US drillers have cut oil and gas drilling rigs in the fourth 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 fourth consecutive week for the first since late June. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by one to 582 during the week ending Sept. 6, which is the lowest level since June. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs remained at 483 this past week while gas rigs dropped by one to 94. This is their lowest level since April 2021. Oil and gas rig counts dropped by about 20% in the year 2023, after increasing by 33% and 67% respectively in 2022, 2021 and 2022.
Sources say Egypt is seeking 20 LNG cargoes to meet winter demand, as the gas crisis worsens.
Three trading and industry sources confirmed on Friday that Egypt issued a tender for 20 cargoes (cartons) of liquefied gas to meet the demand for electricity during winter, despite a sharp decline in domestic production. It is the first time Egypt issued an tender to cover the winter demand since 2018. In order to be a reliable gas supplier to Europe, the most populous Arab nation has reversed its recent position of being an exporter by buying over 30 cargoes of natural gas to cover summer demand. The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation's (EGPC) tender closes on September 12.
Kazakhstan asks for a delay in maintenance of the giant Kashagan Oilfield.
Trading sources familiar with the matter claim that Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry has asked shareholders to delay next year's maintenance, which was scheduled to start at the site on October 1st. Two sources claim that the ministry requested a delay in a letter sent to the partners of the North Caspian Operating Company consortium (NCOC), which operates Kashagan. The letter cited the fear of natural gas shortages during the winter season as the main reason. They added that a decision is expected on September 10. In October, the field that produces 400,000 barrels of oil per day was to be closed for 28 days to perform maintenance.
Rystad reports that US oil and gas M&A will reach a record in 2023, with the focus shifting away from Permian.
Analysts at Rystad, a consultancy, said that the appetite of U.S. producers for deals is close to last year's level, as a rise in interest in smaller oilfields offsets sluggish activity in the Permian Basin, which produces most oil. According to Rystad's analysis of the U.S. market through August, nearly $100 billion was spent on mergers and purchases (M&As) by U.S. producers. Another $46 billion worth of assets is currently up for sale. Rystad says that a record-breaking $155 billion in production and exploration deals were signed by 2023.
Perenco will acquire mature gas fields from BP
BP Trinidad and Tobago has signed an agreement with Perenco T&T for the divestment of its Immortelle offshore gas field and production facilities. The oil major said this in a Monday statement. It said that the agreement includes undeveloped resources in the Parang field. All fields except Parang have been in operation since 1993, and produce about 30 thousand barrels equivalents of oil per day. According to the agreement, bpTT is required to buy gas from these fields in order for it meet its contractual obligations. This sale is part of a broader BP strategy to streamline operations and concentrate on assets with higher value.
Min says that seismic work will begin on gas fields shared between Trinidad and Venezuela.
Stuart Young, Trinidad and Tobago's energy minister, said on Facebook on Friday that seismic work is expected to begin in the next few days at the offshore gas fields shared between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuela issued a license in July allowing for the development of the Cocuina Field, its side of reservoir. In early 2014, the U.S. also approved this project. It will be developed by Britain’s BP and Trinidad’s National Gas Company. Cocuina and Manakin, whose Venezuelan part belongs to the Plataforma Deltana offshore gas project, which is currently idle, have 1 trillion cubic feet in proven reserves of gas.
Shell to make large cuts in its oil exploration division: sources
Shell will cut its oil and natural gas exploration and production workforce by 20%, according to company sources. CEO Wael Sawan is extending his cost-saving efforts to this highly profitable division following the deep cuts made in renewables and low carbon businesses. Sources said that the restructuring of the exploration, wells development, and subsurface units would result in hundreds of job losses around the globe, with the greatest impact in offices in Houston, The Hague, and Britain. Sources added that consultations will be held with the employee representative bodies to determine the exact 20% reduction.
Sources say Shell plans to make large cuts in its oil exploration division.
Shell will cut its oil and natural gas exploration and production workforce by 20%, according to company sources. CEO Wael Sawan is extending his cost-saving efforts to this highly profitable division following the deep cuts made in renewable energy and low-carbon businesses. Sources say that the restructuring of the exploration, wells development, and subsurface units is expected to result in hundreds of job losses around the globe, but will be most felt in Britain and The Netherlands. Sources added that consultations will be held with the employee representative bodies to determine the exact 20% reduction.
Shell to make large cuts in its oil exploration division: sources
Shell will cut its oil and natural gas exploration and production workforce by 20%, according to company sources. CEO Wael Sawan is extending his cost-saving efforts to this highly profitable division following the deep cuts made in renewables and low carbon businesses. Sources say that the restructuring of the exploration, wells development, and subsurface units is expected to result in hundreds of job losses around the globe, but will be most felt in Britain and The Netherlands. Sources added that consultations will be held with the employee representative bodies to determine the exact 20% reduction.
US crude, gasoline stockpiles fall, distillates build, EIA data shows
The Energy Information Administration (EIA), which released its report on Wednesday, said that the U.S. crude and gasoline inventories decreased last week while distillate stocks increased. Data showed that crude stocks dropped by 846,000 barges to 425.2 million bars in the week ending August 23. This was far below what analysts had predicted in a poll, which expected a draw of 2.3 million barrels. The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, fell by 668,00 barrels during the past week. The global benchmark Brent and U.S. Crude futures both extended their losses after the data revealed the lower than expected draw.
