Lula: Brazil's environmental agency must be satisfied with Petrobras tests in offshore areas.
Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva said that the environmental agency Ibama must be satisfied with results of a emergency drill conducted by the state-run oil company Petrobras within the Foz do Amazonas Basin. Petrobras already conducted the test. Ibama must be happy with the results, and Ibama is now going to grant us the permission to conduct the first experiment," Lula stated in an interview given by local news channel Rede Amazonica. Petroleo Brasileiro SA (as the company is officially known) considers the drill as a pre-operational evaluation…
Senators from refinery states try to stop Trump from shifting the renewable fuel obligation
According to a draft of legislation that was seen by the, oil refinery state lawmakers, led by Senator Mike Lee (a Republican from Utah), will introduce legislation to stop President Donald Trump from shifting renewable-fuel blending obligations away from smaller refineries and towards larger ones. The bill reflects the political divisions in the U.S. Biofuels Policy, which pits farm interests against the oil industry that supports U.S. productions of biofuels such as corn-based bioethanol. The current debate centers…
Analysts say that ConocoPhillips’ deep-seated layoffs demonstrate the need for capital discipline.
Investors and analysts have said that ConocoPhillips needs to focus more on its capital discipline and its investment priorities to be competitive against its peers, as oil prices are falling and revenues are also declining. This comes after the company announced it was laying off up to 25 percent of its staff in order to reduce costs. ConocoPhillips, the third largest U.S. oil company, has joined majors Chevron, BP and SLB, as well as the world's two largest oil service companies, Halliburton and SLB, in cutting its staff.
The US cuts to oil jobs and expenditure threaten the output growth
Due to the lower oil price and the largest consolidation in the last generation, the U.S. Oil industry has cut thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in spending. This could be the end of rapid growth in output that made the U.S. world's leading producer. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies within the OPEC+ group of producers are increasing production to regain market share lost in recent years to the United States. OPEC+ decided on Sunday to increase production by 137,000 barrels a day from October.
Petrobras passes key test for Amazon exploration license
The Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras concluded an emergency drill on Wednesday in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, according to the company and Brazil’s environmental agency. This was one of the last steps required to secure the controversial exploration license for the mouth of Amazon river. Petrobras sees this pre-operational evaluation, which started on Sunday, as the final step in an environmental licensing process that it hopes will result in a permit for drilling an exploratory oil well and gas wells in the area.
Petrobras begins emergency drill in Foz do Amazonas basin
Two sources familiar with the situation said on Monday that the Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras started an emergency drill on Sunday in the Foz do Amazonas area. Petrobras considers the so-called preoperative assessment as the final step in an environmental licensing procedure to obtain a permit for drilling an exploratory oil well and gas wells in the area. Petrobras, and Brazil's environment agency Ibama, did not respond immediately to a comment request. The drill is expected to include more than 400 participants…
RPT-Private Chinese firm producing oil in Venezuela under rare 20-year pact, source says
China Concord Resources Corp. has started developing two Venezuelan oilfields. The company plans to invest over $1 billion in an investment project that will produce 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day by the end of 2026. An executive involved directly in the project confirmed this. This is a rare private Chinese investment in an OPEC nation that has been struggling to attract foreign capital because of international sanctions against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. This is the first time that the investment amount and production plan have been reported.
Sources say that the US will rule on biofuel waivers but large oil refiners might need to wait.
Two sources familiar with Trump's plans say that the administration will rule as soon as Friday on a backlog of requests for relief from U.S. Biofuel Laws from small oil refiners. However, it will defer a decision as to whether or not larger refiners are required to compensate by increasing their own biofuel blend. Sources said that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce Friday its decision on 195 small refinery exemption applications pending since 2016. According to one source briefed about the decisions, the rulings won't be a big win for small refiners. They will also include partial denials.
US oil group opposes Trump's plan to reduce biofuel import credit
The top U.S. trade group for oil on Thursday added its voice to the chorus of protests against a government proposal that would reduce incentives for biofuels imports. This will test the Trump administration’s resolve to maintain the policy over the next few months. As a result of the mounting criticism, the White House is forced to choose between farmers who want to prioritize domestic supplies or refiners who are looking for cheaper feedstock. Both groups are loyal to Donald Trump. The proposal, made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June…
Norway Oil Industry Investment to Peak in 2025: Survey
A survey by the Statistics Office of Norwegian industry participants showed that oil and gas investment in Norway is expected to peak this coming year and then start decreasing next year. Major projects will be completed. Norway produces around 2% of the world's oil and is now Europe's leading supplier of pipeline natural gas following Russia's invasion in Ukraine in February 2022. In 2025, the country's largest business sector is expected to invest a record amount of 274.8 billion Norwegian crowns (approximately $26,98 billion). This compares with a May estimate of 269.1 billion crowns and 251.2 billion crowns last year.
