US drillers have cut oil and natural gas rigs in the third week of a row, according to Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. firms have cut back on the number of natural gas and oil rigs for the third consecutive week for the first since mid-April. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by two in the week ending May 16 to 576, the lowest level since January. Baker Hughes reported that the rig count was down 28 rigs or 5% from this time last week.
US drillers have cut oil and natural gas rigs in the third week of a row, according to Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. firms have cut back on the number of natural gas and oil rigs for the first week since mid-April. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by two in the week ending May 16 to 576, the lowest level since January. Baker Hughes reported that the rig count is down 28 rigs or 5% from this time last week.
Trafigura announces new management changes
Trafigura, a global commodities trader, announced on Friday a round of new management changes. Two people were appointed to the executive committee while one person left. These moves are the latest in the series of leadership transitions that have taken place at the Swiss-based trading firm in recent years. A new generation of leaders is emerging under the new chief executive Richard Holtum. Trafigura…
Trafigura announces new management changes
Trafigura, a global commodities trader, announced on Friday a round of new management changes. Two people were appointed to the executive committee while one person left. These moves are the latest in the series of leadership transitions that have taken place at the Swiss-based trading firm in recent years. A new generation of leaders is emerging under the new chief executive Richard Holtum. Trafigura…
Bloomberg reports that Mercuria is betting big on aluminum in a peace agreement with Russia.
Bloomberg News reported Thursday that Mercuria Energy Group had built up a large aluminum position at the London Metal Exchange. The company was betting on a tightening of the market if sanctions were eased against Moscow. Bloomberg reported that Mercuria has contracts for more than 1 million tons aluminum, which is several times what's currently available on the LME. This, Bloomberg noted, had helped to drive a rapid tightening of the market in recent days.
Legal advisor: Interra Resources did not violate foreign sanctions in Myanmar
Interra Resources, a Singapore-listed oil explorer, said that it appointed a legal adviser who found that Interra Resources had not violated U.S. sanctions or EU sanctions against Myanmar. The report comes after the activist group Justice for Myanmar made allegations that Interra supplied oil to the ruling military and committed war crimes. In a press release, the company stated that any financial impact from potential sanctions violations will be minimal.
Indonesia approves Kuwaiti explorer to develop Anambas block in Natuna Sea
Officials said that the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company has received approval to develop the Anambas Block in Indonesia where it hopes to acquire additional projects. KUFPEC plans to invest $1.54 billion in developing the Anambas Block to produce 55 millions standard cubic feet a day with an estimated 185 trillion cubic feet of gas sales. Upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas confirmed this.
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. Companies that had reoriented portfolios in order to combat climate change…
Li-Cycle, a battery recycler in Canada, files for bankruptcy protection
Toronto-based Li-Cycle, a lithium battery recycling company, announced on Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy in Canada. It expects to begin a formal sales process for its assets or business. The U.S. divisions of the firm have also filed bankruptcy proceedings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York. Li-Cycle, the largest secured creditor of Li-Cycle, has signed a debtor…
ADNOC's XRG acquires stake in Turkmenistan Gas Block
XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), announced on Wednesday that it had acquired a stake in a Turkmenistan offshore natural gas block as part of its ambitious expansion plans. XRG was set up in late 2018 and ADNOC reported that it has assets worth $80 billion. Its mandate is to pursue global deals for chemicals, natural gases and renewables. Abu Dhabi wants to create a portfolio of companies in these areas, and rely less and less on oil exports.
Venture Global delivers first US LNG cargo to Edison
Italian energy company Edison announced on Wednesday that it had received its first cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) delivered by Venture Global, a U.S.-based firm. It added that it would pursue legal action over the delays in delivery. Edison reported that a cargo of 165,000 cubic meters of LNG, from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass facility in Louisiana, arrived at the Italian Port of Piombino to be regasified before being fed into the Italian network.
