China's total oil imports rose about 20 percent on year to the highest ever on a daily basis in February, when near 10-year low global oil prices drove buying from a group of new importers and for state and commercial stockpiling.

The project includes the ongoing construction of a new ethylene cracker and ethylene derivatives units, which will increase ethylene capacity by more than 1 million tonnes of per year, about double the current capacity. It will also include a styrene monomer and propylene oxide (SMPO) plant, which will be the largest such plant ever built in China.

Eni expects 1.6 billion boe in oil and gas discoveries during the period while maintaining average exploration spending in line with 2015 levels. Notwithstanding an 18% reduction in overall upstream capex, cumulative production growth of 13% to 2019 is expected.

OAO NOVATEK announced the closing of a transaction to sell a 9.9% equity stake in the Yamal LNG project (“Project”) to China’s Silk Road Fund (“SRF”) for a payment amounting to EUR 1,087 million.

Israel and Russia are about to agree upon a modus operandi in the East Mediterranean concerning weapons and natural gas deals, several Israeli media reports indicate. According to various assessments, the bottom line of such an agreement would be that Israel will not sell natural gas to Turkey and, in return, Russia won't supply S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and other advanced weapon systems to Iran and other regional enemies of Israel.

The Central Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as part of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan, has implemented a 50% increase, from $0.87 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to $1.31/Mcf, in the level of cash subsidy to be paid per Mcf paid for coalbed methane (CBM) produced, according to Green Dragon Gas Ltd., one of the largest independent companies involved in the production and sale of CBM gas in China.

Saudi Aramco, through its wholly owned Saudi Refining Inc. (SRI), and Royal Dutch Shell, through its US downstream affiliate, agreed on Thursday to divide the assets of its 50:50 joint venture Motiva Enterprises.

U.S. Rig Count is down 4 rigs from last week to 476, with oil rigs up 1 to 387, and gas rigs down 5 to 89. Canadian Rig Count is down 29 rigs from last week to 69, with oil rigs down 16 to 12, and gas rigs down 13 to 57.

Exploiting its proximity to northern Asia and the collapse of the rouble against the U.S. dollar, Russia has become the fastest growing oil supplier to Asia at a time when Middle East exporters are distracted by internal strife and competition from U.S. shale producers.

По результатам переговоров обе страны подтвердили намерение укреплять двустороннее сотрудничество в сфере энергетики, в том числе в области поставок сжиженного природного газа (СПГ), создания газовой инфраструктуры, разведки углеводородов, строительства и эксплуатации средств электрогенерации, а также возобновляемых энергоресурсов.