Eni Starts Production at Obiafu 41
Italian oil major Eni said it has started gas and condensate production from the Obiafu 41 discovery, Niger Delta, three weeks after well completion. The discovery contains approximately 28 billion cubic meters of gas and 60 million barrels of condensate, and the gas from this discovery will…
Total, Zhejiang Energy Establish Bunkering JV
French oil and gas company Total has signed a deal with Chinese state-owned Zhejiang Energy Group (ZEG) to create a joint venture company to supply and delivery marine fuels in the Chinese region of Zhoushan.Total China Investment (TCI) will hold a 49% share in the new company while Zhejiang…
19 Fields in Production at Norwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea area, which is twice the size of the North Sea, has 19 fields in production and numerous discoveries are being developed and around 350 exploration wells have been drilled over the past 40 years, said Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).In many ways, the Norwegian Sea is a miniature version of the Norwegian shelf.
Shell Aims to Operate Egypt Concessions in 2020
Royal Dutch Shell is aiming to start operating in its concession areas in Egypt in the second half of 2020, a senior executive said.Shell won three oil and two gas concessions in Egypt in February.Eni, BP and ExxonMobil also won some of a total of 12 tenders as Egypt looks to sustain an investment…
Drilling Activity Buoyant in Norway
The number of wells drilled could challenge all-time high levels by the end of the year in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), while global offshore exploration activity has been flat year-to-date.Rystad Energy expects that this high activity level will be sustained through the winter season and into 2020.
Small Scale FSRU: Think Smarter Not Bigger
The global search for lower carbon forms of energy and demand for cost-effective ways to serve power demand in emerging markets and remote locations is driving interest in floating storage and regasification units (FSRU).FSRUs are a faster and more flexible way to import natural gas to power-constrained places…
Eni Committed to Cyprus Exploration
Italian oil major Eni is committed to the exploration of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone and its contractual engagements with the country, its chief executive said on Friday.Turkey said last week it had sent an oil-and-gas drilling ship to waters off southern Cyprus where Greek Cypriot authorities have already awarded hydrocarbon exploration rights to Italia
Novatek Launches Arcticgas
Russia's second-largest natural gas producer Novatek announced that Arcticgas, a joint venture between Novatek and PAO Gazprom Neft, commenced commercial production at the East-Urengoyskoye+North-Esetinskoye field within the Samburgskiy license area.It has an estimated annual production capacity…
BP Wins Offshore Oil Block in Brazil with $75 mln Bid
BP PLC won the production and exploration rights for Brazil's offshore S-M-1500 block in the Santos Basin on Thursday, paying the government a signing bonus of roughly 308 million reais ($74.6 million).Relatively major blocks in the Santos Basin received no offers in the bidding round in Rio de Janeiro, although there was significant interest in the nearby C
Shell Consortium, Petronas Win Oil Blocks Off Brazilian Coast
A consortium of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Chevron Corp and Qatar Petroleum won oil exploration and production rights in the C-M-713 block off the coast of Brazil on Thursday, paying the government a signing bonus of roughly 551 million reais ($133 million).Shortly before, Petronas won a separate offshore block, C-M-661, with a signing bonus of roughly 1.116 bil
Mozambique Awards Rovuma LNG Project Gig
Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV) has awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to a consortium of Fluor, JGC, and TechnipFMC for its Mozambique Rovuma LNG Phase 1 project in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.MRV, a joint-venture composed of Eni, ExxonMobil and CNPC, holds a 70% interest in the exploration and production concession of Area 4…
Angola Seeks to Reduce Gas Flaring to Capture Revenue
Angola wants to cash in on the roughly 3 billion cubic feet per day of associated natural gas it produces, most of which is now flared, the petroleum minister said on Wednesday.The announcement of efforts to generate more revenues by reducing gas flaring comes as Africa's second largest crude…
Digitalization: Oil Industry Could Save up to $100Bln
The global oil and gas industry can save as much as $100 billion through automation and digitalization in the 2020s, energy research firm Rystad Energy said."As much as $100 billion can be eliminated from E&P upstream budgets through automation and digitalization initiatives in the 2020s.
