Business & Markets

Russian Oil Output to Hold Steady or Increase in 2024, Defying Earlier Sanctions Impact

Oil output in Russia, the third largest producer in the world after the United States and Saudi Arabia, is expected to be steady or even to increase next year as Moscow has largely overcome Western sanctions, analysts said.

Oil Producers Canadian Natural, MEG Urge Regulator to Back Trans Mountain Request

Canadian oil producers Canadian Natural Resources and MEG Energy are urging the country's energy regulator to approve Trans Mountain Corp.'s latest request for a change to building its pipeline expansion, saying timely completion is critical.

Chatterjee Fund Management Boosts Stake in LNG Developer Tellurian to 7.3%

Chatterjee Fund Management has increased its stake in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Tellurian Inc. to 7.3%, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed on Wednesday, up from 5.2% previously.

Oxygen Corrosion Control for Multiphase, Gas Phase Pipelines

(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry is committed to driving greater production and transportation from existing infrastructure, and ensuring effective asset integrity and flow assurance is essential to this objective.

TotalEnergies to Sell 17.5% Stake in LNG Developer NextDecade

NextDecade said TotalEnergies has offered to sell a 17.5% stake in the U.S. liquified natural gas company.

Williams to Acquire 230 Miles of Gas Pipeline, 115 Bcf Storage for $1.95 Billion

Pipeline operator Williams said on Wednesday it would buy a portfolio of natural gas storage assets from an affiliate of Hartree Partners LP for $1.95 billion to cater to rising demand from liquefied natural gas projects.

U.S. Adds Another 3 Million Barrels of Oil to Strategic Reserve

The United States has finalized contracts to purchase three million barrels of oil to help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) after the largest sale in history last year, the U.S. Department of Energy said on Tuesday.

Big Oil Enters 2024 Strengthened by U.S. Industry Consolidation

The oil and gas industry went on a $250 billion buying spree in 2023, taking advantage of companies' high stock prices to secure lower-cost reserves and prepare for the next upheaval in an industry likely to undergo more consolidation.

Foreign Shareholders Freeze Participation in Russia's Arctic LNG 2

Foreign shareholders suspended participation in the Arctic LNG 2 project due to sanctions, renouncing their responsibilities for financing and for offtake contracts for the new Russian LNG plant, the daily Kommersant reported on Monday.

U.S. Reveals Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit Plan, Explores Natural Gas Integration

The U.S. proposed rules on Friday for how energy companies can access billions of dollars in tax credits for producing low-carbon hydrogen using new clean energy sources but left thorny issues, such as how nuclear power could benefit, uncertain.

Oil Prices Stabilize Amid Middle East Tensions and Anticipation of U.S. Rate Cut

Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday as investors focused on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and optimism the U.S. Federal Reserve would soon start cutting interest rates, lifting global economic growth and fuel demand.

Russia Plans to Cut Seaborne Oil Exports by 100,000-200,000 bpd in January

Russia plans to cut oil exports from its sea ports in January by 100,000-200,000 barrels per day (bpd) from December levels amid increased throughput at its refineries, three industry sources familiar with export plans told Reuters.

ConocoPhillips Grants Final Approval for $8 Billion Willow Oil Project in Alaska

U.S. oil giant ConocoPhillips on Friday gave the financial greenlight to its $8 billion Willow oil and gas drilling project in Alaska.

Canada Commits Additional $1.5 Billion in Loans for Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion

The Canadian government is backing up to $1.5 billion in new commercial loans for Trans Mountain Corp., the crown corporation building an over-budget and long-delayed oil pipeline expansion to the Pacific coast.

Trinidad: First Output from Venezuela's Dragon Gas Field Expected in 2 Years

A natural gas project to be developed in Venezuelan waters by Shell and Trinidad and Tobago's state firm National Gas Company could achieve first output in the next two years if a positive investment decision is made, Trinidad officials said on Friday.

