Itera, a 100% Rosneft subsidiary, and General Electric signed an agreement of intent regarding natural gas processing cooperation at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

In Budapest, Mr. Šefčovič reported that, in the wake of the cancellation of South Stream last December, all parties in Europe have been paying attention to statements from Russia, as a gas supplier, and Europe's stance on infrastructure has been altered.

BP could be close to a $700 million deal with Russia’s Rosneft for a 20% stake in a Siberian oilfield, the company led by Igor Sechin further showed how national companies can cope with sanctions, maintaining ties with Western companies and progressively switching to Asian markets.

Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil says it will lay off up to 1,500 staff and 500 consultants by the end of to slash costs.

"Uncertainty is the rule of the game in this industry," the head of France's Total Patrick Pouyanne said this month. "We are in the long-term business. This is why at Total we are keen to maintain our commitment to Russia."

“Now we are facing a stagnant demand both for oil and gas globally. These two commodities are providing 70% of Russian export and 50% of Russian federal budget revenues, so you can imagine how painful that is.”

Europe’s biggest oil groups are extending business deals with their Russian energy partners despite this month’s EU vote to continue imposing sanctions, highlighting how western companies are learning to live with the restrictions placed on Moscow.

Gazprom revived its contract with Italian contractor Saipem (controlled by state-run Eni SpA). The Milan-based company had signed two contracts worth €2.4 bn in total for the construction of an undersea pipeline and support services for construction of a second undersea pipeline, both part of much touted South Stream. The contract terms are now being renegotiated, so as to start construction in time for the 2016 deadline.

According to Statistics Norway, total investments in oil and gas activity in 2016 should be NOK 184.9 billion, which is 1.4% higher than the corresponding estimate for 2015.

Iran needs $100 billion to rebuild its gas industry and has met with European energy giants as an end to decades of international sanctions looms, according to the state-run company in charge of discussions.

A consortium led by Norway’s Statoil discovered a gas pay zone at wildcat well 6706/11-2 in the Gymir prospect in the Norwegian Sea. The well was drilled about 12 miles west of the Aasta Hansteen field to prove petroleum in Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks, in the Nise formation.

The most significant development on the supply side in 2014 was undoubtedly the continuing revolution in US shale. The US recorded the largest increase in oil production in the world, becoming the first country ever to increase average annual production by at least 1 million barrels per day for three consecutive years.

LUKOIL has published consolidated US GAAP financial statements for the first quarter of 2015. The Company’s net income in the first quarter of 2015 amounted to $690 million, which is a 60.2% y-o-y decrease. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) in the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 29.5% to $2,816 million. Sales revenue was $23,190 million (-35.0% y-o-y). The decrease in revenue, EBITDA and net income was mainly due to the decrease in the average Urals blend oil price by more than 50% y-o-y in the first quarter of 2015.

Europe may face deficit of gas imports of a total of 50 bln cubic meters in 2025, Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev said Monday.

OAO Novatek announced Thursday that Novatek Gas & Power, a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Novatek, has signed a long-term contract with Shell International Trading Middle East for the supply of LNG from the Yamal LNG project.