FT - “Total has great ambition in this country, we want to be the largest foreign oil and gas player here,” the company’s chief executive Patrick Pouyanné said on Monday at the launch of a factory outside Moscow. 

BLOOMBERG - The wealth fund’s initial case had focused on limiting Norway’s exposure to a drop in oil prices, given its status as western Europe’s biggest petroleum producer. When the proposal was first made last year, it rocked markets, and drew responses from a number of major investors.

U.S. EIA - Crude oil production from the major US onshore regions is forecast to increase 98,000 b/d month-over-month in November from 7,616 to 7,714 thousand barrels/day , gas production to increase 957 million cubic feet/day from 73,104 to 74,061 million cubic feet/day .

GAZPROM - The parties discussed relevant issues related to bilateral cooperation, including the Baltic LNG project. Emphasis was placed on the priority measures aimed at developing a joint design concept (pre-FEED).

EIA - Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $79 per barrel (b) in September, up $6/b from August. EIA expects Brent spot prices will average $74/b in 2018 and $75/b in 2019. EIA expects West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices will average about $6/b lower than Brent prices in 2018 and in 2019.

PLATTS - "If sanctions were put on Rosneft or Lukoil or Gazprom, like what happened to Rusal, you would virtually shut down the energy systems of Europe," Dudley said.

NOVATEK - NOVATEK’s hydrocarbons production totaled 402.2million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), including 50.31 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas and 8,775 thousand tons of liquids (gas condensate and crude oil), resulting in an increase in total hydrocarbons production by 18.9 million boe, or by 4.9%, as compared with the nine months 2017.

EIA - The project is a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell (which holds a 40% stake in the project), Petronas (25%), Mitsubishi (15%), PetroChina (15%), and Korea Gas (5%).

PLATTS - Tokyo Gas will purchase up to 0.6 million mt/year from LNG Canada for a period of 13 years from April 2026 to March 2039, delivered on an ex-ship basis with destination flexibility, Tokyo Gas added.

REUTERS - The Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will transport Russian gas to Germany will be completed on time even if new sanctions are imposed on Moscow, Russia’s energy minister said.

BLOOMBERG - Saudi Arabia’s crown prince insisted the stalled plan to sell shares in oil giant Aramco will go ahead, promising an initial public offering by 2021 and sticking to his ambitious view the state-run company is worth $2 trillion or more.

REUTERS - The Mozambican government said on Monday it had signed oil exploration agreements with U.S. energy firm Exxon Mobil and Russia’s Rosneft.

BP - Libya’s National Oil Corporation, BP and Eni today signed an agreement expected to lead to Eni and BP working together to resume exploration activities on a major exploration and production contract in Libya.

BHGE - BHGE will acquire a five percent stake in ADNOC Drilling. The transaction values ADNOC Drilling at approximately $11 billion.

PLATTS - The two leaders, who met during a state visit to India by Putin, said in a statement that companies should "consider a wide range of opportunities for cooperation, including long-term contracts, joint ventures and acquisitions of energy assets in both countries, as well as possible cooperation in third countries".