Survey: Commodity Prices Remain Primary Concern for Upstream Uncertainty regarding natural gas and crude oil prices remains the primary concern of upstream U.S. energy companies for the second consecutive year, according to Grant Thornton LLP’s 11th Survey of upstream U.S. energy companies. Total, CNPC to Develop O&G Assets in Tajikistan Total and China National Petroleum [...]

North Sea's Oseberg Center Shut Down Following Alarm Oseberg oil-field center in the Norwegian North Sea is closed following an alarm, with no indication as to when production will resume. Alfa Group to Reinvest Some of TNK-BP's $14B Stake Sale In New Oil Co Alfa Group, a conglomerate led by Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman, is [...]

Two People Killed in Dutch North Sea Two dead and one injured on a platform operated by GDF Suez in the Dutch North Sea. Brazil Court Denies Petrobras Injunction in Tax Dispute Brazil’s second-highest court denied a request by state-run oil company Petrobras, for an injunction in a dispute over tax payments for offshore oil-platform [...]

Kidnapped British Worker Freed in Indonesia Kidnappers release a UK worker abducted from a Medco Energi well site in Indonesia. Sudan Oil Line Explodes, Army Blames South-backed Rebels Sudan’s army blames South Sudanese-backed rebels for an explosion and fire in a Sudanese oil pipeline in the disputed Abyei area. Arkansas, US Sue ExxonMobil Over March [...]

'Open Fuel Standard' Proponents Want More Flexible FFVs Could an open fuel standard be a boon for US natural gas producers? British Oil Worker Kidnapped in Indonesia Briton working for Medco Exploration and Production is kidnapped in the Aceh province of Indonesia. Ensco Orders New Drillship from Samsung Heavy Industries Ensco places an order for [...]

Barclays: Summer Could Bring Busy Contracting Season for Deepwater Rigs Recent deepwater rig announcements may indicate an active contracting season for deepwater rigs this summer, Barclays reports. US Coast Guard Ends Active Deepwater Horizon Accident Cleanup Following the extensive 3-year cleanup effort, the US Coast Guard is ending active cleanup operations in Mississippi, Alabama and [...]

Oil, Gas Activity Boosts North Dakota, Texas Economies Oil and gas exploration and production played a significant role in 2012 in boosting economic growth in North Dakota and Texas, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. Nymex Crude Settles $1.27 Higher at $96.03/bbl Crude-oil futures settle higher as investors read into the better-than-expected May U.S. [...]

Subsea Separation Tops List of Subsea Technology in Demand Subsea separation ranks as the most targeted technology for rapid development and application, according to a recent study by officials with FMC Technologies. UPDATE: Storm Warning in Effect Due to Tropical Storm Andrea Oil and gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico say that they’re keeping [...]

New Tax Forces Statoil to Review Johan Castberg Decision Statoil reviews the investment decision for the Johan Castberg project in the Norwegian Barents Sea due to new Norwegian tax rules. Brazil Bill Could Reduce Petrobras Stake in Pre-Salt Oil Fields Brazil’s Congress is considering a bill that would reduce the burden placed on Petrobras to [...]

U.S. Oil Boom Scrambles Mideast Calculus Government projections show that in September, for the first time in almost two decades, the U.S. will produce more oil than it imports. India to Finalize Policies to Boost Local Natural Gas Output India will “very soon” finalize policy on shale gas exploration and is actively considering new rules [...]