Wall Street Journal, May 14,
These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Baidu will test its Apollo Go service for driverless rides in Europe, beginning with Switzerland and Turkey. The company is accelerating global expansion as the competition in China's autonomous-driving sector intensifies. Samsung has agreed to purchase the German manufacturer of heating…
Woodside Australia and Saudi Aramco Sign Deal for Potential Louisiana LNG Share Buy
Woodside Energy, a company based in Australia, announced on Wednesday that it had signed a non-binding deal with Aramco for the exploration of opportunities. This included the possibility of the Saudi Arabian firm acquiring a stake in the Louisiana LNG Project. Woodside, Australia’s largest gas producer, has given the final approval to build the $17.5-billion liquefied gas project in Louisiana. The company was confident that a fossil fuel-friendly U.S.
Last-ditch lobbying campaign aims to save Biden’s clean-energy tax credit
Trade groups in the U.S. Energy Industry have launched a last minute lobbying campaign to urge Congress to spare former President Joe Biden’s clean energy tax credit from being cut out of the Republican budget plan. The House Ways and Means Committee proposed on Monday that several lucrative subsidies in Biden's signature climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, be phased out or cancelled.
Ghana wants to reduce the $2.5 billion in debt it owes to power producers within a year
John Dramani Mahama, the president of Ghana, said that the country should be able reduce its $2.5 billion debt to independent gas and power producers by the end the year. As part of its efforts to reduce its debt, the West African nation reached an agreement last year with independent power producers for a restructure of a legacy debt of approximately $1 billion. Since Mahama's second term as President in January, Ghana has continued to face challenges due to arrears owed to service providers.
Kayne Anderson raises $ 2.25 billion for the third Energy Income Fund
Kayne Anderson announced that it has closed its third Energy Income Fund with $2.25 Billion of capital committed. This is far more than the initial target, as investors have shown renewed interest in oil and gas assets. According to a Kayne Private Energy Income Fund III statement, the fund will invest in private companies that produce oil and gas from wells with stable cash flow. This kind of production is suitable for income-focused strategies.
TotalEnergies and BWEnergy to decide on Namibian projects by the end of next year, Minister says
Namibia's petroleum commissioner stated on Tuesday that the French oil giant TotalEnergies will make a final decision on investment (FID) for its Venus discovery within the African nation in the fourth quarter 2026. Maggy Shino, at a conference held in Paris, said that she expected TotalEnergies' first oilfield development plan to be approved in June or July. Shino said that Namibia expects to finalise…
SBB, a debt-laden landlord, ends its losing streak in the first quarter with a profit
SBB, a Swedish landlord, announced on Tuesday that it had turned a profit before tax in the first quarter 2025, after 11 consecutive quarterly losses. Separately, Aker Property Group, a Norwegian company, was named as its largest shareholder. The real estate group that owns hospitals and care homes, but is heavily indebted, has reported a profit of 1.9 billion Swedish crowns (194 million dollars) between January and March, compared to a loss of 1,18 billion crowns a year ago.
Inpex executive says that the run rate of Ichthys LNG is nearing full capacity by end-April.
A company executive revealed on Tuesday that the run rate of the Ichthys LNG plant, operated by Japan’s largest oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp., in Australia had recovered to near full capacity at end-April. Senior vice president Daisuke YAMADA said at a press conference that the plant's running rate was down to about 80%-90% by mid-April because of a heat exchanger issue. He said that Ichthys will perform scheduled maintenance from mid-August until October.
Aramco's executive claims that oil demand may increase if the tariff dispute is resolved
Aramco, the Saudi oil giant and a cash cow of the kingdom for many years, is expecting oil demand to be resilient this year. It also expects further upsides if the U.S.-China trade dispute is successfully resolved. Washington and Beijing agreed earlier Monday to temporarily reduce reciprocal tariffs, in a deal which exceeded expectations. The two world's largest economies are seeking to end the damaging trade war which has stoked recession fears and roiled financial market.
Frontera says Guyana oil license remains valid amid government cancellation notice
Frontera Energy, a Canadian oil company, said Monday that its exploration license for the Corentyne Block off the coasts of Guyana is still valid. It's evaluating all legal options in order to assert its rights. Guyanese authorities gave Frontera Energy and CGX, the joint license holders, a 30 day cancellation notice for not meeting contract obligations. The Corentyne Block was seen as an important effort to diversify Guyana’s oil industry.