Palm oil prices fall due to profit-taking and Indonesia's B50 Mandat Plan
Malaysian palm futures fell on Thursday, as investors took profits. Meanwhile, a prominent Indonesian business group reportedly lobbied the government to postpone the B50 biofuel mandate. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives exchange for October delivery had fallen 41 ringgit or 0.92% to 4,394 Ringgit ($1,047.44). A local news website quoted Eddy Martono, the chairman of the palm oil industry GAPKI as saying that the government should review the plan because it could lead to a decrease in palm oil exports. GAPKI was told by a government official that it did not submit a written request.
Clean Crude Oil Arrives at BTC Ceyhan After Chloride Contamination
Crude oil arriving at the BTC Ceyhan terminal in Turkey is returning to normal specifications following organic chloride contamination, BP said on Thursday, though some tanks still hold tainted oil.Organic chloride was detected in Azeri BTC crude cargoes last week, pushing price differentials to a four-year low and delaying loadings.Loadings resumed after a pause from July 20-24, with shipments now proceeding from tanks cleared of contamination, subject to testing and charterer approval, sources told Reuters.Azeri BTC loadings from Ceyhan totalled 423…
Shell and others withdraw from global oil and gas emission standard, FT reports
The Financial Times reported that Shell and other major energy companies have given up their six-year effort to define a strategy for net zero emissions after they were told by the standard's creators that it would force them to stop developing oil and gas fields. The FT reported that Shell, Norway's Aker BP, and Canada's Enbridge all left the expert advisory group for Science-Based Targets Initiative since late last year. Science-Based Targets is an important tool for assessing company climate goals. The body proposed new rules in March to help companies create high-quality plans for reducing emissions.
What is in the EU's 18th package of sanctions against Russia?
The details of the 18th package approved by the European Union on Friday against Russia for its war in Ukraine. This package is aimed at further damaging Russia's energy and oil industry. The package includes a price cap for Russian oil, which is intended to reduce Moscow's revenues from energy without causing global markets to be disrupted by cutting off Russian supply. EU diplomats have said that the EU will set a price cap for Russian crude oil at 15% less than its average market value. This means that a cap of approximately $47.60 per barrel is in place at the moment…
What is in the EU's 18th package of sanctions against Russia?
The details of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine are listed below. This package was approved by the European Union on Friday, and is aimed at further damaging Russia's energy and oil industry. The package includes a price cap for Russian oil, which is intended to reduce Moscow's revenues from energy without disrupting the global markets. EU diplomats have said that the EU will set a price cap for Russian crude oil at 15% less than its average market value. This means that the cap is currently around $47.60 a barrel…
Brazil's lawmakers revoke environmental permits ahead of the COP30 summit
The Brazilian Congress passed legislation Thursday that loosens environmental licensing. This could be a blow to President Luiz inacio da Silva, who is trying to improve his country's image as a green nation before it hosts the United Nations' global climate summit COP30 this year. The bill was passed by a large majority of Congress, where the powerful agribusiness group has a lot of influence. This is despite criticisms from environmentalists and members Lula's Cabinet, as well as European Union legislators who wrote last month to Brazil's lower-house speaker asking him to not put it to a vote.
Clean-energy supporters blast US budget as a setback
Clean energy advocates decried Thursday the House of Representatives' final passage of the President Donald Trump tax cut bill as a reverse in the energy transition. Meanwhile, fossil fuel interests celebrated. The bill now goes to Trump's desk. Trump is expected sign the bill on Friday. The law drastically reduces the 30% tax credit that developers were relying on for their solar and wind projects. This credit was set to last until 2032. Energy Innovation, a research firm, predicted that the bill will result in a decline of 300 gigawatts in U.S.
Vitol CEO predicts slight decline in US oil production this year due lower prices
He said that the lower oil prices will lead to a slight decrease in U.S. production of oil this year. "We're starting to see an impact on production and investment with slightly lower prices." Russell Hardy, speaking at the Energy Asia Conference, said that the U.S. shale oil industry is the most obvious example. He added that the lower investment and production are not a major concern, as OPEC, and other countries have a large amount of extra capacity. According to sources, OPEC+ is planning to increase oil production more quickly than originally planned in May June and July to compete with U.S. shale to regain market share.
Oil industry gathering in Malaysia is shadowed by conflict in Middle East
Energy executives from around the world gathered on Monday in Malaysia's capital for an industry gathering. They were concerned about the dramatic escalation of the conflict between Israel & Iran which has fueled fears that the conflict could spread and disrupt the supply. According to the head of Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco, conflict highlights the importance of oil. He said that the world was concerned about energy security, despite the fact that Israel and Iran were fighting. Israel launched attacks on Iran on Friday, including its nuclear power plants, in an effort to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Baker Hughes sells sensor unit to Crane at $1.15 billion
Baker Hughes announced on Monday that it would sell its Precision Sensors and Instrumentation (PSI), product line to aerospace parts and defense parts manufacturer Crane, for $1.15 Billion. The oilfield services provider is looking to optimize its portfolio. Lorenzo Simonelli, the CEO of Baker Hughes, has been reshaping the company to adapt to global energy transformation. He has shed non-core assets and invested in cleaner energy solutions. Oil industry struggles with low spending on oilfield activities. The company relies on portfolio refinement to increase earnings and cash flow.