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Expert panel in Colombia gives nod to unconventionals
Recommendation could push government to make fracking decision soonOnline upstreamonline.com 52 minutes old

Anadarko signs another Mozambique LNG deal
Deal is second with Indian players in past weekOnline upstreamonline.com 1 hours old

Noble closes in on Leviathan start-up
US independent said project off Israel about 75% complete following jacket installationOnline upstreamonline.com 5 hours old

Gazprom Neft lines up Dolginskoye plans
Russian state giant aiming to commercialise oil assets in southern flank of Pechora Sea fieldOnline upstreamonline.com 6 hours old

Llog takes over Leon operatorship
US independent moves into driving seat in two blocks associated with 2014 discoveryOnline upstreamonline.com 6 hours old

Oil hovers below 2019 highs on Opec cuts
Oil was close to its 2019 high of almost $67 a barrel on Tuesday, supported by Opec-led supply cuts although gains were capped by concerns about slowing economic growth that could hit demand. The supply curbs led by Opec have helped crude oil prices to rise more than 20% this year. US sanctions against Opec members Iran and Venezuela have also tightened the market. Brent crude slipped 21 cents tOnline upstreamonline.com 7 hours old

Indonesia find 'at least 2 Tcf': Repsol
Spanish operator issues recoverable resource estimate for onshore gas discoveryOnline upstreamonline.com 8 hours old

Germany calls for Brent decom 'review'
Leaked documents indicate concerns over plans to leave North Sea structures in place as UK denies backing proposal: reportsOnline upstreamonline.com 11 hours old

Novatek targets Gydansky drilling
Russian independent looking to resume exploration work on remote block on Gydan PeninsulaOnline upstreamonline.com 12 hours old

Wood wins Vigdis job
UK player gets EPCI modifications contract for increased oil recovery projectOnline upstreamonline.com 12 hours old

BW targets third phase at Dussafu
Operator sees decision by year-end on wellhead platform to exploit further finds in block off Gabon after Tortue reserves upgradeOnline upstreamonline.com 13 hours old

BW sees profits dip
Increased expenses offset rise in revenueOnline upstreamonline.com 14 hours old

Brent eases from 2019 highs
Concerns over the health of the global economy weighs on pricesOnline upstreamonline.com 15 hours old

Origin sells Ironbark to APLNG
Company to remain responsible for the development as upstream operator of APLNGOnline upstreamonline.com 16 hours old

Oil Search books higher profits and reserves
Company also reveals progress being made on proposed PNG LNG expansionOnline upstreamonline.com 17 hours old

Golden Pass job for Air Products
US contractor to provide its liquefaction technology and cryogenic heat exchangersOnline upstreamonline.com 18 hours old

Monadelphous sees profits slip
Lower revenues in the first half of the financial year hits resultsOnline upstreamonline.com 18 hours old

Equinor releases Bight plan
Draft environmental plan for Australian offshore campaign open for public commentsOnline upstreamonline.com 19 hours old

Skandi Olinda starts Petrobras contract
Pipelay vessel owned by TechnipFMC and DOF Subsea joint venture delivered by VardOnline upstreamonline.com 20 hours old

Transocean reduces red ink
Company narrows net loss but posts weaker underlying performanceOnline upstreamonline.com 21 hours old

Oil rises on optimism over Opec deal
Oil rose for a fifth day on Monday, on track for its strongest first quarter in eight years, thanks to a growing belief among investors that Opec's supply cuts will prevent a build-up in unused fuel, though concern over China's economy tempered gains. Brent futures were last up 22 cents at $66.47 a barrel by 3:57pm GMT, having touched a 2019 high of $66.83, while US futures rose 35 cents to $55.9Online upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 17:02 GMT

Lukoil, KazMunaiGaz near Zhenis deal
Russian and Kazakh companies moving closer to exploration and development deal in Caspian SeaOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 16:41 GMT

Tulip starts-up Q10 off the Netherlands
Dutch independent sees gas production from well QA-01Online upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 16:28 GMT

