RSS Oil & Gas Journal News

CNPC signs new agreements with Sudan

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:40 GMT

November 20,2009 --

China National Petroleum Corp., apparently shrugging off environmentalists’ concerns, has signed three oil and gas cooperation agreements with the government of Sudan.

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Senate committee members trade barbs at OCS technology hearing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:45:10 GMT

November 20,2009

Mexico eyes risk contracts to offset Cantarell downturn

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:05:40 GMT

November 20,2009 --

Mexico’s state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos and the Secretaria de Energia (Sener) are preparing risk contracts that will be offered to oil companies—international and domestic—in order accelerate the search for oil and gas, accor.......

US rigs increase for fifth week

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:50:50 GMT

November 20,2009 --

US drilling activity increased for the fifth consecutive week, up by 12 rotary rigs to 1,113 working but still well below the 1,941 units drilling during the comparable week a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

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Affordable energy isn’t only target of climate politics

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:40 GMT

November 20,2009 --

More will be needed if changes in human activity are to influence climate measurably. Recent events show what might be in store.

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MARKET WATCH: Crude price falls, gas price rises

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:20:10 GMT

November 20,2009 --

The front-month crude contract in the New York market fell Nov. 19, giving back much of its gains from a 3-day rally.

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Russia, EU sign warning agreement on energy disruptions

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:16:00 GMT

November 20,2009 --

Russia's Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and European Union Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs have signed an agreement for an early warning of future disruptions of Russian gas supplies to the EU.

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Valero to close Delaware City refinery

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:55:10 GMT

November 20,2009 --

Valero Energy Corp., San Antonio, will permanently close its 210,000-b/d Delaware City, Del., refinery, citing financial losses caused by “very poor economic conditions, significant capital spending requirements, and high operating costs........

Silver Eagle shuts Utah refinery at CSB suggestion

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:46:00 GMT

November 20,2009 --

Silver Eagle Refining Inc. has shut down its 12,500 b/cd Woods Cross refinery in Utah on the suggestion of the US Chemical Safety Board and state officials.

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Continental Resources names president, COO

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:20 GMT

November 20,2009 --

Continental Resources Inc. has promoted Jeffrey B. Hume to president and chief operating officer. Hume has served as chief operating officer since October 2008.

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Kinder Morgan plans Eagle Ford shale pipeline project

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:40 GMT

November 20,2009 --

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and Copano Energy LLC signed a letter of intent to jointly provide gathering, transportation, and processing services in the Eagle Ford shale in South Texas.

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Petrobras to start refinery expansion works

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:50:50 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Brazil’s Petroleo Brazileiro SA (Petrobras) and the Rio Grande do Norte state government signed the final contract for expansion works at the Refiniaria Potiguar Clara Camarao, aiming to boost its installed capacity and deploy a gasoline .......

New refinery planned for Colombia

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:35:40 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Ecopetrol’s Refineria de Cartagena SA has hired CB&I, Houston, to provide engineering, procurement services, and construction for a new 165,000-b/d refinery adjacent Reficar’s refinery in Cartagena, Colombia.

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Zambia awards exploration licenses for 11 blocks

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:30:50 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Zambia is set to award exploration licenses for 11 oil and gas blocks in the northwest, east, and west of the country, according to Maxwell Mwale, minister of mines and mineral development.

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MARKET WATCH: Crude rallies, gas price falls

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:15:40 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Crude prices increased for the third consecutive session Nov. 18 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, buoyed by a weak dollar and unexpected declines in US oil inventories, but still wasn’t able to crack through its apparent ceiling of $8.......

Third West Don production well under study

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:10:20 GMT

November 19,2009 --

A third production well is under study for West Don field in the UK North Sea, 150 km northeast of the Shetland Islands.

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TNK-BP names new chief executive officer

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:55:30 GMT

November 19,2009 --

BP PLC and its Russian partners in TNK-BP have named Maxim Barsky as the new chief executive officer for the joint venture, but have delayed his appointment until 2011 so he can gain more experience.

