(Reuters) - Italian energy group Eni said on Tuesday it would lift a force majeure on exports of Nigerian Brass River crude oil this week after it completed repairs to a pipeline damaged by a blast. The group had cut oil and gas exports from its Brass Export terminal. "The force majeure is expected to... Continue Reading →
U.S. oil ‘mini-majors’ emerge from shale patch deals, soaring energy prices
(Reuters) - A group of oil and gas "mini-majors" are emerging among U.S. shale producers, built from aggressive dealmaking that industry players expect will accelerate on strong commodity prices and the retreat of Europeans from U.S. onshore production. The players, including Devon Energy Corp , EQT Corp (EQT.N), Continental Resources (CLR.N), Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD.N) and Diamondback Energy ,... Continue Reading →
FAR Withdraws from Guinea Bissau. STAM Takeover Attempt Fails
Australian oil and gas company FAR Limited said Monday it would withdraw from its offshore blocks in Guinea Bissau after failed farm-out attempts. Separately, FAR said that STAM's takeover offer for FAR had closed, without the offer conditions being satisfied. FAR had urged shareholders to reject the offer. As for the Guinea Bissau news, FAR... Continue Reading →
EXCLUSIVE Petrobras and EIG near deal for Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline
(Reuters) - State-run Brazilian oil company Petrobras is close to reaching an agreement to sell to U.S. private equity firm EIG Energy Partners control of a natural gas pipeline that connects Bolivia and southern Brazil, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the company is formally known, is expected... Continue Reading →
Shell stopped from selling Nigerian assets until $2 bln appeal decided
(Reuters) - A Nigerian court has stopped Shell Plc (SHEL.L) from selling any assets in Nigeria until a decision is reached on the company's appeal of a nearly $2 billion penalty for an alleged oil spill. A copy of the court ruling, which was seen by Reuters on Monday, was issued on March 11 and also ordered... Continue Reading →
BP and Eni poised to create Angola’s largest producer by combining country’s businesses
(Offshore Energy) Oil and gas giants BP and Eni have signed an agreement to form a new 50/50 independent company in Angola through the combination of the two companies’ Angolan businesses. The new company will be named Azule Energy and it is expected to be Angola’s largest producer. The agreement follows the memorandum of understanding between the... Continue Reading →
Eco Atlantic Agrees to Buy Guyana-focused JHI
(OE) Oil and gas company Eco Atlantic has agreed to acquire 100% of Toronto-based JHI Associates Inc. ("JHI"), including JHI's 17.5% stake in the Canje Block offshore Guyana. The Canje Block, offshore Guyana, is directly adjacent to the prolific Stabroek Block where ExxonMobil has discovered more than 10 billion barrels of oil. ExxonMobil operates the Canje Block... Continue Reading →
Ecuador’s state oil company looks to double output in five years
(Reuters) - Petroecuador, Ecaudor's state-owned oil company, on Friday said it will look to double production to 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in the next five years, which will need private sector investment worth some $12 billion. To achieve the goal, Petroecuador hopes to team up with private-sector oil companies via consortia... Continue Reading →
Venezuela could add 400,000 bpd to oil output if U.S. approves licenses -petroleum chamber
(Reuters) - Venezuela's oil output could rise by at least 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) if the United States authorizes requests by state-run PDVSA's partners to trade Venezuelan crude, the country's petroleum chamber said on Friday. The increase would allow the OPEC member's oil production, which in January averaged 755,000 bpd according to official figures,... Continue Reading →
BP, Eni Near Deal on Angola JV and Algeria Asset Swap
(Reuters) Eni and BP are near a deal to raise around $2.5 billion in financing to merge their oil and gas operations in Angola and close to a separate agreement for Eni to buy stakes in Algerian gas plants, three sources told Reuters. The two companies last year announced plans to combine their Angolan businesses into a... Continue Reading →