North America added 13 rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes’ latest rotary rig count, which was published on July 12. Although the U.S. dropped one rig week on week, Canada added 14 during the same period, taking the total North America rig count up to 773, comprising 584 …
Read More »International Oil Companies Caught in Kurdish Smuggling Web
Kurdistan hasn’t been able to export its oil via a pipeline for more than a year now, but crude continues to flow out of the semi-autonomous Iraqi region—on tank trucks to the border with Iran. More than 1,000 such tank trucks are estimated to be transporting at least 200,000 barrels …
Read More »India to Launch 10th Round for Oil, Gas Blocks
India is set to launch its tenth bidding round for oil and gas blocks in August or September, the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) has said. The latest round will include 25 blocks across 13 sedimentary basins, which are essential for exploration and production activities. The areas on offer range …
Read More »Japan Builds Gas Markets in Asia to Boost LNG Trading, Energy Security
Japanese companies foreseeing a growing surplus in stocks of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as their demand for the fuel wanes in coming years, are scrambling to invest in regional markets to provide potential outlets to sell the gas. As more nuclear plants restart and renewable energy gains momentum, Japan’s LNG …
Read More »OPEC+ Cuts and Demand Woes Keep Oil Prices in Narrow Trading Range
Oil prices have remained in a narrow $75 to $90 a barrel trading range since the end of 2022, as the OPEC+ group continues to keep supply off the market but often-resurfacing concerns about global oil demand have dampened bullish sentiment. After spiking to above $100 a barrel in the …
Read More »The Value of Norway’s Oil Fund Soars to New High of $1.7 Trillion
For the first time in its nearly three-decade history, Norway’s oil fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, has just exceeded the market value of 18 trillion Norwegian crowns, which equals $1.691 trillion as of Wednesday. Government Pension Fund Global, as the Norwegian fund is officially known, was created in …
Read More »Russian Moguls Received $11 Billion in Dividends in the Past Year
Executives and shareholders of some of the largest companies in Russia have pocketed the equivalent of more than $11 billion in dividends in the past year as many firms resumed dividend payments, a Bloomberg analysis showed on Tuesday. At least 12 Russian executives, former executives, and shareholders of some of …
Read More »China Considers Probe into Energy Storage Plants over Fire Risks
China is weighing the possibility of launching industry-wide investigations into its energy storage facilities over concerns about fire risks, Chinese outlet 21st Century Business Herald reported on Monday, citing a source familiar with the plans. The recent boom in energy storage plants in China has led to low utilization rates …
Read More »OPEC+ Oil Production Cheats Show Little Sign of Making Compensation Cuts
In its effort to shore up global oil markets, OPEC+ is pushing members to atone for cheating on their supply quotas. Yet there’s little indication that they’re repenting. Iraq and Kazakhstan — members of the OPEC+ coalition that is paring crude output to defend prices — have pledged extra curbs …
Read More »Saudi Arabia Discovers 7 more Oil, Gas Deposits
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has discovered seven oil and gas deposits in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province and Empty Quarter, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to SPA, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, energy minister announced the discovery on Monday, citing that Saudi Aramco had discovered two unconventional oil fields, a …
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