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S&P examines opportunities for advanced biofuels

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:45:40 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Major oil companies and midstream companies face some changes in how they do business if biofuels production expands at the rate required by the US renewable fuel standards (RFS), a credit rating agency reports.

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UFIP trade group appoints delegate general

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:36:00 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Olivier Gantois was appointed delegate general of French Union for Petroleum Industries (UFIP) trade group and will take office in January.

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Indonesia's Sabang Port being readied for supertankers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:05:40 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Indonesia’s Port of Sabang, in Aceh Province on the island of Pulau Weh at the northern entrance to the Malacca Strait, is being readied to accommodate super tankers and super cargo ships.

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Group pushes electric vehicles to cut oil use

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:45:40 GMT

November 19,2009 --

A group of corporate chief executives has formed to promote cuts in US oil use through expansion of the electric-powered vehicle fleet.

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Enel Trade to buy Stratic's Italian unit

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:40:10 GMT

November 19,2009 --

Enel Trade SPA is acquiring Stratic Energy Corp.’s Italian business unit for $51 million.

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CNOOC, PetroChina to buy more LNG from Qatar

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:00 GMT

November 18,2009 --

Qatar’s state-owned Qatargas Operating Co. Ltd. boosted its exports of LNG to China by signing supply agreements with China National Offshore Oil Co. (CNOOC) and PetroChina International Co. Ltd.

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OPEC: world oil demand to rise slightly in 2010

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:26:00 GMT

November 18,2009 --

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries reported that the world’s economic recovery will drive global oil demand to 85.07 million b/d in 2010, an increase of 0.9%.

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BG, Petrobras to use floating LNG for Santos basin

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:31:00 GMT

November 18,2009 --

BG Group signed a joint venture agreement with Brazil’s Petroleo Brasileiro SA to develop floating LNG (FLNG) as an additional option to commercialize the associated natural gas in the Santos basin presalt, off Brazil.

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MARKET WATCH: Crude price climbs; gas declines

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:45:10 GMT

November 18,2009 --

Crude prices continued climbing Nov. 17 despite a strengthening US dollar, but the front-month natural gas contract gave up some of its gain from the previous session of the New York market on weaker US manufacturing and mixed weather forecasts.......

NPRA outlines problems in EPA's proposed GHG tailoring rule

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:30:50 GMT

November 18,2009 --

A proposed greenhouse-gas tailoring rule for large industrial facilities could cause more problems than it solves, a National Petrochemical & Refiners Association official told the US Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 18.

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Ivanhoe Energy to acquire stake in PSA in central Mongolia

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:20 GMT

November 18,2009 --

Ivanhoe Energy Inc. said its Asian subsidiary plans to acquire interest in a production-sharing agreement (PSA) held by PanAsian Petroleum Inc., which holds exploration and production rights to a large block in central Mongolia.

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Devon to accelerate Haynesville shale drilling

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45:40 GMT

November 18,2009 --

Devon Energy Corp. plans to accelerate drilling in its southern Haynesville shale play based upon results from a well in San Augustine County, Tex.

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DOJ orders Cameron to divest assets before acquiring Natco

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:35:30 GMT

November 18,2009 --

Cameron International Corp. will be required to divest assets used in the production and sale of oil refining desalters before it proceeds with its $980 million acquisition of Natco Group Inc., the US Department of Justice said on Nov. 17.

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Haynesville buried-array seismic work set

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:06:00 GMT

November 18,2009 --

El Paso Corp. let contract to MicroSeismic Inc. for a buried-array seismic monitoring program in its Haynesville shale development program south of Shreveport, La.

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ConocoPhillips delays refinery upgrade

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:36:00 GMT

November 18,2009 --

ConocoPhillips has confirmed plans to delay the upgrade of its 260,000-b/d Wilhelmshaven refinery in Germany.

