PLATTS - China consumed 280.30 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2018, up 18.1% year on year, the National Development and Reform Commission said on its website late Thursday. The natural gas consumption growth in 2018 outpaced the growth rate of 15.3% in 2017 and 6.6% in 2016, respectively, according to the NDRC's historical data, implying China's increasing demand for natural gas.

PLATTS - Russia's Gazprom Export believes that the record high gas sales of 200 Bcm in Europe and Turkey last year represented a "new reality" for Russian gas exports. Speaking Tuesday at the European Gas Conference in Vienna, CEO Elena Burmistrova also said she expected gas sales to remain at current levels over the next few years.

BLOOMBERG - Investment in oil and gas production collapsed by about $350 billion, or more than 40 percent, from 2014 to 2016 -- the sharpest contraction since the 1980s -- after crude fell from over $120 a barrel to less than $30, according to the International Energy Agency. The number of new projects approved in 2017 dwindled to the lowest in 70 years, the Paris-based agency said.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «С 2007 года количество стран-потребителей СПГ увеличилось с 17 до 40. В следующие 15 лет к ним присоединится ещё 15 стран. За то же время потребление СПГ выросло со 170 млн тонн до почти 300 млн тонн. Мы ожидаем, что к 2035 году потребление снова вырастет вдвое - уже до 600 млн тонн. При этом СПГ станет доминирующим в мировой торговле газом уже в течение ближайших пяти лет», - сказал Павел Сорокин.

API - U.S. production of crude oil (11.7 mb/d) and natural gas liquids (NGLs) (4.8 mb/d); Crude oil exports (2.4 mb/d, tie with Nov. 2018);

EIA - U.S. crude oil production continues to set annual records through the mid-2020s and remains greater than 14.0 million barrels per day (b/d) through 2040. The continued development of tight oil and shale gas resources, particularly those in the East and Southwest regions, supports growth in NGPL production—which reaches 6.0 million b/d by 2030—and dry natural gas production. Dry natural gas production reaches 43.4 trillion cubic feet by 2050.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is up 9 rigs from last week to 1,059 rigs, with oil rigs up 10 to 862 and gas rigs down 1 to 197. Canada Rig Count is up 23 rigs from last week to 232, with oil rigs up 18 to 146 and gas rigs up 5 to 86.

PLATTS - Natural gas flows via the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany totaled 58.8 Bcm in 2018 -- 3.8 Bcm higher than its nameplate capacity of 55 Bcm/year -- according to the operator of the pipeline.

SANTOS - Record quarterly sales revenue of $1,043 million, up 7% and including record quarterly LNG sales revenue of $449 million, up 11%. Record annual sales revenue of $3,696 million, up 19%

PLATTS - French liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports soared last year as Australia, the U.S. and Russia brought more LNG to world markets, French gas network operator GRTgaz said on Thursday.