Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Auction yields Far Fewer Bids Than First Trump Sale
According to a document posted on the government's website, the second auction of oil and natural gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico by the Trump administration in three months drew far less interest from the industry than the one held in December. Oil prices are at four-year highs due to the U.S.'s war against Iran, which has disrupted crude oil flows around the world. According to the document of pre-sale statistics, 25 of the 15,000 blocks that the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management offered received bids. This 'compares to 181 blocks which received bids in BOEM’s last Gulf Sale, the first one held in this region since 2023.
Nscale, backed by Nvidia, valued at $14.6 Billion in a new funding round
The 'artificial intelligence' group Nscale, which is backed by Nvidia and has raised $2 billion through its latest funding round, was valued at $14.6 billion on Monday. The Series C round of funding was led by Norway’s Aker and 8090 Industries and included Nvidia Citadel Dell Jane?Street among others. The company announced that former Meta executives Nick Clegg, Sheryl Sandberg and Susan Decker would join the board. Sources told us that the 'funding round' comes ahead of Nscale Global's preparations to launch an initial public offering. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan have been hired as underwriters. Sources told?Earlier this year.
Brazil's Petrobras reports a near $3 billion net income and plans a $1.5 billion dividend
In separate filings, the Brazilian state-run oil company?Petrobras announced a fourth-quarter net profit of?15.6?billion dollars ($2.96 billion). It plans to distribute interest on equity in the amount of 8.1 billion dollars. The quarter-end net profit reversed the 17 billion real net loss of a year ago due to non-recurring expenses. Exports records boosted the results for October-December. The increase in oil volume and the financial results achieved allowed Petrobras to counter the effects of Brent's price decline.
As the US-Iran war spreads, more tankers are attacked.
As the U.S. - Iran war escalated on Thursday, Iranian drones invaded Azerbaijan and threatened to spread the crisis?to other oil producers in this region. Initial assessments indicate that a?Bahamas flagged crude oil tanker anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair Port was attacked by an Iranian remote-controlled boat loaded with explosives. After a large explosion, a second tanker anchored off Kuwait began to take on water and was spilling oil. Since the conflict between the U.S. and Israel broke out on Saturday, nine vessels have been attacked.
Canadian Natural Resources exceeds profit expectations on higher production
Canadian Natural Resources, an oil and gas producer, posted a profit that was higher than expected for the fourth quarter. The company's increased output offset lower crude prices. Canadian Natural Resources and other oil sands producers in Canada have survived a 'global downturn', despite the uncertainty caused by U.S. Tariffs, as well as a rise in OPEC+ production, due to their years of investment. Their costs are among the lowest found anywhere in North America. The largest oil and natural gas producer in the country said that its production jumped by 12.8% compared to a year ago…
Oil companies reject Trump Administration's Alaska Offshore Auction
The Trump administration sold more than 400,000 acres (406,876 hectares) of land in Alaska's Cook Inlet on Wednesday, but no oil and gas drillers showed up. They refused to make a bid.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of U.S. president Donald Trump, which was signed into law in 2017, mandates six Alaska offshore gas and oil auctions through 2032.Trump has sought ways to increase domestic oil and gas production, including in Alaska, where the industry has seen a decline in recent decades. Drilling in Alaska and the Arctic is a high risk endeavor that involves decades of effort and billions of dollars.The U.S.
US auctions oil and gas drilling in Alaska's Cook Inlet
The Trump Administration will on Wednesday 'offer over 1 million acres (404,686 ha) of Alaska's Cook Inlet?to?oil & gas explorers. This is a key test to see if the industry wants to invest in this region. This is the first auction of six Alaskan offshore oil and natural gas auctions that will be held by?U.S. through 2032. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed by President Donald Trump last year. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials will begin reading bids on their website at 10:00 a.m. Alaska time (1900 GMT). According to the sale documents, leases are valid for a period of 10 years.
Equinor discovers oil in the North Sea and looks to rapid development
Equinor, a state-controlled Norwegian operator, and its partners have discovered oil near the Snorre field in the North Sea and plan to develop the reserves "rapidly and efficiently". Norway's Offshore Directorate, or NOD, has separately stated that preliminary estimates place the size of this discovery, called "Omega-South Alfa," between 25 and 89 million barrels of recoverable equivalent oil. This would be Equinor's medium-sized discovery. Norwegian companies are looking for ways to extend the lifespan of their oil and gas fields. They do this by searching for nearby reserves which can be connected to existing platforms.
APA exceeds its quarterly profit forecasts as lower costs offset the weak price, output
Oil and 'gas company APA beat the fourth-quarter profit estimate?on Friday. This was helped by lower operational costs that offset the impact of weaker commodity prices & a decrease in?production. The global?crude oil price has been impacted by the growing fears of a glut, and the prospect that Venezuela will add more barrels to supply. WTI crude oil prices fell by about 20% between 2025 and 2026, while they dropped 8% during the quarter of October-December. The company said that the average realized oil price for the third quarter fell 15.7% to $61.03 per barrel…
Woodside posts smaller-than-expected annual profit; CEO update imminent
Australian oil and gas ?producer Woodside Energy posted a ?smaller-than-expected fall in annual profit on ?Tuesday, ?as robust production offset weaker realised prices, and said it expects to name a new CEO in the first quarter of 2026. The company stated at its results presentation that "the appointment of the CEO is an important activity ...(the Board) intends to make a announcement in the first half of 2026." Former CEO?Meg O'Neill has left Woodside for the top position at British oil giant BP. Woodside's shares rose 2.9% to A$27.890 - their highest level since August 2024. The stock closed at a 2.6% increase.