Steelhead halts Kwispaa LNG
Project developer stops work on the export facility in British ColumbiaOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 14:32 GMT

KCA Deutag in rig deal haul
UK contractor wins drilling work worth $110m in Mid-East, Russia and AfricaOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 14:16 GMT

McDermott lands Pan Malaysia work
US-based engineering giant to provide offshore work for the Malaysian fieldOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 12:34 GMT

Qatar launches industry-focused 'localisation programme'
State player inks over $2bn- worth of deals with Baker Hughes, Schlumberger and McDermott aimed at building in-country skillsOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 12:15 GMT

ADES wins Saudi Arabia rig gig
Contractor to order pair of newbuilds after gaining long-term contracts for onshore drilling workOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 10:04 GMT

Sirius deal in Nigeria extended
London-based player gets extra 45 days to complete participation in Ejulebe developmentOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 09:03 GMT

First job for Deepsea Nordkapp
Odfjell-owned newbuild to make debut for Aker BP off Norway with well-plugging work at Jette fieldOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 09:03 GMT

Kosmos founder to retire
Exploration chief Brian Maxted to step down, to be succeeded by Tracey HendersonOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 08:41 GMT

Total acquires Avalon seismic
Data licenced from larger shoot carried out by TGS off Ireland in 2017Online upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 08:09 GMT

Wintershall duster at Marisko
German explorer fails to deliver the good with wildcat in Norwegian SeaOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 08:03 GMT

Repsol makes Sumatran find
Exploration well in Indonesia hits gas in the Sakakemang PSCOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 07:25 GMT

Oil rises and falls in early trade
Prices hit 2019 high before falling away later in the sessionOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 04:23 GMT

Oz faces LNG competition
World's largest LNG exporter must work to remain competitiveOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 03:41 GMT

Armour gets reserves boost
Proved plus probable reserves jump 56% from recent October estimateOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 02:12 GMT

Drilling starts at Winx-1
Drilling starts on exploration well targeting Alaska's Nanushuk playOnline upstreamonline.com 18 Feb 01:08 GMT

North Dakota reaches record output in December
State currently has 65 rigs operatingOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 21:51 GMT

AMLO rolls out Pemex 'rescue' package
Analysts say plan insufficient to change trajectory of state-led oil companyOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 20:24 GMT

Wyoming leads US rig count gains
State added three rigs in the last weekOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 18:55 GMT

Gazprom's Miller hints on new subsea gas pipeline
Export pipeline will run across Black Sea as EU rushes to approve new incoming gas line rulesOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 18:11 GMT

EIA adds new plays to production metrics
US agency to include information from seven more unconventional playsOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 17:16 GMT
Brent crude hits 2019 high above $65
Price rise: for crudeOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 15:45 GMT

US sanctions Venezuelan oil minister
Treasury Department slaps measures on head of PDVSA as well as four others close to MaduroOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 15:27 GMT

Anadarko inks another Mozambique LNG deal
US giant signs sale and purchase agreement with India’s Bharat Gas ResourcesOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 14:30 GMT

Two in race for Mero 2 FPSO prize
Petrobras receives bids for second large unit to operate in Santos basin pre-salt fieldOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 14:13 GMT

Eni hits the fast track off Abu Dhabi
Italian major sets out drilling plans with partner PTTEP for blocks awarded last monthOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 13:32 GMT

KNOC and Equinor to study floating wind
Norwegian giant and state-run player to co-operate on development of renewables projects in South KoreaOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 12:41 GMT

Ghadhban rings changes at Iraqi ministry
New deputy ministers of upstream affairs and gas affairs named in BaghdadOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 11:30 GMT

Aramco partly shuts Safaniyah after power cable cut
Saudi Aramco has partially shut its Safaniyah offshore oilfield after a main power cable was cut by a vessel's anchor, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. The shutdown occurred about two weeks ago, the source said, adding that there has been progress in repairs. The source said the situation was "under control." All of Saudi Aramco's facilities and operations including the SafaniyaOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 09:37 GMT

Equinor hits oil at Bergand
Norwegian player makes ‘minor oil discovery’ near the Fram field in the North SeaOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 09:13 GMT

