Global oil demand could dive by 20% as 3 billion people are in a lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said March 26 as he called on OPEC leader Saudi Arabia to help stabilize oil markets. “Today, 3 billion people in the …
Read More »What will It Take to See $65 Oil again This Year?
Right after Saudi Arabia-led OPEC and Russia broke up their pact to keep oil supply and prices in check, some in the U.S. oil industry were optimistic that oil prices would go back up to $65 by the end of the year regardless of the end of the production restrictions, …
Read More »The U.S. Is Becoming the World’s Largest Oil and Natural Gas Exporter
Amid a thunderstorm of horrifically sad COVID-19 news, I wanted to focus on an energy story to lift your spirits. We all realize that energy markets are such an afterthought right now, but I wanted to give you something. Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of …
Read More »Russia Is Out of Control
Russia is out of control. All of a sudden, it has launched an oil price war, even though it is unrealistic that the Kremlin can defeat Saudi Arabia and the United States in such a contest. Saudi Arabia’s population is one-fifth of Russia’s, while holding equivalent international currency reserves. The …
Read More »US-Saudi Alliance One of ‘Many Ideas’ Being Discussed
Forging an oil alliance between the United States and OPEC’s top producer Saudi Arabia is one of “many, many ideas” being floated by US policymakers but it is uncertain whether it will become a formal proposal, the US energy secretary told Bloomberg TV on Monday. “I don’t know that that’s …
Read More »China’s CPCEC Wins an Engineering Contract for Majnoon Oil Field in Iraq
The Chinese Petroleum Engineering and Construction Company “CPCEC” won an engineering contract worth $ 203.5 million to process high-sulfur gas in Majnoon oil field in Iraq. The project, which is scheduled to be completed within 29 months, aims to build a facility to process high-sulfur gas with a daily capacity …
Read More »Shell Lowers 2020 Capex
British oil major Shell joined other companies in the sector in lowering capital expenditure for the current year by about $5 billion and suspended the next tranche of its share buyback plan to weather a hit from the recent oil price crash. The company said it would reduce 2020 cash …
Read More »China’s Crude Reserves to Reach 1.15 Billion Barrels in 2020
Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis reveals that China’s crude stock (including strategic and commercial petroleum reserves) could reach 1.15 billion barrels in 2020, equivalent to 83 days of oil demand. Wood Mackenzie senior consultant Lei Sun said: “Major crude oil importers such as China have been known to build their strategic …
Read More »Global Economy will Recover after COVID-19 Situation Stabilizes
The global economy will begin to recover after the current situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) stabilizes, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said during the government session on economic issues on Saturday. He added that Russia’s oil industry is ready for volatility on world markets. “Today, the global economy is …
Read More »Oil Demand to Fall more than 10%
Global oil demand could fall by more than 10 percent due to lockdowns spreading across Europe to fight the coronavirus outbreak as well as measures in the US, Vitol, the world’s largest oil trader, said on Friday. But the drop would be much higher if the virus prompts widespread lockdowns …
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