Jan. 29 (Reuters) French Finance Minister Roland Lescure called a draft law proposing to allow offshore oil and gas exploration in its overseas territories "anachronistic" during a debate in the country's Senate on Thursday. In a world first, France banned new oil and gas exploration and production licenses in 2017, hoping other nations would follow suit. But energy security... Continue Reading →
Lukoil Agrees to Sell International Assets to Carlyle
Jan. 29 (oilprice.com) Russia’s oil producer Lukoil has agreed to sell most of its international assets to private equity giant Carlyle. Following the U.S. sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft, “as a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine,” Lukoil announced in October it would sell all of its international assets, initiating a... Continue Reading →
Guyana rigs extended to 2029 as Noble secures US$1.3B in new contracts
Jan. 29 (oilnow.gy) Drilling activity offshore Guyana has been extended through 2029 after ExxonMobil awarded Noble Corporation plc additional rig years under its Commercial Enabling Agreement. The award applies evenly across four drillships operating in Guyana — Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor, Noble Tom Madden and Noble Bob Douglas — and is part of a broader... Continue Reading →
ExxonMobil Guyana produced 892,000 b/d in December
Jan. 29 (oilnow.gy) ExxonMobil Guyana averaged 892,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil production in December 2025 across its four producing developments in the Stabroek Block, according to newly released government data. Production by project was 130,000 b/d at Liza 1, 244,000 b/d at Liza 2, 256,000 b/d at Payara, and 262,000 b/d at... Continue Reading →
House Democrats warn oil companies of risks of Venezuela transactions
Jan 28 (Reuters) - A dozen House Democrats on Wednesday sent a letter to 21 companies who attended a Jan. 9 White House meeting about developing Venezuelan oil resources, warning them that any transaction or investment they make there faces legal and financial risks. The letter, led by Democratic Congressman Sean Casten, said despite any... Continue Reading →
BP, Shell seeking US licenses for gas fields shared with Venezuela, Trinidad minister says
Jan 28 (Reuters) - Shell and BP are seeking U.S. licenses to extract natural gas from fields in Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, the Caribbean country's energy minister Roodal Moonilal said on Wednesday. Trinidad is Latin America's largest liquefied natural gas exporter and one of the world's largest exporters of ammonia and methanol, but the Caribbean island... Continue Reading →
Exclusive: Shell considers exit from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale play, sources say
Jan 22 (Reuters) - Oil major Shell is considering a sale of its assets in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play and has approached potential buyers in recent weeks to gauge their interest, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Shell is open to selling some or all of its interests in the highly sought shale... Continue Reading →
TotalEnergies-led group completed US$15M payment to Guyana in December for Block S4
Jan. 23 (oilnow.gy) A consortium led by TotalEnergies completed payment of a US$15 million signing bonus to Guyana in December for offshore exploration rights to Block S4, according to a report published in the December 30 Official Gazette. The group, which includes QatarEnergy and Petronas, secured Block S4 in Guyana’s first offshore licensing round, which closed... Continue Reading →
Exxon to continue developmental drilling operations at Liza well site
Jan. 22 (oilnow.gy) ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) will continue developmental drilling operations at the Liz_3P13 Drill Center, part of the Liza Phase 2 Project in the Stabroek Block, according to a Notice to Mariners issued by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) this week. The drilling campaign commenced on January 18, 2026, and will conclude on... Continue Reading →
TMC to Deliver Equipment for Mexico-Bound FSO
Jan. 22 (OE) TMC Compressors has secured a contract by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry to deliver a complete marine compressed air system to SBM Offshore’s newbuild floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit Chalchi. The FSO Chalchi is bound for deployment at the Trion deepwater oil field, offshore Mexico, operated by Mexcian unit of Australia’s oil... Continue Reading →