Shale gas was supposed to be Ukraine’s ticket to greater energy independence from Russia. Chevron Corp. (CVX)’s decision to pull the plug has smashed those hopes.

On December 18, Rosneft’s Board of Directors reviewed preliminary results of the Company’s performance in 2014 and approved the 2015-2016 plan.

For now it is only a distant rumble, but many oil executives and advisers believe they can hear it coming: a gusher of oil deals that is set to erupt next year.

Rosneft and Essar Agreed on Key Terms of Oil and Oil Products Supplies to Essar Refineries

Rosneft and Essar Agreed on Key Terms of Oil and Oil Products Supplies to Essar Refineries

The last 48 hours witnessed a frenzy of diplomatic activities by Balkan and Southeastern countries with both Russia and Europe, underlining the importance of this area for the ongoing if relatively silent confrontation between Moscow and Brussels/Berlin.

The head of OPEC said on Sunday the group had no target price for oil, signalling no change to a policy to maintain production levels which has contributed to sharp falls in the price of crude, unnerving global markets.

Repsol, the Spanish oil group, is aiming to acquire Talisman Energy of Canada, in a deal that would value the target’s equity at up to $8bn

Halliburton Co. , the world’s second-largest oilfield-services company, said Thursday it will lay off 1,000 employees outside the U.S.

Plunging oil prices look set to trigger another wave of industry consolidation after a decade when mega-deals were scarce, but investors want to see mergers that can squeeze out cost savings and only after a lavish dividend is paid.

Rosneft wants to step up gas production and become the second largest gas company in Russia.

Renewed pressure on crude oil prices on Monday weighed heavily on the shares and bonds sold by US energy companies

At its meeting December 9, the Rosneft Board of Directors approved the main strategic objectives for Company developments.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, deepened the discount at which it sells crude to Asia and the U.S., underscoring for some market watchers the kingdom’s commitment to defending its market share amid the recent rout in oil prices.

Global oil and gas exploration projects worth more than $150 billion are likely to be put on hold next year as plunging oil prices render them uneconomic, data shows, potentially curbing supplies by the end of the decade.