The LAPFF in Britain recommends voting against BP Chairman, annual report
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum in Britain (LAPFF), recommended to shareholders on Monday, that they vote against the reelection of BP Chairman Helge Lund and BP's Annual Report, remuneration reports, as well as abstaining on whether BP Chief Executive Murray Auchincloss is reelected. Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) as well as Glass Lewis, two influential proxy advisors, have advised that shareholders vote for the reelection of BP’s board of directors, management team and annual report during the annual general meeting on April 17.
Texas oil and gas upstream jobs increase in February, says industry group
The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, or TIPRO, announced on Friday that upstream oil companies increased hiring in February. This is the second consecutive month of growth. Hiring in upstream, which includes drilling and producing oil activities, can be an indicator of how the oil and gas sector is doing. More drilling could be expected if companies hire more staff. TIPRO represents more than 3,000 independent producers in Texas. The Permian Basin is home to some of the most prolific crude oil production in the United States, which, according to Energy Information Administration, accounts for less than half the total U.S.
BP approves Ginger Gas Project in Trinidad and Tobago
BP said that it has approved the Ginger gas project in Trinidad and Tobago. This is one of ten projects named by Murray Auchincloss, CEO, in a recent strategy overhaul to support BP's renewed emphasis on oil and natural gas. The company stated that Ginger will start production in 2027 and reach a maximum of 62,000 barrels equivalents per day. Trinidad and Tobago has encouraged BP and other producers of natural gas to increase production in order to meet demand for its flagship liquefied gas facility, Atlantic LNG and its petrochemical factories. LSEG preliminary data shows that BP owns 45% of Atlantic LNG.
China CNOOC 2024's net profit increases 11% on record production
CNOOC Ltd., a state-owned energy company in China, posted an increase of 11.4% on a record production in 2024 despite lower oil prices. The firm is continuing to focus on increasing its reserves and production. In a filing on Thursday to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, offshore oil and natural gas specialist reported net profit of 18.99 billion dollars. Sinopec Corp, a domestic rival, reported a 16.8% drop in net income to 50.3 billion yuan. CNOOC achieved its high-end target by increasing oil and gas production 7.2%, to 726.8 millions barrels of oil equal (boe). The company's total production costs have remained low, at $28.52 per boe.
EIA: US crude stocks fall as refining increases.
The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude inventories dropped last week, as refiners increased production. Gasoline and distillate stocks also fell. The EIA reported that crude inventories dropped by 3.3 millions barrels, to 433.6 million in the week ending March 21. This was a far cry from the 956 thousand barrels analysts had predicted in a survey. Refinery crude production increased by 87,000 barrels a day. The refinery utilization rate also rose, by 0.1 percent, to 87%, for the third consecutive week, as refiners finished their seasonal maintenance. Brent crude futures, and U.S.
Glencore refinery in South Africa invests in cleaner fuels
Astron Energy, an affiliate of the global commodity trader Glencore will invest up six billion rands ($328 million) in order to install new equipment, and to become compliant with South Africa’s cleaner fuel specification before a 2027 deadline. Astron officials have said that the foundations for a Gasoline Hydrotreating Process, which will reduce petrol to Euro 5 specifications has already been laid in the 100,000 barrels a day crude oil refinery near Cape Town. The Clean Fuels II regulation in South Africa, which stipulated that the sulphur content in petrol and diesel must be reduced to 10 parts-per-million (ppm)…
Suriname's Staatsolie raises 515.8 millions dollars through bond issue
Suriname’s state-owned energy firm Staatsolie raised $515.8 millions through the issuance of debt bond aimed at raising capital for the small South American country’s first offshore oil and gas project. Staatsolie must raise $2.4 billion in order to acquire a 20% stake of the $12 billion GranMorgu Project, which will be operated by TotalEnergies. The first production is expected in 2028. The company is in negotiations with foreign banks for up to $1.5billion in financing. This year. The company also put aside cash reserves.
Iraq plans to increase oil production above 6 million barrels per day by 2029
Iraq plans to increase oil production to 6 million barrels per days (bpds) or more by 2029. This was announced on Sunday by the Iraqi oil ministry, according to Iraq's state news agency. Bassem Mohammed Khodeir, the undersecretary of the Oil Ministry, told Reuters that Iraq aims at achieving its target by oil exploration and drilling activities across the country. He cited a recent agreement with oil giant BP for redevelopment of four Kirkuk oil fields and gas fields. Officials from the oil ministry say that Iraq's current production of oil is around 4 million barrels per day.
Baker Hughes reports that US oil and gas rigs have risen for the first time in 3 weeks.
