PLATTS - On Wednesday the Central Dispatching Unit said Russia produced 44.878 million mt of liquids in April. This is equivalent to around 10.965 million b/d, using Platts conversion rate of 7.33 barrels per metric ton. This indicates Russia's compliance was 94%, at 282,000 b/d below the October 2016 level of 11.247 million b/d.

PLATTS - China ended the first quarter of 2018 with robust apparent oil demand growth of 6.8% year on year, as stronger-than-expected GDP growth boosted consumption from the industrial and construction sectors and outweighed concerns over rising oil prices

EIA - In February 2018, for the ninth consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year-to-year from the same month a year ago. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in February 2018 was 2,203 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 78.7 Bcf/day. This level was 7.1 Bcf/day (10.0%) higher than the February 2017 level of 71.5 Bcf/day. The average daily rate of dry natural gas production for February was the highest for the month since EIA began tracking monthly dry production in 1973.

PLATTS - Vietnam is estimated to have produced 1.01 million mt (246,777 b/d) of crude oil in April, down 11.8% from the same month last year, according to data released Sunday by the General Statistics Office.

REUTERS - Schlumberger had initially planned to buy 51 percent in EDC, but decided to scale down its bid. The deal has faced difficulties as relations between Russia and the United States have deteriorated.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 8 rigs from last week to 1,021, with oil rigs up 5 to 825, gas rigs up 3 to 195, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is down 8 rigs from last week to 85, with oil rigs down 5 to 33 and gas rigs down 3 to 52.

AOG - Bahrain, recently announced that it had unearthed around 80 billion barrels of unconventional oil and up to 20 trillion cubic feet of tight gas off its west coast. The discovery could potentially transform the island state’s reserves which currently total well under 200 million barrels.

NOV - National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) today reported a first quarter 2018 net loss of $68 million, or $0.18 per share. Revenues for the first quarter were $1.80 billion, a decrease of nine percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 and an increase of three percent from the first quarter of 2017. Operating loss for the first quarter of 2018 was $1 million, or 0.1 percent of sales, and Adjusted EBITDA (operating profit excluding depreciation, amortization, and other items) was $160 million, or 8.9 percent of sales. Other items were a net credit of $12 million, pre-tax, primarily from the reversal of certain accruals, partially offset by restructure charges and severance payments.

SHANA - A senior Iranian gas official said the country’s natural gas exports will cross 60 million cubic meter per day by the end of the current Iranian calendar to March 20 2019.

REUTERS - Egypt aims for foreign investment in the oil and gas sector to reach about $10 billion in the 2018/19 fiscal year that begins in July, Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla said

HALLIBURTON - Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) announced income from continuing operations of $46 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2018.

API - the American Petroleum Institute reported that U.S. petroleum demand reached 20.6 million barrels per day (MBD) last month, the highest level since 2007. To satisfy demand, domestic refineries utilized 91.5 percent of their capacity – a record for the month of March – and processed 17 MBD of oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The U.S. also produced a record 10.4 MBD of crude oil plus another 3.9 MBD of NGLs.

FT - US shale oil companies have started to generate free cash thanks to the rise in crude prices, a landmark moment for an industry that has until now relied on an inflow of capital to support its growth.

BHGE - Baker Hughes, a GE company Announces First Quarter 2018 Results Revenue of $5.4 billion for the quarter, down 7% sequentially and up 1% year-over-year on a combined business basis GAAP operating loss of $41 million for the quarter, decreased 63% sequentially and increased unfavorably year-over-year on a combined business basis Adjusted operating income (a non-GAAP measure) of $228 million for the quarter, down 20% sequentially and down 19% year-over-year on a combined business basis

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 5 rigs from last week to 1,013, with oil rigs up 5 to 820, gas rigs unchanged at 192, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is down 9 rigs from last week to 93, with oil rigs down 3 to 38 and gas rigs down 6 to 55.