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CSB to investigate Puerto Rico tank farm fire, blast

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:50:30 GMT

November 17,2009 --

The US Chemical Safety Board will fully investigate an Oct. 23 tank explosion and fire at Caribbean Petroleum Refining in Puerto Rico that damaged homes and businesses more than a mile away, the board said Nov. 17.

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Russians close to approval of ESPO oil line tariff

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:30:50 GMT

November 17,2009 --

Russia’s Federal Tariff Service said it expects to approve the tariff for oil transportation through the East Siberia–Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline in late November or early December.

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Argentina approves Apache's Gas Plus project

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:20:20 GMT

November 17,2009 --

Argentina's Federal Energy Secretariat has approved Apache Argentina's Gas Plus project to supply 10 MMcfd from Guanaco and Ranquil-Co fields in Neuquen province to Compania Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Electrico.

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Vietnam's Dung Quat refinery to shut for repairs

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:05:50 GMT

November 17,2009 --

PetroVietnam, apparently at the urging of state officials, reported it will shut down the 148,000 b/d Dung Quat refinery for 10-14 days for maintenance in December.

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Petrobras extends Marimba to the north

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:15:10 GMT

November 17,2009 --

Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) says it has extended Marimba oil field to the north in the Campos basin off Brazil.

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Alaska gas pipeline project's first federal coordinator resigns

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:30 GMT

November 17,2009 --

The first federal coordinator of Alaska natural gas projects, Drue Pearce, gave notice Nov. 16, after US President Barack Obama asked for her resignation.

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MARKET WATCH: Economic gains, weak dollar boost energy prices

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:50:20 GMT

November 17,2009 --

Energy prices rebounded Nov. 16 from a two-session decline with crude up 3.3% with larger than expected US retail sales and growth in Japan’s gross national product.

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IPAMS chides Congresswoman for letter about hydraulic fracturing

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:35:50 GMT

November 17,2009 --

The Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States has asked US Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) to stop spreading misinformation in a letter to other members of Congress about hydraulic fracturing in an apparent effort to pass a bill she and.......

Partners report high Bakken shale test rates

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:10:20 GMT

November 17,2009 --

Brigham Exploration Co., Austin, and US Energy Corp., Riverton, Wyo., reported high initial production rates from their first three completions in a six-well program in the Williston basin’s Bakken shale oil play.

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Tight market alters European utilities' spending

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:55:50 GMT

November 17,2009 --

The economic crisis is forcing European utilities to defer or cancel investments in facilities, renewables, and energy efficiency and to divest assets, according to Cap Gemini SA, Paris, in its annual European Energy Markets Observatory (EEMO)........

Appraisal well completed in Bo Rang B field in Thailand

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:50 GMT

November 17,2009 --

Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd., Perth, and its joint venture partner Pan Orient Energy Corp., Calgary, completed testing the BR-3D1 appraisal well in Bo Rang B oil field in Thailand and declared the field commercial.

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Connecticut investor sentenced in Azeri bribery scheme

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:05:40 GMT

November 17,2009 --

A federal district judge in New York sentenced Frederic A. Bourke Jr. of Greenwich, Conn., to 1 year and 1 day in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving Azerbaijan’s national oil company, the US Department of Justice announced........

Former Willbros consultant pleads guilty to bribery charges

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:30:50 GMT

November 16,2009 --

A former consultant for Willbros International Inc. pleaded guilty on Nov. 12 to charges that he was part of a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to Nigerian government officials and officials of a Nigerian political party, the US.......

Pemex unit lets contract for Veracruz pipeline project

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:55:40 GMT

November 16,2009 --

Petroleos Mexicanos subsidiary Pemex Exploration & Production (PEP) has awarded Copavisa the tender for construction of various pipelines in its Veracruz project.

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Crude trades in tight price range

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:10:10 GMT

November 16,2009 --

After trading over a fairly tight range for more than 4 months on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the front-month crude contract finally broke through to the upside only to trade within an even tighter range of $79-80/bbl through 19 days in l.......

