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.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may suffer a financial crisis before winning the economic oil war with the United States if the oil prices remain at its current level. The Kingdom needs the oil price to be around $106 per barrel to maintain its economy.

Under the second stage of the Production Sharing Agreement of the Shah Deniz Project in Azerbaijan, LUKOIL Overseas Shah Deniz Ltd. (a fully-owned PJSC LUKOIL subsidiary) has signed in Baku a 12 year credit-facility agreement with a consortium of banks to borrow USD 1 billion.

The total U.S. trade deficit peaked at $762 billion in 2006, prior to the surge in U.S. oil and natural gas production. By 2014, it had dropped to $508 billion.

The six nations that make up Central Asia hold at least 11% of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, as well as substantial deposits of oil and coal, according to data compiled by BP. Afghanistan says its mineral wealth is valued at $1 trillion to $3 trillion.

“Russia sits on 25% of the world’s gas reserves and is very, very close to markets that we are very familiar with,” Van Beurden said July 30, on the sidelines of the company’s earnings presentation. Shell is also pushing “to see how we can work with Gazprom internationally.”

The Arctic has become a theatre for rival claims over a sea floor believed to be rich in minerals, oil and gas.