CNOOC China posts record profit in the first half of 2018 on robust output growth
CNOC, the Chinese offshore oil-and-gas major, posted a record profit for the first half of this year on Thursday. This was largely due to higher oil prices and increased output. CNOOC reported in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that net profit attributable shareholders increased 25% to 79.73 yuan (US$11.19 billion). CNOOC's oil and gas production increased by 9.3%, to 362.6 millions barrels of equivalent oil. This was due to the expansion of its reserves. Among the key discoveries made during the reporting period were Lingshui36-1, the first ultra-deepwater field in the South China Sea and the Bozhong26-6 and Penglai9-1 oilfields.
Mexico's new president appoints an energy expert to lead Pemex
On Monday, Mexico's new president nominated Victor Rodriguez as the next executive director of the heavily indebted oil company Pemex. This was one of the last nominations to the politically and financially volatile energy sector. At a press event, Rodriguez stated that working with the Finance Ministry would be crucial in stabilizing his company, the most indebted of all oil companies in the world. He also stressed the importance of producing less polluting fuels. The cabinet of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum who assumes office in October has been announced. It is a mixture of new faces and holdovers from her mentor's administration.
US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs in the US for a second consecutive week - 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 a second consecutive week for the first since late June. The number of oil and gas drilling rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by one in the week ending August 23. Baker Hughes reported that the total number of rigs is 47 or 7% lower than it was at this time last. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs remained at 483 in this week's report, while gas-rigs dropped by one to 97. Oil and gas rig counts dropped by about 20% in the year 2023, after increasing by 33% and 67% respectively in 2022, 2021 and 2022.
Jiaao, a biofuel company in China, has brought BP on board as an investor for its SAF unit
Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech, a Chinese biofuel company, announced on Friday that its sustainable aviation (SAF), unit had entered into an investment agreement with BP. This is the first time a global oil giant has invested in China's green aviation fuel. BP will invest 354 million yuan (49.56 millions) in Lianyungang Jiaao Enproenergy Co., which is building a 500,000 tons per year SAF facility in the eastern coast city of Lianyungang. Jiaao was one of the first investors in China to invest more than $1 billion in turning waste cooking oil, which is a high-carbon fuel, into aviation fuel that can be exported and used for domestic use.
UK faces legal action for new North Sea oil and Gas Licences
A marine conservation group is challenging in court the decision of Britain to issue new oil and natural gas exploration licenses. The organization claims that ministers failed to take into account the impact of these licences on marine life. Oceana UK has filed a lawsuit against 31 licenses granted by the previous British government to the North Sea Transition Authority in May of this year, as part of its latest round for oil and gas licensing. A licence for exploration does not always lead to a producing field. However, environmental…
Senegal establishes commission to review oil contracts
On Monday, Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane sonko announced that the country had set up a panel of experts in legal, tax and energy sectors to review oil and gas contracts, and to work on rebalancing them to serve national interests. After assuming office, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye - who had defeated the candidate of the ruling coalition in a landslide win in March - ordered an audit of oil, gas, and mining sectors and promised to renegotiate contract terms with foreign operators if necessary. Authorities haven't shared any details about the audit, or provided updates on any renegotiation plan.
Orlen, a Polish oil company, signs a one-year contract with BP for 6 mln tonnes of oil
According to a Monday announcement, the Polish refiner Orlen has agreed to receive 6 metric tonnes of oil per year from British energy giant BP. Orlen, a Polish refiner, said that the deliveries of North Sea crude oil will cover approximately 15% of Orlen’s needs and that both companies are willing to work together on future joint projects. In a press release, BP Polska's CEO Bogdan Kucharski stated that "we count on Orlen for future projects aimed to accelerate energy transformation". Poland produces most of its power from coal but plans to reduce this share due to increasing carbon emissions costs.
US drillers reduce oil and gas rigs a second time in 3 weeks - Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes, a leading energy services company, said that U.S. firms have cut oil and gas rigs this week for the second time within three weeks. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by two in the week ending August 16. Baker Hughes reported that the total number of rigs is down by 56 or 8.7% from this time last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by two this week to 483 while gas rigs increased by one to 98. Oil and gas rig counts dropped by about 20% in the year 2023, after increasing by 33% and 67% respectively in 2022, 2021 and 2022.
Venture Global doesn't need any more time from BP to begin production, BP says to regulators
BP Plc, the oil and gas producer, told federal regulators that it had reviewed confidential documents and did not believe Venture Global LNG needed more time to start commercial production. Calcasieu Pass, a plant owned by Venture Global LNG, has been the subject of a longstanding dispute involving BP and Shell regarding access to liquefied gas produced at the plant. Venture Global will become the second-largest U.S. super chilled gas exporter when it begins producing its new 20,000,000 metric tons per year (MTPA) at the end of this year.
EIA: US crude oil inventories are rising, but fuel consumption decreased last week.
The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude stockpiles unexpectedly rose last week while gasoline and distillate stocks fell. The EIA reported that crude inventories increased by 1.36m barrels, to 430.7m barrels for the week ending August 9, compared with the 2.2m barrels analysts expected in a poll. The EIA reported that crude stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, fell by 1.7 millions barrels. Crude futures continued to lose money following the unexpected build. Brent futures traded at $80.32 per barrel at 10:48 am, down 37 cents. ET (1448 GMT), whereas U.S. crude dropped 63 cents to $76.72 a barrel.
