Hess will leave Suriname oil block after partners quit over drilling risks
Hess Corp, a U.S. oil company, has decided to withdraw its offshore Block 59 in Suriname, said the South American nation’s state oil firm Staatsolie on Tuesday. Hess didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. ExxonMobil, Equinor and others had left the block a year ago, citing the high risk of drilling an exploratory well. Hess has since been unable find new partners for exploration.
Equinor and partners approve $1.3 Billion Johan Sverdrup Oilfield Expansion
Equinor, a Norwegian oil company, and its partners approved an investment of 13 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.29 billion), for the expansion at Johan Sverdrup. This is the largest oilfield in western Europe. Equinor's partner Aker BP and Equinor said separately that the project will increase recoverable volume from the field between 40 and 50 millions barrels of oil-equivalent.
UK-based Balfour Beatty awarded $1.14 billion contract to build new gas power plants
Technip Energies, a French energy company, awarded Balfour Beatty of Britain a contract worth 833 million pounds ($1.14 billion). The project involves the construction of a UK gas-fired power plant. Balfour Beatty announced that construction on the plant, where 1,500 workers will be employed, will begin later this year and will end in 2028. The British…
UK Issues Environmental Guidance on New North Sea Oil and Gas Drilling
The UK published long-awaited guidance on environmental issues that will impact future developments of two North Sea oil and natural gas fields, including Shell and Equinor. The guidelines explain how future government decisions on extraction should treat greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas, also known as downstream emissions or Scope 3. The…
UK releases environmental guidance that will impact North Sea drilling
The UK published environmental guidelines on Thursday, which will impact future developments of two North Sea oil and natural gas fields. Shell and Equinor are among the companies that are expected to benefit. The guidelines outlines how future government decisions on extraction should treat greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas, also known as downstream emissions.
Equinor Gwynt Glas wins UK floating offshore wind leases
The Crown Estate announced on Thursday that Equnior, a joint-venture between EDF Renewables UK, and ESB has won seabed leases for the construction of floating wind farms off the coasts of Wales and South West England. The UK aims to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030 in order to reduce its reliance upon fossil fuels, and to drive down costs.
Analysts say that the Vaca Muerta shale is a major factor in Argentina's move towards energy independence.
Rystad Energy analysts stated on Tuesday that the shale gas formation of Vaca Muerta in Argentina will produce a large amount of oil and gas by the first quarter 2025, which is driving the nation to achieve energy independence and its ambitious plans to become a major exporter for liquefied gas. Vaca Muerta is a huge unconventional oil reserve that Argentina needs to boost its economy and reduce costly imports.
Equinor Announces Shifts in Leadership
Danske Commodities CEO Helle Ostergaard Kristiansen will step down to become head of the gas and power unit of parent group Equinor, the trading house said on Tuesday.Danske Commodities' Chief Financial Officer Jakob Sorensen, who joined the company 20 years ago as a power trader, will take over as new CEO as of September 1, it said in a statement.Kristiansen replaces Helge Haugane who in April was named head of a new Equinor busin
Wind opponents sue Trump Administration to block New York wind projects
Fishing companies, as well as offshore wind opponents, filed a suit on Tuesday to challenge the Trump administration’s decision to reverse its course and allow construction on Empire Wind to resume. Empire Wind is a $5 billion project for a wind farm off New York’s coast. Protect Our Coast New Jersey and Clean Ocean Action along with ACK for Whales…
Exxon Signs Agreement With Azeri SOCAR to Explore Oil Production
Exxon Mobil and Azeri state energy company SOCAR said on Monday they signed a deal agreeing to explore onshore oil and gas production in Azerbaijan, while BP is expected to buy into new Azeri offshore fields, according to three sources.Azerbaijan's production mainly relies on mature oil fields in the Caspian Sea and the country is aiming to maintain its oil output at around 582…
Japan is poised to amend offshore wind regulations as players get coldfeet
Insiders in the industry say that Japan will likely sweeten its terms to developers who want to build an offshore wind farm. The country is looking to re-establish its energy ambitions against a global slump of projects that have been hit by rising costs and delays. By 2040, the government wants to reach 45 gigawatts in offshore wind power, which will reduce its dependence on coal and gas imports for electricity generation…
Dutch prices rise on Norway's tariff extension and outage extension
Dutch wholesale gas prices increased on Monday morning. This was supported by a prolongation of Norwegian outages, and a delayed U.S. tariff on European goods. However, activity in Britain and America was low due to the holidays. On the Intercontinental Exchange, the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was trading at 37.31 Euros per Megawatt Hour (MWH) at 0821 GMT. This is an increase of 0.73 euros.
