REUTERS - The country’s oil production has fallen to just 1.17 million barrels-per-day, a 37 percent drop in the last year, according to reports from secondary sources to OPEC, leaving itstruggling to ship Russian entities the roughly 380,000 bpd it has agreed to send, according to PDVSA

IRNA - Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh referred to Total withdrawal from South Pars phase 11 saying Chinese company CNPC replaced the French company.

REUTERS - International benchmark Brent crude oil futures fell their lowest since December 2017 at $61.52 per barrel, before recovering to $62.13 by 0741 GMT. That was 47 cents, or 0.8 percent below their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slumped 2.3 percent, to $53.38 a barrel. Prices earlier fell to as low as $52.82, only 5 cents about the $52.77 level reached on Tuesday, which was the lowest since October 2017.

PLATTS - India's crude imports surged to 5 million b/d in October to register the highest monthly inflows in more than seven years as refiners rushed to ship in cargoes amid doubts on whether New Delhi would win a waiver on Iran.

GAZPROM - Pursuant to the draft investment program for 2019, the overall amount of investments will stand at RUB 1,325.724 billion, with RUB 963.019 billion intended for capital investments, RUB 151.505 billion for the acquisition of non-current assets, and RUB 211.2 billion for long-term financial investments.

NOVATEK - PAO NOVATEK (“NOVATEK” and/or the “Company) announced that its joint venture Yamal LNG has commenced initial production of LNG at the plant’s third LNG train. The total nameplate capacity of all three LNG trains is 16.5 mmtpa, or 5.5 mmtpa per LNG train.

REUTERS - Preliminary data compiled by Venezuela’s central bank shows the economy shrank by 16.6 percent in 2017 compared with the year before, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, the country’s sharpest decline on record.

IMF - Uzbekistan's gross domestic product (GDP) continued to expand at about 5 percent. Growth in the communication, construction, mining, and some service sectors remained strong through the third quarter.

REUTERS - U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures, were at $54.35 per barrel at 0534 GMT, 28 cents, or 0.5 percent below their last settlement. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $63.25 per barrel, down 23 cents, or 0.4 percent.

"Construction of TurkStream – a new gas pipeline connecting Russia and Turkey via the Black Sea – is entering its final stage. The work is well ahead of schedule: the offshore section of the gas pipeline was completed as early as today instead of in December as planned earlier. The swift pace of this project can be attributed to the concerted and coordinated efforts of the project team. In late 2019, the gas pipeline will be brought into operation. It will become an additional guarantee of energy security in Turkey and the countries of southern and southeastern Europe," said Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «В реализации проекта сооружения АЭС «Аккую» достигнут существенный прогресс с точки зрения выполнения основной задачи – физического пуска первого энергоблока в 2023 году к 100-летней годовщине Турецкой Республики. Ведется работа над привлечением инвесторов в проект, а также обучением будущих кадров на территории России», - рассказал Министр.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Учитывая, что пропускная способность газопровода составит 31,5 млрд. куб. м в год, он внесет большой вклад в укрепление энергобезопасности не только Турции, но и европейских стран, повышая глобальную энергетическую устойчивость. Уверен, что реализация такого масштабного проекта, как «Турецкий поток», будет способствовать дальнейшему укреплению российско-турецкого сотрудничества, - подчеркнул глава Минэнерго России.

GAZPROM - the growth in natural gas consumption around the world continued unabated. In 2016–2017, it added more than 3 per cent on a yearly basis. The growth rate for 2018 may be even higher.

BLOOMBERG - Saudi Arabian oil production surged to a record near 11 million barrels a day this month after the kingdom received stronger-than-usual demand from clients preparing for a disruption in Iranian supplies, according to industry executives who track Saudi output.

PLATTS - Recent activity in the US Gulf Coast shipping market signals that Chinese buyers have returned to buying US crudes oil after halting all imports of US grades in August and September.