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. added oil and gas rigs this week for the first time since three weeks. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, increased by one in the week ending March 21. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still 31 rigs or 5% lower than this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by one this week to 486, while gas-rigs increased by two to 102. Oil and gas rig counts are expected to decline by 5% and 20% respectively in 2024, as the lower U.S.
Sources say that Elliott met with BP investors in order to discuss further changes.
Two shareholders have confirmed that Elliott Management, an activist investor in BP, has met with several of the company's largest shareholders to form a consensus on more changes. These could include cost reductions and a possible leadership reshuffle. BP's stock has performed worse than rivals Shell, Exxon and Shell in the past five years. Investors have blamed this in part on 2020 plan of the company to focus on its renewable business and cut oil and gas production. After watering down this plan, BP accelerated the pivot back to hydrocarbons with a new strategy last month.
UK's Energean terminates Carlyle deal
Energean, a UK-based gas company, announced on Friday that it had terminated its agreement with Carlyle to sell some of its assets because regulatory approvals were still pending in Italy and Egypt. In June 2024, the two companies struck a $945 million deal that would allow Carlyle to establish a new Mediterranean-focused oil and gas company, led by former BP CEO Tony Hayward, by utilizing Energean's assets in Egypt, Italy, and Croatia. "While I'm disappointed that Carlyle wasn't able to obtain the necessary approvals for Egypt and Italy…
Shell plans to deliver gas from Venezuela to Trinidad by 2026, according to sources
Shell Plc aims to start producing natural gas in Venezuela's Dragon field and export it to Trinidad and Tobago, an hour earlier than the initial 2027 start date. The project demonstrates the industry's hope that sanctions against Venezuela will remain in place despite recent tighter enforcement. The people stated that the partners intend to begin survey work in January and decide to drill three wells. They will also need to renew their U.S. licence later this year. U.S. sanctions are aimed at virtually the entire Venezuelan gas and oil industry which is controlled and owned by PDVSA, the state-owned company.
Russell: OPEC and IEA are focused on China's oil demand but it is the crude imports that matter.
What is more important to the crude oil market? Which is more important: the growth forecasts by major agencies of Chinese oil demand or the actual weakness of imports? The International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), both talk about the demand for oil when they forecast the future of the oil industry in China, the largest crude importer of the world. It is a practice that has been around for a while and is not challenged by the market. There is a disconnect in the fact that China's oil exports are actually declining.
Follow This, a BP activist investor, urges voting against Chair Lund on energy transition
BP activist investor Follow This intends to ask shareholders at the 17th April shareholder meeting to vote against Helge Lund being reappointed, claiming he had a duty to give investors a voice on the scrapping of energy transition targets. In a February strategy overhaul, CEO Murray Auchincloss announced that BP would cut spending on renewables while increasing investment in oil and natural gas. This was a revamp of the 2020 strategy, which had predicted a 40% reduction in its oil and natural gas output by 2030. The main criticism of Follow This is that the shareholders haven't been given a chance to vote directly on the new strategic direction.
Russell: OPEC and IEA are focused on China's oil demand but it is the crude imports that matter.
What is more important to the crude oil market? Which is more important: the growth forecasts by major agencies of Chinese oil demand or the actual weakness of imports? The International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), both talk about the demand for oil when they forecast the future of the oil industry in China, the largest crude importer of the world. It is a practice that has been around for a while and is not challenged by the market. There is a disconnect in the fact that China's oil exports are actually declining.
Mexico's Pemex has confirmed that it is in discussions with Slim regarding Ixachi investments.
Claudia Sheinbaum, president of the Mexican Energy Company Pemex, said that Pemex was in discussions with Carlos Slim's companies about an investment into Ixachi, Mexico's largest natural gas field. Last week, it was revealed that officials from Pemex's and Slim’s companies were considering an alleged mixed contract for Ixachi field in Veracruz and a joint operation agreement for deepwater Zama in the Gulf of Mexico. Sheinbaum said that GrupoCarso, which is one of Slim’s companies, was already involved with some aspects of Ixachi’s operation. It currently drills deep wells. Sources have said that mixed contracts would be used in Ixachi.
Mexican tycoon Slim targets two of Pemex’s key fields to gain clout within the energy sector
Sources familiar with the matter say that the Mexican state energy company Pemex has been in contact with Carlos Slim, and the billionaire could be asked to help fund two of the most promising crude oil fields and natural gas deposits in the country. These negotiations, which were not previously reported, show Slim's increasing influence in Mexico's energy sector. His business empire, which includes telecommunications and banking, retail, insurance, and hospitality, is expanding. Slim, who is one of the richest men in the world…
Executives say that AI will lead to cheaper and faster oil production. CORRECTED.
Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston explained that artificial intelligence has accelerated oil and gas drilling, and has prompted companies to reconsider areas they previously deemed too expensive or difficult to develop. AI was a major topic in several sessions of the largest energy conference. Oil producers are looking for ways to stay profitable amid a plummeting price of oil and concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs may slow down global energy demand. Ann Davies, BP’s senior vice-president of wells, revealed that the UK oil giant BP uses AI to predict problems and steer drill bits before they occur.
Executives say AI will lead to cheaper and faster oil production.
Executives at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston explained that artificial intelligence has accelerated oil and gas drilling, and is prompting companies take a second glance at areas they previously deemed too expensive or difficult to develop. AI was a major topic in several sessions of the largest energy conference. Oil producers are looking for ways to stay profitable amid a plummeting price of oil and concerns that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs may slow down global energy demand. Ann Davies, BP’s senior vice-president of wells, revealed that the UK oil giant BP uses AI to predict problems and steer drill bits before they occur.
Financial Times – March 13,
These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Intel named Lip-Bu Tan, a former board member who has worked in the chip industry for many years, as its new CEO on Wednesday. Pat Gelsinger was ousted by the board of the struggling U.S.-based chipmaker back in December. Keir starmer, the British Prime Minister, will pledge on Thursday to reshape government services by tackling a "cottage-industry of checkers and blocks" and using AI to achieve efficiencies. However Downing Street has insisted that he won't take a "chainsaw" to state. The U.S.
EIA: US crude oil inventories are rising, but fuel is being drawn down due to ongoing maintenance.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA), which tracks seasonal refinery maintenance, reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude stockpiles increased and fuel inventories decreased last week. The EIA reported that crude inventories increased by 1.4million barrels, to 435.2million barrels for the week ending March 7. This was compared to analysts' expectations in an online poll of a 2million-barrel increase. The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, fell by 1.2 millions barrels in the past week. The report prompted a rise in oil futures. Oil futures rose after the report. This week, oil production was lower than expected.
BP CEO: It's time to increase U.S. production of gas
HOUSTON, 11 March - BP will increase U.S. Natural Gas production in its onshore shale operation following the recent rise of domestic gas prices. CEO Murray Auchincloss announced this on Tuesday. Auchincloss said at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston that "with rising gas prices, it is time for the Haynesville basin" in eastern Texas. As new LNG export terminals on the Gulf Coast ramped-up, the benchmark U.S. Natural Gas prices more than doubled in the last year to $4.4 per million British Thermal Units (mmBtu). BP's onshore U.S. shale operation produced 434,000 barrels equivalents per day last year.
Experts say that Trump's tariffs against steel and aluminum will increase costs for US energy companies
The proposed U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs will increase costs for U.S. Oilfield Services companies that rely on this metal for their operations. Oilfield service firms like ChampionX and Patterson UTI are the backbone for the North American oil and natural gas industry. They provide essential equipment and services to drill, produce and maintain. Steel is the lifeblood of these industries - drilling platforms, pipelines and refineries, compressors and storage tanks, offshore platforms, and offshore platforms. On Tuesday, Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel imports from 50% to 100%.
CERAWEEK - IEA chief sees investment needed in existing oil and gas fields
Fatih Birol said that the International Energy Agency in Paris, which is headed by Fatih Birol himself, has a responsibility to invest in oil and natural gas fields for the sake of global energy security. After years of pressure from fossil-fuel advocates, the pro-drilling campaign was relaunched. He said, "I would like to be clear... that there will be a requirement for investment. This is especially true to combat the decline of the existing fields." At the CERAWeek conference on energy in Houston. He said that there was a "need for upstream oil and gas investments".
CERAWEEK - Australia's Santos will increase investment in the US due to pro energy policy - CEO
Kevin Gallagher, CEO of Santos Australia, said that the company will increase its investments in the United States due to the energy-friendly policies of President Donald Trump and his administration. Trump wants to maximize the domestic oil and natural gas production, and has reverted many of Joe Biden's policies that were meant to encourage a shift to a low-carbon economy. Gallagher, in remarks made at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston, said: "We will increase our investment in the U.S. as it is a very attractive proposition. The U.S.
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. Even though oil prices are down, many producers continue to focus on capital discipline rather than uninhibited drilling. Simonelli…
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. These lawsuits were brought by California, Connecticut Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
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 Murray Auchincloss said that a decision to increase fossil fuel output and abandon green energy goals is "resonating", as he races against time to convince investors that he can change the fortunes of the oil giant.
