PETRONAS’ Profit after Tax (PAT) rose by 22 per cent in 2018, to RM55.3 billion, compared to RM45.5 billion in 2017, on the back of higher revenue and supported by net write-back of impairment on assets. These were partially offset by higher net product and production costs, depreciation and amortisation as well as tax expenses.

PLATTS - An international tribunal on Friday ordered Venezuela to pay ConocoPhillips roughly $8.7 billion in compensation for the seizure of company assets in 2007.

BHGE - The worldwide rig count for February 2019 was 2,306, up 41 from the 2,265 counted in January 2019, and up 135 from the 2,171 counted in February 2018.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is down 11 rigs from last week to 1,027 rigs, with oil rigs down 9 to 834 and gas rigs down 2 to 193. Canada Rig Count is down 22 rigs from last week to 189, with oil rigs down 22 to 118 and gas rigs unchanged at 71.

LUKOIL - In 2018, profit attributable to shareholders amounted to RUB 619.2 bln, 47.8% higher year-on-year. The growth was constrained by higher DD&A due to the launch of new production facilities.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is up 57 rigs from last year's count of 981, with oil rigs up 43 and gas rigs up 14. Canada Rig Count is down 91 rigs from last year's count of 302, with oil rigs down 71 and gas rigs down 20.

Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $59 per barrel (b) in January, up $2/b from December 2018 but $10/b lower than the average in January of last year.

MEOG - Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser gave a speech at London Petroleum Week about the oil and gas industry's future--or, rather its perceived lack of a future. He addressed what he called a "worrying and growing belief among policy makers and regulators, investment houses, NGOs, and many others that we are an industry with little or no future."

Repsol posted net income of 2.341 billion euros in 2018, a 10% increase from the 2.121 billion earned in 2017 and the highest in eight years. This was achieved with average Brent oil prices at 71 dollars per barrel last year, compared with more than 111 dollars in 2011.

“Our industry has made a pivotal and sustained contribution to the global economy and people’s lives, around the world, day after day for over a century. Two billion more people today have access to ample, affordable, and reliable sources of energy than even just a generation ago,”

EXXONMOBIL - Exxon Mobil Corporation added 4.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels of proved oil and gas reserves in 2018, replacing 313 percent of the year’s production.

GAZPROM - The corresponding decisions on the termination of membership in the Gazprom Management Committee will be adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors.

REUTERS - Weak returns at U.S. shale producers could cost more executives their jobs and lead to increasing battles with activist investors, analysts said following changes at two producers.

OGJ - Saudi Aramco has signed a $10-billion agreement to form a joint venture with China North Industries Group Corp. (Norinco) and Panjin Sincen to develop a fully integrated, grassroots refining and petrochemical complex in Panjin, in China’s Liaoning province.

MEOG - The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a multi-billion-dollar midstream pipeline infrastructure partnership with KKR and BlackRock. Through a newly formed entity, ADNOC Oil Pipelines, ADNOC will lease its interest in 18 pipelines for a 23-year period. ADNOC received upfront proceeds of $4bn from the transaction, which is expected to close in Q3 2019.