July 2017

"I warmly welcome Schlumberger as our majority shareholder. It builds on our strategic alliance with Schlumberger since 2011 and our mutually beneficial business relationship since 2007. The combination of the technology knowhow and operational expertise of Schlumberger coupled to the financial strength of the Investment Funds, brings significant benefits to our customers and the Russian conventional land drilling market."

U.S. Rig Count is up 488 rigs from last year's count of 462, with oil rigs up 393, gas rigs up 98, and miscellaneous rigs down 3 to 0. Canadian Rig Count is up 104 rigs from last year's count of 102, with oil rigs up 70, gas rigs up 35, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 0.

Schlumberger Announces Second-Quarter 2017 Results - Revenue of $7.5 billion increased 8% sequentially - Pretax operating income of $950 million increased 25% sequentially - GAAP loss per share, including charges of $0.40 per share, was $0.050 - EPS, excluding charges, was $0.35 - Quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share was approved

International benchmark Brent crude futures were at $49.28 per barrel 0501 GMT, down 2 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $46.89 per barrel, down 3 cents.

Fitch Ratings anticipates most investment-grade and 'BB' category U.S. E&P companies will see minimal ratings changes in a steady $45 per barrel environment as the realization of further production efficiency gains and lower costs per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) should contribute to resilient margins and cash flow.

EIA forecasts that total U.S. crude oil production will average 9.3 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2017, up 0.5 million b/d from 2016. In 2018, crude oil production is expected to reach an average of 9.9 million b/d, which would surpass the previous record of 9.6 million b/d set in 1970.

Особое внимание было уделено текущему статусу и перспективам реализации совместных проектов в нефтегазовой сфере, области возобновляемых источников энергии и развитию научно-технического сотрудничества в ТЭК.

Australia's LNG exports in fiscal 2017-2018 (July-June) will be 63 million mt, after it crossed, for the first time, 50 million mt in fiscal 2016-2017, energy consultancy EnergyQuest said in its forecast on Wednesday.

The move fulfills a plan, first outlined in February, to create an Indian oil giant through consolidation and mergers, forming a company comparable with international rivals that could weather crude-price volatility.

CHINA’S installed solar power capacity surged over the first half year amid shrinking costs and government policies. Over the first six months, 23.6 gigawatts of solar power were installed, 34.2 percent higher from a year ago, UBS said yesterday, adding that it was “far more than expected as most domestic analysts predicted at the beginning of the year that only 20-25 gigawatts would be added for the whole year.”