Claudio Descalzi, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “In the first half of the year we have achieved excellent industrial results across our businesses, which enable us to revise upwards several of the targets set out in the strategic plan presented inMarch. In upstream we delivered record production growth and we have significantly contained costs. Furthermore, the recent start-up of production in the Perla field in Venezuela, and forthcoming start-up of Goliat in Norway will provide an important contribution in the second half. The mid-downstream businesses all reached profitability, thanks to the strong progress we have made in restructuring our refineries and petrochemical plants, successful renegotiations of gas contracts and further interventions on efficiency. These actions have helped to contain the impact of thefall in hydrocarbons prices, both in terms of economics and cash generation. Despite the halving of oil prices, we have generated €5.7 billion of cash flow, in line with the first half of 2014, which has financed almost all capital investment in the half year. This is a very significant result, given that self-financing investment is the main challenge facing the sector today. These better than expected results enable me to confirm the proposal of an interim dividend of €0.40 per share to the Board of Directors, on September 17”.

Compared with the second quarter 2014, CCS earnings excluding identified items benefited from strong Downstream results reflecting steps taken by the company to improve financial performance and higher realised refining margins. In Upstream, earnings were impacted by the significant decline in oil and gas prices and decreased production volumes, partly offset by lower costs and depreciation.

Despite falling crude prices, Total managed to report a better result as its output for the quarter grew and cost cutting measures paid off. Crude oil prices have more than halved from their peaks last year. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil futures - the benchmarks for crude oil prices are currently trading at $47.86 per barrel and $53.07 per barrel respectively. During the quarter, oil traded around $60 per barrel.

Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NBL) announced today a second quarter 2015 net loss of $109 million, or $0.28 per diluted share. Excluding the impact of certain items which would typically not be considered by analysts in published earnings estimates, second quarter 2015 adjusted income was $101 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Discretionary cash flow was $461 million and net cash provided by operating activities was $424 million. Capital expenditures for the second quarter of 2015 totaled $799 million.

There are indeed compelling reasons for Gazprom to do a deal. First market developments are rendering Gazprom’s existing business model irrelevant and it is that business model which is being substantially challenged in the antitrust case. Secondly, the consequences of an actual published EU competition decision against the company would be devastating in terms of reputation and scale of liability. Both these factors provide compelling incentives for Gazprom to file draft Commitments to the Commission to provide a basis for a deal.

In the second quarter and first half 2015, our total revenues increased by 27.0% and 27.6%, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2014. The growth was mainly due to an increase in liquids sales volumes and net prices in Russian rouble terms. Average net prices of liquid hydrocarbons were positively impacted by the substantial increase in sales volumes of high value-added petroleum products from the Ust-Luga Complex, the decrease in export duty rates and rouble devaluation against the US dollar, which more than offset the decline in international hydrocarbon prices.

U.S. Rig Count is down 2 rigs from last week to 874, with oil rigs up 5 to 664, gas rigs down 7 to 209, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1.

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.

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.