Trump picks Oklahoma’s attorney general to be next EPA administrator

President-elect Donald J. Trump has appointed E. Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma’s attorney general, as the next US Environmental Protection Agency administrator. He was one of 27 states’ AGs who sued in federal court earlier in 2016 to overturn the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. Source: News


Operational upset forces unit shutdown at Sardinian refinery

Italy’s Saras SPA, which operates a 300,000-b/d, high-conversion refinery in Sarroch, on the southwestern coast of Sardinia, has temporarily shuttered one of two units at the refinery’s catalytic reforming (CCR) plant following an operational upset in early December. Source: News


BP: Exploration well to target carboniferous gas play in North Sea

BP North Sea reported it will begin drilling on a potential carboniferous natural gas play on Block 43/26a in the southern North Sea that, if successful, “could open up a new phase of development in the region.” Source: News


UK opens extra offshore licensing round

The UK government is offering 14 offshore blocks for licensing in a supplementary round following the closing last month of its 29th licensing round. Source: News


BHI: Global rig count continued its climb in November

The worldwide average of active rigs in November increased by 58 to 1,678 units, reflecting an ongoing drilling rebound in the US and Canada, according to data from Baker Hughes Inc. The latest tally is down 369 year-over-year. Source: News


Cantwell states concern after Canada approves Trans-Mountain line

US Sen. Maria E. Cantwell (D-Wash.) expressed concern over a possible crude-oil spill in waters between her state and British Columbia after Canada’s federal government approved Kinder Morgan Canada’s proposed pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby, BC, near Vancouver. Source: News