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. Oil and gas rig counts are expected to decline by 5% and 20% respectively in 2024, as the lower U.S.
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. This will give producers more certainty about future tax rates. Oil and gas producers claim that the windfall tax, which was introduced three years ago, when prices were surging, has wiped out profits.
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. In a press release, the Mauritania Environment Ministry…
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. Reliance, in a filing on the exchange, said that it has received legal advice that the division bench judgement and this provisional request are not sustainable and is now taking steps to contest the judgment.
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 2,900 and 4,000 metres beneath the surface, while those in Qintong are buried 3,430 to 4,560 meters deep. Sinopec said that both fields have demonstrated high-volume production from single wells with a long-term stable output.
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. However, Trump's threat of imposing a 10% tariff for the 4 million barrels a day (bpd), or Canadian crude imported to the U.S., could change this.
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. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by two this week to 486, while gas-rigs increased by three to 102.
Petrobras will commission four additional ships by 2026, bringing the total to 48.
Magda Chambriard, the Chief Executive of Petrobras, said that four new support vessels would be ordered by the company by 2026. This will bring its total number of ships to 48. Petrobras is bolstering its fleet in anticipation of a higher oil production offshore over the next few decades, as it brings new production units online at Buzios. The field expects to produce 2 million barrels of oil per day by 2030. The oil giant's commissioning of the new vessels follows the President Luiz inacio Lula da S Silva's plan to revitalize the shipbuilding industry by using the firm to create jobs and fuel demand.
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), in the fourth quarter 2024 to 7.1 bcfed by 2025 or 7.5 bcfed by 2026 depending on the market conditions.
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. Pemex reported earnings of 14.6 billion pesos for the fourth quarter before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization. This metric is used to measure operating performance.
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. ADNOC, a state-owned company, has ambitious plans to develop the LNG and natural gas industries…
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. He accused Maduro of not making progress in electoral reforms or migrant return. According to data from vessel monitoring, in January crude exports via active U.S.
EIA: US crude stocks fall as refining increases, fuel inventories increase
The Energy Information Administration (EIA), which released its report on Wednesday, said that U.S. crude stockpiles dropped unexpectedly as refining activity increased, while gasoline and distilate inventories showed a surprise build. The EIA reported that crude inventories dropped by 2.3 millions barrels, to 430.2 million in the week ending February 21. This was in contrast with the analysts' polled expectations of a rise of 2.6 million barrels. Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub for U.S. Crude Futures, saw its stocks rise by 1.3m barrels. They now total 24.6m barrels. This is the highest level since November. The U.S.
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. "We will increase upstream production and investment to enable us to continue producing high-margin energy for many years.
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. British Ministers plan to offer concessions in their plans for AI companies that will make it easier to use work protected by copyright.
Iraq and BP agree on four Kirkuk oil fields
Iraq and oil giant BP signed a contract to redevelop Kirkuk's four oil and gas fields. BP announced the deal on Tuesday. This is a major breakthrough for Iraq where production has been hampered by war, corruption, and sectarian tensions. The signing takes place a day before BP updates investors on its strategic plan. It is widely expected that BP will reduce investments in renewable energies and return to investing more in oil and natural gas. A senior Iraqi oil official said in early February that BP expects to spend as much as $25 billion on the project over its lifetime.
Italy's Saipem and Norway's Subsea 7, to create a leader in energy services
Saipem, an Italian company, has agreed to merge its Norwegian competitor Subsea 7 into a global leader in offshore energy services. The deal is a 100% share transaction. The two companies announced that the combined group will be called Saipem7. It will have a backlog of orders of over 45 billion euros, revenue of around 20 billion and core earnings exceeding 2 billion. Saipem shares rose more than 5% before falling more than 4.2%. Subsea 7's stock was up 3.2% at 1324 GMT. Analysts raised concerns during a conference call with top management of the two companies about the antitrust risks and the long timeline for the completion of the merger.
Italy's Saipem and Norway's Subsea 7, to create a leader in energy services
Saipem, an Italian company, has agreed to merge its Norwegian competitor Subsea 7 into a global leader in offshore energy services. The deal is a 100% share transaction. The two companies announced that the combined group will be called Saipem7. It will have a backlog of orders of over 45 billion euros, revenue of around 20 billion and core earnings exceeding 2 billion. Saipem shares rose more than 5% before falling more than 4.5%. Subsea 7's stock was up 3.2% at 1324 GMT. Analysts raised concerns during a conference call with top management of the two companies about the antitrust risks and the long timeline for the completion of the merger.