CERAWEEK - Chevron CEO calls for sustainable, not extreme US Energy Policy Swings
Mike Wirth, the CEO of Chevron, said that he would prefer to see a more stable energy policy in the United States than a swing from extreme to extreme. The first weeks of Donald Trump's second term in office were marked by a rapid revamp of government, and the reversal many of the policies on energy of the previous administration. Most of these policy changes were made by executive order, rather than legislation. The policy reversals had a direct effect on Chevron.
Baker Hughes, CERAWEEK: Oil producers are unlikely to spend more this year
Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli stated on Monday that U.S. producers of oil and gas are unlikely to increase their spending this year. Instead, the output will be boosted by improved efficiency rather than through new drilling. The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged the oil and gas industry to "Drill baby, drill" to maximize production and lower consumer energy costs.
Aramco CEO: More likely Elvis will speak than energy transition plans to succeed
Saudi Aramco's CEO said Monday that policymakers and energy executives should rethink their energy transition plans. They must stop investing in elements of the energy transition which have failed and instead rethink the entire energy transition. The remarks from the head the world's biggest oil company comes as the administration under President Donald Trump pushes for maximum oil and gas production. This is a dramatic U turn in U.S.
US Supreme Court dismisses state climate lawsuits against oil companies
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid from 19 Republican-led state led by Alabama, to stop five Democratic-led state from pursuing lawsuits against major oil companies for deceiving public about the role that fossil fuels played in climate change. The justices refused to hear a case filed directly at the Supreme Court by Republican attorneys general. This case targeted cases filed against Exxon Mobil and other companies such as Chevron, ConocoPhillips Shell, BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips.
Whitecap Resources and Veren combine to create a C$15 billion Canadian Energy giant
The companies announced on Monday that Canada's Whitecap Resources, an oil and gas company, will merge with Veren through a merger of equals including debt in order to create a C$15 Billion ($10.43 Billion) company. The combined company is the largest landholders in Alberta Montney & Duvernay, regions which have attracted significant investment over the past few years and hold some of Canada's biggest shale reserves. Energy deals have been a big deal in North America over the past two years.
Hungary turns to Romania for help in diversifying its energy sources
Hungary wants to expand its gas sector cooperation with Romania to diversify energy sources. Their respective companies are already in negotiations for an agreement. Szijjarto stated that Hungary is keen to work with Romania in energy matters as Romania will soon become a net gas exporter as a result of a new offshore field starting production. In a few weeks, Romania could begin drilling at the Neptun Deep field, which is one of the most important gas deposits in the European Union.
British Business – March 10,
These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. Britain advises Ukraine on how to handle peace talks with the United States, while President Zelensky is on his way to Saudi Arabia. He had said that Russia was responsible for hundreds of attacks against his people over the last week. BP CEO…
Australian shares gain modestly as commodities support
Australian shares rose on Monday and hovered below the important 8,000-level as commodities fueled a slight recovery in the benchmark index after a selloff in the previous session amid market uncertainty. As of 2341 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.2% to 7963.8. The benchmark index fell 1.8% on Friday to close below 8,000 for the first six-month period, amid uncertainty about global trade. Energy stocks gained nearly 1% in tandem with a recovery of crude oil prices after U.S.
Zelenskiy: Ukraine fully committed to constructive dialog with US
The President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Saturday that Ukraine was "fully committed" in having a constructive dialog with U.S. officials next week in Saudi Arabia about ways to end Russia's war. Since taking office as U.S. president Donald Trump in January, he has suspended U.S. military assistance to Ukraine and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. He accused Zelenskiy that he was not serious about reaching an agreement with Russia.
US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs in the US for the first time in six-weeks - Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. oil and gas companies have cut back on the number of oil rigs for the first six weeks. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by one in the week ending March 7 to 592. Baker Hughes reported that the total number of rigs is 30 or 5% lower than it was at this time last week. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs remained unchanged at 486 rigs this week while gas rigs dropped by one to 101.
Kazakhstan commits to reducing oil production after April. Russia claims OPEC+ could reverse output.
Alexander Novak, the deputy prime minister of Russia, said that the OPEC+ had agreed to increase oil production starting in April. However the group could change its mind if market imbalances occur. Officials from Kazakhstan, who have often exceeded the OPEC+ production quotas in recent years, spoke at a briefing online almost simultaneously with Novak. They pledged to reduce output in March April and May.
