U.S. - The Trump administration imposed new sanctions prohibiting trading new debt and equity issued by the Venezuelan government and state oil company PDVSA.

U.S. Rig Count is up 451 rigs from last year's count of 489, with oil rigs up 353, gas rigs up 99, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 1. Canada Rig Count is up 71 rigs from last year's count of 146, with oil rigs up 31 and gas rigs up 40.

Brent crude futures, LCOc1 the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $51.92 per barrel at 0652 GMT, down 18 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $48.70 a barrel, down 12 cents, or 0.3 percent.

NYMEX September gas futures climbed 6.9 cents to $2.962/MMBtu as Monday's eclipse was projected to boost natural gas demand.

As of July 2017, the OPEC and participating non-OPEC producing countries achieved an impressive conformity level of 94 per cent. This is a demonstration of the commitment of participating producing countries to continue their cooperation towards the rebalancing of the market. The JMMC expressed great satisfaction with the results and steady progress made towards full conformity of the production adjustments, and encouraged all participating countries to achieve full conformity, for the benefit of producers and consumers alike. The JMMC also welcomed the participation of the UAE at the recent JTC meeting, where the UAE reiterated its commitment to adhere to its production adjustments for the remaining period of the Declaration of Cooperation.

«Мы видим наших турецких коллег в качестве надежных и долгосрочных партнеров. История экспорта российского газа в Турцию начинается с 1987 года. Помимо поставок газа с 1998 года компания ЛУКОЙЛ представлена в Турции сетью АЗС численностью порядка 600 единиц, также в республике работают компании «Роснефть» и «Татнефть». Россия является не только крупнейшим поставщиком газа в Турцию, но также обеспечивает примерно 19% потребностей Турции в нефти», - сообщил Александр Новак.

Rosneft Successfully Closes Strategic Deal for the Acquisition of 49% of Essar Oil Limited

US commercial crude oil inventories declined 3.3 million bbl during the week ended Aug. 18 compared with the previous week’s total, continuing a months-long downward trend.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd joint venture has started production at Gbaran-Ubie Phase 2, a key project in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.

U.S. - Industrial production rose 0.2 percent in July following an increase of 0.4 percent in June. The index for mining rose 0.5 percent in July for its fourth consecutive monthly increase. Within mining, gains in oil and gas extraction and in metal ore mining were partially offset by declines in nonmetallic mineral mining and in drilling and support activities. The decrease of 0.5 percent in drilling and support services followed 10 consecutive months of increases for that index.