Crude rises on Saudi export cuts and lower U.S. inventories

Crude oil prices were slightly higher Thursday, as a drop in crude exports from Saudi Arabia and a drawdown in U.S. oil inventories supported prices, Kallanish Energy reports. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled 24 cents higher at $64 per barrel. Brent crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.5%, to $71.97/Bbl, near Wednesday’s five-month high of $72.27/Bbl.

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Venezuela bypasses U.S. sanctions by selling crude via Russia

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is moving cash from Venezuelan oil sales through Russian state energy giant Rosneft, as he looks to evade U.S. sanctions designed to oust him from power, according to sources and documents reviewed by Reuters. The sales are the latest sign of Venezuela’s growing dependence on Russia, as the U.S. tightens sanctions on Maduro,

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Brightmark closes $260M financing for plastics-to-fuel plant

Waste and energy development company Brightmark Energy Thursday announced the closing of a $260 million financing package for construction of the nation’s first commercial-scale plastics-to-fuel plant, to be built in Ashley, Indiana. Financing for the project includes $185 million in Indiana green bonds, which were underwritten by Goldman Sachs, Kallanish Energy reports. As part of the

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Crude prices fall as Russia suggests it will raise output

Crude oil prices fell Tuesday from five-month highs as Russian comments signaled the possible easing of the Opec+ supply-cutting deal overcame concern violence in Libya could tighten global markets, Kallanish Energy reports. A U.S. threat to place tariffs on hundreds of European goods and a downgrade by the International Monetary Fund in its global economic

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Aramco breaks demand record, bond tops $100B

Orders for Saudi Aramco’s debut international bonds topped $100 billion, a strong vote of market confidence for the world’s largest oil company, Kallanish Energy reports. State-owned Aramco raised roughly $12 billion from the deal, which was to be priced late Tuesday and is seen as a gauge of potential investor interest in the Saudi company’s eventual initial

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Crude hits 5-month high, as fighting threatens Libyan output

Crude oil prices rose to a five-month high Monday, on expectations for tighter global supply due to fighting in Libya, Opec+-led cuts and U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. International benchmark Brent futures were up 69 cents, or 1%, to $71.03 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 2.1%, at $64.40/Bbl, and hit its highest level since

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Callon divests non-core assets in $260M deal

Houston-based independent producer Callon Petroleum said Monday it’s entered into a deal to sell certain non-core assets in the Midland Basin to an unnamed buyer for $260 million in cash. The agreement also provides for potential incremental cash payments of up to $60 million based upon future commodity prices with upside participation starting at the $60/Bbl West Texas Intermediate level,

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Pressure pumping HP demand set to rise in 2019

Pressure pumper horsepower will increase in Q2, rebounding from a sluggish end to 2018, according to the new U.S. Horsepower Outlook report, offered by Westwood’s Global Energy Group. A 9% increase in hydraulic horsepower (Hhp) demand from Q4’18-Q4’19 could lead to a tighter Hhp market and potential undersupply in certain regions, Kallanish Energy learns. Westwood’s quarterly

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Engie, Caisse to buy Petrobras pipe unit for $8.6B

Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) agreed to sell its 90% stake in a Brazilian natural gas pipeline company to France’s Engie SA and Canadian pension fund Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec for $8.6 billion. Engie and Caisse won the bidding war for the unit, Transportadora Associada de Gas, known as Tag, beating out Australia’s Macquarie

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U.S. adds companies, ships to Venezuela sanctions list

The U.S. Friday added two companies which ship crude oil from Venezuela to Cuba, along with 34 ships, to a financial sanctions list aimed at increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down and turn over power to his opposition. A Treasury Department statement announcing the designation identified one of the companies as Ballito Bay

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Venezuela oil output is said to have dropped by 50%

Power failures that kept Venezuela in darkness for much of March also briefly slashed the country’s crude production by 50%, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg. Rolling blackouts across much of the country that started on March 7 temporarily paralyzed most of the country’s oil industry, Kallanish Energy finds. Oil output averaged less than

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Brent crude tops $70 for first time since November

Brent crude oil prices Thursday pushed through $70 per barrel for the first time in nearly five months, as expectations of tight global supply outweighed pressure from rising U.S. production and lower global demand, Kallanish Energy reports. Brent futures touched $70.03/Bbl, the highest level since Nov. 12, when it last traded above $70/Bbl. The international benchmark for

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Citing differences, Shell walks away from U.S. refining lobby

Royal Dutch Shell Plc this week said it was leaving a U.S. refining lobbying organization in 2020 because the oil supermajor disagrees with the firm’s climate policy, Kallanish Energy learns. The oil giant, in its first review of its association with 19 industry groups, said it found “material misalignment” over climate policy with the American

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PG&E names new CEO, 10 new directors to be appointed

Embattled PG&E Corp. and its utility Pacific Gas and Electric, on Wednesday announced the appointment of William “Bill” Johnson as president and CEO, Kallanish Energy reports. In addition, the company, currently operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, named 10 new board members, to be appointed at the company’s next board meeting. The San Francisco-based utility

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LNG will be big part of China-U.S. trade once tensions resolved: CNOOC

Liquefied natural gas is expected to become a big part of China-U.S. trade once the dispute is resolved between the two countries, a senior executive from China National Offshore Oil Corp. (Cnooc) said Wednesday. LNG will also continue to dominate China’s natural gas imports, having accounted for 60% of its gas imports in 2018, said Cnooc vice

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