2015

Bulgaria’s Cabinet was preparing to seek damages for the idled properties that were due to host infrastructure for the now-abandoned South Stream gas pipeline, with the government approving on August 26 the methodology for calculating such damages.

In the first half of 2015, sales revenues were $51,294 million (-30.6% y-o-y). Net income attributable to LUKOIL decreased by 58.9% y-o-y to $1,695 million, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) decreased by 32.4% y-o-y to $6,379 million. In the first half of 2015, our financial results were affected by a sharp decrease in the hydrocarbon prices and non-cash write-off in the amount of $324 million.

Despite unfavourable market conditions and a negative impact of the tax manoeuvre, in the second quarter of 2015, the Company achieved a considerable improvement in its financial results. Revenue from sales gained 6.9% compared to the first quarter of 2015; adjusted EBITDA increased by 34.1%, while operating income jumped by 44.4%. In the second quarter of 2015, net income excluding minority interest was 57.2% higher than in the first quarter of 2015 and 12.9% higher than in the second quarter of 2014.

Issues have emerged in Russia that could delay or prevent Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) from closing a deal with Eurasia. Earlier this year, Schlumberger made a $1.7 billion offer to take a stake in Eurasia, also expressing willingness to acquire the rest of the company. Eurasia is Russia’s largest oil-services company. However, as it turns out, Russia’s Federal Security Service, also known as FSB, is expressing some reservations over the deal.

HOUSTON, August 26, 2015—Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB) and Cameron (NYSE: CAM) today jointly announced a definitive merger agreement in which the companies will combine in a stock and cash transaction. The agreement was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

Revenues for the second quarter of 2015 were $1,147 million compared to $1,244 million in the first quarter of 2015. Operating profit for the quarter was $384 million compared to $703 million in the preceding quarter. The decrease was primarily due to the gain on deconsolidation of SeaMex during the first quarter, and a loss on the sale of the West Polaris to Seadrill Partners during the second quarter. Taken together, these items account for approximately $261 million, or 82%, of the sequential decline in operating profit. Excluding these non-recurring items, operating profit declined 11% sequentially.

Aug 27 French oil major Total has agreed to sell some of its gas pipeline assets in the UK's North Sea to North Sea Midstream Partners, an affiliate of U.S.-based private equity firm ArcLight Capital, for 585 million pounds ($907 million).

Ukraine's efforts to store natural gas for winter are running 1 billion cubic metres behind their pace last year, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday.

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Local industry and investment experts said Monday they expect continued struggles for the oil and gas industry following sub-$40-a-barrel prices and big drops in Wall Street stocks across the board.