.
Ukraine's Shmyhal talks energy security with Slovakian Fico
Denys Schmyhal, Ukrainian Prime Minister, began Monday talks with Robert Fico of Slovakia. He said the discussions would be centered on infrastructure co-operation, energy security and Kyiv’s peace plan. Fico, along with the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, has been a strong critic of Western military assistance to Ukraine. The location of the meeting was not immediately known. "We will discuss the roadmap" Included in this is cooperation on infrastructure projects, economy and energy security. Shmyhal, on Telegram Messenger, said that Slovakia has always been willing to assist Ukraine in importing electricity.
Dallas Fed: Regional oil activity declines but electrification gains.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported on Wednesday that oil and gas activity in Texas and Louisiana, as well as New Mexico, decreased in the third quarter. According to executives surveyed, third-quarter oil and natural gas production is mixed. Data suggests that oil production has increased, while gas production has decreased. A fifth of oil executives have said that they have converted their drilling rigs to electric power and are using hydraulic fracturing to reduce pollution. Six percent of oil and gas executives said they plan to electrify production.
Spanish PM calls on EU to reconsider tariffs against Chinese EVs
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Wednesday that the European Union should reconsider its proposed import tariffs for Chinese-made electric cars, and urged Brussels to avoid a trade conflict. Sanchez's remarks during a trip to China indicate a shift in Spain's stance, which had previously supported the tariffs. He also expressed concern over the potential impact of the EU-China Trade Spat on Spanish industry. "I must be honest, we all have to rethink our position. Sanchez, speaking at an event held in an industrial park of the Chinese city Kunshan, said that not only the European Commission but all the member countries must reconsider their position.
Rural towns in New Mexico's arid region are looking to treated oil wastewater for a drought solution.
Stephen Aldridge, a pilot of a four-seater helicopter, could see a dozen lagoons filled with toxic waste glistening in the distance between drill rigs. The mayor of Jal, a tiny town nestled in the middle of U.S. Oil Country near the Texas border, saw the scene as a chance to find water for the state that is suffering from a worsening drought. Aldridge belongs to a growing number of New Mexico politicians that want to see the state develop regulations to allow the millions of gallons per day of produced water, which is spewed out along with the Permian Basin's abundant oil and gas, to be used instead of being thrown away.
OPEC+ Has Oil Price and Demand Problems. It Should Solve Demand
OPEC+ has two problems and two solutions.The first problem is that crude oil prices are too low for the comfort of most of the members of the group, which pulls together the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies including Russia.The second issue is that crude demand has so far disappointed the somewhat optimistic forecasts made by OPEC for 2024 growth.The first solution is for OPEC+ to surprise the market and change its mind on increasing output from the fourth quarter onwards.The second solution is to increase output as planned…
Meet ZEUS, a Proposed Zero-emission Power Station
Aker Solutions, PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd., MISC Bhd and Clean Energy System Inc, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), effectively commencing the Zero Emission Power Station (ZEUS) pilot project, an energy solution that uses oxyfuel combustion with immediate CO2 capture and storage.The ZEUS technology employs advanced oxyfuel combustion to convert high CO2 natural gas into dispatchable power while capturing 100% of the CO2 emissions. The CO2 is immediately injected into a reservoir for permanent storage or can be used to increase production of both oil and gas before being permanently stored.The aim of ZEUS is the ability to handle the combustion at elevated pressures…
New 250kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell Prepped for Maritime
Sydrogen Energy Pte. Ltd. (Sydrogen), a Singapore-based fuel cell components and systems company, announced its entry into the maritime market with a 250 kW fuel cell power module. Developed in a collaboration signed with Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology Co., Ltd. (SHPT), this system aims to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen technology in the shipping industry, supporting Singapore's maritime decarbonization goals."Through a slew of initiatives both on shore, and at sea, the MPA is working towards the digitalization and decarbonization of the global maritime community," said TEO Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Digitalization is Drawing CCS a New Learning Curve
Digital solutions are accelerating the progress required to ensure CCS earns its place in climate change mitigation history.Carbon capture has been around since the 90s, but the behavior of CO2 in pipelines is still not that well understood. A lack of suitable multiphase flow assurance models has meant that past CCS projects have had to apply large, costly safety margins to transport and injection systems. Between 2020 and 2022, the CO2FACT project addressed the shortfalls, and along with the development of the LedaFlow simulator, the knowledge gaps are being closed. LedaFlow will come with an improved module for pure CO2 in the spring of 2024.
Exploring 'Future Fuels' - Methanol’s Superstorage Solution
Technical inquiries to SRC Group ramped up after it received Approval in Principle (AIP) for a concept which ‘reinvented methanol fuel storage’ on board ships. Delivering the answers has seen technical talk converting into project discussions ‘Green’ methanol has the ability to one day run vessels almost emission-free, and commercial shipping increasingly investigates. Derived today principally from natural gas, methanol is nonetheless available, relatively easy to handle and predictable. Lower carbon today, and potentially zero carbon tomorrow…
ORCHESTRATING OFFSHORE VESSEL CONNECTIVITY WITH FLEET REACH
In an industry that is increasingly focused on optimising efficiency, sustainability and crew welfare, digitalisation is transforming the way offshore service providers operate. The smart solutions that support better decision-making and enhancements in crew connectivity are driving soaring data consumption by offshore support vessels (OSVs).However, the operating profile of the OSV demands sector-specific attention to optimise connectivity performance on a continuous basis. With the average vessel spending up to 40% of its time close to shore…
LPG: Dual-Fuel Engines Prove Their Worth
BW LPG has demonstrated the value of dual-fuel LPG operations beyond the company’s initial aim of meeting IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations.In October 2020, the LPG carrier BW Gemini became the first very large gas carrier (VLGC) to have its low-speed main engine converted to an LPG dual-fuel engine. The project started several years earlier, sparked by Oslo-listed BW LPG’s preparations for the IMO’s 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations.Compared to heavy fuel oil, LPG reduces Sox emissions by approximately 97%, particulate matter by approximately 90%, CO2 by approximately 15% and NOx by approximately 20%.The world’s largest owner and operator of VLGCs…
Rapid Charging Systems: Current Technology for the Future of Ferries
As the devotion to more sustainable shipping expands and regulations become more stringent, the demand for lower emissions operations continues to increase. As a result, the marine industry is confronted with the challenge of large-scale electrification as an alternative energy solution.For electric ferries, one developing technology is Rapid Charging Systems (RCS), which transfer electrical power from the shore to a vessel at a high rate. These charging systems establish a ship-to-shore connection quickly, providing a power transfer solution…
