(Reuters) - Brazil’s lower house approved a new regulatory framework for the natural gas sector in the early hours of Wednesday, a move the government hopes will increase competition in the industry. The bill, which garnered support from industrial consumers, will now be signed into law by President Jair Bolsonaro. “In this difficult moment, this... Continue Reading →
Two oilfield services providers set to create full-cycle player
UK’s Expro Group, an energy services company, and Dutch Frank’s International, an oil services company that provides drilling and completions solutions and services, have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction. Upon the closing of the transaction, Expro shareholders will own approximately 65 per cent of the combined entity, with Frank’s... Continue Reading →
Valaris gets court approval for Chapter 11 plan, delays drillship deliveries
Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has obtained court approval for its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and agreed with a South Korean shipyard to delay the delivery of two drillships. To remind, Valaris filed for bankruptcy protection in an attempt to restructure its debt back in August 2020. In late September 2020, the rig owner executed a new term... Continue Reading →
Petrobras on Samsung leniency agreement
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras announces that it has received R$ 360 million (US$ 65 million) last week related to the leniency agreement executed by Samsung Heavy Industries. This cash arises from the first installment of the Samsung agreement of a total amount of R$ 705.9 million that will be applied to the reimbursement for... Continue Reading →
Samsung Heavy Settles Brazil Graft Investigation for $149M
South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries agreed to pay 812 million reais ($148.56 million) in a leniency deal with Brazilian authorities to settle corruption investigations, federal prosecutors said late on Monday. On its website, the prosecutor's office said the deal was part of a global negotiation between the company and U.S. and Brazilian authorities to... Continue Reading →
Brazil market regulator CVM opens investigation into Petrobras CEO change announcement
(Reuters) - Brazil’s securities regulator CVM is investigating the management changes at state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, its website showed on Monday, following President Jair Bolsonaro’s announcement last week that he will replace chief executive Roberto Castello Branco. The post on the CVM website gave no details about the investigation, but comes after Petrobras... Continue Reading →
Seismic Player Axxis Geo Solutions Seeks Court-Protected Restructuring
Norwegian offshore seismic services company Axxis Geo Solutions will file for court-protected restructuring, it said Tuesday. Axxis said it had not been able to reach an agreement with all creditors in order to implement a voluntary solution to refinance the company. "Consequently, and as previously reported, the Company will file for court-protected reconstruction," Axxis Geo... Continue Reading →
TechnipFMC Splits the Company in Two
Oilfield services company TechnipFMC on Tuesday said it had completed its spin-off transaction to create two independent, publicly traded companies, TechnipFMC and Technip Energies. TechnipFMC, created in 2017 through a merger between France-based Technip and U.S.-based FMC Technologies, announced its intention to separate into two independent public firms in August 2019 - one focused on upstream activities... Continue Reading →
Petrobras on refineries sale
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras, regarding a piece of news published on the media about the sale of the refineries, clarifies that the dates for the signing of the purchase and sale contracts and for their effective transfer to the buyers (respectively signing and closing) are internal estimates subject to alterations, since they depend on... Continue Reading →
Noble Corp. emerges from Chapter 11 with renewed balance sheet
Offshore drilling contractor Noble Holding Corporation on 5 February 2021 completed its financial restructuring and its debtor-affiliates have emerged from Chapter 11 with a new parent company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands named Noble Corporation. To remind, Noble Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2020 to restructure its debt following a... Continue Reading →