BP abandons renewables targets and returns focus to fossil fuels
BP's CEO will abandon a goal to double renewable energy generation by 2030 and return the focus to fossil energies as part of a new strategy announced on Wednesday in response to investor concerns about earnings. BP shares have been underperforming their rivals over the past few years, and it has already abandoned its goal to reduce oil and gas production by 2030. Two sources familiar with the situation said that on Wednesday, at BP's capital markets day, Murray Auchincloss would tell investors that the company has abandoned its goal to increase renewable generation capacity by 20 times between 2019 and 2030, to 50 gigawatts.
ExxonMobil’s Esso, Mitsui and Woodside to Invest $200M in Gas Project Off Australia
ExxonMobil’s Australian subsidiary Esso Australia Resources and its partners have announced a nearly $200 million investment in the Kipper 1B project which will bring online additional gas supply from the Gippsland Basin.The project, which was approved by Esso Australia, and its co-venturers, MEPAU A (Mitsui), and Woodside Energy, will utilize the Valaris' jack-up rig VALARIS 107 to drill and install one subsea well into the Kipper field, and involve significant upgrades to the West Tuna platform.Drilling into the Kipper field is set to begin later this year…
The German antitrust watchdog wants to regulate the oil market more.
The German antitrust authority called for stronger regulation on the price quotes used on the oil market after an investigation showed that pricing was based on limited information which could be manipulated. Prices are often linked to wholesale contracts, and they can have an indirect impact on retail prices. These price quotations are provided by agencies that report prices, such as S&P Global Commodity Insights and Argus Media. The investigation by the cartel office found that in certain cases, a few market participants were able to dominate the reporting process. This raised concerns about possible price manipulation.
German antitrust watchdog flags price issues in the oil market
The German antitrust authority said on Wednesday that an examination of Germany's oil markets showed pricing issues. It called for stronger legal regulations on price quotes. The Federal Cartel Office will launch an investigation in 2022 into the German refinery and wholesale market for fuels following Russia's invasion. The two-stage investigation examined refinery pricing, fuel imports and supply chains as well as market behaviours. Its goal was to improve competition and price transparency within the sector. The investigation revealed significant risks to the competition posed by price quotes, which are crucial in pricing the entire oil value chain.
Guyana and Dominican Republic make progress on oil drilling, refining
Dominican President Luis Abinader announced on Tuesday that Guyana and Dominican Republic have made progress in negotiating agreements for offshore oil exploration, a fertilizer factory and possibly a refinery to be built in South America. In 2023, the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work on projects in energy. The Caribbean country has expressed interest in exploring Guyana’s Berbice off-shore block. This could require a re-delimitation of an area that was originally explored by a Toronto listed unit of CGX Energy, and eventually returned to the Government.
Venture Global rises after brokerages begin coverage with bullish rating
Venture Global shares reached a weekly peak on February 18th, after several brokerages began coverage of the company with bullish ratings despite its dull market debut in January. Venture Global shares rose 5.8% to $16.87. On January 24, the liquefied gas (LNG), provider started trading at New York Stock Exchange for $24.05 per stock, valuing the company as the largest gas exporter. Its market capitalization is $58.2 Billion. Investors and analysts are concerned about the company's long-term profits and legal disputes with UK energy giants BP and Shell. After the quiet period expired, J.P.Morgan and Citigroup began covering the stock.
Venture Global LNG says it will begin commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass Louisiana facility in April.
Venture Global LNG announced on Monday that it will start commercial operations in Louisiana at its Calcasieu Pass facility on April 15th, three years after shipping its first LNG cargo and following a dispute of two years with its customers. The company has informed long-term clients, including Shell and BP, of the beginning of commercial operations. Venture Global's failure years after it began selling superchilled gases on the spot market to begin commercial operations led to contract arbitration lawsuits brought by some world's leading oil and gas producers including BP Shell Edison Orlen Repsol.
US drillers added oil and gas drilling rigs in the third week of a row, according to Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that U.S. firms added oil and gas rigs this week for the third consecutive week for the first since December 2023. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, increased by two in the week ending February 14 to 588. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still 33 rigs or 5% lower than this time last. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs increased by one this week to 481 while gas rigs grew by one to 101. Oil and gas rig counts are expected to decline by 5% and 20% respectively in 2024, as the lower U.S.
Aker BP's top shareholder claims that the company has opportunities for acquisition.
