Oil Storage at Sea Approaching Record Levels
Oil traders are storing as much as 80 million barrels of oil on tankers at sea, with further ships being sought as land storage sites fill up fast due to a global glut of stocks, shipping industry sources say.Traders rushed for storage after global oil demand collapsed by a third due to the coronavirus outbreak, and as top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia have refused to curb output so far, creating what is believed to be the biggest oil glut in history.The last time floating storage reached similar levels was in 2009…
Coronavirus Paralyzes Oil, Gas Sales into China
Short-term sales of crude oil and liquefied natural gas into China almost ground to a halt this week as the coronavirus slows economic activity and cuts demand and buyers ponder legal action to avoid having to honor purchase agreements, trade sources said.Typically, trade would have revived after the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January, but China has extended the break into February to try to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus…
Coronavirus hits Supertanker Rates
Freight rates for supertankers on the Mideast Gulf and U.S. Gulf routes to Asia have fallen to their lowest since mid-September as the coronavirus outbreak hit Chinese oil demand, ship brokers told Reuters.China's Sinopec Corp, Asia's largest refiner, and so-called "teapot" independent refineries have reined in operations in the face of plunging consumption."The market has gone back to what it was before the COSCO sanctions came in," one ship broker said, referring to U.S.
Global Wind Capacity to Reach 626 GW
The global wind power industry is expected to install more than 626,800 MW of new capacity over the next decade, said a report.According to a report from Navigant Research, this new capacity represents a market worth more than $92 billion in 2019 and more than $1 trillion over the forecast decade.According to the report, global offshore wind development is expected to experience a 16% compound annual growth rate over a 10-year forecast period.China…
China Can't Meet Its US Energy Commitments
The more you delve into the details of China's commitment to buy an additional $52.4 billion in U.S. energy over the next two years, the more it becomes apparent the goal is unachievable, even with the best will in the world.As part of the "Phase 1" trade truce between Beijing and Washington, China undertook to buy energy over and above a $9.1 billion baseline of U.S. imports in 2017, with a split of an extra $18.5 billion in…
Oil Market Shrugs Off Libya Crisis
Oil prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday on expectations that a well-supplied market would be able to absorb disruptions that have cut Libya's crude production to a trickle.Brent crude was down 97 cents at $64.23 a barrel by 1258 GMT, having risen to its highest in more than a week on Monday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 75 cents at $57.79."Market participants appear to fret less about supply disruptions in the Middle East, or at least the risk of disruptions, thanks to the impressive growth we have seen in U.S.
What Does US-China Trade Deal Mean for Oil Markets?
After over a year of trade tensions, the US and China signed a “phase one” trade deal on 16 January. As part of the deal, China has agreed to increase the value of energy imports by $52.4 billion above 2017 levels over the next two years. What could it mean for the oil market?Ann-Louise Hittle, vice president, macro oils at Wood Mackenzie said, “This trade deal is beneficial to the broader global economy, but will have limited…
Wood Group Sees Higher Annual Earnings
Oilfield services provider John Wood Group Plc expects higher core earnings in 2019, with strong performance in its engineering services unit in the Middle East, Asia and the Caspian region offseting slowing U.S. onshore drilling demand.The Aberdeen-headquartered company said on Thursday adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is expected to be in a range of $850 million to $860 million for the year ended Dec.
CNPC Pulls Staff from Iraq Oilfield
China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), a top investor in Iraqi oil, has withdrawn about 20 employees from the West Qurna-1 field operated by U.S. major Exxon Mobil because of tensions in the region, a company source familiar with the matter said.CNPC made the move on Sunday after last week's killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, the Beijing-based source said, adding that the state firm has…
Oil Hits $70 a Barrel
Oil prices rose a further 2% on Monday, pushing Brent above $70 a barrel, as rhetoric from the United States, Iran and Iraq fanned tensions in the Middle East after a U.S. air strike which killed a top Iranian military commander.Brent crude futures soared to a high of $70.74 a barrel and was at $69.74 at 0940 GMT, up $1.14, or 1.66%, from Friday's settlement.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $63.92 a barrel, up 87 cents…
US Drillers Cut Oil Rigs
U.S. energy firms reduced the number of oil rigs operating for the second straight week as producers follow through on plans to slash spending on new drilling.Drillers cut 7 oil rigs in the week to Jan. 3, bringing the total count down to 670, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.In the same week a year ago, there were 877 active rigs.Even though the number of rigs drilling new wells has fallen in 2019, U.S. oil output has continued to increase.
