“Advances like the Bay of Bengal discovery will help unlock the global energy resource potential of gas hydrates as well help define the technology needed to safely produce them,” said Walter Guidroz, USGS Energy Resources Program coordinator.

The so-called TAP, which formally started construction in May, will run for 878 kilometers (550 miles) from Greece's border with Turkey, through Albania and to southern Italy, including a 105-kilometer (65-mile) stretch under the Adriatic Sea. First deliveries to Europe are expected in 2020.

"We recognise that market conditions are currently very difficult but nevertheless we have a shared goal of making the basin as attractive as possible for exploration," Andy Samuel, chief executive of the OGA, said.

The Philippines relies overwhelmingly on imports to fuel its fast-growing economy. That reliance will grow further in a few years when the main source of domestic natural gas runs out, so the clock is ticking for it to develop offshore fields that China shows no sign of loosening its grip on.

“The industry has got a real problem,” says Chris Pateman-Jones of Ernst & Young. “Projects are becoming larger and more complex and more challenging … Even if they were to hit their targets, they could still be uneconomic.”

International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading at $44.93 per barrel at 0501 GMT, up 21 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was at $43.23, up 10 cents per barrel.

The NYMEX crude oil contract for September declined $1/bbl to settle at $44.75/bbl on July 21. The October contract dropped $1/bbl to close at $45.45/bbl. The natural gas contract for August gained 3¢ to $2.69/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price declined 2¢ to $2.70/MMbtu on July 21.

U.S. Rig Count is up 15 rigs from last week to 462, with oil rigs up 14 to 371, gas rigs down 1 to 88, and miscellaneous rigs up 2 to 3. Canadian Rig Count is up 7 rigs from last week to 102, with oil rigs up 4 to 48, gas rigs up 3 to 53, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1.

The NYMEX crude oil contract for August gained 29¢ to settle at $44.94/bbl on July 20. The September contract gained 30¢ to close at $45.75/bbl. The natural gas contract for August dropped 7¢ to $2.66/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price declined 9¢ to $2.72/MMbtu on July 20

The NYMEX crude oil contract for August fell 59¢ to settle at $44.65/bbl on July 19. The September contract dropped 49¢ to close at $44.45/bbl. The gas futures contract for August edged up less than a penny to remain at $2.72/MMbtu. The Henry Hub gas price held steady at $2.81/MMbtu on July 19, unchanged from the previous day.