Sakhalin Energy, the consortium that operates the Sakhalin II LNG project in Russia, is seeking higher prices for LNG sales from Korea’s Kogas, the world’s largest LNG buyer, sources have told Bloomberg. The contract is linked to Brent crude prices, which have risen substantially since it was signed eight years ago. The article indicates that Kogas… Keep reading →
Carl Icahn has bought up 61 million shares of Calgary-based Talisman Energy, which equates to about 6% – or $300 million worth – of the company’s stock. “This is an unfocused company that probably needs to shed more assets or be taken over completely.” Icahn previously set his sights on companies such as Chesapeake and Transocean… Keep reading →
Shell spent billions of dollars and significant political capital to obtain the licenses and approvals required to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Alaska.
The company’s problems in the region were compounded when a drilling rig ran aground in rough seas on December 31st as it was being towed from Alaska to the port of Seattle, Washington for scheduled offseason maintenance – the rig was not drilling at the time. Although there does not appear to have been a petroleum release, the risks associated with operating in the Arctic have been highlighted by the incident. Keep reading →
The global fleet of ultra-deepwater oil rigs was increasing steadily until April 2010, when regulatory aftershocks from BP’s Macondo disaster slowed its overall growth rate. But now, two years after the Gulf spill, there are indications that drilling in the ultra-deep could be poised for a long-term surge.
One of the key indicators is rig demand. And a Barclays equity research report says oil companies are clamoring for rigs designed to operate in water depths of 7,500 feet or more – the generally accepted threshold for the ultra-deep space. Keep reading →