Aker BP is a Norwegian oil exploration and production firm that was formed through a series mergers and purchases in the past decade. Its top shareholder stated on Friday that there are opportunities to consolidate further on Norway's Continental Shelf. Aker BP is aiming to increase its production to over 500,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day by 2028. This will be a significant improvement from the few thousand barrels produced daily in 2013. Oeyvind Ericsen, CEO of Aker ASA, which owns 21.16 percent of Aker BP shares, stated that Norway's second-largest oil company, behind Equinor, could continue to acquire assets from rivals.
ADNOC Drilling plans to refinance $1.25 billion worth of debt
ADNOC Drilling, a division of the state oil company in the United Arab Emirates, wants to refinance its debt due later this year, totaling $1.25 billion. Its chief financial officer announced that on Friday. Youssef Salm, the company's CFO, said that it will refinance term loans worth $500 million as well as a revolving loan facility of $750 million due in October 2025. He said that the capital expenditures for 2025 could be more than $1 billion, including mergers, acquisitions and other activities through its subsidiaries. It said Thursday that it expects to report a net income of between $1.35 and $1.45 Billion this year.
Financial Times reports that Elliott has a $5 billion stake in BP.
The Financial Times reported that Elliott Management, an activist investor, has revealed a nearly 5% stake in BP. This makes it the third largest shareholder of the oil company, citing sources close to the issue. The FT reported that Elliott was trying to get the British oil company, British Petroleum to reduce spending on renewables as well as make large divestments. BP shares dropped 1.3% to 462.5p after the FT article. A BP spokesperson refused to comment. Elliott Management didn't immediately respond to our request for a comment. Murray Auchincloss, the CEO of BP, is on a quest to revive BP’s performance and increase profits.
India demands that Russian oil suppliers comply with sanctions
India, the world's No.2 importer of crude oil from Russia, wants to buy Russian oil only if it is supplied by companies and ships that have not been sanctioned by the United States. India, the No. 2 importer from Russia of crude oil, will only buy Russian oil if the oil is supplied by ships and companies that are not sanctioned by America, according to the oil secretary. The escalating sanctions imposed by the west, including the United States, on Moscow have disrupted global oil markets and forced those who bought discounted Russian crude at a discount to find other ways to keep their purchases.
Sources: Validus Energy will buy natural gas producer, 89 Energy III, for $850 Million.
Sources familiar with the deal said that Validus Energy, a privately owned U.S. gas and oil producer, has agreed to purchase 89 Energy III, a rival company, for $850 million including debt. According to sources, the deal will add more than 25,000 barrels equivalent to oil per day to Validus’s growing footprint in Oklahoma's Anadarko Shale Basin, making it one of the biggest private players in U.S. Mid-Continent region oil. According to its website, 89 Energy III produces 70% gas. Kayne Anderson announced the formation of this company in May 2021, after a merger between three Mid-Continent oil and gas producers.
Aker BP and Total are seeking to increase their stakes in the giant Equinor oilfield
Aker BP announced on Wednesday that TotalEnergies, Aker BP and Equinor are seeking a review of their shares in Equinor’s Johan Sverdrup field in order to increase their holdings. Sverdrup, which is built across several offshore oil-and-gas licences, is owned by Equinor 42.63%, Aker BP 31.57%, Norwegian oil company Petoro 17,36%, and France's TotalEnergies 8.44%. Owners of a field that began producing oil in 2019 have the right of requesting a review of their stakes, based on data from production and reservoirs. Aker BP CEO…
Aker BP and Total are seeking to increase their stake in the giant Equinor oilfield
Aker BP announced on Wednesday that TotalEnergies, Aker BP and Equinor are seeking an independent assessment of their stakes within Equinor’s Johan Sverdrup field in order to increase their holdings. Sverdrup, which is built across a number of offshore oil and gas licenses, is owned by Equinor 42.63%, Aker BP 31.57%, Norwegian oil company Petoro 17.36%, and France's TotalEnergies 8.44%. Owners of the oil field that began production in 2019 have the right of requesting a review of their stakes on the basis of data from the reservoir and production.
Financial Times – February 12,
These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. BP told 39,000 employees their cash bonus would be only 45% of the target amount after a poor year in financial and operational performance. Gavin Isaacs, the chief executive officer of Ladbrokes' owner Entain has resigned after only five months. Novartis agreed to purchase Anthos Therapeutics for up to $3.1billion after Blackstone Life Sciences had funded the development of Anthos' treatment to prevent strokes and serious blood clots.
