Novatek began regular shipments via the eastbound, Northern Sea Route from its Yamal LNG project in the Russian Arctic as two Arc7 vessels transited the ice-covered part of the route in 9 days with no icebreaker escort. Source: News

Diversified Gas & Oil PLC, Birmingham, Ala., expects to close late this month on a $575 million, cash acquisition of 2.5 million net producing acres in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia from EQT Corp., Pittsburgh. Source: News

Production of natural gas has begun from Sankofa field, part of Ghana’s Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) integrated oil and gas project. Source: News

Essar Oil (UK) Ltd. has completed its previously announced investment of more than $250 million to boost operational efficiency, expand capacity, and improve production performance at its Stanlow refining complex in the UK, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Source: News

Mike Reger, founder and CEO of Northern Oil and Gas Inc., Minneapolis, and Brandon Elliott, president, have agreed to realign responsibilities and swap titles. Source: News

The light, sweet crude oil contract for August delivery fell $1.20 on the New York market July 5 to settle just under $73/bbl while Brent crude oil for September delivery fell 85¢ on the London market to hold above $77/bbl. Source: News

Colombia’s Ecopetrol made an oil discovery with the Búfalo-1 well in the Valle Medio del Magdalena, near the town of Guaduas, Department of Cundinamarca. Source: News