Oil

ConocoPhillips Beats Quarterly Profit Estimates with Higher Production

U.S. oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by higher production in the Permian Basin and from a recent acquisition.

Woodside, Santos End $52 Billion Merger Talks Over Valuation Dispute

Australia's Woodside Energy and Santos said on Wednesday they had ended talks to create a possible $52 billion global oil and gas giant, and Santos flagged it would look for other ways to bolster its value.

Saudi Aramco Explores Investment Opportunities with Indian Firms

State oil giant Saudi Aramco is in investment discussions with companies in India, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

Permian Deal Frenzy Dampens 2024 U.S. Oil Growth Prospects

Oil production in the prodigious Permian shale basin in Texas and New Mexico this year will see the slowest annual growth since 2021, according to market participants, as a slew of acquisitions reduces activity among private drillers.

California Resources Boosts Production with $2.1 Billion Deal for Aera Energy

U.S. oil and gas firm California Resources said on Wednesday it would buy Aera Energy in a deal valuing the California-based company at $2.1 billion, including debt, to gain more acreage in the most populous U.S. state.

Brent, U.S. Crude Futures Give Up Some Gains on Talk of Gaza Ceasefire

Brent and U.S. crude futures initially climbed over $1 a barrel on Tuesday after the U.S. Energy Department said crude oil production would grow less than forecast but then gave up some of the gains on talk of a possible lengthy cease-fire in the Gaza War.

Saudi Arabia Keeps Arab Light Crude Price to Asia Unchanged in Surprise Move

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia unexpectedly kept March price of its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia unchanged at a more than two-year low, an Aramco statement showed on Tuesday, as the OPEC leader strives to maintain its market share.

Court Debates Fate of Biden's Approval for Willow Oil Project in Alaska

In Juneau, Alaska, a panel of appellate judges is deliberating on whether to uphold the Biden administration's green light for ConocoPhillips' Willow oil project within Alaska's federal petroleum reserve on the North Slope.

Oil India in Talks to Resume Drilling Operations in Libya After 13-Year Hiatus

Oil India is talks with stakeholders to restart drilling in Libya, thirteen years after the company exited the country due to political instability, a top company official told Reuters.

Kazakhstan Doubles Amount of Oil Circumventing Russia

Kazakhstan almost doubled oil exports circumventing Russia's ports in 2023 to 3.73 million metric tons (74,600 barrels per day) from 1.91 million tons in 2022, according to industry sources and Reuters calculations.

Guest Perspective: Aramco’s Best of Both Worlds

Saudi Aramco’s energy strategy should teach The West a lesson: invest in hydrocarbons now. Not only is oil and gas crucial for near- and medium-term energy security and affordability, but there is also a huge amount of money to be made that can be put toward the transition.

Projects February 2024

East African Crude Pipeline delivers first shipment; Pembina acquires Enbridge’s stake in Alliance Pipeline; KM boosts Permian Highway pipeline capacity by 550 MMcf/d; and more!

Chevron Exceeds Permian Production Estimates, Signals Growth Potential

After a year marked by oil and gas production setbacks, Chevron Corp. on Friday delivered a better-than-expected 10.7% annual gain from the Permian Basin, its top shale-producing region.

Enterprise Products Records 15% Growth in Q4 Crude Pipeline Volumes

U.S. pipeline operator Enterprise Products Partners said on Thursday its crude oil volumes last quarter grew 15% to a record 2.6 million barrels per day, as more oil flowed through its lines despite lower prices.

Exxon Beats Estimates, Closes 2023 with $36 Billion Profit

Exxon Mobil on Friday posted a better-than-expected $36 billion profit for 2023, lifted by fuels trading and higher oil and gas production.

Phillips 66 Beats Profit Estimates on Strong Refining, Midstream Performance

Refiner Phillips 66 beat quarterly profit estimates on Wednesday, helped by strong refining margins and gains from its midstream unit, sending its shares up 2.6% to an all-time high of $146.11.

Canada Regulator Clears Latest Trans Mountain Pipeline Delay of Environmental or Safety Concerns

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said on Wednesday that it has not noted any environmental or safety concerns with the latest construction challenges to plague the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Woodside Urged to Abandon $57 Billion Santos Merger by Major Shareholder

Woodside should walk away from its proposed $57 billion merger with Santos rather than pay a premium for its smaller rival, a large shareholder said on Thursday, a sign of the deep divide between both sides over fair value.

Silver Hill Energy Partners to Buy Liberty Resources' Bakken Assets

Silver Hill Energy Partners said on Wednesday it would acquire Liberty Resources II's interests in oil and gas properties and all of Liberty Midstream Solutions in North Dakota for an undisclosed amount.

Business News February 2024

Association news, personnel changes and mergers and acquisitions in February 2024!

Global News February 2024

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Methane Standards Hit Pipelines More Gently Than Proposed

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final methane performance standards for natural gas controllers and compressors, which will require midstream and interstate pipelines to take a new look at their emission controls.

Marathon Petroleum Beats Profit Estimates, Plans Maintenance Slowdown in Q1 2024

Marathon Petroleum beat quarterly profit estimates on Tuesday, supported by strong refined product margins and high refinery utilization rates, but expects to cut back plant activity sharply at the start of this year for maintenance.

Permian Resources Continues Expansion in New Mexico with $175 Million Deals

The company has acquired about 11,500 net leasehold acres and 4,000 net royalty acres located in Eddy County from undisclosed third-parties.

Oil Producer Hess Tops Profit Estimates on Higher Bakken, Guyana Output

U.S. oil and gas firm Hess beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by higher production in its Bakken shale and Guyana operations.

Environmental Group Unlikely to Challenge Venture Global’s CP2 Construction Permit Approval

Environmentalists are unlikely to challenge in court regulators' expected approval of Venture Global LNG's CP2 export terminal, activist Bill McKibben told Reuters on Tuesday.

Pipeline Operator Enbridge to Cut 650 Jobs Amid Cost Reduction Efforts

North American energy pipeline operator Enbridge said on Tuesday it will cut its workforce by 650 jobs in a bid to cut costs.

U.S. Awards $242 Million in SPR Contracts to Exxon, Macquarie, Phillips 66, Sunoco

The Biden administration has awarded Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) contracts for 3.1 million barrels of oil worth more than $242 million to Exxon, Macquarie, Phillips 66 and Sunoco, the U.S. Energy Department said in a statement on Monday.

Saudi Aramco's Capacity Cut and Pipeline Incident Trigger 11% Drop in Saipem Shares

Shares in Italian energy contractor Saipem plunged by 11% on Tuesday after damage caused by an incident involving one of its pipe-laying vessels and a decision by Saudi Aramco to drop its oil capacity expansion plans.

Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline Faces New Delay Due to Technical Issues

Canada's Trans Mountain said on Monday that it had run into technical issues and faces new delays as it tries to complete the final part of expanding its oil export pipeline.