Western economic sanctions against Russian oil and energy interests are steadily playing out, this time affecting French oil major Total S.A.’s ability to finance part of the $27 billion Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Russian Arctic. Reports broke toward the end of last week that Total will seek as much as $15… Keep reading →
Intensified competition between Russian gas giant Gazprom and Russian gas independent Novatek is showcasing the advantages to producers of LNG pricing flexibility, according to Eurasia Group Global Energy and Natural Resources analyst Leslie Palti-Guzman. Natural gas analysts frequently point out that there are three different pricing regions for gas – North America, Europe and Asia.… Keep reading →
Russian gas independent Novatek and Gazprom oil-producing arm Gazpromneft have agreed to a $2.94bln deal to buy Italian Eni‘s stake in SeverEnergia, which is expected to produce 36 billion cubic meters of gas and liquids by 2017, equivalent to two-thirds of Novatek’s production, according to Reuters. A joint venture of Eni and Italian Enel has a 49% stake in SeverEnergia, of which Eni controls 60%. Investment… Keep reading →
As new infrastructure is constructed to move oil in and out of the US storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, the volume and quality of the crude stored at any given time is becoming increasingly difficult to calculate, confounding traders of benchmark WTI. [Reuters] Former EPA chief Lisa Jackson took a job promoting energy efficiency at… Keep reading →
Bad news for Gazprom: sources say that Russia is going to break the gas giant’s monopoly on LNG exports. “[State-controlled oil giant] Rosneft signed an agreeement with ExxonMobil to develop a LNG project in Russia’s Far East. [Independent gas producer] Novatek clinched a deal with CNPC for a joint development of the Yamal LNG project.” [Natural Gas Europe] Bad news for… Keep reading →
Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista faces regulatory scrutiny for potential illegal activity at petroleum company OGX. From luncheons with Madonna to reportedly selling his $19 million yacht for scrap, Batista’s highly-publicized fall from grace continues. [New York Times] Chinese national oil champion CNPC just bought into Novatek’s Yamal LNG venture, giving French Total and CNPC 20%… Keep reading →
Unrest in Turkey could upset Kurdish and Israeli plans to develop, and ultimately export, oil and gas respectively. [Quartz] Shareholder activism – rather, activism by select shareholders – is upsetting energy company executives’ plans to hold on to their jobs until they choose to leave. [WSJ] Competition from independent Russian gas producers, such as Novatek,… Keep reading →