DNO buys Sval Energi in cash for $450 mln, enhancing North Sea portfolio
Norwegian oil group DNO announced on Friday that it had agreed to purchase rival Sval Energi Group, which is focused on the North Sea from private equity group HitecVision. The cash consideration was $450 million based on a $1.6 billion enterprise value. It said that the transaction would quadruple DNO’s North Sea production, to around 80,000 barrels equivalent per day (boepd), and raise its total output to approximately 140,000 boepd on the basis of pro-forma data for 2024.
Naftogaz, Ukraine's gas producer, says that the Russian attack has damaged its production facilities.
Ukraine's Energy Minister said that Russian forces had targeted Ukraine's gas and energy infrastructure with their latest drones and missile attacks, which took place on Friday. Rescuers and engineers work to minimize the effects. "All necessary measures are taken to stabilise the power and gas supply," he said. In a press release, Naftogaz said that the attack had damaged its natural gas production plants. "Production installations that ensure gas production have been damaged.
FT reports that UK Treasury is considering cutting funding for GB Energy
The Financial Times reported that Britain's Treasury Department is considering cutting funding plans for the state-backed energy company GB Energy during a review of spending scheduled for June. The British government created GB Energy last year with a budget of 8.3 billion pounds (10.73 billion dollars) and envisioned it as its main tool for driving investment in renewable energies. The Crown Estate…
Guyana's tax agency will begin dispute resolution with Exxon regarding expenses
The Natural Resources Ministry of Guyana has instructed the country's Tax Agency to start a dispute resolution process with Exxon Mobil regarding the recovery from the U.S. Oil Major, about $214 million worth of expenses. Exxon's expenses as part of operations on the Stabroek block offshore are closely watched because a consortium headed by the U.S. giant can export up to 75 percent of the crude oil it produces under the name "cost oil", whereas Guyana is entitled to the other half.
Tanzania announces that it will launch a round of oil exploration licensing in May
Tanzania announced on Thursday that it would launch its fifth round of oil and gas licensing in May, in which 26 explorations blocks will be auctioned to attract new investment to the hydrocarbon sector in east Africa. Charles Sangweni of the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority in Tanzania (PURA), the director general, said that 23 blocks are located offshore in the Indian Ocean, while three others are in Lake Tanganyika.
Sources: ERG declares force majeure for cobalt supplies from Congo
Two sources with knowledge of the situation said that Eurasian Resources Group has declared force majeure for deliveries of cobalt battery material from its Metalkol operations due to the temporary export ban by the Democratic Republic of Congo. ERG is the largest cobalt producer in Congo. This is also the top mineral producing country worldwide for the production of lithium-ion battery powering electric vehicles.
LNG producer Venture Global raises Plaquemines project cost forecast by $2 billion
Venture Global announced on Thursday that it expects its Plaquemines LNG Plant in Louisiana project costs to be about $2 billion more than its previous estimate due to inflation and various other factors. In premarket trading, shares of the company dropped 19.2% to $11.50. The LNG producer now expects that the plant will cost between $23.3 and $23.8 billion. Previously, it was expected to be in a price range of $21 to $22 billion. The company paid $19.8 billion as of December 31.
LNG producer Venture Global raises Plaquemines project cost forecast by $2 billion
Venture Global announced on Thursday that it expects its Plaquemines LNG Plant in Louisiana project costs to be about $2 billion more than its previous estimate due to inflation and various other factors. The LNG producer now expects that the plant will cost between $23.3 and $23.8 billion. Previously, it was expected to be in a price range between $21 billion and $22 billion. The company paid $19.8 billion as of December 31.
Indonesia introduces new rules allowing exports of minerals in cases of force majeure
The Indonesian Government has published a regulation that allows mineral companies to export ore unprocessed in situations of force majeure, said the Energy Ministry on Thursday. Indonesia has banned the export of raw minerals by 2023 in order to encourage metals to be processed at home. However, there are some exceptions. One is for miner PT Freeport Indonesia which received a permit to export copper until repairs to its Manyar smelter were completed.