Sources say that Brazil's Petrobras is looking to add another oil field in Buzios, according to sources
Three sources familiar with the matter said that Petrobras, the state-run oil company in Brazil, has started studies to implement a new platform for oil production on the Buzios oil field. A source said that each Buzios platform costs an average of $3.5 billion. The vessel under consideration would be a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is intended to increase gas production in Buzios. Petrobras has not yet commented. Buzios, which is located in the Santos Basin, is Brazil's second-largest field by production.
Analysts say that new drilling technology could bring billions of barrels worth of oil within reach.
Analysts said that a breakthrough in oil production which producers claim can safely tap fields with ultra-high pressure could bring up to 5 billion barrels previously unaccessible crude into production. Chevron announced on Monday that it had successfully pumped the first oil out of a field with a pressure of 20,000 pounds per sq. inch, which is a third higher than any previous well. The $5.7 billion Anchor Project uses specially-designed equipment from NOV Dril-Quip, and drillships by Transocean. The No. The No. The 2010 Macondo blowout in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 workers and contaminated fisheries. It also covered beaches with oil.
Exxon reports 59 job losses at Texas agency following the acquisition of Pioneer
Exxon Mobil laid off 59 employees following the acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion, according to an application filed with the Texas Workforce Commission. Exxon has confirmed that more than 1,500 Pioneer workers will be offered new jobs as a result of the merger. Around 2,200 people worked for Pioneer. According to the filing, 39 workers were laid off from Las Colinas in Irving, Texas - a Dallas suburb that was home to Pioneer Natural Resources’ former headquarters. Exxon didn't say how many people of the 59 would be laid off or how many would get new jobs with the company.
Chevron achieves industry-first in ultra-high-pressure oil field
Chevron announced on Monday that it had achieved a breakthrough in technology by producing the first oil under extreme pressures from a U.S. Gulf of Mexico Field. The $5.7 billion project called Anchor ushers in a new era of deepwater production that was previously off limits due to the lack of equipment capable of coping with pressures up to 20,000 pounds square inch. Chevron, along with TotalEnergies, expects the Anchor project to be productive for at least 30 years. The floating platform can pump up to 75,000 bbls of oil per day and 28 million cu ft of natural gas. The field is located about 140 miles away (225 km) from the coast of Louisiana.
Kemp: Oil traders focus on economy, not dwindling stock.
The oil prices have fallen in recent weeks, as traders focus their attention on a potential slowdown of the major economies. At the end of the month of June, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) advanced economies had 2,761,000,000 barrels of crude and refined product in their commercial stocks. The stocks were 120 million barrels below the seasonal average of the past ten years (-4%, or -7.71 standard deviations), and the deficit was now 74 million barrels higher than the previous end-of-March (-3%, or -4.47 standard deviations). According to the Short-Term Energy Outlook, prepared by the U.S.
Sources say that Petrobras has obtained environmental licenses for Brazil's oil production to increase.
Three people familiar with the matter said that Brazil's state oil company Petrobras obtained environmental permits to expand production at two offshore fields and one vessel could start earlier than expected. Petrobras can now increase production at the Mero and Buzios oil fields. Buzios will benefit from the early launch of the FPSO vessel Almirante Tamandare (floating production, storage and offloading). The fields are located in the Santos Basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Petrobras and Brazil’s environmental agency Ibama didn't immediately comment on these licenses. Petrobras stated that the FPSO will still start production in 2025.
Kemp: Oil traders focus on the economy, not dwindling stock
The oil prices fell in recent weeks, as traders looked past the depletion of global inventories and focused on a future threat that could be posed by the possible slowdown of major economies.At the end of the month of June, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) advanced economies had 2,761,000,000 barrels of commercial crude and refined product stocks.The stocks were 120,000,000 barrels below the seasonal average of the past ten years (-4%, or -7.71 standard deviations), and the deficit was now a whopping 74…
Venture Global LNG Accuses Kiewit of Sharing Confidential Documents with Shell
Venture Global LNG, a U.S.-based liquefied gas company, sued Kiewit Construction on Friday for allegedly passing confidential documents to Shell Plc.Calcasieu Pass, a plant owned by Venture Global LNG in Louisiana has long been the subject of a dispute involving BP Plc and Shell over the access to LNG produced at the facility.Venture Global filed with the New York State Supreme Court stating that "Kiewit had been entrusted this information in order to facilitate its construction of a natural-gas liquefaction terminal and export facility in Cameron Parish in Louisiana, developed by Venture Global."Venture Global stated that the confidential information
Sources say that the new'supermanager' of Brazil's Petrobras has been tasked to boost investment.
Sources said that the Brazilian oil giant Petrobras appointed Wagner Victer as a "super manager" to increase capital expenditures in order to satisfy President Luiz-Inacio Lula Da Silva's demands. Lula sees Petrobras as a vehicle for creating jobs and developing the economy, but in recent years the company faced obstacles to investing due to environmental licensing and supplier issues. Two sources with knowledge of the situation said that Victer would oversee and coordinate the 102 billion dollar investment plan 2024-2028. This year alone, the investment plan is estimated to be $18.5 billion, mainly in exploration and oil production.