MARKET WATCH: Crude prices slip in second session

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:36:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --

Energy prices fell in a second consecutive trading session Nov. 13 with crude touching a 1-month low in intraday trade in the New York market following reports of bigger-than-expected increases in US inventories of crude, gasoline, and distilla.......

Devon to divest international, Gulf of Mexico assets

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:10 GMT

November 16,2009 --

Devon Energy Corp., Oklahoma City, plans to divest its Gulf of Mexico and international assets in a move toward focusing on high-growth US and Canadian onshore assets, the company reported Nov. 16.

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BP confirms westward Kaskida extension

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:41:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --

BP PLC has confirmed a westward extension of deepwater Kaskida field in the Lower Tertiary trend of the Gulf of Mexico.

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OGJ Newsletter

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009

Focus on jobs

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --One of the unfortunate characteristics of the oil and gas industry is its unwillingness to estimate the impact of government actions in terms that the public can relate to.....

Spending clunkers cash

Sam Fletcher — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The US government's $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program, designed to put more fuel-efficient vehicles on the road, mainly involved deals that swapped used, full-size pickups for new, full-size pickups with barely better gasoline mileage, accordin.......

Equipment/Software/Literature

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009

Services/Suppliers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009

Advertisers Index

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009

Shrinking to grow: Is Conoco plan a model for industry?

Bob Tippee — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Although one company doesn't represent a whole industry, a shrink-to-grow strategy adopted by ConocoPhillips illustrates pressures on the biggest operators in a world of shrinking opportunity.....

DB: Markets are between recessions

Sam Fletcher — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The recession appears to have ended in June, "although not officially declared yet," said analysts with Deutsche Bank AG, London. ....

Editorial: The reckless IST mandate

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The 111th Congress has shown yet again a dangerous urge to govern before thinking. ....

Special Report: Construction survey shows delay in completion dates

Leena Koottungal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Oil & Gas Journal's semiannual Worldwide Construction Update shows a decline in construction activity compared with the previous edition of the update (OGJ, Apr. 6, 2009, p. 22).....

House passes chemical security bill; provision intact

Nick Snow — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The US House approved a chemical and water security bill with a provision requiring inherently safer technology (IST) by a vote of 230 to 193 on Nov. 6, despite objections from the petroleum and other industries.....

Senate panel considers climate change bill's impacts

Nick Snow — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Days after one US Senate committee approved a climate change bill with a carbon cap-and-trade program, the chairman of another convened a hearing to examine the possible economic consequences.....

Watching Government: EIA forecast mentions rebound

Nick Snow — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Economists are generally hesitant about using "r" words. Many waited a year ago before admitting that the world had entered a recession. They're equally cautious now about any possible rebound.....

IEA: Recession lowers global energy outlook to 2030

Marilyn Radler — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --In its 2009 World Energy Outlook (WEO), the International Energy Agency projects in its reference scenario that global energy demand will climb 40% between 2007 and 2030, and the agency says that the world's energy resources are adequate to meet t.......

IPAA advocates fact-based hydraulic fracturing study

Paula Dittrick — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The Independent Petroleum Association of America will work to ensure that an upcoming study on hydraulic fracturing is scientific, based on facts, and includes input from the oil and gas industry as well as state regulators. ....

Study: Cooperation key to growth in oil sands supply

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Although the oil sands industry will continue to develop in Alberta despite the jolt it received when oil prices plunged last year, total Canadian oil exports to the US face constraints, according to a study by the Center for Global Energy Studies.......

FACTS: Abu Dhabi needs gas for domestic market

Sam Fletcher — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Abu Dhabi currently imports 740 MMscfd of natural gas from Qatar via the Dolphin Pipeline and likely would buy more if the Qatari gas moratorium were lifted, according to FACTS Global Energy (FGE). ....

Gabon to launch 40-block licensing round

Eric Watkins — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Gabon will launch an oil licensing round for more than 40 blocks from two of its deepwater basins in May 2010, according to an official at CGGVeritas.....