After Trump's tariffs on crude oil, Mexico is seeking Asian and European buyers
Pemex, the Mexican state-owned oil company, is currently in discussions with buyers in Asia and Europe. This is because it's looking for alternative markets to sell its crude oil after U.S. president Donald Trump imposed import tariffs. This week, Trump implemented tariffs of 25% on goods imported from Mexico and Canada. Canadian crude was exempted from the 25% tax, but Mexican crude will be charged at a 10% rate.
Africa Oil Corp. bullish on Nigerian growth and Namibia long-term game
A senior executive at the company said that Canada's Africa Oil Corporation would double its Nigerian production and its reserves once it completed its deal to acquire Prime Oil on Tuesday. Africa Oil will acquire the entire shareholding of Dutch company Prime Oil & Gas Cooperatief. Its main assets are indirect stakes in Nigerian deep-water fields operated by TotalEnergies or Chevron. Oliver Quinn is the chief commercial officer of Africa Oil.
After Trump's tariffs on crude oil, Mexico is looking for Asian and European buyers
Pemex, the Mexican state-owned oil company, is currently in discussions with buyers in Asia and Europe. This is because it's looking for alternative markets to sell its crude oil after U.S. president Donald Trump imposed import tariffs. This week, Trump implemented tariffs of 25% on goods imported from Mexico and Canada. Canadian crude was exempted from the 25% tax, but Mexican crude will be charged at a 10% rate.
Ecopetrol will borrow up to $2 billion to finance acquisitions
Ecopetrol, Colombia's largest state-owned oil company, plans to borrow up to $2 billion this year in order to fund investment. It will also consider raising funds through banks and the capital markets. The debt will be used for inorganic investments such as new projects or assets. Camilo Barco, Corporate Vice President of Finance at Ecopetrol, said that in a conference call with investors the board of Ecopetrol had authorized $1 billion for structural debt.
Canada cracks down on foreign takeover bids, citing the trade crisis
Canada pledged on Wednesday to restrict foreign companies' ability to conduct "predatory takeover" bids, citing concerns that recent trade turmoil could reduce the value of its domestic firms. The announcement was made by Innovation Minister Francois Philippe Champagne a day after U.S. president Donald Trump began a trade war with Canada and Mexico. According to the Investment Canada Act (IC Act), Ottawa has the power to approve or reject mergers…
UK replaces windfall oil tax with consultation on clean energy future
Britain announced that it will end the windfall taxes on North Sea oil producers by 2030, and replace them with a new mechanism for responding to price increases. It is pushing ahead with its plan to turn the North Sea into an energy hub. On Wednesday, the government held two consultations. One was on how to transform the North Sea into a clean-energy area, while another focused on how taxes would be applied when energy prices were high.
BP and Mauritania claim leak found at gas project offshore West Africa
The British company BP and the Mauritania Environment Ministry announced on Wednesday that a gas leak had been detected in a well at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Gas Project operated by BP off the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania. BP stated that the impact of the leak on the environment was expected to be minimal and the incident will not disrupt production. The first gas was produced by the project, developed by BP in partnership with Kosmos Energy of the United States.
Ecopetrol's profits will drop 22% by 2024
Ecopetrol, Colombia's largest state-owned oil company, reported on Tuesday that its annual net profit in 2024 will drop by nearly 22% due to a stronger U.S. Dollar and lower oil prices internationally. The Colombian government owns 88.5% of the shares in the energy company. It posted a profit of $14.9 trillion last year ($3.6 billion), which is a significant increase from 19.06 trillion in 2023. Ecopetrol's…
After financial disputes, talks to resume Kurdish crude oil exports have been postponed until Thursday
Three sources said that the talks to accelerate a return of oil exports out of Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdistan Region have been postponed until Thursday due to disagreements between oil companies, and the oil ministry. Three sources said that the meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the initial talks on Sunday failed to reach an agreement on important issues such as how foreign companies in the region will be paid. This forced the two-day delay.
