Staff note: New BP CEO pledges consistency
BP's 'CEO' Meg O'Neill said on Wednesday that she would provide consistency and accelerate the performance of the group, a full year after BP refocused its strategy firmly to oil and natural gas. This was according to a note to staff seen by. O'Neill began her new job as BP's 4th CEO?since 2020, and the first external hire in the role for more than a hundred years. She is the first female to head a major oil company. O'Neill, formerly of Australia's Exxon Mobil and Woodside Energy?, joins BP as it seeks to get away from its ill-fated venture into renewables. 'CLEAR CONSISTENCY AND?DIRECTION' She said, in a staff note that was seen by the.
Oil rally fails to boost drilling as services firms are squeezed
Oilfield services firms around the world are bracing themselves for a 'hit to their earnings, as the Iran War disrupts energy infrastructure in the Middle East. Producers will hold off on new drilling until the higher oil prices have been proven durable. Brent benchmark prices are up 53% from February 27, the day before U.S. and Israel began their strikes against Iran. This makes oil and gas projects much more profitable and increases demand for crews and rigs. However, the Iran War has seen a drop in activity and a reduction in demand for oilfield equipment and services. Igor Isaev is the head of analytical services at European broker Mind Money.
PetroChina's net profit for 2025 drops 4.5% due to lower oil prices
PetroChina, Asia's biggest oil and gas producer said on Sunday that its 2025 net annual?profit fell 4.5% from the record set in 2024 as lower oil prices affected earnings. PetroChina reported in a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange that its net income was 157.3 billion yuan (22.76 billion dollars) in 2018, compared to 164.7 billion yuan (2024), while revenue fell 2.5% to 2,864.5 billion yuan. CNOOC Ltd, a domestic peer, reported a 11.5% drop in net profits to 122.08 bn yuan on Thursday. Earnings at the refining giant Sinopec dropped 37% to $31.8 bn yuan. PetroChina produced 948 million barrels of crude last year or 2.6 millions barrels per day. This is up 0.7% compared to?2024.
Oil and gas exploration is back. Energy giants are hunting to replenish reserves
Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston, Texas, this week declared that global energy companies have returned to the basics, focusing their efforts on finding?new oil and gas sources. This marks the end of years of underinvestment. The'shale revolution' in the U.S. in recent years promised a flexible, abundant supply. However, growth in renewable energy sources like wind and sun raised doubts over long-term demand for oil. Oil and gas drillers have chosen to 'flood profits into dividends and stock buybacks rather than exploration. Production?in the Permian Basin of the U.S. will plateau as energy demand continues to grow.
Oil rally fails to boost drilling as services firms are squeezed
Oilfield services firms around the world are bracing themselves for a drop in earnings, as the Iran War?disrupts the energy infrastructure throughout the Middle East. Producers will hold off on new drilling until the higher oil prices have been proven to be durable. Brent's benchmark price has risen 53% in the past two months, just one day before Israel and the U.S. launched their strikes against?Iran. This makes oil and gas projects much more profitable and increases demand for crews and rigs. However, the Iran War has seen a drop in activity and a reduction in demand for oilfield equipment and services. Igor Isaev is the head of analytical services at European broker Mind Money.
Baker Hughes reports that US drillers have cut their oil and gas rigs a second time in a week.
Baker Hughes, an energy services firm, said that U.S. firms have 'cut back on the number of oil & /natural gas rigs for a second consecutive week for the first time since mid-January. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by nine in the week ending March 27 to 543, the lowest level since January 16. Baker?Hughes stated that this week's decrease puts the total number of rigs down by 49 rigs or 8.3% from this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped?by five to 409 in this week. This is their lowest level since the week ending February 27. Gas?rigs also fell by four to 127. As U.S.