Watching The World: Setback in Ireland

Eric Watkins — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --Ireland's planning authority, An Bord Pleanala, has told Royal Dutch Shell PLC it is dissatisfied about the level of risk posed by the planned Corrib gas pipeline.....

WILLISTON WAULSORTIAN MOUNDS—2: Geochemical innovations point to vast Lodgepole oil expanse

Jamil Azad — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --New technologies reveal that Lodgepole reef oil discoveries near Dickinson, ND, may be part of a supergiant oil field that covers a much larger area of the Williston basin.....

CO₂ INJECTION—1: Restaged CO₂ compressors, new pumps remove bottleneck at Weyburn

Kenneth J. Vargas — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The restaging of CO₂ compressors and installation of injection pumps removed the bottleneck caused by the lack of reinjection compression capacity for the produced recycled gas at EnCana Corp.'s Weyburn Saskatchewan oil battery. ....

Final institute report refines, forecasts cyber-security issues

Annie McIntyre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --This article follows a 2006 article that introduced the Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection (I3P) and presented initial research findings and industry perspectives on cyber-security risks facing critical control systems in energy i.......

Offshore pipelay vessels grow in strength, number

Christopher E. Smith — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

November 16,2009 --The need to continue developing offshore oil and gas resources has kept strength in demand for offshore pipelay and construction vessels.....

Shorter lease terms proposed for central gulf sale

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:35:40 GMT

November 13,2009 --

The US Minerals Management Service’s next Central Gulf of Mexico lease sale on Mar. 17, 2010, will include a shorter initial lease term for blocks in 400-1,600 m of water, US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Nov. 13.

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Pertamina plans 77% capital spending increase

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:06:00 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Indonesia’s state-owned PT Pertamina, aiming for an 11% boost in oil production, expects to increase capital expenditure to $4.15 billion in 2010—a 77% increase over spending in 2009, according to a company official.

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SOCAR signs gas supply contract with Iran for 2010

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:50:10 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Azerbaijan’s State Oil Co. of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), following the signing of a similar agreement with Russia’s OAO Gazprom last month, has signed a memorandum of understanding to supply natural gas to National Iranian Gas.......

Japanese power firm seeks flexibility to divert LNG cargoes

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:31:00 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Kansai Electric Power Co., which already has resold at least three LNG cargoes since last fall, will seek the contractual right to divert future surplus cargoes in new talks with suppliers.

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Credibility claim shows low quality of climate debate

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:30:30 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Everything wrong about debate over climate change congealed in a single sentence at a Senate Finance Committee hearing Nov. 10.

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Valero to shut Paulsboro FCCU until early 2010

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:50:50 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Unscheduled maintenance on the scrubber at the Valero Energy Corp.’s Paulsboro, NJ, refinery’s 55,000-b/d fluid catalytic cracking unit will force its shut down later this month, according to a company news release.

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US rig count increases for fourth week

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:45:40 GMT

November 13,2009 --

US drilling activity continued to increase for the fourth week, up by 23 rotary rigs to 1,101 working but still well below the 1,941 units drilling during the comparable week a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

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MARKET WATCH: Increased inventories reduce energy prices

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:00:30 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Energy prices fell Nov. 12 as traders ignored an International Energy Agency report predicting gobal oil demand will grow in the fourth quarter and focused instead on a US Energy Information Administration report of a larger than expected incre.......

Final leg of Rockies Express line enters service

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:55:40 GMT

November 13,2009 --

The final 195 miles of the Rockies Express-East pipeline was completed Nov. 12, entering service between the Lebanon Hub in Warren County, Ohio, and Clarington in Monroe County, Ohio.

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Gorgon LNG project partners let contract for jetty

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:40:10 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Leighton Contractors, in joint venture with Saipem, was let a $900 million (Aus.) construction contract to develop and build the LNG jetty at Barrow Island for the Gorgon project.

