Brazil is to consider joining OPEC after it has gauged the impact on its oil exports from its newly discovered giant offshore Tupi oil field. Isnard Penha Brasil said that “a membership decision will come after we know what our export capacity will be and we think this will be good.” Last week, Brazil confirmed … Read More
Offshore
Argentina Annoyed at Falklands Oil Deal
Australian mining giant, BHP Billiton says it has acquired a 40% interest in 14 offshore exploration and production licenses in the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The 14 production licenses cover approximately 18 million acres located in water depths ranging from approximately 200 to 2,000 meters. BHP Billiton is the designated operator, starting in … Read More
Greater Scots Control of Oil “Makes Sense”
So the political row over North Sea oil continues. The concept of Scotland having more say over its oil and gas assets makes “common sense”, according to Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, responding to the “hands off” warning from Westminster (see yesterday’s blog). Mr Salmond said: “You have to glance across the North Sea to … Read More
Dean Batters Mexican Oil Industry
Although Hurricane Dean may be weakened, it is still battering evacuated oil rigs in the Bay of Campeche in the heart of Mexico’s energy industry. Although weakened from its overland journey, Dean has moved over the Bay of Campeche, home to more than 100 oil platforms, three major oil exporting ports and the Cantarell oil … Read More
Hurricane Forces Mexico to Evacuate Oil Rigs
Mexico has started to evacuate 13,360 workers from its Gulf of Mexico oil rigs as powerful hurricane Dean neared. According to state oil company Pemex, which produces some 70 per cent of its crude oil from offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and is a major supplier to the United States, the move will … Read More
Court Halts Shell Oil Exploration in Beaufort Sea
The second marine impact story is from Alaska. Oil giant Shell, which was poised to start oil exploration in the Beaufort Sea, cannot proceed until the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decides whether the potential for environmental damage was properly considered by the federal agency that issued an exploration permit to the oil company. A … Read More
Venezuela and Cuba Begin Oil Exploration
Venezuela and Cuba will begin jointly exploring for oil in Cuban waters in the first such venture between the two nations. Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, said in a statement that the project with Cuba’s CUPET energy company covers 10,000 square kilometers and is scheduled to begin this week. The companies expect to discover … Read More
Oz: Oil Rigs to Become Coral Farms
Decommissioned oil rigs off Australia’s coastline could become hubs for marine-based businesses such as coral harvesting for aquariums, a fish expert argues. Professor David Booth, of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and University of Technology, Sydney, says there are up to 60 oil rigs in Australian waters that are due to be decommissioned in … Read More
Shell and Exxon Sell UK Assets
Shell and Exxon’s UK subsidiary Esso have put up their selected assets in the UK North Sea for sale, following depletion in reserves, high costs and obsolete facilities. The companies have also entered into exclusive negotiations with UK oil company Fairfield Energy Ltd. to unload their Dunlin fields interests. Royal Dutch Shell reportedly stated that … Read More
Norway Approves Norsk Hydro And Statoil Merger
The Norwegian parliament has approved the merger of Norsk Hydro’s oil and gas assets with Statoil, clearing yet another hurdle in the planned creation of the world’s largest deep-water oil producer. Before the merger is completed by the 1st October deadline, shareholders of both companies must approve the deal at extraordinary general meetings next month.