June 18 - The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) approved, without restrictions, the acquisition of control of Brava Energia (BRAV3) by Ecopetrol, removing another regulatory step for the completion of the operation. The decision comes a day after Brava announced that the public takeover bid (OPA) launched by the Colombian oil company was temporarily... Continue Reading →
Repsol, PDVSA Advance Venezuelan Oil and Gas Expansion
June 17 (Reuters) Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA and Spanish energy group Repsol REP.MC have signed a crude and gas agreement to boost output in northwestern Venezuela, officials from the two companies said on Tuesday. PDVSA President Hector Obregon said at an event at the government palace the deal offers "exploration opportunities" on the eastern... Continue Reading →
Barbados could be sitting on 13 billion barrels of oil, rivaling Guyana’s Stabroek Block
June 15 (oilnow.gy) Barbados’ offshore acreage could hold more than 13 billion barrels of oil in place, based on seismic surveys and technical assessments, as the country advances direct negotiations for exploration licences across 19 offshore blocks. The figure adds scale to the offshore push already being advanced by the Mia Mottley administration. Barbados is seeking... Continue Reading →
Venezuela moves pacts forward with Shell, including Loran gas field
June 11 (Reuters) - Venezuela signed five agreements with British oil major Shell on Thursday to advance oil and gas projects, including the company's participation in the coveted 7-trillion-cubic-feet Loran offshore gas field, the government said. The country had signed preliminary agreements for these and other projects earlier this year with Shell, one of the few... Continue Reading →
SLB, PDVSA Target AI-Driven Transformation of Venezuela’s Oil Industry
June 11 (OE) SLB has signed a long-term framework agreement with Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA to support the modernization and development of the country's oil and gas sector. The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework for cooperation across exploration, field development, production, digital enablement, and workforce training and development. The companies said the collaboration... Continue Reading →
SBM Offshore intends to divest minority interest in FSO Chalchi
June 4 - SBM Offshore announces that it has entered into a shareholders’ agreement with its long-standing business partner Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) with the intention to divest a 45% ownership interest in the special purpose companies related to the lease and operation of the FSO Chalchi. SBM Offshore will remain the majority shareholder... Continue Reading →
Venezuela’s Trump-backed reforms have yet to draw investors wary of legal system, infrastructure
June 3 (Reuters) - Global investors remain wary of signing deals in Venezuela, even after the interim government enacted business-friendly reforms backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, a dozen sources with knowledge of private sector investment deliberations told Reuters. The South American country's efforts to lure foreign investment in sectors as diverse as oil, shipping,... Continue Reading →
ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips negotiate possible Venezuela comeback
May 31 (World Oil) – ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are pushing for durable contract terms and a way to resolve billions of dollars owed to them as they consider re-entering Venezuela after exiting the country two decades ago. Both companies are in active negotiations with President Delcy Rodríguez’s government about tapping Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. While they’ve recently said Venezuela has... Continue Reading →
Ecopetrol files tender offer to take control of Brazil’s Brava
May 26 (Reuters) - Colombia's state oil company Ecopetrol launched a tender offer to acquire control of Brava Energia, the Brazilian energy firm said in a securities filing late on Monday. Offer covers 116.1 million common shares at 23 reais per share, a 15.4% premium over Brava's Monday close Deal represents about 25% of Brava's total... Continue Reading →
Colombia clears exploratory phase of Ecopetrol-led geothermal project
May 20 (Reuters) - Colombia's environment ministry said on Wednesday it had approved the environmental viability of the exploratory phase of the Nereidas geothermal project, led by state oil company Ecopetrol , Baker Hughes and utility CHEC, in a step that could help open a new source of round-the-clock renewable power in the Andean country. The... Continue Reading →