IGas finds Bowland shale with second well
UK explorer encounters better results with latest well in three-wells programmeOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 08:51 GMT

Wellesley in Songesand duster
Wildcat off Norway comes up dry despite finding some traces of gasOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 08:46 GMT

Eni posts higher profits
Exploration and production segment helps lift overall resultsOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 07:01 GMT

PTTEP adds to domestic assets
National outfit takes Apico stakeOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 03:00 GMT

Doriemus sells down Horse Hill interest
Company to instead focus on closing farm-in deals in Western AustraliaOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 02:57 GMT

Hilcorp spuds in Texas
Operator in the hunt for more success following strike at LightningOnline upstreamonline.com 15 Feb 01:32 GMT

Equinor, Orsted in NYC offshore wind bid
Consortia submit offers to provide power from wind farms off Long IslandOnline upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:54 GMT

Oil prices edge higher as Wall St recoups losses
Worries over US retail spending put downward pressure on commoditiesOnline upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:46 GMT

Global Witness puts Soco's Congo-B deal in spotlight
Investigative group calls on UK authorities to probe sale of block to company with links to President NguessoOnline upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:02 GMT

Duo face-off for ONGC floater
Modec and grouping of Shapoorji and Bumi Armada left in race for KG-DWN-98/2 project's FPSOWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Plans for Kashagan changed
Partners in Kazakhstan’s giant Kashagan development have scrapped plans for a $5 billion gas compression and re-injection scheme in favour of a less costly plan to increase raw gas injection at the field, writes Kama Mustafayeva. North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) consortium member KazMunaiGaz also said the group will extend the first phase of the development to 2023, two years longer than thWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Dana to drill at Merak
Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas is poised to drill its long-awaited deep-water Merak exploration well off Egypt in the next quarter. Chief Executive Patrick Allman-Ward said Dana was finalising commercial negotiations to charter a drillship for the job at the North El Arish concession. "We expect to spud the well in April or May. It could take up to 60 days to drill," he told Upstream. Dana hopes toWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Colombia starts new oil and gas bid process
Regulator approves changes to contracts and licensing auctionsWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Frontera agrees farm-in deal
Canadian independent Frontera Energy has farmed into the VIM-1 block in Colombia after striking a deal with Parex Resources. Under the agreement, Frontera will receive a 50% working interest in the Lower Magdalena Valley basin. In exchange, the company will fund 100% of the initial $10 million of drilling, testing and completion costs of the La Belleza-1 exploration well, Frontera said. Parex wWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Cameroon and US at odds over alleged violations
Cameroon has denied accusations that US military assistance has been used to commit human rights violations while battling Islamist terror networks on the northern frontiers with Nigeria and Chad, or in the oil-rich south-west where an Anglophone secessionist uprising is in full swing. “While we have acknowledged instances of human rights violations, they have been investigated and prosecuted thrWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

