The world’s largest energy consumer increased imports from Russia by about 9.3 percent to 4.69 million metric tons in March from February, according to data released Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs. That’s also up 0.9 percent from a year earlier. Saudi Arabia, the biggest crude exporter, retreated to the third-biggest seller last month from No. 1 a month earlier as shipments fell 4.6 percent to 4.55 million tons.

The US tally of active drilling rigs increased by 13 to 870 during the week ended Apr. 28, marking the 12th double-digit rise during 15 straight weeks of gains. The count is now up 466 units since the nadir of the drilling downturn on May 20-27, 2016, and at its highest point since Aug. 28, 2015. Since its last decline, the count is up 211 units.

"Our year has started well. BP is focused on the disciplined delivery of our plans. First quarter earnings and cash flow were robust. We have shown continued operational momentum - it was another strong quarter for the Downstream and the first of our seven new Upstream major projects has started up, with a further three near completion. We expect these to drive a material improvement in operating cash flow from the second half."

Nabors Industries Ltd. reported first quarter 2017 operating revenue of $563 million, compared to operating revenue of $539 million in the prior quarter. Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nabors for the quarter was a loss of $149 million, or $0.52 per share, compared to a loss of $331 million, or $1.17 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. The first quarter results include $7.8 million in net after-tax charges, or $0.03 per share, representing premiums incurred in open market purchases of near-term debt.

«Крупные российские компании заинтересованы во взаимовыгодной кооперации с пакистанскими партнерами. Российские экономоператоры готовы предложить услуги в области совместного строительства новых и модернизации имеющихся объектов генерации, а также осуществления поставок оборудования российского производства», - сообщил глава Минэнерго России.

Profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders decreased by 38.7% to RR 71.0 billion (RR 23.54 per share), as compared to RR 115.9 billion (RR 38.40 per share) in the first quarter 2016. The amount of profit was significantly impacted by the foreign exchange effect (including at the joint ventures level), and its dynamics – by the effect of the disposals of interests in joint ventures. Net of these effects, our adjusted profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders increased by 20.2% to RR 44.3 billion compared with the first quarter 2016.

Exxon Mobil Corporation announced estimated first quarter 2017 earnings of $4 billion, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared with $1.8 billion a year earlier, resulting from improvements in commodity prices, cost management and refining operations

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) reported earnings of $2.7 billion ($1.41 per share – diluted) for first quarter 2017, compared with a loss of $725 million ($0.39 per share – diluted) in the 2016 first quarter. Included in the quarter was a gain of approximately $600 million from the sale of an upstream asset. Foreign currency effects decreased earnings in first quarter 2017 by $241 million, compared with a decrease of $319 million a year earlier.

The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC), in its second update to the 2017 Canadian Drilling Activity Forecast, announced its revision of the forecasted number of wells drilled (rig released) across Canada for 2017 to 6,680 wells. This represents an increase of 2,505 wells and a 60 per cent increase from PSAC’s original 2017 Drilling Activity Forecast released in early November 2016 of 4,175 wells rig released. PSAC based its updated 2017 forecast on average natural gas prices of $3.00 CDN/mcf (AECO), crude oil prices of US$52.50/barrel (WTI) and the Canada-US exchange rate averaging $0.74.

U.S. Rig Count is up 450 rigs from last year's count of 420, with oil rigs up 365, gas rigs up 84, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 48 rigs from last year's count of 37, with oil rigs up 14, gas rigs up 35, and miscellaneous rigs down 1.

Weatherford International plc (NYSE: WFT) reported a net loss of $448 million, or a loss of $0.45 per share, and non-GAAP net loss of $318 million before charges and credits ($0.32 non-GAAP loss per share) on revenues of $1.39 billion for the first quarter of 2017.

"Supported by the OPEC/non-OPEC agreement, Brent prices remained volatile in the context of high inventories and averaged 54 $/b this quarter. In this environment, Total's adjusted net income increased by 56% to $2.6 billion in the first quarter 2017, in line with the strong recent quarterly results of 2016, due to good operational performance and a steadily decreasing breakeven. Excluding acquisitions and asset sales, the Group generated $1.7 billion of cash flow after investments, mainly due to a 63% increase in operating cash flow before working capital changes from the Exploration & Production segment and investment discipline."

Министр подчеркнул, что Россия и Япония вышли на новый уровень взаимодействия в сфере энергетики. «На предыдущих встречах компаниями было подписано более двадцати двусторонних документов, и наша задача оказывать поддержку в реализации этих проектов и искать новые возможности для развития сотрудничества», - сообщил Министр.

“If OPEC and the coalition don’t extend the agreement to continue cuts, that price floor will go,” he said. “Without it, prices would fall, and there’s nothing to stop oil going below $40 a barrel.”

Revenue for the quarter was $2.3 billion, a decrease of $148 million, or 6%, sequentially. Compared to the same quarter last year, revenue declined $408 million, or 15%. The sequential decrease in revenue was driven primarily by the deconsolidation of the North America onshore pressure pumping business, lower revenue internationally, mainly related to non-recurring year-end product sales, seasonality and price deterioration, and reduced activity in the Gulf of Mexico. This decline was partially offset by activity growth in our North America onshore business, primarily in our well construction product lines.