Monday, March 31, 2025

Shale Oil News

Executives say that AI will lead to cheaper and faster oil production. CORRECTED.

Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston explained that artificial intelligence has accelerated oil and gas drilling, and has prompted companies to reconsider areas they previously deemed too expensive or difficult to develop. AI was a major topic in several sessions of the largest energy conference. Oil producers are looking for ways to stay profitable amid a plummeting price of oil and concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs may slow down global energy demand.

Executives say AI will lead to cheaper and faster oil production.

Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston explained that artificial intelligence has accelerated oil and gas drilling, and is prompting companies take a second glance at areas they previously deemed too expensive or difficult to develop. AI was a major topic in several sessions of the largest energy conference. Oil producers are looking for ways to stay profitable amid a plummeting price of oil and concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs may slow down global energy demand.

Sinopec certifies reserves of 1.3 billion barrels at East China Shale Oil Plays

Sinopec Corp announced on Monday that the Chinese government had certified new geological resources of about 180 million tons or 1.3 billion barrels at two of their shale-oil plays. Sinopec announced that the new reserves had been tapped in the Xinxing Field in the Jiyang trough in the Bohai Bay Basin and in the Qintong Field in the Subei Basin. The shale formations of Xinxing are buried between 2,900 and 4,000 metres beneath the surface, while those in Qintong are buried 3,430 to 4,560 meters deep.

Shale producer APA misses fourth-quarter profit estimates

APA Corp, a U.S. shale oil producer, missed Wall Street's expectations on Wednesday for its fourth-quarter profits as low commodity prices offset a higher production. Brent crude futures declined 3% in 2020 as the economy of the major consumer, China, remained weak. The OPEC+ producer's group also postponed their planned supply increases to 2026 and extended the deep cuts in output until the end of the year. The company produced 488,000 barrels equivalent to oil per day (boepd) in the fourth quarter.

Inpex CEO: Buyers' interest in Indonesia's Abadi Liquefied Natural Gas exceeds planned production

Inpex Corp., Japan's largest oil and gas exploration company, said it received interest in buying liquefied gas from its $20 billion Abadi project in Indonesia, which exceeds the planned output. Inpex expects the long-delayed LNG project to drive growth. It is aiming to make a final investment decision by 2027. He said that Inpex would proceed with the marketing and finance talks. Inpex holds a 65% share in the Abadi Project in eastern Indonesia. Shell will purchase Shell's remaining 35% in 2023.

Diamondback Energy exceeds profit expectations for the fourth quarter on higher production

Diamondback Energy, a U.S. shale oil producer, surpassed Wall Street's expectations for the fourth quarter profit on Monday as higher production offset lower prices. In extended trading, shares were up 3% to $159.95. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the total oil production of the United States reached a record 13.6 million barrels a day (bpd), as increased efficiencies allowed producers to pump more oil. Diamondback's fourth quarter production nearly doubled…

Local news reports say that Equinor is planning to sell its assets in Argentina.

Mas Energia, a Mas Energia-published online magazine, reported that the Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor was looking to sell their onshore assets located in Argentina's Vaca Muerta Region, citing anonymous sources. Equinor has appointed Bank of America as the agent to sell its 30% stake in Bandurria Sur and 50% in Bajo del Toro Norte. However, no decision on the divestment has been taken yet, according to the report. Mas Energia said that the Norwegian company has no plans to sell its stakes offshore licenses in Argentina.

Local news reports say that Equinor is planning to sell its assets in Argentina.

Mas Energia, citing anonymous sources, reported that Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor was looking to sell their onshore assets located in Argentina's Vaca Muerta Region. Equinor has appointed Bank of America as the agent to sell its 30% stake in Bandurria Sur and 50% in Bajo del Toro Norte. However, no decision on the divestment has been taken yet, according to the report. Mas Energia said that the Norwegian company has no plans to sell its stakes offshore licenses in Argentina. A spokesperson for Equinor declined to comment.

Diamondback Energy reports lower oil prices in the fourth quarter

Diamondback Energy, the U.S. producer of shale oil, announced on Monday that its production prices were lower in the fourth quarter compared with the previous three months. Crude oil prices dropped about 6% during the quarter of October-December, due to a patchy recovery from the pandemic, China's slow economy, and an excess supply worldwide. Prices are down nearly 12% compared to a year earlier. The company reported that the average realized price…

Occidental Petroleum received lower prices for oil it produced in the fourth quarter

Occidental Petroleum, a U.S. shale oil producer, said that the prices received for oil produced in the fourth quarter of 2014 were lower than those for the previous three months due to a weakening global demand. The crude oil prices fell by about 6% sequentially in the fourth quarter of last year due to a patchy recovery from the pandemic, China's slow economy, and an excess supply worldwide. Prices dropped nearly 12% compared to a year earlier.

