North Sea Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $87/bbl in October, a decrease of $10/bbl from September and the first month Brent crude oil prices have averaged below $90/bbl since November 2010.

Brent crude prices will average $83/barrel in 2015, $18/barrel lower than last month’s outlook for 2015.

OPEC Diplomacy Picks Up With Iraq-to-Libya Chiefs

Unseasonably cold temperatures this week led to big increases in heating demand for natural gas from the residential and commercial sectors. Weather forecasters expect the cold to continue into next week, which will likely result in more natural gas consumption.

Two of the biggest oilfield services companies, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, are discussing a merger that would help both companies fend off falling oil prices

Leaders from the G20 group of nations agreed on Sunday to boost flagging global growth, tackle climate change and crack down on tax avoidance but ties between the West and Russia plummeted to a new low over the crisis in Ukraine.

OPEC Says Output Fell Sharply Amid Saudi Arabia Reduction

Investment in US shale oilfields will fall by a tenth next year – and result in a decline in production – if the oil price continues to trade around $80 a barrel, the world’s energy watchdog has warned.

Oil tumbles to four-year low below $79, awaits OPEC

Africa oil industry refocuses priorities as price falls and setbacks bedevil groups