Iraq oil production continues to fall as storages fill up, and exports of Hormuz are blocked by conflict
Three Iraqi energy officials stated on Wednesday that the country's oil production is in decline as the Iran War rages. Storage tanks are at critical levels and the country cannot export crude through the Strait of Hormuz. The officials said that the output?from?Iraq?s southern main oilfields?has further dropped by around 80%, to about 800,000. barrels per daily (bpd). Industry sources said that earlier this month, Iraqi production of oil from its southern main oilfields was down by 70%, to around 1.3m barrels a day. This is because the country could not export crude through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the production from the fields was around 4.3 millions bpd.
Australia announces $1.4 billion in support for Rio's Boyne Aluminium Smelter
Australia announced a?A$2 Billion ($1.40 Billion) over ten years to support Rio Tinto's Boyne Smelters, the country's second largest aluminium smelter. Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres stated that the investment will be equally funded by both the federal government and Queensland's state governments. Rio Tinto will underwrite investment in energy assets. Rio Tinto announced in a separate press release that the initiative will help the Anglo Australian miner reduce emissions and maintain its competitiveness amid rising fossil fuel prices. The agreement…
Gulf Stocks Mixed amid Confusion over US-Iran Talks
Gulf markets closed mixed on Tuesday. Qatar?extended losses, while other bourses stabilized as investors parsed contradictory signals about potential U.S.Iran 'talks. The mood was volatile when U.S. President Donald Trump delayed attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure and spoke of "productive" talks to end the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. But Tehran dismissed this comment as "fakenews". Semafor, citing an official from the United States, reported that the U.S. would continue to strike Iran. The pause, however, only applied to energy sites. The report said that Israel was not included in Washington's contact with Tehran.
Sinopec will increase Bohai Bay Shale Oil as a backup to maintain output
Sinopec, the Chinese oil company, will increase shale oil production in the Bohai Bay basin following a successful pilot. The resources gained from this project will be used to sustain oil production for a longer period of time, according to its chairman. Sinopec has pumped 7.3 million barrels of oil (or close to one million metric tonnes) from the Jiyang Trough in the basin, which is part of Shengli Field, an old field. This was the first of Sinopec's major shale-oil pilot projects. Hou Qijun, chairman of Sinopec, told reporters at a Monday media briefing that shale?oil has a huge potential.
Gulf stocks mixed after Iran denies US talks, Qatar continues decline
Gulf stock markets were unable to find direction during early trading Tuesday. Qatar's fall was exacerbated by mixed messages about U.S.Iran talks following President Donald Trump's decision to delay strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure. Trump made his decision on Monday based on what he called productive discussions with Iranian officials. Iran denied, however, that it had held negotiations with the U.S. Semafor, citing an official from the United States, reported on Monday that the U.S. would continue to strike Iran. The pause only applied to attacks against Tehran's energy sites. According to the report, Israel did not participate in Washington's discussions with Iran.
Union calls for return to negotiations after BP locks out Indiana oil refinery
The United Steelworkers stated on Monday that BP engaged in unfair 'labor practices' by locking out nearly 800 workers at a?Whiting oil refinery. They urged BP to resume contract negotiations. Roxanne Brown, USW 'International President, said that BP's decision of locking out these skilled workers was illegal and unacceptable. Workers at the Midwest's largest refinery began picketing last week after the British oil giant barred union members entry to the facility following months of stalled negotiations. BP?said that the lockout 'followed' months of negotiations.
Venture Global talks about settling arbitration cases with Energy Companies
Venture Global has begun discussions with energy companies to settle pending arbitration claims against the company for failing to provide?LNG? from its Calcasieu Pass facilities in a timely fashion, said CEO Mike Sabel on Monday at a roundtable session during the CERAWeek Conference in Houston. Venture Global customers such as Shell, BP, Repsol, orlen & Edison filed arbitration claims in 2023, accusing Venture Global of failing to supply them with LNG more than two years after it produced the super-cooled gas. BP has won against Venture Global and the LNG exporter against Shell and Repsol. The other cases are still pending.
BP's Kaskida project is approved by the US, a spokesperson said.