Australian regulator: No decision on Woodside Browse Gas Project yet
Western Australia's environmental regulator announced on Monday that it will release recommendations in 2025 on Woodside Energy’s Browse gas project. A newspaper had reported earlier this week that the large project could be rejected. This $20.5 billion gas project off the coast of Western Australia, the largest in the country but still untapped resource has been on the drawing boards for years. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Monday that the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) sent preliminary comments to the company, in February, calling the proposed terms "unacceptable".
Oil and Gas Rig Numbers Drop in the US
U.S. energy firms today cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for the first time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes stated in its closely followed report on Friday.The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by three to 586 in the week to Aug. 2. the overall rig count down 73, or 11%, below this time last year. Baker Hughes said oil well were consistent at 482 this week, while gas rigs fell by three to 98. focused on paying for financial obligation and improving shareholder returns rather of raising output. U.S. while U.S.
US Energy Firm Payouts to Oil Investors Top Exploration Spending for First Time
Top U.S. energy companies last year paid out more of their earnings to shareholders than they invested in new oil and gas fields for the first time, according to a report released on Tuesday.The outlook for stronger energy prices has not changed the focus on investor returns from the U.S. industry, according to the report's authors, Ernst & Young LLP. U.S. energy companies have been focused on regaining favor with investors after years of overspending on production growth hurt returns and put them in the doghouse.The returns focus has lifted the energy sector to about 4.5% of the S&P 500's market valuation…
OMV Petrom Makes Largest Crude Oil Discovery in Decades
Romanian oil and gas group OMV Petrom, majority-controlled by Austria's OMV, said on Tuesday it discovered new crude oil and natural gas deposits equal to about three quarters of its overall 2022 production.The deposits are the largest crude oil discovery OMV Petrom has made in decades, it said, and were found in southern Romania holding over 30 million barrerls of oil equivalent (boe) of recoverable resources."The new discoveries will contribute to reducing the decline of our production and to the continuity of the supply of essential products for the economy…
Equinor Finds New Oil Near North Sea Fram Field
Equinor and partner Wellesley report discovering oil in the Troll and Fram area in exploration wells 35/10-7 S and 35/10-7 A in the Toppand prospect. Preliminary calculations of the expected size indicate between 3.3 and 5.2 million standard cubic meters of recoverable oil equivalent, or around 21–33 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent.“Our exploration activity is central for our ambitions at the Norwegian continental shelf. We are pleased to see that our success in the Troll- and Fram area continues. We also regard this discovery to be commercially viable and will consider tying it to the Troll B or Troll C platform.
Williams Inks Deal for Whale Deepwater Transport Services
Williams (NYSE: WMB) reached an agreement with Shell Offshore Inc. and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to provide offshore natural gas gathering and crude oil transportation services as well as onshore natural gas processing services for the Whale development located approximately 10 miles from the Shell-operated Perdido host facility.Williams plans to expand its existing Gulf of Mexico offshore infrastructure via a 25-mile gas lateral pipeline build from the Whale platform to the existing Perdido gas pipeline and a new 125-mile oil pipeline to the existing Williams-owned GA-A244 junction platform.
Buyers Reportedly Line-up for a Crack at Seadrill
Noble Corp and a consortium that includes Transocean Ltd and Dolphin Drilling are competing to acquire the assets of Seadrill Ltd, the bankrupt offshore oil driller controlled by Norwegian-born tycoon John Fredriksen, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.Seadrill is trying to emerge from its second U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy in four years: like many in the industry, it expanded its drilling rigs too aggressively in the mid-2010s to withstand a subsequent plunge in energy prices and rig hire rates. It is negotiating a deal to restructure its more than $7 billion debt pile in exchange for handing company control to its creditors.U.S.
WTI-Brent Spread Narrows as Oil Market Tightens
The price gap between the world's two most actively traded oil contracts narrowed to its lowest in more than seven months, demonstrating that U.S. oil output is still in the COVID-19 doldrums with the market likely to remain undersupplied.North Sea Brent futures traded at a premium of $1.89 to U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) on Friday, its narrowest since November 11."We believe that the recent narrowing of the WTI-Brent price spread ... is noteworthy, with North America taking the mantle from Chinese demand or OPEC cuts and disruptions in tightening the global oil market…
Oil Drillers, Bitcoin Miners Bond over Natural Gas
On U.S. oil patches stretching along the Rockies and Great Plains, trailers hitched to trucks back up toward well pads to capture natural gas and convert it on the spot into electricity.The trailers - carrying pipes, generators and computers - are called “mining rigs.” But their owners aren’t there to drill for oil. They are using stray natural gas unwanted by oil companies to power their search for another treasure: cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.Cryptocurrencies are virtual coins exchanged without middlemen, such as central banks, to purchase goods and services.
Biden to Target Drilling, Fossil Fuel Subsidies in New Climate Orders
President Joe Biden was set on Wednesday to sign executive actions to combat climate change, including pausing new oil and gas leases on federal land and cutting fossil fuel subsidies as he pursues green policies in stark contrast to those of his predecessor Donald Trump.The orders map out the direction for the Democratic president's climate change and environmental agenda and mark a reversal from Trump, a Republican businessman-turned-politician who sought to maximize U.S. oil, gas and coal output by removing regulations and easing environmental reviews.Biden's focus on climate change has cheered international partners and environmental advocates…
US Oil Rig Count Rises for First Week Since March
U.S. energy firms cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating to a record low for a 12th week in a row, although they added one oil rig in the first weekly increase since March as a recovery in crude prices tempt some producers back to the well pad. The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by two to an all-time low of 251 in the week to July 24, according to data on Friday from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co going back to 1940.That was 695 rigs, or 73%, below this time last year.U.S.
