MARKET WATCH: Brent crude oil settles above $70/bbl

Brent crude oil for March delivery settled above $70/bbl on the London market Jan. 15 for the first time since December 2014. Analysts attributed rising oil prices in a weakening US dollar. Source: News


Nichols named Shell Midstream Partners CEO; Hollowell to retire

Shell Midstream Partners LP reported that after working 38 years with Royal Dutch Shell PLC, John Hollowell will retire as president and chief executive officer of general partner Shell Midstream Partners GP LLC, effective Mar. 31. Source: News


Beach makes gas discovery in South Australia’s Otway basin

Beach Energy Ltd., Adelaide, has made a gas field discovery in the onshore Otway basin of South Australia with the deviated Haselgrove-3 ST1 well in production licence PPL62 about 8 km south of Penola. Source: News


Beach finds gas fields in initial Cooper drilling program

Beach Energy Ltd., Adelaide, has ended its first phase of fiscal year 2017-18 Western Flank Cooper-Eromanga basin drilling program on a high with four exploration successes from six wells, including the discovery of two natural gas fields. Source: News


Octanex follows Eni in withdrawing from Exmouth Plateau

Octanex Ltd., Melbourne, has decided to withdraw from Exmouth Plateau permits WA-362-P and WA-363-P following the earlier withdrawal of operator Eni SPA from the permits and the joint operating agreements. Source: News


Ineos Oil & Gas forms six business units

Ineos Oil & Gas has organized its holdings into six business units. The division of chemical giant Ineos, London, has grown rapidly through acquisitions in the North Sea and UK onshore since 2015.   Source: News


Blurts and policies

What can be said about energy-policy improvements from the administration of a president who brags on television about being “like, really smart?” Does the behavior invalidate the policy? To that question, Democratic opponents of President Donald Trump of course have a ready and distracting answer. Source: News