Sakhalin LNG and oil production to decline in 2024
According to the local administration, production of LNG, oil and gas on Sakhalin, a Russian Pacific island, will decline in 2024. According to the administration's figures, production of LNG from Sakhalin Energy, a project led by Kremlin controlled Gazprom in Russia, decreased by around 2 percent to 10,2 million metric ton, or about a third of Russia’s total. The administration said that the oil and…
Shell restructures its executive team; integrated gas and upstream director departs
Shell announced on Tuesday that Zoe Yujnovich will be leaving the company at the end this month, after spending more than a decade working for the oil giant. Shell's leadership structure has been simplified by the appointment of Cederic Crémers as president of Integrated Gas, and Peter Costello to lead Upstream. Shell has a strategy of streamlining its senior management structure. In a recent statement…
Reliance India says the oil ministry demanded $2.81 billion in gas dispute case
Reliance Industries, an Indian company, said Tuesday that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry of India has demanded $2.81 billion in a dispute over gas drilling from the company and BP Exploration and Niko. A division bench of the Delhi High Court ruled on February 14 against Reliance in a dispute over the extraction of gas from a deepwater block in India's KG-D6 block, located in the Krishna Godavari Basin in the eastern coast.
The gender pay gap in Australia has improved slightly but women are still paid 18.6% lower than men
A government report revealed that the gender pay gap in Australia has shrunk slightly, but women still earn nearly a fifth of what men do. The biggest disparities are found in the mining, construction and finance industries. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency's survey showed that 72.2% had a gender gap in favour of men, while 21.3% of employers had an equal gap between the two groups within +/-5%. The remaining employers had a gender gap in their favour.
Libya announces the first oil exploration bid round in 17 years
Masoud Sulman, the acting chairman of the National Oil Corporation, announced on Monday that Libya will hold its first oil exploration bidding round in over 17 years. Libya is Africa’s second largest oil producer, and a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Foreign investors are wary about investing in Libya. The country has been in chaos since Muammar Gadhafi was overthrown in 2011.
Source: Kazakhstan increased oil production to a record of 2,12 million bpd during February.
A source said that Kazakhstan increased crude oil and condensate output in February by 13% compared to January, reaching a record of 2,12 million barrels a day. This was again a higher production than its quota for the OPEC+ oil producing group. According to a source familiar with official statistics and calculations that take into account Kazakhstan’s tons per barrel ratio of 7, the crude oil production in January was up 15.5%. Last month, it reached 1.83 million barrels per day.
Sinopec certifies reserves of 1.3 billion barrels at East China Shale Oil Plays
Sinopec Corp announced on Monday that the Chinese government had certified new geological resources of about 180 million tons or 1.3 billion barrels at two of their shale-oil plays. Sinopec announced that the new reserves had been tapped in the Xinxing Field in the Jiyang trough in the Bohai Bay Basin and in the Qintong Field in the Subei Basin. The shale formations of Xinxing are buried between 2…
Trump's tariffs threaten Canada's oil and natural gas drillers
Canada's oilfield services and drilling sector has already begun to show signs of slowing down due to the threatened tariffs by U.S. president Donald Trump. This has sparked fears that a rebound in this industry could be halted if these levies are implemented. The Canadian drilling industry lost thousands of jobs between 2014 and 2020 as a result of low oil prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry representatives say that activity has increased since 2020.
Equinor's Arctic Johan Castberg Oilfield delayed by weather
A spokesperson for Equinor said that the start-up of oil production at Equinor’s Arctic Johan Castberg Field has again been delayed due to bad weather. Castberg will become the second oilfield to come on stream in the Norwegian Barents Sea sector after Vaar Energi’s Goliat, which came online in 2016. Equinor previously stated that it would start up the field at the end February after delaying its launch from the end 2024.
Baker Hughes reports that US drillers have added oil and gas rigs to their fleet for the fifth consecutive week.
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that U.S. firms added oil and gas rigs this week for a fifth consecutive week for the first since May 2022. In the week ending February 28, the oil and gas rig counts, an early indicator for future production, increased by one, to 593, its highest level since June. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still 36 rigs or 6% lower than this time last year.
Equinor Norway LNG plant will be off-line March 10-14
According to a Friday regulatory filing, Equinor will shut down its Hammerfest LNG Terminal from March 10 through March 14 to perform "corrective maintenance". This will reduce the daily production capacity from 18.4 millions cubic metres to zero. The Hammerfest plant (also known as Melkoeya LNG) has the ability to deliver approximately 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas each year. This is enough to provide about 6.5 millions European homes and accounts for about 5% of Norwegian gas exports.
