Lifted entirely by onshore oil-directed units, the US drilling rig count jumped 10 units during the week ended July 1 for the second time in 3 weeks, tallying 431 rigs working, according to data from Baker Hughes Inc. Source: News

EnQuest PLC encountered a 67-ft thick oil-bearing column in the Fulmar in its Eagle exploration well in the Greater Kittiwake Area (GKA) in the Central North Sea. The company did not encounter an oil-water contact, which it said represented potential upside volumes on the flank of the structure. Source: News

US Senate leaders indicate they’ll support a vote later this year on legislation supported by industry groups changing how states share revenue from oil and gas produced on federal land. Source: News

The US Department of the Interior has published a final rule that industry groups fear will enable federal officials to second-guess oil and gas values used in royalty calculations. Source: News

US crude oil production during April amounted to 8.933 million b/d, a decline of 2.5% from the March average and 7.9% from the April 2015 average, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest monthly production survey. Source: News

Papua New Guinea exploration company InterOil Corp. has received another takeover offer, this time from an unnamed bidder. The offer poses a rival bid to the friendly $2.2-billion offer received from Oil Search Ltd. in May. Source: News

Worldwide natural gas demand is expected to rise 1.6%/year during 2014-35, driven by emerging markets, electric power generation, and industry, according to a recent outlook from Cedigaz. Source: News

Jeffery S. Macdonald is assuming the role of interim chief executive officer of Kris Energy Ltd. He succeeds Keith Cameron, who is retiring. Source: News