Japan is poised to amend offshore wind regulations as players get coldfeet
Insiders in the industry say that Japan will likely sweeten its terms to developers who want to build an offshore wind farm. The country is looking to re-establish its energy ambitions against a global slump of projects that have been hit by rising costs and delays. By 2040, the government wants to reach 45 gigawatts in offshore wind power, which will reduce its dependence on coal and gas imports for electricity generation…
Norway's oil-drilling unions are seeking wage mediation in order to avoid a strike
Employers and three unions reported that wage talks with 7,500 oil drilling employees in Norway failed on Wednesday. This could lead to a strike later this year. The Norwegian Shipowners' Association's (NSA) talks with the Safe, Styrke, and DSO unions are to resume at a future date, which is yet to be determined, under the mediation of a state appointed mediator.
Norway Oil Drilling Unions Seek Mediation to Avoid Strike
Two unions have said that wage negotiations involving 7,000 oil drilling employees in Norway failed early on Wednesday. This could lead to strike action later in the year, which would disrupt exploration. The unions have announced that the talks between the Norwegian Shipowners' Association and the Safe and Styrke unions will be resumed at a future date, under the direction of a mediator appointed by the state.
Orsted Shares Rise After Equinor Wind Project Gets Green Light
Shares of offshore wind developer Orsted rose 15% on Tuesday after the U.S. administration revoked an order to halt work on a project by peer Equinor, easing concerns over the Danish company's U.S. projects under development.Late on Monday Equinor said the Trump administration had lifted a month-old stop-work order on its Empire Wind offshore wind project in New York, offering a reprieve for the Norwegian company and U.S.
Equinor, Polenergia Agree on Polish Offshore Wind Project
Norway's Equinor and Poland's Polenergia made a final investment decision for the project to build two wind farms off the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, the Warsaw-based company said on Monday.The two farms, each with a generation capacity of 720 megawatts are set to cost a total of about 6.4 billion euros ($7.20 billion) and start generating power in 2027 and be completed in 2028.Investors, including PGE, Orlen, Equinor and Orste
Japan's oil refiners reduce decarbonisation and refocus on fossils fuels
Japanese oil companies have scaled back their decarbonisation projects, including ammonia and hydrogen, as the world shifts towards fossil fuels that are more cost-effective and stable. This move is a reflection of the growing concerns about energy security and U.S. policies risks. It also reflects rising costs for materials due to inflation. All these factors undermine project profitability.
Equinor's executive states that Europe needs to compete on prices for gas refilling.
A senior Equinor executive said that Europe might need to continue offering attractive prices in order to secure the additional 30 billion cubic meters (bcm), of liquefied gas (LNG), needed to replenish their storage levels. Equinor estimated that Europe would require around 250-300 additional LNG cargoes in comparison to last year, to fill storage tanks that were left empty by two-thirds after the winter.
Equinor could cancel New York offshore project due to Trump's order
Developer of major U.S. off-shore wind project warns that it will cancel Empire Wind facility near the coast of New York, if they cannot resolve a stop-work order from the Trump administration issued a month ago. Molly Morris is the president of Equinor's U.S. renewable energy division. She said that the company spends $50 million per week to keep this project alive.
