The North Sea oil and gas industry currently faces fierce global competition to attract investment, with the combined challenges of a low oil price, a maturing industry and uncertainty for the sector. Oil & Gas UK’s recently published Economic Report 2016 found that investment in the UK continental shelf has fallen to around £9 billion this year, from a record £14.8 billion in 2014, illustrating the difficulty for investors in accessing finance for asset development.

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.

Iran wants $200bn of investment in its energy industry over the next five years in order to raise production. Until now the country has been struggling to persuade overseas energy companies to commit amid wrangling over the contract terms offered by Tehran.

After a decade of volatile GDP growth and steadily increasing gas and power demand, Mexico continues to progress toward an unbundling of the monopolies Pemex and CFE once held over its gas and power sectors. According to a recent study by Wood Mackenzie, these reforms have created the potential for approximately US$415 billion in investment over the next two decades as the country builds pipelines, develops a renewables market to meet clean energy targets, and sets the stage for M&A.

The UK-listed oil majors both said they were planning for prices per barrel in the low $50s in 2017 — only a little above current levels — in a sign of the industry adapting to “lower-for-longer” market conditions.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) announced on Monday a joint venture with ExxonMobil called Ocean LNG, tasked with marketing LNG sourced outside the GCC country.

Nabors Industries Ltd. reported the signing of an agreement to form a joint venture in Saudi Arabia to own, manage, and operate onshore drilling rigs. The JV, which will be equally owned by Saudi Aramco and Nabors, is expected to be formed and commence operations in second-quarter 2017.

Rosneft and BP announce the completion of the deal to create a new joint venture, Yermak Neftegaz LLC, to conduct exploration in the West Siberian and Yenisey-Khatanga basins in the Russian Federation.

Global offshore oil production (including lease condensate and hydrocarbon gas liquids) from deepwater projects reached 9.3 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2015. Deepwater production, or production in water of depths greater than 125 meters, has increased 25% from nearly 7 million b/d a decade ago.

“The rampant cost inflation on Australian projects combined with the collapse in oil prices is damaging for a lot of these projects,” said Neil Beveridge, analyst at Bernstein. LNG prices have been affected by a supply glut and are also linked to oil prices in Asia.

- 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

Big companies responded with big cuts. BP, Eni and their peers cut exploration spending by 35% in 2015 compared with 2013, Wood Mackenzie’s data show. Many projects now focus on lower-risk, lower-reward prospects as companies hope for incremental gains near existing infrastructure that they can bring online quickly and cheaply.

He further quoted Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh as saying that Iran would need at least 200 billion dollars of investment in its upstream and downstream sectors under the development plan.

However, Russian oil and natural gas companies’ capital investment programs have been less affected, if at all.

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