Federal Waters
Deepwater , International
US Accuses China Of ‘Coercion’ Over Vietnam Offshore Oil
The U.S. has accused China of “coercion” of Vietnam as it seeks to exploit oil and gas in the South China Sea, siding with Hanoi and chastising Beijing in sharp terms over its decision to send Chinese ships to Vietnamese territorial waters.
Exploration & Production , Lease Sales
Offshore Operators Exercise Caution During Lease Sale 253
BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc. had the highest bid of the day at $22.5 million for Green Canyon block 124.
Infrastructure
Iraq Says Eni, BP Deal Doesn't Mean Exxon Excluded From Southern Mega-Project
Iraq's oil ministry said on Aug. 10 it was still in talks with Exxon Mobil Corp. over a major deal to improve the country's southern oil infrastructure.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) , Emissions , Technology
Chevron Starts Burying CO2 Off Australia At Huge Gorgon Storage Project
Chevron Corp. said on Aug. 8 it has launched one of the world's largest carbon capture and storage projects, injecting CO2 into a deep reservoir under an island off Western Australia at its Gorgon LNG project.
Tankers
Iran Says It Seized Tanker After Collision, Operator Says Tanker Was In Compliance
Iran said on July 20 it seized a British-flagged oil tanker because it was involved in an accident, but Britain's foreign minister said he feared Tehran was taking "a dangerous path" and other major European powers expressed alarm.
Field Development , Lease Sales
Dominican Republic Opens Doors To First Ever Licensing Round
There were 14 offshore and onshore blocks put up for bidding with a transparent, low-risk contract for investors.
Deepwater
Turkey Says Second Ship Set To Drill Off Cyprus
A second Turkish drillship will begin drilling for oil and natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean within a week, Turkey's energy minister said, in a move which that could strain ties with Cyprus over jurisdiction rights for exploration.
Lease Sales
Brazil's Petrobras Puts Offshore Gas Fields, Exploration Bloc Up For Sale
Brazilian state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA has put its Peroa and Cangoa shallow-water natural gas fields and a deepwater exploration concession known as Malombe in the state of Espirito Santo up for sale, the company said.
Acquisitions & Divestitures
Exxon Mobil Seeks Bids For Norwegian Offshore Assets
Exxon Mobil is considering selling all of the stakes it holds in oil and gas fields off the Norwegian coast, a spokeswoman said.
Investment , Deepwater
Shell To Invest Up To $2.4 Billion In Mexican Deepwater Oil Projects
Mexico's oil regulator on June 13 approved exploration plans for four deepwater areas operated by Royal Dutch Shell , after it gave the green light to five others earlier this week, committing the oil major to invest at least $791 million.