U.S. Drillers Cut Rigs Again: Baker Hughes
U.S. energy firms this week reduced the number of oil rigs operating for a seventh week in a row as producers follow through on plans to cut spending on new drilling this year.Drillers cut 3 oil rigs in the week to Oct. 4, bringing the total count down to 710, the lowest since May 2017, General…
Milito Named NOIA President
Veteran energy industry association executive Erik Milito has been named as the new president of the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) and will to take the helm of the offshore energy association effective November 1, 2019.“Erik is a strong leader and an effective communicator…
Norway Sovereign Fund to Divest E&P Firms
Norway's $1.1 trillion sovereign fund will divest companies solely dedicated to oil and gas exploration and production in a bid to shield itself from a long-term fall in oil prices, the finance ministry said late on Tuesday.The move will partly shift the world's largest sovereign wealth fund away from oil and gas…
PTTEP, Halliburton Ink Automation Deal
PTTEP, a national petroleum exploration and production company in Thailand, selected Halliburton Landmark for joint development of new well design workflow to automate drilling and completion engineering processes across the well lifecycle, the US-based oilfield services company announced.Halliburton…
Oil Search Boss to Retire in 2020
Papua New Guinea's biggest company Oil Search Ltd said on Tuesday long-serving Managing Director Peter Botten will retire from the firm next year after 25 years in the role, just as the company enters a major growth phase in PNG and Alaska.Botten will be succeeded by senior executive Keiran Wulff in February and will step down from the board on Aug.
Eni CEO's Wife Under Investigation in Congo Probe
Italian prosecutors are investigating the wife of Eni's chief executive as part of a wider probe into allegations of corruption involving the oil and gas major in Congo Republic, a prosecution document seen by Reuters showed.State-controlled Eni has previously said it was under investigation…
Malaysia Could List Petronas' Exploration Arm
Malaysia is considering listing the exploration and production arm of state energy company Petronas, the world's third-biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, state news agency Bernama reported on Friday citing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.Mahathir has previously said that the government was looking to sell or list some state assets to reduce debt.
Var Energi Buys Exxon's Norway Assets for $4.5 Bln
ExxonMobil said on Thursday it will sell its Norwegian upstream oil and gas assets to independent exploration and production company Vår Energi for $4.5 billion as part of an ongoing large-scale global divestment plan.The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, includes ownership…
US Shale is Not Doomed, Says Rystad Energy
Though bankruptcies among U.S. onshore exploration and production (E&P) companies are on the increase during these days, Rystad Energy doesn’t believe this indicates doom for the shale industry.“In a nutshell, we do not believe the recent bankruptcies that have beset a number of shale players are indicative of an industry-wide epidemic…
Ireland to Freeze New Offshore Oil Exploration Licences
Ireland plans to freeze the issuing of new exploration licences for oil in Irish waters but not for gas, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told journalists on Monday during a visit to New York, Irish media reported.Varadkar said he would announce at a U.N. climate summit "that Ireland will also…
Schlumberger, WesternGeco to Provide E&P Data
WesternGeco, the seismic and geophysical data solutions division of Schlumberger, has entered a strategic collaboration with IHS Markit, a global provider of information, analytics, and solutions.The collaboration will bring together data, technology, and expertise from two of the industry’s…
US Rig Count Slides
U.S. energy firms this week reduced the number of oil rigs operating for a fourth week in a row as producers cut spending, leading to slower growth in crude output.Drillers cut five oil rigs in the week to Sept. 13, bringing the total count down to 733, the lowest since November 2017, General…
Inpex Eyes Australia Expansion
Inpex Corp, Japan's top oil and gas company, wants to expand in Australia at its Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant and through potential acquisitions, as part of a plan to become a major regional gas company, its Australian boss said."In Australia our focus is on fully utilizing our…
OFS Sector Expected to Take a Hit
Lower oil prices will push the global oilfield services (OFS) sector into a recession in 2020 after three successive years of growth, according to Rystad Energy.In a new sector outlook update, Audun Martinsen, head of oilfield services research at Rystad Energy, forecasts a 4% decline in…
Brazil Sells Rights in Minor Oil Areas
Brazil auctioned off the exploration rights to 33 minor onshore and offshore oil and gas blocks on Tuesday, in what authorities framed as a bid to boost the industry outside of the nation's core, offshore pre-salt play.At an event in downtown Rio de Janeiro, firms ranging from the Brazilian…
Russia: Arctic Offshore Oil Feasible at $130/bbl
The head of Russia's Rosnedra subsoil agency said on Tuesday that the development of the Pobeda (Victory) offshore Arctic oilfield in the Kara Sea is feasible only at oil prices of $130 to $140 per barrel, Interfax news agency reported.Rosneft, the world's top listed oil firm by output, drilled a first exploration well in 2014 in the Kara Sea…
Baker Hughes: U.S. Oil Drillers Cut Rigs Again
U.S. energy firms this week reduced the number of oil rigs operating for a third week in a row after drilling slowed for nine straight months as independent producers cut spending by about 10% this year.Drillers cut four oil rigs in the week to Sept. 6, bringing the total count down to 738…
Industry Showcases Positive Changes at OE 2019
Commitment to accelerating the energy transition is gathering pace, as operators and technology developers at SPE Offshore Europe 2019 said they will invest to secure a more sustainable energy mix.In another encouraging sign that the energy industry is steadily continuing to emerge from the downturn…
India and Russia Sign Energy Deals