Shale Pioneer Chesapeake Energy Files for Bankruptcy
Chesapeake Energy Corp filed for Chapter 11 on Sunday, becoming the largest U.S. oil and gas producer to seek bankruptcy protection in recent years as it bowed to heavy debts and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on energy markets.The filing marks an end of an era for the Oklahoma City-based shale pioneer, and comes after months of negotiations with creditors. Reuters first reported in March the company had retained debt advisers.Chesapeake was co-founded by Aubrey McClendon, an early and high profile advocate of shale drilling who died in 2016 in a fiery one-car crash in Oklahoma while facing a federal probe into bid rigging.
Norway Oil Companies Slash Investment Plans
Norwegian oil and gas investment, a key economic driver, is expected to decline sharply in 2021 after rising less than previously anticipated this year, an industry survey by the national statistics agency (SSB) showed on Thursday.The biggest drop will come in the exploration for new reserves and in spending on development plans, while ongoing oilfield construction work continues largely as expected, the data showed.The closely watched forecasts, based on data from oil companies, show 2020 investment plans have been cut to 180.3 billion Norwegian crowns ($19 billion) from 185.4 billion seen in February…
Nigeria Launches Licensing Round for Marginal Oilfields
Nigeria has launched its first licensing round for marginal oilfields in nearly 20 years, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said on Monday, despite court rulings last week that barred some of the fields from being auctioned.Marginal fields are smaller oil blocks that are typically developed by indigenous companies. The new licensing round is the first marginal field round since 2002, which the country hopes will boost oil output and bring in much-needed revenues from fees associated with the licenses."A total of 57 fields located on land…
Melbana Gets More Time to Find Beehive Drilling Partner
Australian oil and gas company Melbana Energy has been given more time to work on its Beehive offshore prospect in the Bonaparte Basin off W. Australia.The company said Friday that the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator had approved Melbana's application for a 12-month suspension of the work program conditions in respect of Permit Year 3 (with a corresponding extension of the permit term) for the WA-488-P block containing the Beehive prospect.As a result, Permit Year 3 now ends on 21 December 2021 and the permit…
US Proposal Would Allow Oil and Gas Drillers to Delay Royalty Payments
The U.S. Department of Interior has proposed allowing oil and gas companies to delay royalty payments due to the impacts of the new coronavirus pandemic.According to the web site of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Interior's Office of Natural Resources Revenue on May 20 sent a proposed rule titled "ONRR Reporting and Royalty Payment Delay Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)." Details of the proposal were not available.Interior Department officials were not immediately available for comment.(Reporting by Nichola Groom, Editing by Franklin Paul)
Norway: OMV Gets NPD Nod for Hades Drilling
Austrian oil and gas firm OMV has been granted a permit for the drilling of the offshore well 6506/11-12 S in the Norwegian Sea.The company's Norwegian subsidiary OMV Norge will use the Island Innovator semi-submersible to drill the appraisal well at the prospect named Hades in the production license 644.OMV Norge is the operator with an ownership interest of 30 percent. The other licensees are Equinor (40 percent), DNO (20 percent), and Spirit Energy (10 percent).The well will be drilled about 4 kilometers west of the Morvin field.
Petrofac Starts Rubie and Renee P&A Work
UK oilfield services firm Petrofac has kicked off the plugging and abandonment work on the Rubie and Renee fields in the North Sea using Awilco's WilPhoenix rig.Petrofac won the Rubie and Renee P&A contract with Hess in August 2019.Over the next three months, Petrofac will provide Well Operator, Well Engineering, and Project Management services to decommission four wells within the Rubie and Renee fields, 200km northeast of Aberdeen.Petrofac is responsible for detailed planning, direct procurement, and management of all sub-contracted services…
NOIA: U.S. Offshore Drilling Ban Would Crush Jobs, Govt Revenues
A U.S. ban on new offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, which presidential hopeful Joe Biden promised to enact if elected, would lead to hundreds of thousands of job losses and billions in lost government revenue over 20 years, an offshore drilling industry group said on Tuesday.The report by the Washington-based National Ocean Industries Association comes as Biden and other Democrats hoping to unseat Republican President Donald Trump in November's election have vowed to shift the country away from planet-warming fossil…
China to Boost Energy Reserve Capacity, Support Unconventional Gas Exploration
China said on Friday it will bolster the capacity of the country's energy reserves and offer lower gas and electricity charges to key industries, as it looks to ensure energy supply and offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.In energy announcements on the first day of the parliament, known as the National People's Congress (NPC), authorities also pledged to boost the country's oil and gas network and continue to support exploration for unconventional gas reserves.The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)…
US Grants Royalty Relief to Hard-hit Drillers
The Trump administration has granted royalty relief to several drilling companies producing oil and gas on federal lands in recent weeks, according to a government database, as the industry seeks help weathering low energy prices.The move shows drillers are taking the government up on its offer to consider royalty cuts on a case-by-case basis after the Interior Department rejected industry calls for blanket relief covering all federal leases.The U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved royalty rate cuts on at least 76 federal drilling leases in the state of Utah in recent weeks, according to the database.