A company spokesperson said in an emailed statement sent late Friday that the Trump administration has approved the Kaskida Project in the Gulf of Mexico. The $5 billion investment would unlock 10 billion barrels in resources that BP has discovered in the Paleogene field of the U.S. Gulf according to the spokesperson. A statement stated that the U.S. Department?of the Interior's approval for?Kaskida was the result of an extensive review of the development plan of the company over a period of one year. Bloomberg News reported for the first time on Friday that Kaskida is scheduled to begin crude?production by 2029.
BP revised its Whiting oil refinery offer after unions rejected the proposal
BP issued a revised contract to its union 'workers' at its Whiting oil refinery in Indiana on Friday after the United Steelworkers overwhelmingly voted against what BP had described as its 'last, best, and final proposal. Last week, BP presented to the union what it called its "final offer" and stated that it would expire within 10 days. This revised offer is not meant to penalize the union or its membership for refusing the original offer. BP said in a bulletin to employees released following the vote that it was simply reflecting certain incentives which were conditional on an agreement being reached by March 12th, 2026.
BP revised its Whiting oil refinery offer after unions rejected the proposal
BP issued a revised offer of a contract to its union?workers in its Whiting, Indiana oil refinery. This was after members of the United Steelworkers overwhelmingly refused what the 'company' had described as its "last, best and final" -proposal. BP said that the offer would expire after 10 calendar days. This revised offer does not penalize the Union or its members who rejected the original offer. In an employee bulletin issued after the vote, BP stated that it was simply a'reflection' of certain incentives being conditional on reaching an agreement by March 12th 2026. The revised proposal would not retroactively apply the first-year wage increase to February 1, 2026.
Baker Hughes reports that US drillers have added oil and gas rigs to their fleets for the second week running.
Baker Hughes, an energy services company, said in a closely-followed report on Friday that U.S. firms added oil and natural gas rigs this week for the second time in a row. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, increased by two in the week ending March 13 to reach 553 - its highest level since November 2025. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still?39 or 7% lower than this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs increased by a?1 to 412 in this week. This is their highest level since early February. Gas rigs also rose by one to 133.
USW rejects BP's last offer to Whiting refinery employees
The U.S. United SteelWorkers union members voted Thursday to 'overwhelmingly reject' what energy giant BP called their "last, best and final" contract proposal for those who work at its Whiting refinery, Indiana. Last week, BP presented the union a "Last, Best and Final Offer" (LBFO), and stated that it would expire in 10 calendar days. USW said that after two-months of negotiations, BP’s proposal included changes to the basic contract terms, including limiting the union’s right to strike, reducing its bargaining power, base wage reductions across classifications and the outsourcing of 100 union jobs. United Steelworkers Local 7-1 represents about 800 workers in the U.S.
Enverus reports that global dealmaking for oil and gas upstream in 2025 was muted.
Enverus, a firm that provides analytics, said Wednesday that the upstream oil and natural gas market in the world will remain?subdued' for the second consecutive year, with only $18 billion in deals. The firm stated in a recent report that fewer 'high-quality resources' and lower oil prices have limited the value of mergers and acquisitions well below the historical norm of $60 billion. Andrew Dittmar is the principal analyst of Enverus. He said that international M&A deals are shaped by availability, not appetite. Majors have retreated from the M&A sector and are focusing on organic growth.
BP and Chevron top the list of bidders at a small US Gulf of Mexico gas and oil auction
According to a U.S. government livestreamed auction, BP's single bid accounted for almost half of the total. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management conducted the sale. It was a far less successful one than the previous auction three months earlier. Donald Trump's administration prioritizes regular lease sales and plans to have 30 in the area by 2040. The auction was won by a $21 million bid from BP on a block located in Green Canyon. Chevron was also a high bidder, as were Shell, LLOG Exploration, Anadarko, Woodside Energy and Anadarko. Chevron won the high bid for three blocks at $11.5 million. Livestreaming was available on BOEM's website.