Woodside and Trinidad have agreed to initial commercial terms for deepwater natural gas, an executive says
According to three sources with knowledge of the discussions, a Woodside executive and a Trinidad and Tobago government official have agreed on an initial commercial agreement for the development of Woodside's Calypso gas deepwater discoveries. This brings the project closer to the final investment decision. In order to fully utilize its gas processing capability, the Caribbean country is Latin America's biggest LNG exporter. It has pushed producers, particularly those offshore, into accelerating natural gas production. Lack of gas has hampered LNG production and exports in recent years.
BP plans to add six new gaswells to the Azeri Caspian sea field in order for it continue production.
BP will add six new gas wells in Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea in order to maintain stable production for the future, a senior manager from the international energy giant said. BP operates 21 gas-wells in Shah Deniz. This area is being developed by a BP led consortium, and is crucial to Azerbaijan’s commitment to increase gas exports to Europe, offering an alternative to dwindling Russian supply. Azerbaijan will be expected to double their exports to Europe to at least 20 billion cubic meters a year under a deal signed in 2022.
BP promises fundamental reset as Q4 profit hit four-year low
BP announced a quarterly profit of $1.1 billion on Tuesday. This was lower than expected, and the lowest since 2004. The company also promised to reset its strategic direction after it became known that Elliott Management, an investor, had acquired a stake. BP has experienced a decline of earnings for the entire year 2024. This follows two years of record earnings, when energy prices stabilized and global oil demand weakened. But BP is underperforming its peers, and CEO Murray Auchincloss has been put under pressure to bring about change. The share price of 467.90 pence was up 0.6%, or about flat.
Source: Elliott wants operational changes at Phillips 66 after acquiring a stake of over $2 billion dollars
A person with knowledge of the matter said that Elliott Investment Management, an activist firm, has acquired a stake worth over $2.5 billion in Phillips 66. The company plans to make changes to its operations to increase its stock price. The person who spoke to Elliott said that he plans to encourage Phillips 66's midstream division to be sold or spun off. Elliott, an activist who disclosed a $1 Billion stake in Phillips 66, accepted Phillips 66's performance improvement plan to increase shareholder returns and the share price. Phillips 66 announced that it had appointed Robert Pease as a director, a seasoned refining executive.
Mexico's Carlos Slim: 'Complicated' deepwater project being evaluated
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim announced on Monday that he and his team are re-evaluating the deal they signed with Pemex, Mexico's state oil company to develop Mexico’s first deepwater gas field. The project has been plagued by issues over its commercial viability for years. The comments are in line with an exclusive published last month, which revealed that representatives from Grupo Carso of Slim and Pemex had discussed changes to the agreement to make the Lakach Project profitable despite lower gas prices forecast. Slim…
Wall Street Journal – Feb 10,
These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Activist investor Elliott Investment Management owns a stake in BP, the world's largest oil company. Elliott Investment Management will demand radical changes to improve BP's performance. -US President Donald Trump announced that he would announce 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imported into the U.S. on Monday. Chinese officials are putting together a list of U.S. tech companies that they…
Source: Elliott, an activist, has a stake in BP oil giant.
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management built a stake on oil major BP. A source familiar with this matter said that Saturday. The source didn't specify the amount at stake. Bloomberg News reported on Saturday that Elliott, a U.S. company, is trying to increase shareholder value by urging BP consider transformative measures. Elliott's stake was described as "significant" in the company. Elliott and BP declined comment. Bloomberg reported that the activist investor believes BP is undervalued. LSEG data shows that BP's market capitalization is about 69 billion pound ($85.62 million)…
Equinor reduces renewable energy targets due to industry headwinds
Equinor, a Norwegian energy company, has announced that it will reduce its ambitious targets for developing renewable energy by 2030. This is the latest European energy firm to lower green goals as the renewables market dries up. Equinor has followed in the footsteps of BP and Shell who have cut back on plans to expand renewable energy. This includes offshore wind where they had hoped to use their oil and gas experience at sea to help them. Investors' patience has been tested by the offshore wind industry, which has faced a number of challenges, including rising interest rates, inflation in costs, supply bottlenecks and regulatory changes.
Equinor Q4 profit beats forecast, raises 2030 oil output target
Equinor reported slightly higher profits than expected for the final quarter in 2024. It also increased its oil and natural gas production forecast, and scaled back plans to expand renewable energy capacity. Equinor's poll of 24 analysts predicted that the Norwegian oil and gas company would earn $7.90 billion in adjusted earnings for October-December, down from $8.56 million a year ago. Equinor released a statement that said "the expected (oil-and-gas) production in 2030 is around 2.2 millions barrels of oil equal per day. It said that the company has reduced its target for renewable energy in 2030 from 12-16 gigawatts to between 10-12 gigawatts.