Europe Dominates LNG Import Story in 2019
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) production jumped in 2019, triggering oversupply and low prices that are expected to persist in 2020. Initial full-year data from LNG Edge shows exports at 355 million tonnes in 2019, up from 314.9 million tonnes in 2018.This represents the largest ever increase in production.While East Asian, especially Chinese, demand increased in 2017 and 2018 to absorb additional production, there was little change this year.
Oil Jumps After US Kills Iran's Soleimani
Oil prices jumped more than $3 on Friday after a U.S. air strike in Baghdad ordered by President Donald Trump killed the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, sparking concerns for an escalation of regional tensions and disruption to crude supplies.Brent crude rose to a peak of $69.50 a barrel, its highest since mid-September when Saudi oil facilities were attacked, and was up 3.7% or $2.43 a barrel by 1445 GMT at $68.68.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up $2.17 or 3.5% at $63.35 a barrel…
Oil on Track for Biggest Yearly Rise Since 2016
Oil fell on the last trading day of the decade on Tuesday but was still on track for monthly and annual gains, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade row and Middle East unrest.Brent crude was down 74 cents at $65.93 a barrel by 1434 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 82 cents at $60.86 per barrel.The volume of trade remained low as many market participants were away for year-end holidays.Brent has gained about 22% in 2019 and WTI has risen 34%.
Oil Prices Set for Biggest Yearly Rise Since 2016
Oil rose on the last trading day of the decade on Tuesday and was on track for monthly and annual gains, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade row and Middle East unrest.Brent crude was up 11 cents at $66.78 a barrel by 1143 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 6 cents at $61.74 per barrel.The volume of trade remained low as many market participants were away for year-end holidays.Brent has gained about 24% in 2019 and WTI has risen 35%.
Saipem Tallies $1.7 Bln Drilling Contracts
Italian oilfield services firm Saipem announced Friday it has secured approximately $1.7 billion in new and extended drilling contracts for its offshore and onshore divisions.The offshore drilling contracts relate to activities to be executed in Norway and in Angola, Saipem said in a press release.The onshore contracts encompass 19 land-rigs located in Middle East, with power between 1,500 and 2,000 horsepower, and their duration range from three up to 10 years.
DNV GL, DNO Pact on North Sea
The international accredited registrar and classification society DNV GL has been awarded a framework agreement by the Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO ASA to provide a broad portfolio of engineering and management support and verification services to support the operator, as it expands operations and developments in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).DNV GL will support DNO in enhancing safety, maintaining compliance and…
LNG Suited for Select VLCC Routes
SEA\LNG has released the results of its third investment study, which underlines liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a compelling investment solution for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) on the Arabian Gulf to China trade route.Conducted by Opsiana, the study demonstrates benefits of LNG as a marine fuel for a newbuild 300K DWT VLCC on the Arabian Gulf to China trade route, in comparison with other alternatives currently available…
Oil Consumption Tracking is All About Asia
Oil market analysts must make sense of a bewildering array of statistics about production, consumption and inventories, compiled and published with varying definitions and degrees of accuracy and timeliness.The challenge is to form an accurate and nuanced picture of the whole market capable of generating useful forecasts, without becoming lost in the insignificant details.The World Bank identifies around 200 economies in the world…
LR Bolsters Well Management Team
Lloyd’s Register announced it has made several key appointments to its wells engineering and project management consultancy following a series of major contract wins and global growth.John O’Neill brings more than 25 years’ experience in global wells projects to the newly created position of Head of Wells Delivery. Having worked predominantly across the North Sea and Middle East for BP, Shell and Schlumberger, he most recently…