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New well pegs Tupi area reserves at 5-8 billion boe

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:30:40 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Petroleo Brazileiro SA (Petrobras) reported that a new well drilled in the Tupi area of the Santos basin off Brazil further confirms reserves estimates of 5-8 billion boe of light oil and natural gas.

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EPA publishes final regulation on oil-spill rule amendments

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:25:40 GMT

November 13,2009 --

The US Environmental Protection Agency published a final regulation on Nov. 10 that amends certain requirements for facilities subject to its Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule.

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Bingaman joins Barrasso in CCS bill to offer R&D prize

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:05:40 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has joined US Sen. John A. Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in proposing a government prize to encourage scientific research and development of carbon capture and storage technology.

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Suncor revives Firebag oil sands expansion

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:25:50 GMT

November 13,2009 --

Suncor Energy Inc. will resume investment in the 50%-complete third stage of its Firebag in situ development in the oil sands of Alberta.

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Russians complete ESPO oil export terminal at Kozmino

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:40:40 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Russian authorities said all of the onshore and offshore facilities for oil exports have been finished at the Port of Kozmino—the planned terminus of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline, now under construction.

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Black Elk acquires Gulf of Mexico properties

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:35:20 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Black Elk Energy LLC, private Houston independent, completed the acquisition of Gulf of Mexico oil and gas properties from an undisclosed seller for $30 million plus other cash considerations.

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India approves Deen Dayal West gas development

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:30:50 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Authorities in India approved the development plan for Deen Dayal West gas-condensate field in the Krishna Godavari basin off eastern India.

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MARKET WATCH: Energy prices rise in 'quiet' holiday market

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:05:10 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Crude prices again topped $80/bbl in “relatively quiet” intraday trading Nov. 11 in the New York market with volumes below normal because of the US Veteran's Day holiday.

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CSB chairman wants more states to adopt ASME pressure vessel code

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:25:40 GMT

November 12,2009 --

US Chemical Safety Board Chairman John S. Bresland urged more states to adopt the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ pressure vessel code to reduce the number of catastrophic accidents resulting from pressure vessel failures.

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Concerns voiced about UK-based subsea industry

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:45:40 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Decreasing activity and project delays off the UK are raising concerns in the country’s subsea industry.

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CSIS appoints energy advisory council

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:35:50 GMT

November 12,2009 --

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Energy and National Security Program announced the creation of a new senior energy advisory council comprised of former high government officials and industry representatives.

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Buried seismic array due in Sanish field

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:20:50 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Whiting Oil & Gas Corp., Denver, let a contract to MicroSeismic Inc., Houston, for a buried array microseismic monitoring program in Sanish oil and gas field in the North Dakota portion of the Williston basin.

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Qatar Petroleum acquiring Shell chemical ventures

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:11:00 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Qatar Petroleum International signed a series of agreements to acquire two Singapore chemical joint ventures from Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

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Salazar: Businesses, entrepreneurs critical to energy future

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:00:40 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Businesses and entrepreneurs will need to play a critical part if the US is to create a cleaner energy economy, US Interior Sec. Ken Salazar told a North Dakota audience.

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Medgaz pipeline delayed until June 2010

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:50:50 GMT

November 12,2009 --

The launch of the 8 billion cu m/year Medgaz gas pipeline from Algeria to southern Spain has once again been delayed, this time until June 2010, according to a spokesman for the Medgaz consortium.

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IADC elects chairman for 2010

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:41:00 GMT

November 12,2009 --

The International Association of Drilling Contractors has elected as its 2010 chairman Pride International Inc. Pres. and Chief Executive Officer Louis A. Raspino.

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Woodside lets FEED contracts for Pluto LNG Trains 2, 3

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:40:30 GMT

November 12,2009 --

Australian LNG operator Woodside Petroleum Ltd. awarded contracts for Trains 2 and 3 frontend engineering design for its Pluto project to Foster Wheeler, WorleyParsons, and KBR.

