August 2015

The Spratly Islands- at the heart of the dispute- are a collection of 750 islands, reefs, cays and atolls in the South China Sea. The region is rich in extensive natural gas and oil reserves and is recognized for the fishing opportunities it offers. The islands enjoy a strategic location in Northeast Asia’s most prominent maritime commerce routes; the waterway facilitates international sea-borne trade worth $5 trillion every year.

Crude oil production in September from seven major US shale plays is expected to decline 93,000 b/d to 5.27 million b/d

Russian energy giant Gazprom estimates the cost of constructing the first branch of the Turkish Stream pipeline at €4.3 billion ($4.72 billion), while the overall price tag for all four legs of this project are estimated at €11.4 billion, First Deputy Head of Gazprom's Project Management Department Aleksei Serebryakov said Monday.

U.S. oil and gas company ConocoPhillips is reviewing its portfolio in Indonesia and may soon seek buyers for a stake in a production sharing block it operates in the Natuna Sea, company and government sources said.

As at the end of 2014, Africa has proven natural gas reserves of just under 500 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) with 90% of the continent’s annual natural gas production still coming from Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Egypt.

During the quarter, Apache closed the sales of its LNG business, and remaining oil and gas assets in Australia . “Exiting these businesses eliminated our exposure to projects with large capital-spending commitments and uncertain project timing,” said John J. Christmann IV, Apache chief executive officer.

The U.S. declared one of Russia’s largest offshore oil and natural gas fields off limits to American tools and expertise, potentially disrupting Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s plans to liquefy the fossil fuel for export.

Total sales (net of excise tax, VAT and customs duties) increased by RUB 89,516 million, or 6 %, to RUB 1,648,253 million in the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014.

U.S. Rig Count is up 10 rigs from last week to 884, with oil rigs up 6 to 670, gas rigs up 4 to 213, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. U.S. Rig Count is down 1,024 rigs from last year at 1,908, with oil rigs down 918, gas rigs down 103, and miscellaneous rigs down 3. The U.S. Offshore rig count is 38, up 4 rigs from last week, and down 24 rigs year over year.

U.S. Rig Count is up 10 rigs from last week to 884, with oil rigs up 6 to 670, gas rigs up 4 to 213, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. U.S. Rig Count is down 1,024 rigs from last year at 1,908, with oil rigs down 918, gas rigs down 103, and miscellaneous rigs down 3. The U.S. Offshore rig count is 38, up 4 rigs from last week, and down 24 rigs year over year.