What is the current status of international oil companies operating in Venezuela?
Here are some key facts about the international oil companies operating in Venezuela. The country has vast oil reserves, but a dilapidated infrastructure. Hugo Chavez, the then president, expropriated foreign oil companies in the 2000s to strengthen the control of the PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, over the oilfields. The U.S., after capturing President Nicolas Maduro, eased sanctions against Venezuela's energy industry this month by issuing general licences that allow global energy firms to operate oil projects and gas in the OPEC nation.
Cenovus, a Canadian company, beats its fourth-quarter profit expectations and begins redevelopment at the former MEG site
Cenovus Energy announced on Thursday that it has begun drilling new oil wells at its Christina Lake Oil Sands site in 'northern Alberta,' formerly owned MEG Energy. The plan will increase the company’s production this year as well as by 2027. The Canadian oil sands company, which exceeded market expectations for adjusted profits in the fourth quarter on Thursday, bought smaller MEG Energy after a bitter battle with Strathcona Resource. Cenovus' portfolio was immediately boosted by approximately 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. This acquisition cemented its position as the world's largest heavy-oil producer.
What is the current status of international oil companies operating in Venezuela?
Here are some key facts about the international oil companies operating in Venezuela. The country has vast oil reserves, but a dilapidated infrastructure. In the early 2000s, the then-President?Hugo Chavez took assets from foreign oil companies to strengthen the control of the state-owned PDVSA over the oilfields in Venezuela. The United States, after capturing Nicolas Maduro as President in January, eased sanctions against Venezuela's oil sector this month. They issued general licenses allowing global energy companies the opportunity to operate oil projects and gas in Venezuela.
Occidental Petroleum tops quarterly profit estimates on midstream support
Occidental Petroleum surpassed Wall Street's expectations for the fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday as its?midstream?unit helped offset lower crude?oil?prices. In extended trading, shares of the 'company' rose by nearly 3%. Occidental realized oil prices dropped to $59.22 a barrel in the fourth-quarter, down from $69.73 a barrel compared to 69.73 if you compare it to 68.73 a barrel. Production rose to 1.48 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboepd), despite Occidental increasing production to 1.48 MMboepd. Brent crude fell more than 9% in the last quarter due to growing concerns over an oil glut.
Exxon is committed to moving quickly on Guyana gas project, but it needs demand sources for the gas, says executive
Exxon Mobil's chief upstream said that the company is 'committed' to moving quickly to develop natural gas resources in Guyana, but the government of the South American country must advance industrial projects if it wants to ensure a long-term demand for the gas. Exxon Mobil, the company that leads the oil consortium operating Guyana's Stabroek Block has been pressed by the 'Guyanese' government to develop and build natural gas projects, including petrochemical facilities and data centers, in order to diversify the country's energy industry beyond oil.
Chevron and a consortium of companies sign contracts for gas exploration offshore Greece
On Monday, a consortium led by U.S. oil giant Chevron signed exclusive lease agreements to search for natural gas in southern Greece. This agreement expands the United States presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. The deal will double the amount of Greek marine acreage that is available for exploration. It's also the second time in recent months that a U.S. oil major has been involved. This is because the European Union wants to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and the U.S. wants to replace it. Exxon Mobil joined Energean in November to search for gas on another offshore block of Western Greece.
Chevron and a consortium of companies sign contracts for gas exploration offshore Greece
The United States has expanded its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean with the signing of exclusive lease agreements by a?consortium headed by U.S. major oil company?Chevron? to search for natural gas offshore southern Greece. This deal, the second to be signed in recent months by a 'U.S. company, doubles the amount available of Greek marine acreage for exploration. The European Union is phasing out Russian supplies and the United States is looking to replace them. The European Union is looking to replace them.
Norway oil investment set to decline by 2026, according to a survey
A 'quarterly survey' of the oil and gas industry revealed on Thursday that Norwegian investments in the sector are likely to?decline this year and next, as fewer new projects are being undertaken and more field?developments have been completed. Norway is the world's second largest oil producer and supplies about 30% of Europe’s gas after it became its biggest pipeline gas supplier in 2022, following Russia's invasion. Statistics Norway reported that the Nordic countries' largest business sector is expecting to invest 255 billion Norwegian crowns ($27billion) this year. This is down from 273 billion crowns, a record, in 2025.
Aker BP raises dividend despite 2026 output dip
Aker BP, a Norwegian oil firm, announced on Wednesday that it will increase its quarterly dividend by 5% in '2026 despite an anticipated decline in production. Its profit for the last quarter of 2017 was below expectations. The company's poll of 16 analysts showed that the group's earnings were below expectations. Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP said that "our major development projects" had also made good progress. Aker BP stated that until the new projects are completed, such as the large Yggdrasil project…
Energean International CEO: Egypt has told international oil companies to double their output by 2030
Energean International CEO, Nikolas Katcharov, said on Tuesday that Egypt had directed international oil firms to 'double production by 2030. Existing contracts need to be revised in order to encourage new investment. Katcharov stated that the low gas prices which supported earlier phases of development had "expired" and it was necessary to update terms in order to "encourage companies" to deploy capital at brownfield sites, as well as boost production. He stated that Energean owed Egypt more than $200 million and recently received $80 millions.