TotalEnergies to Restart Its Delayed Mozambique LNG Project in Early 2024

French energy firm TotalEnergies plans to restart its long-delayed $20 billion Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the first quarter of next year, two sources told Reuters late on Friday.

China Seeks Exemption from U.S. Sanctions on Russian LNG Plant

China's state oil majors CNPC and CNOOC have both asked the U.S. government for exemptions from sanctions on a new Russian LNG export plant, a Beijing-based industry official with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Equinor Unloads Azerbaijan Assets, Including BTC Pipeline

Norway's Equinor said on Friday it has agreed to sell its assets in Azerbaijan to state-owned energy firm SOCAR, including interests in the ACG oilfield and the BTC pipeline for an undisclosed price.

Lack of Arctic Tankers Puts Russia's LNG Development Dreams on Ice

Russia is hoping its shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will offset a sharp fall in pipeline gas exports to Europe, but a shortage of gas tankers and sanctions hold back its plans, analysts and industry sources said.

Smart Tech Takes Aim at U.S. Methane Emissions

(P&GJ) — It’s hardly surprising that major gas leaks hit international headlines. Known as super-emitter events, these leaks cause plumes of methane to escape into our atmosphere — sometimes for days on end. However, these leaks are often spotted by satellites orbiting our planet before they are even known about on Earth.

Energy Transfer Faces Allegations of Anti-Competitive Practices in Louisiana Pipeline Dispute

(P&GJ) — The dispute centers around Energy Transfer's denial of three projects seeking to cross its pipelines, leading to a legal battle impacting over $2 billion in energy infrastructure.

Germany's $55 Billion Gas Deal with Norway Ends Russian Dependency

Germany's decision to make Norway its biggest gas supplier, culminating in a deal this week that will cover a major chunk of its industrial needs, means it has replaced the formerly dominant Russia with another equally dominant supplier.

Canada Regulator Denies Trans Mountain Variance Due to Pipeline Integrity, Environmental Concerns

The Canada Energy Regulator said on Wednesday it denied a variance request from the Trans Mountain expansion project because the application did not adequately address concerns about pipeline integrity and environmental protection impacts.

ADNOC Signs 15-Year LNG Supply Deal with Unit of China's ENN

Abu Dhabi's state oil giant ADNOC said on Wednesday it signed a 15-year agreement to deliver at least 1 million metric tons a year of LNG to a subsidiary of China's ENN Natural Gas.

Shell, Trinidad's NGC Get License to Develop Venezuela's Dragon Gas Field

Shell and Trinidad and Tobago's National Gas Company (NGC) were awarded a license by Venezuela on Thursday to develop the 4.2 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) Dragon gas field and export its production to the Caribbean nation.

Woodside Energy to Supply LNG to Pilbara Minerals Unit

Woodside Energy said on Thursday it has signed a sales and purchase agreement with a unit of Pilbara Minerals for the supply of domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Pluto Truck Loading Facility in Western Australia.

Russia's Novatek Issues Force Majeure Notices Over Arctic LNG 2 Project

Novatek, Russia's largest producer of LNG, has sent force majeure notifications to some of its clients over future supplies from its Arctic LNG 2 project, four industry sources told Reuters on Thursday.

Harbour Energy Strikes $11.2 Billion Deal for Wintershall Dea Assets

Britain's Harbour Energy on Thursday agreed to acquire Wintershall Dea's non-Russian oil and gas assets in a $11.2 billion share and cash deal with BASF and LetterOne that creates one of the world's largest independent producers.

Balticconnector Still on Course for April Repair, Gasgrid Says

Finnish gas grid operator Gasgrid on Thursday said commissioning of the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was still technically possible in April of 2024, provided that ongoing design and repair work was successful.

FERC Approves MVP’s Southgate Gas Pipeline Extension in North Carolina, Alongside Rate Hike

(P&GJ) — The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) has received two federal approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): one for increased rates on the transportation of natural gas through the 303-mile pipeline and the other for additional time for the construction of a North Carolina extension known as the Southgate Project.