India and Russia have agreed on a five-year roadmap to step up cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, including investment, not only in exploration and production in each other's oil and gas fields but also in downstream projects.India invited Russian companies to invest in its oil refining…
US Judge Rejects Exxon, Shell Nigeria Case
A U.S. judge on Wednesday rejected Exxon Mobil Corp's and Royal Dutch Shell Plc's effort to revive a $1.8 billion arbitration award against Nigeria's state-run oil company, which stemmed from a dispute over a 1993 contract to extract oil near the African country's coastline.U.S. District…
Russia Open to Private Firms Developing Arctic
Russia's natural resources and environment minister said on Wednesday he supported allowing private oil and gas companies to work on the Arctic shelf.Speaking to reporters at an economic forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, the minister, Dmitry Kobylkin, said he supported…
PGNiG Starts Norwegian Drilling
Polish state-controlled oil and gas company PGNiG said its unit PGNiG Upstream Norway started drilling an exploration well in licence area PL838 (the Shrek prospect) on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, for the first time in the role of the operator.It is the first exploration well in this licence area…
Novatek Wins Arctic Gas Field
Novatek said that its wholly-owned subsidiary Arctic LNG 1 has won an auction for a geological survey, exploration and production license for the subsoil area including the Soletsko-Khanaveyskoye gas field.The license is located on the Gydan peninsula in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region, said…
China, Philippines: 'Bigger Step' Possible Offshore
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the Philippines could take a "bigger step" in the joint development of oil and gas resources in the South China Sea if they can "properly" handle their dispute over sovereignty.Xi made the remarks on Thursday in a meeting in Beijing with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has positioned himself as a friend o
CNOOC Earnings on the Rise
China's national offshore producer CNOOC Ltd reported a near 19% rise in first-half profit on Thursday, as higher sales of oil and gas offset weaker global oil prices.The listed arm of state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp said that it was able to manage the impact on its business of the China-U.S.
BP Exits Alaska with $5.6Bln Sale
British oil major BP Alaska announced that it is selling its entire business to Hilcorp Alaska, marking the exit from Alaska after six decades.The $5.6 billion sale includes Opens a New Window. interests in the Prudhoe Bay oil field, Point Thomson gas field and the trans-Alaska pipeline system…
Lekoil Acquires Interest in Niger Delta Basin
Nigeria and West Africa-focused oil and gas exploration and development company Lekoil has agreed to acquire, subject to the receipt of the required consents, a 45% participating interest in the production sharing contract (PSC) in relation to the oil prospecting licence (OPL) 276.The PSC is acquired by Lekoil 276 Limited, which is a 100 per cent.
Woodside to Implement Schlumberger's DELFI
Australia's largest oil and gas operator Woodside Energy will leverage Schlumberger's DELFI cognitive cloud-based software environment in an effort to increase consistency, reduce study cycle time and foster innovation in its subsurface characterization and development activities, Schlumberger announced on Tuesday.According to Schlumberger…
Empyrean Energy to Spud Well in Indonesia
Australia's Empyrean Energy provided an operational update in relation to the upcoming drilling campaign in the Duyung PSC in the West Natuna basin, offshore Indonesia, in which Empyrean holds an 8.5% interest.The oil and gas development company with interests in China, Indonesia and the United States…
US Drillers Add Oil Rigs
U.S. energy firms this week increased the number of oil rigs operating for the first time in seven weeks despite plans by most producers to cut spending on new drilling this year.Companies added six oil rigs in the week to Aug. 16, the biggest increase since April, bringing the total count to 770…
Gazprom Lead Oil and Gas Growth Worldwide
Russian giant Gazprom saw the most production growth among world’s exploration and production (E&P) companies during the five-year span from 2014 through 2018.It’s followed by Chinese player PetroChina Company Limited and U.S. shale company EQT Corporation ranking second and third, respectively…
EOG Bags Offshore Ireland Licence
United Kingdom-based exploration and production company Europa Oil & Gas (EOG) has been awarded a 15-year frontier exploration licence for an area in the Slyne Basin, offshore Ireland.The area includes Europa’s flagship Inishkea prospect, which lies immediately to the north-west of the producing…
Petronas Signs Offshore Deal with Gabon
Malaysian oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has signed an agreement with Gabon for two exploration permits after the African country enacted a new oil law last month.A Bloomberg report quoted Noel Mboumba, Gabon’s petroleum minister saying that the deal follows the enactment of a revised hydrocarbons code last month…
Investments in Exploration Drilling to Double
Rystad Energy sees investments both in offshore and onshore exploration drilling doubling in the next five years, compared to the last five years. Conventional onshore demand will be driven by Asia, Africa and South America.Europe on the other hand, will be a hot spot for offshore exploration…
Baker Hughes: U.S. Cuts Rigs for Fifth Straight Week
U.S. energy firms this week reduced the number of oil rigs operating for a fifth week in a row as most independent producers cut spending even though majors were still pushing ahead with investments in new drilling.Drillers cut six oil rigs in the week to Aug. 2, bringing the total count down to 770…
Petrobras Posts Highest-ever Quarterly Profit
Brazilian state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA posted its highest ever quarterly profit on Thursday and handily beat analysts' estimates, thanks in large part to billions of reais in asset sales.In a securities filing, Petrobras, as the firm is commonly known, said second quarter net profit came to 18.87 billion reais ($4.92 billion).
