Petroleum Economist
Gulf states frozen in the headlights
Beset by intra-GCC tension, Gulf states are dithering in the face of the Iran crisis
Canadian regulator halts Mainline open season
Midstreamer Enbridge’s plans to switch key north-south crude pipeline infrastructure from spot to long-term capacity access takes a hit
October 2019
The October 2019 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
Nigeria’s refining renaissance
Africa’s leading oil producer is looking to replace its archaic and underutilised refining capacity with the aim of becoming a global player
To drill or not to drill
Producers’ view of the future may run the risk of complacency
Solving the CCS cost conundrum
Changes to the energy mix and government-backed development of CCS would put the climate goal within reach, according to DNV GL
Algeria talks tough on gas renegotiations
Industry observers had predicted changes to the structure of long-term gas contracts. But Sonatrach and the government appear uncompromising
Nigeria LNG’s long wait looks to be over
FID on a long-awaited expansion of the Nigeria LNG project looms. But the nation’s dreams of being a premier league producer have faded, at least for now
Capital costs rise on sustainability concerns
An intensifying investor focus on sustainable investing and the climate emergency is impacting the oil and gas sector
Algeria sees petchems progress
A contract award marks a rare sign of movement on Algeria’s stalled downstream development plans
Iran makes the best of it
Sanctions are constraining Iran’s output and straining oil storage capacity
Global oil demand to disappoint
Peak requirements may be here much quicker than in some forecasts
Guyana’s stop-start election makes headway
Latin America’s fledgling hydrocarbons province sets election date as first oil looms
Iranian gas gets going
Iran is making good use of its surging natural gas production domestically, but exports remain constrained
Turkey turns up the Cypriot heat
Cyprus hopes international pressure will stop Turkish drilling in the country's offshore
Infrastrata buys Titanic builder
Gas storage developer takes the unusual step of purchasing a heavy engineering firm to work on its proposed UK project
Newfoundland finds new vigour
The island’s offshore oil industry is rebounding after a sustained lull
Gas ‘essential’ to the energy transition: Dudley
Hitting net-zero carbon emissions is impossible without natural gas, CCS and hydrogen, says departing BP leader
Egypt-Israel gas deal expands in scope
Gas-rich Egypt may need regional supply to meet growing domestic demand and export aspirations in the medium-to-long-term
Citgo’s future hangs in the balance
Rival Venezuelan regimes’ hopes of holding onto US firm look bleaker
Opec confronts security and investment challenges
The organisation’s secretary general has concerns on vulnerability of infrastructure and ESG investment agenda
Cyprus pursues LNG import and export options
In early 2020, the Cypriot government will award LNG supply contracts, while revisiting LNG export plans
Brazil sets licensing round record
South American nation collects over $2bn in signing bonuses from opening oil auction
Ecuador reverses fuel subsidy decision
Government backtracks after seizure of key oil fields and infrastructure decimate production
Technology takes over tight oil
As the shale business matures, its wildcatter mentality is being replaced by artificial intelligence
Big investors put pressure on big oil
Oil firms may still able to raise billions of dollars for big upstream projects, but institutional investors are starting to demand emissions reduction measures
Equatorial Guinea prepares for new era for oil
‘Drill or drop’ policy will soon result in a new set of license holders that the government hopes will kick-start the West African country’s oil industry
Tellurian bets the ranch on LNG demand
The Driftwood facility is edging towards FID on a bullish outlook for global demand
Gazprom plays LNG catch-up
The Russian gas heavyweight is looking to close the gap with competitor Novatek
Energean adapts for survival
Independent oil and gas firms have no choice but to respond to environmental pressures, says the firm’s CEO
Trade wars give US LNG a beachhead in Vietnam
Gas-to-power deals offer Hanoi a quick route towards reducing its trade surplus with the US and avoiding President Trump’s attention
China spurns Venezuelan exports
US sanctions are forcing Asian refiners to abandon the Latin American nation
Shell predicts LNG market tightening
The world’s largest LNG portfolio player sees a market rebalancing on the horizon
Saudi Arabia’s bear hug
The kingdom is strengthening its ties with Russia as it nervously watches US political developments
Digitalisation can ‘amplify’ oil & gas operator bias
Technology can bring huge benefits, but the human aspect of implementation could be the most problematic factor
Putin re-energises Russia’s Mid-East Gulf ties
The deals thus far are mostly modest, but the Russian president’s Gulf visit laid the ground for wider cooperation
Vitol warns on LNG production shut-ins
The trading house fears that US liquefaction plants may join the list of capacity on the side lines next year
Petrobras ramps up production
Expanding output from the pre-salt province starts to bear fruit for the Brazilian company
Libya’s oil caught in the middle
Instability continues to derail oil authorities’ attempts to persuade IOCs to return
The future of renewable energy
Software will be increasingly important to manage renewable power into energy systems
ExxonMobil tempers LNG liquidity expectations
Major sees LNG market evolution, but cautions that hopes of a facsimile of oil or pipeline gas markets may be disappointed
Oil and trouble in the Gulf
Gulf producers learn that regional instability no longer guarantees high oil prices
Indian LNG moves beyond pipe dream
New Delhi needs more than big spending promises to ensure the competitiveness of gas against cheap incumbent alternatives
Electoral controversy paralyses Bolivia
Demonstrations turn violent as president Evo Morales inches to disputed victory
Savannah strikes it lucky in the Sahara
UK independent can develop its Agadem field on the back of a major funding boost and pipeline access to world markets
Predicting is the future
Predictive maintenance can reduce costly unplanned downtime by 45pc, according to Lloyd’s Register
Lower oil slows LNG pricing evolution: Mitsui
With Brent in its current range, a major seller to Asian buyers questions the current appetite to move away from the oil link
Lebanon’s gas hopes threatened by corruption
Energy sector legislation may not prevent corruption marring any future gas discoveries, a new book says
Canadian election puzzle for oil industry
Industry bugbear Justin Trudeau may have lost his majority, but a minority government could be even less helpful for oil and gas
Fernandez takes centre stage in Argentina
Vaca Muerta shale risks getting stuck in the middle of the new Argentinian president’s political balancing act
Oil firms chase efficiency gains
The spectre of ‘peak demand’ puts an onus on producers to tighten up their games
Understanding sustainability in oil and gas
Sustainability in oil and gas is becoming increasingly important to the long-term viability of the industry.
Asian megacities face renewables reality
Population density and grid constraints could limit renewables’ capacity to power Asia-Pacific's rapidly expanding urban metropolises
Orca find boosts Mauritania LNG prospects
Kosmos makes the year’s largest deepwater gas discovery
Gas and renewables boost power efficiency
The metrics are very different, but global power market’s two growth engines are making efficiency gains