The US drilling rig count climbed 19 units to reach 1,025 rigs working for the week ended Apr. 5, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 22 units from the 1,003 rigs working this time a year ago. Source: News

Eni SPA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) are developing a high-alcohol vehicle fuel that they say can lower exhaust emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 3% under Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedures. Source: News

Woodside Energy Ltd., Perth, has signed a heads of agreement with Chinese distributor ENN Group for the sale of 1 million tonnes/year of LNG from Woodside for 10 years starting in 2025. Source: News

Zhenis Operating, a 50-50 joint venture of Lukoil and KazMunayGas, will drill an exploration well and shoot a 3D seismic survey on the Zhenis block in the Caspian Sea offshore Kazakhstan. Source: News

Light, sweet crude oil prices fell slightly on the New York market Apr. 4 to settle above $62/bbl but rose in early trading Apr. 5 after the US Department of Labor reported the US economy added 196,000 jobs in March. Source: News

Raven Petroleum has received an air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a proposed 30,000-b/d crude fractionation unit in South Texas. The planned fractionator is to be sited in Duval County, Tex., at the crossroads of the Permian basin, Wolfcamp, and Eagle Ford shales in proximity to the US Gulf Coast, Mexico, and […]

The international rig count for March reached 1,039, up 12 units from 1,027 in February and up 67 units from 972 in March 2018, according to Baker Hughes data. The international offshore rig count for March was 247, down 3 units from 250 in February and up 62 from 185 in March 2018. Source: News

Colorado’s Senate sent a reworked SB 181 with House amendments to Gov. Jared Polis (D) for his signature on Apr. 3 by a 19-16 vote. Officials from the Colorado Oil & Gas Association and the Colorado Petroleum Council jointly said that they continue to oppose the measure despite some improvements in it. Source: News

ExxonMobil Corp. and Colombia’s Ecopetrol each signed a 50-50 joint contract individually with Repsol for offshore exploration and production in offshore blocks in the Caribbean Sea. Source: News

Inpex Australia has contracted Maersk Drilling’s Maersk Deliverer ultradeepwater semisubmersible drilling rig for work on the Ichthys gas and condensate field in the Browse basin offshore northwestern Western Australia. The 3-year contract is valued at $300 million and includes mobilization as well as two 1-year options. Source: News