Feb 11 (Reuters) - TotalEnergies will halve share buybacks in the first quarter, it said on Wednesday, as low oil and gas prices negated soaring fourth-quarter profit from refining fuels and proceeds from renewable assets stake sales. The French oil major's fourth-quarter adjusted net income fell to $3.8 billion (3.2 billion euros) from $4.4 billion a... Continue Reading →
Venezuela oil exports rise sharply in January under US control, data shows
Feb 2 (Reuters) - Venezuelan oil exports rose to some 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) in January, from 498,000 bpd in December, after the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro and the ending of an oil blockade which has let traders carry most exports, shipping data showed. Washington imposed an oil embargo on the U.S.-sanctioned country... Continue Reading →
Exxon, Chevron see glimmer of Venezuela’s potential, but with long road ahead
Jan 30 (Reuters) - U.S. oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron offered investors a few pieces of new insight into their thinking about Venezuela on Friday, even though neither company announced long-term investment commitments despite President Donald Trump's continued push to convince American oil firms to rebuild the South American country's energy sector. Exxon CEO Darren Woods plugged... Continue Reading →
Sweeping oil reform in Venezuela approved, operators expected to gain autonomy
Jan 29 (Reuters) - Lawmakers approved in a final vote on Thursday a sweeping reform of Venezuela's main oil law after sweetening a proposal by interim President Delcy Rodriguez to lower taxes, expand the oil ministry's decision power, grant autonomy for private producers and make possible asset transfers and outsourcings. The changes are expected to... 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 →
Geopolitics loom large over Big Oil earnings as investors seek Venezuela details
Jan 29 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil and Chevron executives may face more questions about their investment opportunities in Venezuela than their actual quarterly earnings when they hold calls with analysts on Friday. The U.S. capture and removal, opens new tab of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month opened a possible - albeit arduous - path for Big Oil to access... 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 →
US to Ease Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Speed Exports
Jan. 28 (Reuters) U.S. officials are working to issue a general license soon that would lift some sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector, four sources familiar with the preparation said on Tuesday, a shift from a previous plan to grant individual exemptions to sanctions for companies seeking to do business in the country. Following the U.S.... Continue Reading →
International oil companies push for quick reforms in Venezuela to give them control over oil exports
Jan 16 (Reuters) - Oil executives and lawyers for international oil companies are lobbying the U.S. and Venezuelan governments for changes in the OPEC member's hydrocarbon law that would give them the right to freely export the oil they produce in Venezuela, sources involved in the talks said. As the administration of U.S. President Donald... Continue Reading →
Venezuela to export $2 billion worth of oil to US in deal with Washington
Jan 6 (Reuters) - Caracas and Washington have reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, a flagship negotiation that would divert supplies from China while helping Venezuela avoid deeper oil production cuts. The agreement is a strong sign that the Venezuelan government... Continue Reading →