PDVSA pressures partners to commit
State-run Venezuelan company seeks assurances from joint venture players that they will continue to invest in the country despite recent upheavalsWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Nigeria's gas flaring in spotlight as contractual troubles continue
Nigeria has been accused of failing to show the necessary commitment to end gas flaring and even encourages the practice by failing to insist on adequate infrastructure ahead of oil development approvals, writes Barry Morgan. Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman Ransome Owan told the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Oil fund proposal in Kenya
Kenyan lawmakers have drafted a Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill that aims to divide anticipated oil revenues into three streams to insure against budgetary shocks, capitalise infrastructure development and build a savings base for future generations. With a holding account in the Central Bank, the proposed fund will act as a repository for upstream oil profits as well as royalties and licence fees. SWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Equatorial Guinea to launch April round
Equatorial Guinea is set to launch a licensing round on 1 April that will offer gas-rich Block R, which was operated by Ophir Energy until the end of last year when the licence lapsed, writes Barry Morgan. The London-based player had hoped to secure an extension to the block in an effort to commercialise more than 2 trillion cubic feet of gas held in its deep-water Fortuna complex. However, MineWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
New roles in Angola
Angola's President Joao Lourenco has appointed Jose Alexandre Barroso as his new Secretary of State for Petroleum, replacing Paulino Fernando de Carvalho Jeronimo who becomes chief executive of the fledgling National Agency for Oil & Gas (ANPG). In addition to Jeronimo, Lourenco appointed four other members to the board of ANPG which is tasked with the oversight of exploration contracts. The newWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Senegal moves forward with local content rules
President racing to get laws in force to speed oil and gas industry projects in the countryWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
3D survey plan for Erha
ExxonMobil plans to gather 3D seismic data over its deep-water Erha and Erha North fields off Nigeria. Data acquired during the planned survey in OML 133 will be incorporated into a 4D model the supermajor has been building on the two fields in an effort to enhance production and reservoir management. This survey is set to start by the end of this year and cover more than 280 square kilometres iWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Morocco double for SDX
North Africa-focused SDX Energy has landed two new licences in Morocco along with commitments to shoot fresh 2D seismic and drill two wells. SDX will hold a 75% operating interest in the Moulay Bouchta West licence, covering some 458 square kilometres where it must reprocess existing 2D data, acquire an additional 100 square kilometres of new 3D seismic and drill one well before mid-2022. It wilWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Sierra Leone set for seismic
Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate will work with UK geophysical consultancy GeoPartners to run a new 2D seismic survey to support all acreage offered under its fourth offshore licensing round planned for later this year. Set to comprise in excess of 9000 kilometres of new data, the survey will begin after completion of all necessary regulatory approvals with a subset eventually to be made avaiWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Rosebank set for new plan
Norway's Equinor has confirmed it will ditch previous operator Chevron’s development plan for the challenging Rosebank field in the UK West of Shetland area in favour of a solution centred on a slimmed down floating production, storage and offloading vessel and subsea infrastructure, write Ole Ketil Helgesen and Rob Watts. After months of speculation over what course Equinor would take since it mWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Calls for shake-up in Brazil's contracting format
Exmar’s problems in turning its winning bid for Brazil's Buzios-5 floating production, storage and offloading vessel into a contract may be seen by many industry insiders as linked to perceptions of a low-priced bid, write Gareth Chetwynd and Xu Yihe. However, Modec’s growing dominance in recent FPSO tenders — plus the appearance of just three bidders in the recent Marlim FPSO tender — also suppoWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
OMV steps up pace in Barents
Concept studies to start by middle of yearWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Shell starts FPSO race for Bonga South West-Aparo
Anglo-Dutch supermajor gives contractors four months to bid for contract to supply floater for Nigerian projectWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Size of Brulpadda find may point to commercial project
French operator Total has not discussed the size of the Brulpadda discovery, but sources familiar with South Africa’s exploration scene are upbeat about its scale — with some even suggesting that the supermajor already has a commercial project on its hands, writes Iain Esau. Total "is extremely excited" about Brulpadda, said a country watcher, adding: "They clearly know more than they are publiclWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Giants target gas with Australian drilling plans
Shell, BP and Chevron set out exploration plans to discover more supplies for LNG projectsWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Total insists Papua LNG project is on track for planned launch
Total is adamant the schedule for its Papua liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea has not slipped and the project is on course to be launched as planned, writes Russell Searancke. The company's chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said in a results conference call that Papua LNG is "very attractive to many Asian buyers". Pouyanne was answering an analyst's question about the possibilityWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Bangladesh targets first onshore import terminal
EOIs sought for maiden onshore receiving facilityWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Antero settles water contamination charges
US independent Antero Resources has agreed to pay penalties and carry out mitigation work totalling more than $11 million to settle charges it violated federal and state clean water laws by discharging dredged and fill materials into waterways at more than 30 sites in West Virginia, writes Caroline Evans. The company, which holds more than 486,000 net acres in the Marcellus shale, with the bulk oWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

