Norway Oil Companies Slash Investment Plans
Norwegian oil and gas investment, a key economic driver, is expected to decline sharply in 2021 after rising less than previously anticipated this year, an industry survey by the national statistics agency (SSB) showed on Thursday.The biggest drop will come in the exploration for new reserves and in spending on development plans…
Exxon Posts First Loss in 30 Years on $3 Bln Writedown, Oil Plunge
Exxon Mobil Corp on Friday posted its first quarterly loss in three decades on plunging oil demand and collapsing prices, reporting a $610 million quarterly deficit after a nearly $3 billion inventory writedown.Global fuel demand has tumbled by a third on coronavirus-related lockdowns and business shutdowns.
Total Plans $5 Bln in Asset Sales
French energy giant Total will sell around $5 billion worth of assets, mostly from its upstream exploration and production business, as it seeks to focus on low breakeven projects that can weather weak oil prices, it said on Thursday.The company reported a 19% year-on-year drop in adjusted net profit to $2.9 billion in the second quarter…
How Shell Hid a Whale Before Placing Mexican Oil Bet
Announcement of Whale well discovery delayed until auction. The gasps in the audience were clearly audible at the auction of Mexico's oil blocks a month ago as Royal Dutch Shell's hefty bids were announced one by one. The size of Shell's cash payments - $343 million out of…
Lamprell Sees Full-year Revenue at Low End of Guidance
British oil rig builder Lamprell sees full-year revenue slipping to the bottom of its guidance range because of stagnant oil sector investment and losses at a windfarm project, it said on Wednesday, sending its shares sharply lower. The company said that total losses on its…
Expanded US Sanctions May Affect Russia's Foreign O&G Expansion
Newly updated sanctions introduced by the United States against Moscow for its role in the Ukraine crisis may put a brake on Russia's future efforts to increase its exposure to the global oil and gas industry, analysts said on Wednesday. However, the punitive measures will…
Middle East Oil Producers Turn to Crude Trading to Boost Incomes
Middle East oil producers are venturing into trading crude as three years of weak oil prices has encouraged them to find new sources of income beyond the business of exporting their output. OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is among those making the shift.
Alberta Sees Lower Revenues on Weak Oil Prices
Canada's largest crude-producing province Alberta downgraded its 2017-18 revenue forecast on Wednesday because of lower-than-expected oil prices that have battered the once-booming economy. In a first quarter update the government said total revenues are likely to be C$44.4 billion this fiscal year…
Eni Confident of Dividend Even with Lower Oil Prices
Italian oil major Eni said on Friday its dividend was safe even at lower oil prices thanks to a string of major discoveries underpinning output growth and cash generation for the years to come. Eni, the most active of the foreign oil majors in Africa, has one of the best discovery records in the industry…
Premier Oil: North Sea Exploration No Longer Attractive
Shares at three-month high after Zama oil discovery. Premier Oil, which produces more than half its oil in the British North Sea, said on Thursday that exploring for resources in the basin was no longer attractive, a day after it announced a major discovery off Mexico. The…
UK Mulls Revisiting Oldest North Sea Blocks
Britain wants oil and gas drillers to recover pockets of gas that are more difficult to reach in a part of the North Sea where drilling for fossil fuels started over 50 years ago. Britain's oil regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), said on Thursday that some 3.8 trillion…
Cenovus Facing Tough Market for Critical Asset Sales
Cenovus Energy Inc's efforts to sell C$5 billion ($3.8 billion) of energy assets, already facing a rocky road because weak oil prices are depressing the appetite for deals, has become complicated by the surprise departure of its chief executive officer, fund managers said.
Chevron Exploring Sale of Canadian Oil Sands Stake
Chevron Corp, the second-largest U.S.-based oil producer, is exploring the sale of its 20 percent stake in Canada's Athabasca Oil Sands project, which could fetch about $2.5 billion, according to people familiar with the situation. The company has discussed with investment…
Premier Oil CEO Pay Rises as Company Recovers
The head of North Sea oil producer Premier Oil saw his final pay package rise by a third last year to 1.4 million pounds ($1.7 million) as a reward for his work to cut costs amid weak oil prices, the company said in its annual report. London-listed Premier Oil, which had been…
Shareholders Force BP CEO Pay Cut
BP has cut Chief Executive Bob Dudley's pay package by 40 percent to $11.6 million, the latest British bluechip company to rein in executive pay after a wave of shareholder revolts. The oil company has reduced Dudley's payout and introduced changes from this year that will lower executives' performance incentives.
Statoil Wins Licences Off UK, 'Resets' Exploration Off U.S.
Norway's Statoil was the second top bidder for 13 oil exploration leases in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and won six licences offshore Britain, it said on Thursday, in a sign it may be looking to boost reserves after slashing costs. Statoil bid a total of $44.5 million for 13 licences in the U.S.
Britain Awards 25 Oil Exploration Licences in Frontier Tender
Britain has awarded 25 licences for oil and gas exploration in previously untapped waters and announced a new licensing round for mature areas to be held in late May or June, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said on Thursday. Seventeen companies received exploration licences in a tender that closed in October.
Vanguard Natural Files for Bankruptcy
Oil and natural gas explorer Vanguard Natural Resources LLC filed for bankruptcy protection, adding to a long list of energy firms that have succumbed to weak oil prices. The company said it signed an agreement with certain bondholders that includes a $19.25 million equity investment…
Keppel Shuts Down Three Yards in Singapore
Keppel Corp, the world's biggest oil rig builder, is still hard hit by the downturn in the oil industry and will now shut down three yards in its homeland. Singapore-based offshore company Keppel reduced its direct work force by about one third. The workforce has been reduced by 2,620 employees in the fourth quarter a cut of 11.8%.
Rosneft has Flexibility on Oil Output Levels
Rosneft's plans for next year allow it to be flexible with production volumes, Russia's top oil producer said on Saturday, after Moscow clinched a deal with OPEC to cut production to bolster weak oil prices. State-controlled Rosneft, which accounts for over 40 percent of Russian oil production…
