SHANA - Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said the country’s petroleum revenues had exceeded expectations by 25 percent in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year which began on March 21.

REUTERS - Benchmark Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $80.26 a barrel at 0646 GMT, up 48 cents, or 0.6 percent, above their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $69.60 a barrel, up 48 cents, or 0.7 percent.

API - The American Petroleum Institute’s latest monthly statistical report shows the U.S. produced a record 11.0 million barrels of crude oil per day (mb/d) in September. U.S. liquid fuels production grew 2.2 mb/d year-over-year (y/y), and the U.S. met virtually all global oil demand growth. As supply increased, crude oil inventories also rose in September but remained nearly 14 percent below those of September 2017.

SHANA - First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said the country had plans for ensuring continuation of its oil sales under fresh US sanctions.

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.

NPD - Preliminary production figures for September 2018 show an average daily production of 1 607 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate, which is a decrease of 255 000 barrels per day compared to August.

REUTERS - U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was up 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $72.17 a barrel by 0648 GMT on Wednesday, having settled up 14 cents. Brent crude LCOc1 was up 26 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $81.67 a barrel, after settling up 63 cents the session before.

OPEC - We forecast that primary energy demand, globally, is expected to increase by 33%, or 91 mboe/d, between 2015 and 2040. A massive 24% of this anticipated increase will be from India, or 22 mboe/d.

PLATTS - India will be looking to ship in more crude oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to fill part of the vacuum created by reduced appetite for supplies from Iran, which is facing US sanctions, according to delegates and policy makers attending the India Energy Forum by CERAWeek.