General Interest

1. European officials, industry leaders seek energy reform

   European officials and industry leaders have taken steps toward reviving energy-market reform and setting long-term targets for renewable energy.

2. QPI invests in Total E&P Congo

   Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) agreed to acquire a 15% stake in Total E&P Congo, stating this reinforces its commitment to invest in Africa.

3. MARKET WATCH: Oil prices end brief rally as dollar strengthens

   Oil prices fell with front-month crude down 0.6% in the New York futures market May 21 as the US dollar rallied in expectation the Federal Reserve Bank would maintain current efforts to stimulate the national economy.

4. EPA proposes Tier 3 vehicle emission, gasoline sulfur limits

   The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed standards to reduce vehicle emissions and sulfur content in gasoline beginning in 2017. Comments on the so-called Tier 3 requirements will be accepted until June 13, EPA said on May 21.

5. Deloitte: Shale gas, oil potential increasingly apparent

   Oil and gas production from tight shale formations clearly is a long-term phenomenon and not a short-term trend, Deloitte LLP officials told reporters. The financial services company found growing confidence in unconventional energy resources in a survey it conducted last year, said John England, a vice-chairman and leader of its oil and gas practice.

6. Barclays: US gas exports to Mexico will accelerate

   As the US debates exporting more plentiful natural gas from new liquefaction along the East and Gulf coasts, gas exports to Mexico in the past 3 years have doubled, according to a recent research note from Barclays.

7. Shell official: Innovation, cooperation key to future energy success

   A combination of innovation and cooperation will be necessary to meet the world’s future energy needs, a Shell Downstream Inc. official forecast.

8. Rosneft changes accommodate TNK-BP merger

   Rosneft has made a series of management changes in connection with its merger of TNK-BP, which it acquired from BP and the AAR group earlier this year (OGJ Online, Mar. 21, 2013).

9. European Parliament approves offshore oil, gas safety directive

   The European Parliament authorized a new offshore oil and gas operations directive that requires operators to prove their ability to cover potential liabilities and to submit major hazard reports and emergency response plans before operations start.

10. Growth easing for MENA oil exporters

    Economic growth rates of oil exporters in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are moderating as oil production flattens in response to modest global demand, reports the International Monetary Fund.

11. MARKET WATCH: Oil, gas prices continue to increase

    Oil and gas prices continued climbing May 20 amid optimism for a US economic recovery and the prospect of increased demand for crude this summer. Natural gas was up 0.8% on forecasts for warmer weather for most of the country.

12. Mining firm getting closer to acquiring Plains E&P

    Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and Plains Exploration & Production Co. said a majority of Plains shareholders have approved Freeport-McMoRan’s pending acquisition of Plains during a special May 20 meeting.

13. Higher gas prices unlikely under several scenarios, BPC study finds

    US natural gas prices are unlikely to rise markedly under a variety of scenarios, including those with increased demand across multiple sectors, a study by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Energy Project staff concluded.

14. Alaskan government proposes new ANWR crude oil resource study

    Alaska’s state government proposed that a new study of potential crude oil resources beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain be conducted before the Obama administration decides whether to designate more of the refuge as wilderness and wild and scenic rivers.

15. ACC details US chemical rebound from abundant, affordable gas

    Abundant, affordable US natural gas supplies resulted in 97 announced chemical and plastics projects totaling $71.7 billion in potential new investment, the American Chemical Council said in a recent report.

16. Kuwait reshuffles oil and gas leadership

    Kuwait’s state-owned oil, gas, petrochemical, and services industries have new leaders.

17. Chesapeake Energy names Lawler as chief executive officer

    Chesapeake Energy Corp. has named Robert Douglas Lawler as chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective June 17.

18. MARKET WATCH: Front-month gas futures contract rallies

    The front-month natural gas contract rallied May 17 in New York, reclaiming most of its loss from the previous session, after the Department of Energy authorized Freeport LNG Development LP to export 1.4 bcfd of LNG to countries that do not have free trade agreements with the US (OGJ Online, May 17, 2013).

19. Changing climate politics

    As polarization over global warming intensifies an important question emerges: If the apparent pause in observed warming becomes an established trend, will politics change? The regrettable answer: probably not.

20. Watching Government: Taking concerns to Washington

    Heavy rain didn't dampen Western Energy Alliance members' enthusiasm the morning of May 7 as they posed for a photo on the US Capitol's eastern steps during their 2013 Washington call-up. They had too many places to go and people to see.