Data shows that Russia's LNG exports between January and February fell 7.3%.
LSEG released preliminary data on Friday showing that Russia's LNG exports in the first half of this year were down 7.3% compared to a year ago, at 5.1 million metric tonnes. This was due to sanctions and the Sakhalin-2 supply cut. Due to U.S. sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has been unable to increase LNG exports. The new Arctic LNG 2 facility has effectively been frozen due to the Western sanctions.
EOG Resources exceeds profit expectations for the fourth quarter on higher production
EOG Resources surpassed fourth-quarter profit expectations on Thursday as higher production helped offset lower oil price. The company's shares were down 3.5% in after-hours trading as the net income fell by more than half, to $1.25 Billion from $1.998 Billion the previous quarter. The overall quarterly revenue dropped 12%, to $5.59 Billion. This was due to lower oil revenues as well as losses on derivative contracts. Operating expenses rose by 3.6% compared to last year.
Alberta projects C$5.2-billion budget deficit if Trump tariffs proceed
Alberta, Canada's oil producing province, forecasted a deficit of C$5.2billion ($3.5billion) for fiscal 2025/26 if U.S. Tariffs were implemented. This would result in a decrease of government revenues as well as slowed economic growth. The outlook shows a drastic reversal in Alberta's financial health following what was expected to be a C$5,8-billion surplus for the current fiscal period. It also illustrates…
Staff of Brazil's Ibama recommend against Petrobras drilling Amazon region
Two sources with knowledge of the matter said that the technical staff at Brazil's environment agency Ibama recommended to the body that it deny Petrobras permission to drill in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas area. Rodrigo Agostinho, Ibama’s president, will make the final decision. Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva has put pressure on the agency by saying earlier this month…
Expand Energy is on track to increase US natgas production to meet the growing demand
Expand Energy, previously known as Chesapeake Energy, and the largest natural gas producer in America, announced on Thursday that it is on track to increase output by over 5% from the levels expected in 2020, as long as the market conditions allow for such an action. The CEO of Expand, Nick Dell'Osso, told analysts on the company's earnings call for the fourth-quarter that the company was ready to increase output from 6.4 billion cubic foot equivalents per day (bcfed)…
Data shows that Portovaya, Kryogaz-Vysotsk and other Russian LNG exporters have stopped LNG exports due to sanctions.
LSEG data on Thursday showed that two small-scale Russian LNG producers located along the Baltic Sea shores, Portovaya LNG, and Kryogaz Vysotsk have stopped LNG deliveries. This is due to the U.S. sanctions. Washington introduced new sanctions last month against Russia for the conflict in Ukraine. These included the two nuclear plants. There was a grace period up until the 27th of February. LSEG data…
Pemex's fourth-quarter loss is $9.1 billion
According to a filing on Thursday with Mexico's principal stock exchange, the state-owned oil company Pemex posted a 190.5-billion-peso (about $9.1 billion) net loss for the fourth quarter, after posting profit during the same period last year. Revenues for the government-run oil firm during the period of October to December totaled 436.6 bn pesos. This is an increase of almost 3% when compared with the fourth quarter of 2023.
Colombia's first auction of offshore wind energy attracts global interest
The National Hydrocarbons Agency of Colombia (ANH), a South American agency, announced on Thursday that companies from all over the world had proposed developing 69 offshore areas for the country's first offshore energy auction. The auction represents a major step towards President Gustavo Petro’s goal to diversify the energy sector, and reduce dependence on coal and oil. Companies from Belgium, Britain…
ADNOC signs LNG supply contract with Japan's Osaka Gas
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announced on Thursday that it had signed an agreement for 15 years to supply Japan’s Osaka Gas liquefied gas from the Ruwais Project. The agreement to supply LNG up to 0.8 mtpa is the fourth contract signed for the Ruwais LNG Project, where energy giants Shell, BP TotalEnergies, and Japan's Mitsui all have a 10% share. ADNOC stated in a press release that the LNG will primarily come from the Ruwais LNG Project, which is due to be completed in 2028.
