Storm Cut 73% of US Offshore Production
Tropical Storm Barry has cut 73%, or 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd), of crude oil production in the U.S.-regulated areas of the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said on Sunday.Natural gas output from the northern Gulf of Mexico is down 62%, or 1.7 billion cubic feet per day, BSEE said.A total of 283 production platforms, or 42%, remain shut in the Gulf of Mexico, BSEE said.(Reporting by Erwin Seba Editing by Nick Zieminski)
U.S. Oil Makes it to Ukraine, a blow to Moscow
U.S. crude exports are gaining traction in Europe as even Ukraine turns into a significant consumer of American barrels at the expense of Russian supplies amid heightened U.S. political pressure on Moscow and problems over contaminated Russian oil.Ukraine this month received its first ever barrels from the United States, according to Refinitiv Eikon flows data, as the tanker Wisdom Venture unloaded 80…
Venezuela Sells Oil to Tiny Turkish Firm
With U.S. sanctions blocking Venezuela from selling oil to the United States, state-owned energy firm PDVSA has turned to several little-known buyers that include a tiny Turkish company with no refineries but ties to President Nicolas Maduro's government, according to internal documents and a PDVSA source.Until recently, some of the world's largest petroleum and refining firms, including U.S.
US Drillers Add Rigs
U.S. energy firms this week increased the number of oil rigs operating for a second week in a row with oil futures up about 12% over the past couple of weeks despite plans by most producers to cut spending on new drilling this year.The rig count, however, was still down 92, or 10%, since the start of the year.Companies added four oil rigs in the week to June 28, bringing the total count to 793…
Oil Prices Mixed Ahead of US Crude Sstock Data
Oil prices were mixed on Tuesday ahead of data expected to show U.S. crude stocks declining, outweighing investors' concerns that U.S.-China trade tensions could dampen fuel demand.Benchmark Brent crude futures settled up 19 cents, or 0.3%, at $65.05 a barrel.U.S. crude futures fell 7 cents, or about 0.1%, at $57.83 a barrel.Investors shrugged off U.S. President Donald Trump's comments…
Does the Answer to Our Energy Problems Lie in Tiny Microbes?
Such are the dire predictions about climate change these days that there seem to be only two courses open for human society: either we fail to act and the planet keeps heating up, or we restrict ourselves, leave our cars at home, give up hamburgers and stop flying on vacation.Either way, it would seem, the future is dead set on making our children’s lives worse than ours.But there is a third way and it lies in new forms of energy.
OPEC Output to Remain Flat: Rystad
OPEC and its allies, including Russia, can maintain their current cuts and not reduce outputs any more because there will be a crude oil demand surge later this year from changing shipping fuel standards worldwide.The OPEC+ countries will not be able to increase their collective oil production levels in the second half of 2019 without having a detrimental effect on oil prices. However…
Anadarko Approves $20 Bln Mozambique LNG Project
U.S. energy firm Anadarko Petroleum Corp gave the go-ahead on Tuesday for the construction of a $20 billion gas liquefaction and export terminal in Mozambique, the largest single LNG project approved in Africa, according to the government of Mozambique and energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.The announcement, which occurred at an event in Mozambique, was widely expected after Anadarko last month flagged the decision date.
Two Tankers Attacked in Gulf of Oman
Two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, leaving one ablaze and both adrift, shipping firms said, driving oil prices as much as 4% higher over worries about Middle East supplies.The Front Altair, carrying petrochemical feedstock, was on fire in waters between Gulf Arab states and Iran after an explosion that a source blamed on a magnetic mine. The Norwegian owner…
BP Boosts Saudi, U.S. Oil Reserves Estimates
BP raised its estimates of Saudi and U.S.
MWV Expects Druzhba Shipments Within Days
German oil industry lobby group MWV expects German refineries to receive shipments of clean Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline via Belarus and Poland within the next several days, a spokesman said on Tuesday.The spokesman for the Berlin-based association (Mineraloelwirtschaftsverband), that represents 14 companies, 17 refinery sites and 10 oil pipelines, said the two most severely affected refineries…
Gazprom, Sovcomflot Pact on LNG Bunkering
Russian shipping company Sovcomflot and compatriot oil producer Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker have signed an agreement to cooperate on projects for bunkering ships with LNG fuel.The agreement was signed by Igor Tonkovidov, Executive Vice President and CTO/COO of Sovcomflot, and Andrey Vasiliev, CEO of Gazprom Neft Marine Bunker.Sovcomflot said that the agreement reinforces the mutual interest…
US Oil Output Heads for More Records in 2019
U.S. total oil production, which is already off to an amazing start in 2019, is on track to set another record for this year.New records are expected both when the final numbers for May emerge and at the end of the year, said Rystad Energy.The energy research and business intelligence company is raising its forecast for US crude output to 13.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by December 2019.
Shell Eyes Dividend Boost After 2020
Royal Dutch Shell on Tuesday said it expects to increase its dividend payouts to shareholders once it completes a $25 billion share buyback by the end of 2020.The world's second largest oil and gas company also expects its free cash flow - cash available to pay for dividends and share buybacks - to rise to around $35 billion per year by 2025 at a Brent crude oil price of $60 per barrel.That compares with $28-33 billion in free cashflow it expects to deliver by the end of next
Record Number of VLCC Liftings at LOOP
Medium-sour crudes from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico are being snapped up by overseas buyers, paving way for a record six supertankers to load at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) in a matter of weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.The six scheduled loadings in late May and early June would double the record of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) reached in December. An unusual influx of Gulf of Mexico crudes to the U.S.
Strike Would Cut Norway's Output 11%/Day
Norway's oil and gas output could be cut by about 440,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day, or about 11% of total production, if workers go on strike from June 4, industry association Norwegian Oil and Gas (NOG) said on Monday.A government-appointed mediator is leading negotiations between oil companies and employees represented by the Lederne union in a bid to avert a strike.Altogether nine fields would have to shut in the event of industrial action…
US Oil Production Up, Needs More Pipelines
The rising domestic crude oil production in the United States has created a need for more pipeline capacity, revealed the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).EIA recently launched a new liquids pipeline projects database that tracks more than 200 crude oil, hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL), and petroleum products pipeline projects."Rising domestic crude oil production has led to several changes in Gulf Coast crude oil supply and demand patterns…
Norway Oil Workers Threaten Strike
Around 200 Norwegian offshore oil and gas workers plan to go on strike on June 4 unless pay negotiations lead to a deal with employers, the Lederne labour union said on Wednesday.A strike would hit seven offshore fields and at least two of those would have to shut production, cutting output by a combined 102,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed), industry group Norwegian Oil and Gas (NOG) told Reuters.While Neptune Energy's Gjoea and Okea's Draugen fields would shut in
U.S. Crude Stocks Rise Unexpectedly - EIA
U.S. crude oil inventories rose unexpectedly last week, hitting their highest levels since July 2017, due to weak refinery output, particularly in the Midwest, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.Crude inventories rose 4.7 million barrels in the week ended May 17, compared with analysts' expectations for a decrease of 599,000 barrels. That boosted overall crude inventories, not including the U.S.
Brent Oil Climbs Toward $73
Oil prices rose on Thursday for a third day running as fears of supply disruption amid heightened tensions in the Middle East overshadowed swelling U.S. crude inventories.Brent crude futures were up $1.03 cents at $72.80 a barrel by 1344 GMT, heading for the biggest weekly rise in about three months.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 83 cents at $62.85.Oil was drawing support from the risk of conflict in the Middle East, with helicopters carrying U.S.
