BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is up 4 rigs from last week to 1,067, with oil rigs up 4 to 873, gas rigs up 1 to 194, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 0. Canada Rig Count is down 4 rigs from last week to 191, with oil rigs down 4 to 123 and gas rigs unchanged at 68.

REUTERS - Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 was up 20 cents a barrel at $79.49 by 0740 GMT. U.S. light crude CLc1 was 15 cents higher at $68.80.

NIKKEI ASIAN REWIEW - China is expected to become the world's biggest importer of natural gas for the first time in 2018, overtaking longtime leaders Japan and South Korea.

PLATTS - Novatek will hold 49% and Fluxys 51% in the joint venture, which plans to build and operate a 300,000-mt-a-year terminal for receiving and unloading mid-scale LNG carriers, keeping LNG in storage, and providing downstream LNG distribution services.

PE - The development of Novatek's still-expanding Yamal liquefied natural gas project has so far proved to be largely immune from Western sanctions. As Asian demand surges, this is bolstering confidence among partners lining up to provide financing for the company's second LNG project on Russia's Arctic coast.

REUTERS - Exxon Mobil Corp is placing big bets on China’s soaring liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand, coupling multi-billion dollar production projects around the world with its first mainland storage and distribution outlet.

PLATTS - Norwegian natural gas exports to the UK jumped to their highest in six months Wednesday as consistently high UK prices incentivized flows normally only reserved for wintry periods.

AZERNEWS - The estimated cost of construction of nuclear power plant of Russian design in Uzbekistan will be about $ 11 billion, the launch of the first power unit has been planned for 2028, the Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Yury Ushakov said.

SHANA - Managing Director of the Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company (IGEDC) Hassan Montazer Torbati said the supply of one billion cubic meters per day of natural gas by National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) was one of the goals of the company by 2021.

WNN - China and Belgium have signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement was one of several accords signed in Brussels yesterday during a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.