Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced estimated second quarter 2015 earnings of $4.2 billion, or $1 per diluted share, compared with $8.8 billion a year earlier. Higher Downstream and Chemical earnings were more than offset by the impact of weaker Upstream realizations and lower asset management gains.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) reported earnings of $571 million ($0.30 per share – diluted) for second quarter 2015, compared with earnings of $5.7 billion ($2.98 per share – diluted) in the 2014 second quarter.

Centrica will cut around 10 percent of its workforce and sell up to 1 billion pounds ($1.56 billion) worth of upstream and wind assets by 2017 as Britain's largest utility looks to focus on energy supply and services.

The transaction is ostensibly intended to help energy company KazMunayGaz (KMG) reduce its $20 billion debt portfolio, which has been exacerbated by low oil prices.

Crude oil prices in first-quarter 2015 were the lowest in several years, which contributed to reduced profitability for these companies compared to previous quarters. Although companies reduced investment spending, declines in operating cash flow were greater, contributing to a decline in cash balances. Second-quarter 2015 results could show continued declines in profits, cash flow, and capital expenditure.

Russia is the world's largest producer of crude oil (including lease condensate) and the second-largest producer of dry natural gas. Russia also produces significant amounts of coal. Russia's economy is highly dependent on its hydrocarbons, and oil and natural gas revenues account for more than 50% of the federal budget revenues.

Global oil and natural-gas producers have delayed $200 billion of investment in more than 45 projects following the slump in crude prices, according to Wood Mackenzie.

OPEC and Russia say they expect the global oil market to become more balanced and stable next year after the recent sharp drops.

U.S. Rig Count is up 19 rigs from last week to 876, with oil rigs up 21 to 659, gas rigs down 2 to 216, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. U.S. Rig Count is down 1,007 rigs from last year at 1,883, with oil rigs down 903, gas rigs down 102, and miscellaneous rigs down 2. The U.S. Offshore rig count is 31, unchanged from last week, and down 29 rigs year over year. Canadian Rig Count is up 8 rigs from last week to 200, with oil rigs unchanged at 98, and gas rigs up 8 to 102. Canadian Rig Count is down 195 rigs from last year at 395, with oil rigs down 140, and gas rigs down 55.

Last week, Operator Statoil and its PL146/PL333 partner Total E&P Norge announced they made a gas and condensate discovery in the Julius prospect in the King Lear area in Norway’s North Sea