PT Pertamina has let a contract to PT Pupuk Indonesia subsidiary PT Rekayasa Industri (Rekind) to provide services related to inside and outside battery limits (ISBL, OSBL) projects as part of Pertamina’s previously announced Balikpapan Refining Development Master Plan (RDMP) project to upgrade and modernize its 260,000-b/d refinery in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Source: News
Oil flow increases at Iraq’s Halfaya field
Oil production at Halfaya field in southern Iran increased to 370,000 b/d after start-up of a new processing facility, an official of Maysan province told Reuters. The field, operated by PetroChina, had been producing 270,000 b/d. Source: News
MARKET WATCH: NYMEX crude oil drops on OPEC unity concerns
Light, sweet crude oil for the January contract dropped modestly to approach $51/bbl, settling at $51.15/bbl on the New York market Dec. 12 on concerns about the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ ability to make the production cut that it announced last week. Source: News
EIA STEO revises Brent, WTI oil-price forecasts downward for 2019
In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the US Energy Information Administration has revised its 2019 price forecasts for Brent and West Texas Intermediate to $61/bbl and $54/bbl, respectively, which are both $11/bbl lower than forecast in the STEO for November. Source: News
Cogent Midstream lets contract for Midland basin gas plant
Cogent Midstream has let a contract to Honeywell UOP for the previously announced expansion of natural gas processing capacity in the lower Midland basin of West Texas that will add a refrigerated cryogenic processing plant at the same location as its existing Big Lake gas plant in Reagan County, Tex. Source: News
Manchin to succeed Cantwell as Senate Energy panel’s top Democrat
US Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will become the Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s ranking minority member when Congress reconvenes in January, it was announced on Dec. 12. He will succeed Maria E. Cantwell (D-Wash.), who has been the committee’s top Democrat since January 2015. Source: News
Cenovus to focus 2019 budget on Foster Creek, Christina Lake
Cenovus Energy expects to allocate the majority of its planned 2019 budget of $1.2-1.4 billion to sustain base production at its Foster Creek and Christina Lake oil sands operations. The company also plans to complete construction of the Christina Lake Phase G expansion. With an approved design gross capacity of 50,000 b/d, production startup from […]
Total signs E&P contracts for blocks off Mauritania
Total and the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines of Mauritania have signed an agreement awarding Total two exploration and production contracts for Blocks C15 and C31 deep offshore Mauritania, covering a 14,175-sq km area. Based on the contracts, Total will serve as operator of these two blocks with a 90% interest alongside SMHPM, which […]
French Guyana: Total commits to exploration campaign
Total SA reported on plans to begin its exploration campaign on the Guyane Maritime license, 150 km off French Guyana. Total’s objective on the license is to drill one last exploration well, following the five formerly drilled during 2011-13 to conclude definitively whether an exploitation phase is relevant. Source: News
BOEM extends EIS comment period for proposed Beaufort Sea lease sale
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has extended the public comment period for a proposed environmental impact statement (EIS) relating to a proposed 2019 Beaufort Sea oil and gas lease sale, the agency’s Anchorage office said on Dec. 11. Source: News