US oil licenses and authorizations for Venezuela
Since the United States first imposed sanctions against Venezuela's energy industry in 2019, it has granted licenses to certain oil companies, allowing them to export Venezuela's oil into specific destinations. Washington imposed sanctions after international observers reported irregularities at elections which have kept Nicolas Maduro on the throne repeatedly. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, announced on Wednesday that he would revoke a license for a U.S. oil producer Chevron Corp.
Mexico advances energy reform to reinforce dominant roles of state-owned companies
Mexico's Senate passed on Wednesday laws for an energy reform which strengthens the dominance of state-owned companies Pemex CFE, while opening up new opportunities for private investment in order to achieve the country's goals of self-sufficiency. The new laws, which received 85 votes for them, 39 against them and one abstention will be sent now to the lower chamber of Congress. It is expected that they will receive final approval.
Shale producer APA misses fourth-quarter profit estimates
APA Corp, a U.S. shale oil producer, missed Wall Street's expectations on Wednesday for its fourth-quarter profits as low commodity prices offset a higher production. Brent crude futures declined 3% in 2020 as the economy of the major consumer, China, remained weak. The OPEC+ producer's group also postponed their planned supply increases to 2026 and extended the deep cuts in output until the end of the year.
Exports of crude oil by Mexico's Pemex fell 44% in January
Official numbers reveal that crude oil exports from the Mexican state energy company Pemex fell 44% in January, compared to last year, to 532 404 barrels per daily (bpd), their lowest level in decades. The company admits it has been struggling with crude's quality. The level for January is the lowest monthly since records began in their present form in 1990. Exports were just above 811,000 bpd last year and just over 1 million bpd the year before.
US Senate confirms Trump's trade chief Greer before Canada and Mexico tariffs
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to confirm Jamieson Grer as U.S. trade representative, giving the veteran of Donald Trump's first term of trade wars the full authority of his new position just days before the March 4 deadline that will punish imports from Canada or Mexico with 25% tariffs. Greer's nomination was confirmed by a majority of senators, even though voting is still ongoing.
Copper giant Chile is'monitoring" US probe on potential metals tariffs
The Chilean Foreign Ministry said that on Wednesday it was "monitoring' a U.S. investigation looking at potential new tariffs for copper imports, a critical metal used in electric vehicles, military equipment, the power grid, and many consumer products. In a brief response, the ministry stated that it would monitor the situation after U.S. president Donald Trump ordered the investigation in an effort to stop what his advisors perceive as a Chinese move to dominate the world copper market.
BP changes course by increasing fossil fuel investments while cutting back on renewable energy
BP announced on Wednesday that it would increase its annual oil and natural gas investment by $10 billion. This will return the focus to fossil-fuels as part of Murray Auchincloss’ efforts to improve financial performance and boost returns. The oil giant has slashed its planned annual investment into transition businesses by over $5 billion compared to the previous forecast. It now expects to invest between $1.5 and $2 billion annually.
Inpex CEO: Buyers' interest in Indonesia's Abadi Liquefied Natural Gas exceeds planned production
Inpex Corp., Japan's largest oil and gas exploration company, said it received interest in buying liquefied gas from its $20 billion Abadi project in Indonesia, which exceeds the planned output. Inpex expects the long-delayed LNG project to drive growth. It is aiming to make a final investment decision by 2027. He said that Inpex would proceed with the marketing and finance talks. Inpex holds a 65% share in the Abadi Project in eastern Indonesia.
British Business – February 26
These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. BP, the oil major in Iraq, and the Iraqi government have agreed to allow the energy group work on the redevelopment and exploitation of four large gas and oil fields in Kirkuk. Unilever's board of directors has decided to part ways with Hein Schumacher, Chief Executive Officer. They have chosen a new leader they feel will operate at a quicker pace.
Naftogaz: Norway will finance Ukrainian gas purchases
Norway will finance Ukrainian purchases of natural gas from its country, Ukraine's Naftogaz said on Tuesday. This comes against a backdrop of an increase in Ukrainian imports, as the war between Russia is affecting the energy system of the country. The aid is part of an overall 380 million euro package ($400 million), financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Its goal is to boost Ukraine's energy independence.
