PLATTS - Royal Dutch Shell has picked up 26% stake in Hazira LNG project in the western Indian state of Gujarat from French energy major Total,

ЗАСЕДАНИЕ ПРЕЗИДЕНТСКОЙ КОМИССИИ ПО ВОПРОСАМ СТРАТЕГИИ РАЗВИТИЯ ТЭК И ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ

REUTERS - International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $75.49 per barrel at 0956 GMT, down 33 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were down 32 cents at $68.40 a barrel.

ARAB NEWS - One of the key markers of Iran's economic crisis has been the collapse in the currency, which has lost around half its value since April.

PLATTS - South Korea's crude oil imports from Iran dropped 45.8% year on year in July in the wake of the re-imposition of US sanctions, while intakes from Kazakhstan, the US and Mexico jumped as alternative sources.

REUTERS - The lawsuit filed with the ICJ says the U.S. sanctions, which are damaging the already weak Iranian economy, violate terms of a little-known friendship treaty between the two countries.

REUTERS - Ukraine government should consider looking for alternatives to natural gas supplies from Russia.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is down 13 rigs from last week to 1,044, with oil rigs down 9 to 860, gas rigs down 4 to 182, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2. Canada Rig Count is up 17 rigs from last week to 229, with oil rigs up 12 to 153 and gas rigs up 5 to 76.

REUTERS - Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $75.07 per barrel at 0424 GMT, up 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $68.24 per barrel, up 41 cents, or 0.6 percent.

ARAB NEWS - The Government remains committed to the IPO of Saudi Aramco at a time of its own choosing when conditions are optimum. This timing will depend on multiple factors, including favorable market conditions, and a downstream acquisition which the Company will pursue in the next few months, as directed by its Board of Directors.

UNIAN - Ukraine must raise gas prices to market levels in order to qualify for more aid under a $17.5 billion IMF program. Ukraine, which wants to resume cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), may need to increase household gas prices, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman was quoted as saying on Thursday.

STATISTICS NORWAY - Total investments in oil and gas activity in 2019, including pipeline transportation, are estimated at NOK 165.1 billion, which is 6.2 per cent higher than estimated in the previous quarter. The estimate for 2018 is NOK 156 billion, which equals the estimate given in the previous quarter.

PLATTS - Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 natural gas field producers have booked around 8.6 Bcm/year of long-term capacity to Italy in the planned 10 Bcm/year Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, developer TAP's head of communication, Lisa Givert, told

PLATTS - South Korean LPG providers' sales to the domestic market in the first six month rose 4.2% on the year despite higher retail prices, driven by solid demand for petrochemical production, company officials said Thursday.

CNOOC - In the first half of 2018, the Company maintained a healthy profitability and a sound financial position. Oil and gas sales reached RMB 90.31 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.5%. Net profit reached RMB 25.48 billion, representing a significant increase of 56.8% year-on-year (“YoY”). The Company’s average realized oil price was US$ 67.36 per barrel, representing an increase of 33.6% YoY. The average realized natural gas price increased by 13.0% YoY to US$ 6.42 per thousand cubic feet. Despite the international oil prices rebound and industry costs inflation, the Company maintained a competitive all-in cost of US$ 31.83/BOE during the first half of the year.