OMV gets exploration approval in New Zealand
Austrian player and dominant operator in NZ planning to drill 11 wells in Taranaki basin after Pohokura field gets workoverWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Muruk-2 appraisal well promising in Papua New Guinea
An ExxonMobil-led partnership has had early positive signs from an appraisal well being drilled in permit PDL9 near the Muruk gas discovery in Papua New Guinea’s north-west Highlands. Partner Oil Search, which is operating the drilling on behalf of the US supermajor, said the Muruk-2 appraisal well had reached a depth of 3537 metres in the Toro formation. It added coring operations had commencedWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Coro in Mako move
Independent buys into another touted gas developmentWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Serbia in push for pipeline
Gastrans aims to sanction project by MarchWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Palawan loses cash claim
The Philippines province of Palawan has lost its protracted claim for a hefty share of the central government’s earnings from Shell’s giant producing Malampaya gas field. The nation’s Supreme Court in a unanimous 12-0 decision ruled against the province, effectively ending its legal battle that had lasted more than a decade. The Palawan government had sought 40% of the Manila administration’s eaWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Mist clearing for turret mooring job off Vietnam
Singaporean player emerges as lead contender for key contract at Sao Vang and Dai Nguyet FSO developmentWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Shanxi in CBM awards
The Department of Natural Resources in northern China’s Shanxi province has awarded two local companies coalbed methane blocks in the Qingshui basin. The Yushe-Wuxiang block has been awarded to Shanxi Xiyang Fenghui Coal Industry Company for 626 million yuan ($920,000) while Wuxiang East was awarded to Shanxi Pingyao Coal Chemical Group for 294 million yuan covering an exploration period of 3.3 yWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Jadestone mulls tender options for Nam Du and U Minh
Jadestone Energy is working on a tendering strategy for the shallow-water Nam Du and U Minh offshore gas and condensate project in Vietnam, writes Russell Searancke. The Singapore-based independent intends to place a small wellhead platform on each field and tie them back to a leased floating production, storage and offloading vessel at Nam Du. The gas will be transported to Vietnam’s south coastWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Bertam plans
International Petroleum Corporation has outlined plans for near-field and infield work at the Bertam oilfield off Malaysia. The company, which was spun off from Lundin Petroleum, said it will do a third phase of infill drilling on the Bertam field in 2019. "Up to three drilling locations have been identified and work continues to mature additional locations. In addition, we plan to drill the KerWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Medco Energi starts hiring for Senoro gas expansion
Indonesian operator Medco Energi has begun the process of hiring contractors to design and fabricate an expansion gas plant at its Senoro gas project onshore Central Sulawesi, writes Russell Searancke. It is understood the new facility — referred to as a train — will have sales capacity of 95 million cubic feet per day of gas. It is part of the phase two development of Senoro that aims to add upWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Three spills in North Dakota
Harsh US winter weather may have played a role in no fewer than three brine spills reported in North Dakota last week, writes Caroline Evans. The spills, which occurred at facilities operated by Marathon Oil, Oasis Petroleum and privately backed Lime Rock Resources III, resulted in a combined release of 940 barrels. State inspectors have visited all three sites and clean-up activities were beingWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

US land drillers face challenges after oil price tumble
Rig owners see drop in demand for units at start of this year as field operators weigh their optionsWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
YPF hit by price caps
Price caps and diminishing support for unconventional gas investments are among the factors that have been undermining the stock market performance of Argentina's state-controlled YPF, which lost more than half of its value in 2018. In a year when the industry as a whole increased gas production by 5.3%, YPF’s production data showed that output declined by 3.87%, with a large-scale shutting-in ofWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT

Shell stake boosts Cluff outlook in North Sea
Supermajor farms in to P2252 licence with eyes on drilling at Pensacola prospectWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT
Cluff has high hopes for licences
Cluff Natural Resources has been attempting to farm out prospects in its portfolio for some time and has been granted extensions on a number of licences by the Oil & Gas Authority, writes Rob Watts. The UK junior announced in November it was in exclusive talks with a major oil and gas company. Alyson Harding, technical manager of consultancy Westwood Global Energy, said: “Cluff will be pleased tWeekly upstreamonline.com 14 Feb 23:00 GMT