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.

Heavily indebted US shale companies are facing financial pressure as a result of the fall in the price of oil but may find their lenders are inclined to “go easy” on them, according to Fitch, the rating agency.

A sharp drop in oil prices since the summer is creating a heap of trouble for Norway.

Shares in Vladimir Yevtushenkov’s Sistema Group fell more than 35 per cent this week, amid growing concern that Russian investigators will try to reclaim Rbs140bn ($2.7bn) in dividends that the group has received from its oil company Bashneft .

Gazprom, the state gas company, has been at the forefront of Moscow’s push to expand its influence into the Balkans – a region beset with economic and political difficulties.

Schlumberger , the world’s largest oil services group, is cutting back its fleet for offshore geological surveys and taking an $800m writedown on the value of its ships, in the first significant cutback in the industry following the recent fall in crude prices.

Norway’s oil fund can carry on investing in oil.

After the failure of its risky exploration strategy this year, Norwegian oil firm Statoil is cutting costs as fast and deep as it can to preserve cash for dividends

Total and Rosneft signed a Term Sheet that envisages the main terms and conditions of the purchase of 16.67% share in a refinery located in Schwedt, Germany (PCK Raffinerie GmbH). The document was signed in Sochi by the Head of Rosneft Igor Sechin and Chief Executive Officer of Total Patrick Pouyanne.