Rystad: Oilfield Services Firms' Market Cap Halved. Offshore Drillers Have it Worst
Oilfield services companies have collectively lost almost half of their market capitalization, hit by the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices, with offshore drillers, in particular, the most affected, Norway's Rystad Energy has said in its analysis released on Friday."It is widely acknowledged that the oilfield services sector (OFS) is the energy world’s worst-hit market from the Covid-19 pandemic. What is staggering is the extent that the capitalization of listed OFS companies has fallen," Rystad said.Analyzing a representative group of 116 listed OFS companies…
Transocean Disposing Of Two Semi-Submersibles
Offshore drilling contractor Transocean is disposing of a pair of floating drilling units, the ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig GSF Development Driller II, and the midwater semi-sub Transocean 712.The 2005-built GSF Development Driller has been stacked since 2016.According to the company's recent fleet status report, the 1983-built Transocean 712 was stacked in April 2020, having worked for Chrysaor. The rig's contract will Chyrsaor will be substituted with either the Paul B. Loyd or the Transocean Leader rig."The…
Serica Hires WilPhoenix Offshore Rig for Rhum Well
Serica Energy has hired Awilco Drilling's WilPhoenix semi-submersible drilling rig for the intervention work on the Rhum-3 ("R3") well in the UK North Sea.The 3rd-Generation, Enhanced Pacesetter, harsh-environment, mid-water, semi-submersible drilling rig will start operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 and last approximately 70 days. The contract follows a letter of intent the two companies signed in February.The work program will involve recovering debris left in the well by the previous operator and removing an obstruction that is believed to be in place across parts of the downhole completion.
New Round of Layoffs at Maersk Drilling
Offshore drilling company Maersk Drilling has announced a new wave of layoffs and has revised its financial guidance for 2020, citing oil and gas companies' budget cuts and delays and cancellations in offshore drilling tenders.As previously reported, Maersk Drilling in April said it would lay off around 250-300 people in its North Sea crew pool, and mothball several drilling rigs due to the effects of low oil price on offshore drilling activities.The Danish offshore driller on Thursday announced a new round of cuts, this time onshore."...the need for onshore support is expected to be adversely impacted by the reduced offshore activity.
Equinor's Helleneset Offshore Well Comes Up Dry
Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor has completed drilling of the offshore exploration well Helleneset, formally known as well 30/6-31 S, without finding hydrocarbons.The well was using the West Hercules semi-submersible drilling rig drilled about 7 kilometers southeast of the Oseberg C platform in the North Sea and 140 kilometers west of Bergen.The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (Intra Heather Formation sandstones).According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the well…
Diamond Offshore Files for Bankruptcy
Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas on Sunday, after the company recently skipped making an interest payment and said it had retained restructuring advisers.The Houston-based contract drilling company's filing, one of 15 of its group companies seeking protection under Chapter 11, said day rates and demand for its services had "worsened precipitously" this year amid a "price war" between OPEC and Russia and the steep drop in oil demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.The company has significant operations in the Gulf of Mexico.The filing comes as the five biggest U.S.
Maersk Drilling Loses Two Offshore Rig Deals
Danish offshore drilling company Maersk Drilling has said it has received early contract termination notices for two of its drilling rigs.Maersk Drilling said Friday that Shell had the contract for the semi-submersible Mærsk Developer "with immediate effect." The original end of the contract for the Maersk Developer was expected to be in August 2020.Further, Aker BP has terminated the contract for the jack-up rig Maersk Reacher. The jack-up rig was hired for accommodation services on the Valhall field, offshore Norway, with effect from end-April 2020.
New Offshore Acreage Licensing to Drop 60% in 2020, Rystad says
Newly licensed offshore oil and gas exploration acreage is likely to fall by about 60% and onshore acreage by 30% compared with 2019 levels, Rystad Energy has said, as the Norwegian energy market analytics company expects more than half of the world’s planned licensing rounds to be canceled this year due to the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the low oil prices."This year was slated to be another remarkable year for exploration with about 45 countries launching at least 52 lease rounds, about 60% of them in offshore areas.
