OPEC said world oil demand in 2018 will grow 1.28 million b/d from 2017 levels, meaning that total oil consumption is expected to hit a new record high of 97.8 million b/d in 2018.

EIA continues to expect US production to rise over the next two years and cross the 10 million b/d threshold in November 2018. It sees output averaging 9.35 million b/d in 2017, up 20,000 b/d from last month's outlook, and 9.91 million b/d in 2018, up 10,000 b/d from last month.

Crude oil production from the seven major U.S. onshore producing regions is forecast to increase 117,000 b/d month-over-month in September to 6.149 million b/d.

To strengthen financial sector stability, Directors encouraged the authorities to take measures to bolster supervision, and move forward with plans to restructure the statemdash;owned banks that dominate the banking system. They also encouraged strengthening the legal framework of the Central Bank, eliminating a remaining exchange restriction and a multiple currency practice, and accelerating implementation of AML/CFT and antimdash;corruption measures. Directors considered that the peg to the U.S. dollar, which provides a key anchor to the economy, remains appropriate.

Nabors Industries Ltd. ("Nabors") (NYSE: NBR) is pleased to announce that the company has signed an Arrangement Agreement ("Agreement") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Tesco Corporation ("Tesco") (NASDAQ: TESO), with each outstanding share of common stock of Tesco being exchanged for 0.68 common shares of Nabors. This transaction will create a leading rig equipment and drilling automation provider by combining Canrig, Nabors rig equipment subsidiary, with Tesco's rig equipment manufacturing, rental and aftermarket service business. Additionally, Tesco operates a tubular services business in numerous key regions globally, which will immediately benefit Nabors Drilling Solutions' operation.

Brent crude futures, LCOc1 the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $51.92 per barrel at 0652 GMT, down 18 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $48.70 a barrel, down 12 cents, or 0.3 percent.

North Sea Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $48 per barrel (b) in July, $2/b higher than the June average and almost $4/b higher than in July 2016. EIA forecasts Brent spot prices to average $51/b in 2017 and $52/b in 2018. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices are forecast to average $2/b less than Brent prices in both 2017 and 2018.

Global oil stocks fell by 500,000 b/d and preliminary data for July, particularly in the US where stocks fell by 790,000 b/d, is supportive of rebalancing supplies with demand, according to the most recent Oil Market Report from the International Energy Agency.

U.S. Rig Count is up 468 rigs from last year's count of 481, with oil rigs up 372, gas rigs up 98, and miscellaneous rigs down 2 to 0. Canadian Rig Count is up 94 rigs from last year's count of 126, with oil rigs up 62, gas rigs up 33, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 0.

The U.S. will export more natural gas than it imports in 2017. The United States has been a net exporter for three of the past four months and is expected to continue to export more natural gas than it imports for the rest of 2017 and throughout 2018. The United States’ status as a net exporter is expected to continue past 2018 because of growing U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico, declining pipeline imports from Canada, and increasing exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE:BHGE) announced today that the Baker Hughes international rig count for July 2017 was 959, down 1 from the 960 counted in June 2017, and up 21 from the 938 counted in July 2016. The international offshore rig count for July 2017 was 204, up 7 from the 197 counted in June 2017, and down 22 from the 226 counted in July 2016.

TESCO reported a U.S. GAAP net loss of $12.1 million, or $(0.26) per share, in the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted net loss for the quarter was $11.6 million, or $(0.25) per share, excluding special items, consisting primarily of charges related to restructuring costs. This compares to a U.S. GAAP net loss of $13.7 million, or $(0.29) per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017, and a U.S. GAAP net loss of $18.9 million, or (0.47) per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted net loss in the first quarter of 2017 was $13.4 million, or $(0.29) per diluted share, and in the second quarter of 2016 was $15.8 million, or $(0.39) per diluted share.

U.S. Rig Count is up 490 rigs from last year's count of 464, with oil rigs up 384, gas rigs up 108, and miscellaneous rigs down 2 to 0. Canadian Rig Count is up 95 rigs from last year's count of 122, with oil rigs up 64, gas rigs up 33, and miscellaneous rigs down 2 to 0.

Говоря о нефтеперерабатывающей отрасли, глава энергетического ведомства отметил, что к 2035 г. планируется увеличить нефтепереработку на Дальнем Востоке почти в 3,5 раза, до 39,0 млн т., также оказывается поддержка строительства Восточного нефтехимического комплекса мощностью 30,8 млн т в год. Проект предусматривает строительство нефтеперерабатывающего и нефтехимического комплекса и поставку нефтепродуктов и продукции нефтехимии в ДФО и страны АТР.

Benchmark Brent crude was up 20 cents a barrel at $52.56 by 0920 GMT. U.S. light crude was 20 cents higher at $49.79.