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RSS Oil & Gas Journal News

CNPC signs new agreements with Sudan

Senate committee members trade barbs at OCS technology hearing

Mexico eyes risk contracts to offset Cantarell downturn

US rigs increase for fifth week

Affordable energy isn’t only target of climate politics

MARKET WATCH: Crude price falls, gas price rises

Russia, EU sign warning agreement on energy disruptions

Valero to close Delaware City refinery

Silver Eagle shuts Utah refinery at CSB suggestion

Continental Resources names president, COO

Kinder Morgan plans Eagle Ford shale pipeline project

Petrobras to start refinery expansion works

New refinery planned for Colombia

Zambia awards exploration licenses for 11 blocks

MARKET WATCH: Crude rallies, gas price falls

Third West Don production well under study

TNK-BP names new chief executive officer

S&P examines opportunities for advanced biofuels

UFIP trade group appoints delegate general

Indonesia's Sabang Port being readied for supertankers

Group pushes electric vehicles to cut oil use

Enel Trade to buy Stratic's Italian unit

CNOOC, PetroChina to buy more LNG from Qatar

OPEC: world oil demand to rise slightly in 2010

BG, Petrobras to use floating LNG for Santos basin

MARKET WATCH: Crude price climbs; gas declines

NPRA outlines problems in EPA's proposed GHG tailoring rule

Ivanhoe Energy to acquire stake in PSA in central Mongolia

Devon to accelerate Haynesville shale drilling

DOJ orders Cameron to divest assets before acquiring Natco

Haynesville buried-array seismic work set

ConocoPhillips delays refinery upgrade

CSB to investigate Puerto Rico tank farm fire, blast

Russians close to approval of ESPO oil line tariff

Argentina approves Apache's Gas Plus project

Vietnam's Dung Quat refinery to shut for repairs

Petrobras extends Marimba to the north

Alaska gas pipeline project's first federal coordinator resigns

MARKET WATCH: Economic gains, weak dollar boost energy prices

IPAMS chides Congresswoman for letter about hydraulic fracturing

Partners report high Bakken shale test rates

Tight market alters European utilities' spending

Appraisal well completed in Bo Rang B field in Thailand

Connecticut investor sentenced in Azeri bribery scheme

Former Willbros consultant pleads guilty to bribery charges

Pemex unit lets contract for Veracruz pipeline project

Crude trades in tight price range

MARKET WATCH: Crude prices slip in second session

Devon to divest international, Gulf of Mexico assets

BP confirms westward Kaskida extension

OGJ Newsletter

Focus on jobs

Spending clunkers cash

Equipment/Software/Literature

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Shrinking to grow: Is Conoco plan a model for industry?

DB: Markets are between recessions

Editorial: The reckless IST mandate

Special Report: Construction survey shows delay in completion dates

House passes chemical security bill; provision intact

Senate panel considers climate change bill's impacts

Watching Government: EIA forecast mentions rebound

IEA: Recession lowers global energy outlook to 2030

IPAA advocates fact-based hydraulic fracturing study

Study: Cooperation key to growth in oil sands supply

FACTS: Abu Dhabi needs gas for domestic market

Gabon to launch 40-block licensing round

Watching The World: Setback in Ireland

WILLISTON WAULSORTIAN MOUNDS—2: Geochemical innovations point to vast Lodgepole oil expanse

CO2 INJECTION—1: Restaged CO2 compressors, new pumps remove bottleneck at Weyburn

Final institute report refines, forecasts cyber-security issues

Offshore pipelay vessels grow in strength, number

Shorter lease terms proposed for central gulf sale

Pertamina plans 77% capital spending increase

SOCAR signs gas supply contract with Iran for 2010

Japanese power firm seeks flexibility to divert LNG cargoes

Credibility claim shows low quality of climate debate

Valero to shut Paulsboro FCCU until early 2010

CO₂ INJECTION—1: Restaged CO₂ compressors, new pumps remove bottleneck at Weyburn