Offshore Drillers to Lose $3B Due To COVID-19, Low Oil Prices
Offshore drillings contractors leasing drilling rigs to oil and gas companies are set to lose contracts worth $3 billion in combined revenue in 2020 and 2021, Rystad Energy said Thursday, citing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices.According to Rystad, the estimated contract value in 2020–2021 is $30 billion in total; $20 billion in 2020 and $10 billion in 2021. "So far six rig years of contracts have been canceled, translating to approximately $400 million in contract value. These numbers will only increase as operators continue to slash capex budgets and delay projects…
Upland Relinquishes Moray Firth License
London-listed oil company Upland Resources has, with partners, relinquished an offshore license in the UK sector of the North Sea.Upland said Wednesday that it had relinquished Licence P2470 in the Inner Moray Firth. The license included blocks 11/23, 11/24c and 11/25b, surrounding the Wick Prospect in the Inner Moray Firth, on which Upland UK participated in the dry Wick Well (11/24b-4) at the beginning of 2019. The well was drilled using the Ensco-72 jack-up rig by the operator Corallian Energy"These blocks were applied for before the results of 11/24b-4 were known and…
Key Offshore Wildcat Wells At Risk of Being Suspended
At least nine of the world’s top planned exploration wells for 2020 are at risk of being suspended as a result of the blended impact of COVID-19 on oil and gas activities and the oil price war, Rystad Energy said Tuesday.These wells, the Norwegian energy intelligence firm said, located in Norway, Brazil, the Bahamas, Guyana, the US, Gambia, and Namibia would target a combined 7 billion barrels of oil equivalents (boe).The wells that Rystad Energy has identified as candidates for suspension are at risk because of their commercial viability under the current price levels…
Equinor Finds Oil at Monument Prospect in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
Norwegian oil firm Equinor, with partners Progress Resources and Repsol, has made an oil discovery in the Monument exploration well in the US Gulf of Mexico.The Monument exploration well found approximately 200 feet (c. 60 meters) of net oil pay with good reservoir characteristics in Paleogene sandstone. This provides an early indication of the productive reservoir interval at the well location, Equinor said Monday.The offshore well was drilled to a total depth of 33,348 feet (10,164 meters) using the Pacific Khamsin drillship.“We are pleased to have proved an accumulation of movable hydrocarbons in the Monument exploration well.
Oilfield Equipment and Services Spending to Fall to 2005-Low
Global spending on oilfield equipment and services this year will fall 21% from 2019 to $211 billion, the lowest level since 2005, according to a report to be released on Wednesday by consultancy Spears & Associates, as oil and gas producers slash spending.The decline comes as the coronavirus pandemic has crushed oil and gas demand, and Saudi Arabia and Russia pump full bore in a grab for market share that has shale producers reeling. U.S. oil futures fell 54% for the month of March, to $20.48 a barrel on Tuesday, below U.S.
Origin Energy to Defer Shale Drilling in Australia
Origin Energy will defer shale exploration drilling in Australia's Northern Territory until the second half of this year in a bid to protect workers from a coronavirus, the company said on Thursday.Origin, operator of a joint venture with Dublin-based Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd, resumed drilling in the Beetaloo Basin last year after a three-year break when drilling was banned, and had hoped to get first test results around July this year.It has estimated the Beetaloo Basin contains 6.6 trillion cubic feet of potentially recoverable…
Lekoil 'in Process' of Paying $2M to Optimum
Nigerian oil company Lekoil has said it is in the process of paying $2 million to Optimum Petroleum, its partner in an offshore block in Nigeria.The 2 million payment was agreed in January, and it is the first of two installments Lekoil is due to pay to Optimum Petroleum to cover "sunk costs and consent fees” for the OPL 310 offshore block. According to the agreement in January, where Lekoil got more time to make the payments, Lekoil is to pay $2 million by March 20, and another $7.6 million by May 2, for a total of $9,6 million to Optimum…
Archer Names New CEO, CFO
Oilfield services firm Archer announced Tuesday that Dag Skindlo will take over as the company's new Chief Executive Officer and that Espen Joranger will succeed Skindlo as Chief Financial Officer.Skindlo joined Archer as Chief Financial Officer and EVP Strategy in May 2016. A 28-year oil ad gas industry veteran, he joined Schlumberger in 1992 where he held various financial and operational positions before he joined the Aker Group of companies in 2005, where he held global CFO roles and Managing Director roles for several large industrial divisions.
Offshore Accounts for 60% of Oil Discoveries
Offshore discoveries accounted for more than 60% of global discoveries in 2019, up significantly on previous years, according to a study by GlobalData.GlobalData report reveals that while Colombia and Norway saw the highest number of discoveries drilled in 2019, Guyana, Mauritania and Russia hosted the most significant finds.In Guyana, ExxonMobil drilled five discoveries in the deepwater Stabroek Block. Following the additional well drilled in January 2020 (Uaru-1), the company has increased its estimated gross recoverable…
Apache Makes Major Discovery Offshore Suriname
Apache Corp and Total SA said on Tuesday they had made a major oil discovery in a closely watched area off the coast of South America's Suriname, sending Apache's shares surging nearly 27%.The discovery, dubbed "among the most anticipated in the world" by one brokerage, is seen as central to Apache's efforts to reduce its reliance on the Alpine High venture in Texas' Permian basin, which has suffered from a dive in natural gas prices.Analysts said it was impossible to ascertain as yet how much oil the well would generate but…
Saipem Tallies $1.7 Bln Drilling Contracts
Italian oilfield services firm Saipem announced Friday it has secured approximately $1.7 billion in new and extended drilling contracts for its offshore and onshore divisions.The offshore drilling contracts relate to activities to be executed in Norway and in Angola, Saipem said in a press release.The onshore contracts encompass 19 land-rigs located in Middle East, with power between 1,500 and 2,000 horsepower, and their duration range from three up to 10 years. In addition, new contracts and extensions on other existing contracts have been assigned for new works that will be executed in Bolivia, Perú and Romania, the company said.
Wintershall Dea Norge Wins Norway Permit
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Wintershall Dea Norge, a Norwegian unit of the German oil company Wintershall Dea, a drilling permit for well 66046604/5-2 S, which is located in the Norwegian Sea.According to NPD, the well will be drilled from the Scarabeo 8 drilling facility in after concluding the drilling of wildcat well 6604/6-1 for Wintershall Dea Norge AS in production license 894.The drilling program for well 6604/5-2 S relates to the drilling of an appraisal well in production license 894.Wintershall Dea Norge AS is the operator with an ownership interest of 40 percent.