Hess Corp Posts Smaller Quarterly Loss
Hess Corp reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss on Wednesday, helped by lower exploration costs and a surge in output in its Bakken shale and Gulf of Mexico assets that also prompted the company to raise its 2019 production forecast.The company also cut its full-year spending plans…
BP and Eni Ink Exploration Deal in Oman
Supermajors BP and Eni on Wednesday signed an exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA) for Block 77 in central Oman with the Ministry of Oil and Gas of the Sultanate of Oman.Block 77 covers a total area of over 2,700 square kilometers. BP and Eni will each hold a 50% interest in the EPSA…
GSP Offshore, Trident Black Sea Bid in Ukraine
GSP Holding company GSP Offshore SRL is the preferred drilling and engineering services provider of Trident Black Sea, in its bid for the right to negotiate a production sharing agreement (PSA) with the Ukrainian government for the offshore Dolphin block in the northwestern part of the Black…
KNOC Aims to Sell Stake in Dana Petroleum
State-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) is considering upping the stake it is planning to sell in its British unit Dana Petroleum after failing to lure a buyer for the 30% previously on offer, banking and industry sources said.KNOC had hired Canada's Scotia Bank to help with selling part of the oil and gas producer…
Ocean Monarch Mobilises to Otway
Australian upstream oil and gas exploration and production company Cooper Energy announced the semi-submersible drilling rig Ocean Monarch, operated by Diamond Offshore, has commenced mobilisation from the Gippsland Basin to the Otway Basin where it is to drill 2 offshore gas exploration wells.According to a press release…
Neptune Acquires Interests in Offshore Indonesia
Neptune Energy East Sepinggan, subsidiary of the European exploration and production company Neptune Energy has agreed to acquire interests from the Eni East Sepinggan Limited, a unit of Eni in the Kutei basin production sharing contracts (PSC) offshore Indonesia.According to a press release from the Italian multinational oil and gas company…
Total Plans $5 Bln in Asset Sales
French energy giant Total will sell around $5 billion worth of assets, mostly from its upstream exploration and production business, as it seeks to focus on low breakeven projects that can weather weak oil prices, it said on Thursday.The company reported a 19% year-on-year drop in adjusted net profit to $2.9 billion in the second quarter…
South-Khadyryakhinskoye Gas Flows
Russian largest independent gas producer and LNG player Novatek has begun commercial production at the South-Khadyryakhinskoye gas field, whose capacity is estimated at about 1 bcm of natural gas per year.“The South-Khadyryakhinskoye field is located in close proximity to the Company’s existing infrastructure…
Beach Energy to Boost Drilling Spend
Beach Energy, Australia's third-largest independent oil and gas producer, ended the 2019 financial year more cashed up than expected and plans to step up spending on drilling while keeping an eye out for acquisitions, its boss said on Wednesday.Beach paid off debt on its A$1.6 billion ($1.1 billion) acquisition of Lattice Energy within just 18 months…
Aker Energy IPO May be in Late 2019 or 2020
Norwegian investment firm Aker could launch its planned initial public offering (IPO) of Aker Energy in late 2019 or in 2020, depending on when Ghana approves the development plan of its Pecan oilfield, the CEO said.The company, controlled by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke, has said it wants to make Aker Energy a leading exploration and production c
Hurricane Energy Spuds Lincoln Crestal
UK-based oil exploration and production company Hurricane Energy said it has spudded the second of three wells on the Greater Warwick Area in the UK North Sea.Well 205/26b-B well, or Lincoln Crestal, was was spudded – the start of the drilling process – using the Transocean Leader rig, which…