Senators introduce resolution to repeal Biden methane fees rule
The U.S. Senate Republicans introduced a resolution on Tuesday to overturn Biden's administration's proposed methane emission fee, which was one of the last measures taken by the former Environmental Protection Agency to force oil and gas companies to reduce emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas. The resolution, introduced by Republican Senators John Kennedy from Louisiana and John Hoeven from North Dakota under Congressional Review Act(CRA), allows Congress to overturn new federal rules by a simple majority. It would reverse the escalating charges set by the agency that they have called a "tax".
BP to invest upto $25 billion in Iraqi Kirkuk oil and Gas
A senior Iraqi official said that BP will spend up to 25 billion dollars over the life of a project redeveloping four Kirkuk oil fields and gas. Baghdad is trying to win foreign investment back. If the deal is finalized, which could happen in the next few weeks, this would be a major breakthrough for Iraq. The country's production has been severely constrained over the years by war, corruption, and sectarian tensions. It is the second largest oil producer within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. A senior…
Senate confirms Chris Wright, a fracking executive, as Trump's Energy Secretary
The U.S. Senate confirmed Chris Wright as President Donald Trump's Energy Secretary on Monday. Wright is a fracking executive. Seven Democrats and an Independent who caucuses alongside Democrats crossed the aisle. Wright, 60 years old, has been the CEO of Liberty Energy, since 2011. He announced that he would step down as soon as the confirmation was received. In a Liberty Energy report published last year, he wrote that he believed climate change caused by humans is real but its dangers are "distant" and "uncertain." He also stated that government policies to combat climate change are doomed to failure.
Baker Hughes reports that US drillers have added oil and gas rigs to their fleet for the first time in 8 weeks.
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that the U.S. added oil and gas rigs this week for the first eight-week period. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, increased by six in the week ending January 31. Baker Hughes reported that despite this week's increase in rigs the total count is still 37 rigs or 6% lower than this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs increased by seven this week to 479, while gas rigs decreased by one to 98. This weekly increase in oil rigs is the largest since February 2023.
Infinity Natural, backed by Pearl Energy, valued at $1.3 Billion as shares soar in NYSE debut
Infinity Natural Resources, a company owned by private equity, was valued at $1.3 billion after its shares rose 10.8% on their New York Stock Exchange debut on Friday. Morgantown, West Virginia based company opened its stock at $22.16, over the $20 per share offer price. Infinity, supported by Pearl Energy Investments, NGP and other buyout firms, sold 13,25 million shares between $18 and $21 in order to raise $265 millions. The listing coincides with a Trump administration that is more pro-fossil fuels, and a constant stream of energy IPOs.
Mexico's Pemex, billionaire Slim renegotiate deepwater gas project
Five sources with knowledge of the situation said that the team of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and the state energy company Pemex were discussing significant changes to the deal to develop Mexico's first deepwater gas field. Grupo Carso, Slim's Mexican holding firm, signed a partnership agreement with Pemex last year in order to jointly develop the Lakach oil field in the Gulf of Mexico. The deal was made to revive the project that the state-owned company had twice abandoned due to high costs. Mexico-U.S. relations have been strained since then by President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs…
Wright to speak at conservative event in London
The organization announced on Thursday that Chris Wright, Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Energy Department will be speaking to a conservative think-tank in London, next month. Wright has advocated expanding fracking operations in previous meetings. Wright, whose confirmation by the Senate is expected on Friday, will not be attending the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference in person, according to a spokesperson for the department. It wasn't immediately clear if he would be addressing the conference from Feb. 17-19 virtually.
Baker Hughes signs supply agreement with Venture Global
Baker Hughes, a provider of oilfield services in the United States, announced on Thursday that it had signed an agreement with Venture Global for technology and equipment to support its projects involving liquefied gas (LNG). Venture Global has signed a framework agreement for services to support phases 1 and 2 in Louisiana's Plaquemines LNG Project. The demand for LNG has increased as Big Tech invests billions in AI technology. Venture Global, based in Arlington, Virginia, is the United States' second largest liquefied gas exporter. It has increased production at its second LNG facility, Plaquemines, rapidly.
Venture Global LNG has almost completed repairs at Calcasieu Pass Power Plant -FERC
A federal inspection report released on Wednesday said that Venture Global LNG may be able to complete power generator repairs before the end of the month. This could pave the way for the completion of the nearly three-year long commissioning process of the Calcasieu Pass LNG Plant. Venture Global has become the most valuable U.S. gas company after its initial public offering, which took place on Thursday. It blamed equipment failures and unreliability in its power generators for its inability deliver cargoes to long-term clients from Calcasieu Pass.
