NOAA issues Mid-Atlantic OCS incidental harassment authorizations

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries division issued long-awaited incidental harassment authorizations to five geophysical contractors to conduct the first oil and gas seismic evaluations on the US Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf since the 1980s. Oil and gas associations welcomed the agency’s Nov. 30 move while environmental organizations strongly criticized it. Source: News


Baker Hughes: US, Canada weekly rig counts down

The US drilling rig count is down 3 units to 1,076 rigs working for the week ended Nov. 30, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 147 units from the 929 rigs working this time a year ago. At 1,051 rigs working, one less unit is drilling on land week-over-week. Offshore units are […]


Par Pacific to buy US Oil & Refining’s Washington refinery, assets

Par Pacific Holdings signed a definitive agreement to purchase privately held US Oil & Refining Co.’s downstream assets, including the 42,000-b/sd refinery near Tacoma, Wash. Under terms of the deal, Par Pacific will acquire 100% of US Oil and Refining’s equity interests for total consideration of $358 million plus net working capital, Par Pacific said. […]


Serica completes Bruce, Keith, Rhum deals

Serica Energy has become operator of Bruce, Keith, and Rhum natural gas fields in the UK North Sea after completing two deals through which it acquired interests from BP, Total E&P UK, BHP Billiton Petroleum Great Britain, and Marubeni Oil & Gas (UK). Source: News


Crimson, MPLX extend open season for Swordfish oil line

Crimson Midstream and MPLX have extended the binding open season to assess interest and solicit commitments from prospective shippers for transportation service on the Swordfish pipeline. Originally scheduled to close Nov. 30, the open season has been extended to allow shippers time to evaluate new information and to account for the holiday season. Source: […]


Chesapeake makes frac sand supply deal with Pronghorn Logistics

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Oklahoma City, entered into a long-term agreement with Pronghorn Logistics LLC of Denver for frac sand management, logistics, and well site services in Wyoming’s Powder River basin. Source: News


Vermilion assumes operatorship of Corrib project off Ireland

Vermilion Energy has assumed operatorship of the Corrib natural gas project offshore Ireland following the close of Shell Overseas Holdings’s sale of its 45% interest in the project to Nephin Energy Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. NEHL has acquired 100% of Shell E&P Ireland, which holds 45% interest in […]


MARKET WATCH: NYMEX oil briefly slips below $50/bbl

The light, sweet crude oil price for January delivery briefly slipped below $50/bbl during Nov. 29 trading, but it bounced to $51.45/bbl by closing, up $1.16. The day’s low was $49.53/bbl compared with the day’s high of $52.50/bbl. OPEC and some non-OPEC producers, led by Russia, will discuss production levels during a G20 meeting in […]