U.S. Drillers Add Most Rigs Since Feb 2018
U.S. energy firms added the most oil rigs this week since February 2018 - primarily in the Permian shale - even though producers have been reducing spending on new drilling for much of this year.Companies added 18 oil rigs in the week to Dec. 20, bringing the total count to 685, the most since early November, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.In the same week a year ago, there were 883 active rigs.In the Permian in West Texas and eastern New Mexico, the nation's biggest shale oil play…
U.S. Drillers Add Rigs for first Week in Eight
U.S. energy firms added rigs for the first time in eight weeks even as producers follow through on plans to reduce spending on new drilling.Companies added 4 oil rigs in the week to Dec. 13, bringing the total count to 667, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.In the same week a year ago, there were 873 active rigs.That keeps the oil rig count on track to fall for the first year since 2016. The decline, however, only totals 218, which is much smaller than 2015's record 963 rig decline…
PTTEP Charters Energy Drilling for Arthit Gig
Singapore based Energy Drilling has been awarded a contract by the Thailand's oil and gas company PTT Exploration & Production International (PTTEP) to provide drilling services on the Arthit field in Gulf of Thailand.The builder and manager of self-erecting tender assist drilling rigs said in a release that this contract secures employment for the high specification tender rig EDrill-1, for a firm term of 3 years and 4 months with an option period of 7 months.The Arthit field is located 230km offshore of Thailand’s Songkhla province in the Gulf of Thailand.
Liberia Lines Up 2020 Offshore Licence Round
The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), has announced the launch of the next licensing round, expected to commence in April 2020.In a meeting held between NOCAL, LPRA and TGS, the next steps were unanimously agreed, to allow the government of Liberia to conduct a successful license round and thereby to attract the right investors to this promising exploration region.Nine blocks will be on offer in the Harper Basin, one of the last unexplored and undrilled regions offshore West Africa. TGS holds a range of multi-client data across this acreage to support the licensing round…
Sapura Energy Secures New Order
Malaysian oil and gas services firm Sapura Energy has secured several new contracts and contract extensions for its engineering and construction (E&C) as well as drilling segments.The contracts, valued at approximately RM615 million (USD 148 million), brings the total order book year-to-date to RM15.1 billion, which will increase work volume and utilization of assets.Building on its long-term relationship, Sapura Fabrication Sdn Bhd has won a contract from Hess Exploration and Production Malaysia B.V under the PETRONAS frame agreement…
KCA Deutag Wins UK North Sea Contract Extension
Canadian Natural Resources International (CNRI) has awarded KCA Deutag a five-year extension to a drilling operations and maintenance services contract.The UK-based international oil and gas services company said that multi-million pound contract is for the provision of drilling operations and maintenance services on CNRI’s three platforms - Ninian South, Ninian Central and Tiffany platforms.The two companies have a long history of working together, and over recent years have won various collaboration awards, in conjunction with other partners…
Providence to Operate Avalon as Total Exits
As Total E&P Ireland, a subsidiary of the French multinational oil giant, has withdrawn, Providence Resources has taken over operatorship of the Frontier Exploration Licence (FEL) 2/19, which contains the Avalon prospect, located offshore Ireland.FEL 2/19 is located in the southern Porcupine Basin, offshore Ireland and contains the undrilled Paleocene “Avalon” exploration prospect. FEL2/19 lies adjacent to FEL3/04 in which Providence also has an interest.Total had agreed a farm-out with the Irish oil and gas exploration company in 2017, with the French group taking a 50% increase in the prospect.
U.S. Drillers Cut Rigs for 12th straight Month
U.S. energy firms reduced the number of oil rigs operating for a record 12th month in a row after this week cutting rigs for a sixth consecutive week as producers slash spending on new drilling.Drillers cut three oil rigs in the week to Nov. 27, bringing the total count down to 668, the lowest since April 2017, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said on Wednesday in a report released two days early due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. <RIG-OL-USA-BHI>In the same week a year ago, there were 887 active rigs.In November, drillers cut 28 oil rigs.That puts the oil rig count on track to fall for the first time in three years.
Solveig buys oilfield operator Capricorn from Cairn
Norwegian pipeline firm Solveig Gas has agreed to buy oil firm Capricorn Norge from Cairn Energy for $100 million, completing its transformation into a North Sea field operator, Solveig's owner HitecVision said on Wednesday.The private equity fund told Reuters earlier this year it aimed to turn Solveig into an integrated exploration and production company, using the cash flow from its gas pipelines to fund expansion.Cairn separately confirmed the deal, adding it will use the proceeds to fund its ongoing oil business in British waters.Capricorn owns 10% in the Wintershall Dea-operated Nova field in the North Sea…
ADNOC to Buy Dozens of Rigs
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said its drilling subsidiary will acquire dozens of rigs to support that national oil company’s upstream growth plans.In the first phase of the wider fleet expansion program, ADNOC acquired, in November 2019, four technologically advanced and UAE-built land rigs with a total value of over AED 350 million ($100 million). Following the integration of the four rigs, which will join the fleet in the first quarter of 2020, ADNOC Drilling plans to acquire dozens of additional land, offshore…
