2016

Gazprom has terminated a shareholder agreement for Nord Stream 2, a joint venture to build a pipeline between Russia and Germany, circumventing Poland and other countries, Russian press agency TASS has reported.

Nigeria aims to increase its crude oil output to 2.8 million b/d by 2019 and to 3 million b/d by 2020 from the current average of 2 million b/d, according to a short term policy document produced by the country's oil ministry.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has voiced Tehran's readiness for boosting energy cooperation with Moscow, underlining the presence of Russian companies in various energy sectors in Iran.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were down 2 cents on the day at $44.73 a barrel by 1005 GMT (5:05 a.m. ET), while NYMEX crude futures CLc1 were down 6 cents at $43.35 a barrel.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries increased its crude oil output by 240,000 b/d during October to average 33.64 million b/d.

The downturn produced a leaner, more efficient U.S. shale industry that was forced to develop and quickly adapt new technology to compete with conventional oil supplies during a two-year period of depressed prices.

After more than a decade, China has decided to restore tax rebates on exports of gasoline, gasoil and jet fuel, a sign that Beijing is more than comfortable with the domestic supply situation for oil products.

ConocoPhillips plans conservative financial and operating programs in 2017, planning for a longer-than-expected $50/b oil world by reducing its capital budget 4%, growing production up to 2% and forging technologies to squeeze out the last smidgen of resource from existing assets.

U.S. Rig Count is down 199 rigs from last year's count of 767, with oil rigs down 122, gas rigs down 78, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is unchanged from last year's count of 176, with oil rigs up 21 and gas rigs down 21.

International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading at $45.77 per barrel at 0743 GMT (2:43 a.m. ET), down 7 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures CLc1 were trading down 10 cents at $44.56 per barrel, weighed down by weakening U.S. demand.