Hess CEO gives upbeat forecast on oil demand, but says Guyana has only scratched the surface of its potential

HOUSTON, January 7 - Hess Chief Executive John Hess said on Tuesday that he believes the oil market is closer to being in balance than it is oversupplied, despite concerns about China's demand and increased production by non-OPEC and U.S. producers. In remarks made to investors at Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech and Utilities Conference, he expressed an optimistic outlook on the shale market and Guyana's prospects as an oil producer. Hess warned that the market may be volatile in 2018, citing political risks in Iran and Venezuela.

AI's hunger for energy fuels geothermal startup but rivalry over natgas clouds the future

The number of geothermal energy startups is on the rise, as Big Tech companies look to power their AI data centers with natural gas. However, long-term investment remains uncertain because oil majors are doubling down on natural gases. Meta and Alphabet’s Google are two of the tech companies that have partnered with startups to create geothermal energy to power their data centres. The energy demands of artificial intelligence are being met by large datacenter operators, who are also accelerating the adoption of a variety of clean technologies.

Sechin, Rosneft CEO, says that OPEC+ cuts in output made the US the top energy exporter.

Igor Sechin, head of Russia's biggest oil producer Rosneft, said that the OPEC+'s decision to reduce oil production in 2016 and 2020 has helped the U.S. shale sector and made it a major global energy exporter. Sechin said, at a forum held in the United Arab Emirates that Russia and its partners had made the most significant contributions to stabilising the global energy markets in the last 10 years. Sechin, a long-time ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has expressed scepticism in the past about Russia's collaboration with OPEC.

Oil Slips as U.S. Gasoline Stocks Surprise

Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday as a large, surprise build in U.S. gasoline stocks outweighed easing supply concerns from a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah.Brent crude futures fell 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $723.69 a barrel by 10:40 a.m. ET (1540 GMT) and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 eased 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $68.64.U.S. gasoline stocks rose by 3.3 million barrels in the week to 212.2 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration said…

Exxon executive: US oil producers are unlikely to switch to "drill baby, drill" mode

LONDON, November 26 - U.S. producers of oil and gas are unlikely to increase production dramatically under President-elect Donald Trump, as companies remain focused upon capital discipline, said a senior Exxon Mobil executive on Tuesday. Liam Mallon is the head of Exxon’s upstream division. He told the Energy Intelligence Forum in London that "we're not going see anyone in a 'drill baby, drill'" mode. He said that a radical change in production is unlikely, because most, if no one else, are focused on the economics.

Chinse CNPC aims to produce 12.4 mln bbls at shale project, according to state media

China's state-owned energy group CNPC aims at producing 1.7 million metric tonnes of shale crude oil or 12.4 millions barrels in the next year as part of a pilot project, according to a report by Xinhua, the state news agency. The Jimsar Shale Gas Project, located in Junggar Basin, is one of three pilot shale oil projects that state oil companies are trying develop. Other two projects are Gulong, in northeast China, and Jiyang, in east China.

Coterra Energy will spend $3.95 billion to expand its Permian Basin footprint

Coterra Energy announced on Wednesday that it will buy certain assets from privately-held Avant Natural Resources, and Franklin Mountain Energy. The deal is worth $3.95 billion and includes cash and stock. The Permian Basin is a popular place for producers to expand their stock. The Permian Basin, located between Texas and New Mexico is a highly productive shale-oil basin with undeveloped reserves, a robust infrastructure, and large production.

YPF, the Argentine oil company, is focusing on Vaca Muerta and a production boost by 2025.

The CEO of Argentina's state-owned oil company YPF, Horacio Martin, said that the firm expects shale production to rise by 30 to 40 percent next year. Marin said that YPF, during a conference call to discuss its financial results, will concentrate its capital investments in its main shale resources, specifically the massive Vaca Muerta Formation. Vaca Muerta has the second largest shale-oil reserve in the world and is also home to one of the largest shale-gas reserves.

Argentina's Pampa Energia will pump $1.5 bln into a key shale-oil project by 2027

Pampa Energia, a natural gas producer in Argentina, announced on Thursday that it plans to invest $1.5billion between 2025-2027 in order to increase production in a major oil field in the massive Vaca Muerta shale deposit. Pampa Energia announced its intention to invest $700 millions next year in the Rincon de Aranda shale shale in western Neuquen Province. According to the presentation, the investment in the project will reach $1.5 billion between 2027 and 2027.

Vista Energy accelerates oil production in Argentina

Vista Energy's chief executive announced on Thursday that the company expects to reach a 100,000 barrels per day oil equivalent goal next year. This was originally set for 2026. The company is betting on a higher output from the top shale formations in the world. In a press release following a quarterly earnings conference, the company said it would invest between $1.1 billion and $1.3billion next year in order to achieve its revised target of bringing 60 wells online.

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