Glencore and the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar are to take a 19.5 per cent stake in Russian oil company Rosneft in a surprise €10.5bn deal

Japan sees the current low oil price environment creating "a significant chance for acquiring [upstream] stakes and assets," as well as the need to facilitate upstream investments amid slowing investments globally, Yuki Sadamitsu, director of the oil and gas division at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in an interview with S&P Global Platts last month.

The deal between Essar and a consortium led by Kremlin oil giant Rosneft (ROSN.MM) appeared dead in the water two months ago after Saudi state energy firm Aramco weighed in, according to seven Russia, India and Saudi-based industry sources familiar with or involved in the negotiations.

Rosneft and Beijing Gas Group Company Limited (hereinafter, "Beijing Gas") signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement and a Shareholder and Operating Agreement for the sale of a 20% stake in Verkhnechonskneftegaz (a Rosneft subsidiary) to the Chinese company, an Agreement on the Area of Mutual Interest in respect of the adjoining license areas and an Agreement on the cooperation in the gas business. The transaction execution agreement was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev and Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang by Rosneft Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin and Beijing Gas Group Chairwoman of the Management Board Li Yalan.

- Combination creates an unparalleled company positioned to deliver value for customers and investors - GE to own 62.5% and Baker Hughes shareholders to own 37.5% of the “New” Baker Hughes - GE to contribute $7.4 billion to fund the $17.50 per share special dividend to existing Baker Hughes shareholders

Shell’s net debt has more than doubled to $75bn since its £35bn takeover of BG Group was completed in February.

Rosneft will get 49% and the two investors -- Trafigura and UCP -- will hold the remaining 49% in equal parts, the sources said, adding that the valuation included about $4.5 B in assumed debt.

The deal was strongly appreciated by the investment community for the expansion of the Combined Company to the new crude oil and petroleum product production and supply areas, Rosneft adding 10% of liquid hydrocarbon production and 20% of refining throughput as well as for significant synergies arising from optimization of mutual oil supplies, transport and logistics costs, drilling cost reduction and joint use of production assets’ infrastructure, modern technologies and know-how.

Attracting strategic investors will give additional momentum to the development of Srednebotuobinskoye field, one of the largest oil and gas condensate fields in East Siberia, currently producing about 22 thousand barrels of oil per day. Partners within the joint project plan to create the infrastructure for further exploration and development of the reserves in the region.

The closed transaction is a symbolic one for the companies and marks the transition to a new level of cooperation in the Russian-Indian relations in the energy area. Indian companies obtain substantial interest in one of the biggest large-scale projects of Rosneft of the last decade, whereas Rosneft retains 61.1% shares in the project.

Vankorneft is the operating company of the Vankor oil and gas condensate field and the North Vankor licence, in East Siberia, Russia. This acquisition will increase ONGC Videsh’s stake in the company to 26%. The company had previously acquired 15% in the project in May this year for USD 1.27 billion. The new transaction is expected to close by the end of the year.

Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp. have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which the two companies will combine in a stock-for-stock merger transaction. The combination will create the largest energy infrastructure company in North America and one of the largest globally, the companies said, based on a pro-forma enterprise value of roughly $127 billion.

In recent years, given the huge potential in Indonesia LNG market, JSK has ventured into the LNG supply chain. Recently, it was awarded the LNG re-gasification and storage contracts to support a gas-fired power plant in Bali, Indonesia. Following the successful completion of the deal, Coastal Contracts would have joint control over JSK Gas’s operating subsidiaries and assets. JSK Gas, through its 99% owned subsidiary Benoa Gas Terminal (BGT), would be engaged in the operations and transfer of a floating LNG regasification unit over a five-year contract period.

Demand for gas in expanding rapidly in Southeast Asia and Vietnam is no exception. LNG is in demand as an energy source for industrial parks around Ho Chi Minh City in the country's south. There are plans to build LNG facilities, including at the port of Thi Vai near the city.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) and InterOil Corporation (NYSE: IOC, POMSoX: IOC) announced an agreed transaction worth more than $2.5 billion, under which ExxonMobil will acquire all of the outstanding shares of InterOil (the ExxonMobil Transaction).