ExxonMobil Corp. has agreed to acquire companies primarily focused on New Mexico’s Delaware basin from the Bass family of Fort Worth in a deal that could total $6.6 billion. Source: News
Watching Government: After the protests
After he was sworn in as North Dakota’s 33rd governor on Dec. 15, 2016, Doug Burgum (R) urged the state’s lawmakers to embrace changes in energy, education, tax and spending policies, and information dissemination to help reverse declining revenues. Source: News
Twenty-nine firms awarded stakes in Norway's APA 2016 bid round
Twenty-nine companies have been awarded 56 new production licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf as part of Norway’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2016 licensing round. Thirty-three companies were eligible to apply for 148,014 sq km. Source: News
US judge denies initial injunction in BLM venting, flaring suit
A federal district court judge in Wyoming denied a preliminary injunction against the US Bureau of Land Management’s venting and flaring rule. Petitioners-which included the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Western Petroleum Association, and the states of Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana-did not demonstrate that a preliminary injunction is warranted, US District Judge Scott […]
Pruitt's EPA tenure would embrace rule of law, working with states
Rule of law, cooperative federalism, and public participation would be core philosophies of Oklahoma Atty. Gen. E. Scott Pruitt (R) if he becomes US Environmental Protection Agency administrator, he said. Source: News
Zinke says he would move land authority out of Washington
US Rep. Ryan Zinke said he would work to have more federal land management decisions reached outside of Washington, DC, as a product of closer collaboration with states and stakeholders if he is confirmed as the next US Secretary of the Interior. Source: News
Oil market psychology
So far, market psychology has worked profitably for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its collaborators in supply management. Mere discussion about production cuts raised the price of crude oil enough to generate windfall revenue last month. Source: News
Mind your manners
Ask any editor at Oil & Gas Journal, and he or she will tell you it’s as gratifying to receive a manuscript for publication consideration as it is for a potential contributing author to submit it. Source: News
Takreer begins restart of Ruwais refinery
Abu Dhabi Oil Refinery Co. (Takreer), the refining arm of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), is restarting operations at the recently shuttered 417,000-b/d West plant of its more than 800,000-b/d Ruwais refining complex in the UAE following an early January fire. Source: News
BHI: US rig count records largest increase since 2011
The US rig count has posted its largest increase since the beginning of the shale oil and gas boom. Source: News