U.S. energy firms cut oil rigs for a seventh week in a row as major producers slam the brakes on shale oil production at a time when crude prices and fuel demand have plunged due to global lockdowns to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Drillers cut 53 oil rigs in the week to May 1, bringing the total count down to 325, the lowest since June 2016, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday. The oil rig count, an early indicator of future output, is down [Read more]
Heavy discount narrows to at least 11-year low on oil curtailments
Canadian heavy crude's discount narrowed versus the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) on Friday to the smallest level in 11 years of records. With hundreds of thousands of Western Canadian barrels shut in due to low oil prices, some refineries are running short of heavy oil, a Calgary-based trader said. Western Canada Select (WCS) heavy blend crude for June delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, traded at $5.70 per barrel below WTI, according to NE2 Canada Inc, narrower than Thursday's [Read more]
Oil rises again as output cuts kick in, inventories grow less than expected
Oil prices rose on Friday, extending the previous session's gains, as major producers began output cuts to offset a slump in fuel demand triggered by the coronavirus pandemic while data showed U.S. crude inventories grew less than expected. Still, prices gave up some of their earlier gains as the month of May began with more of the volatility that made last month one of the most turbulent in the history of oil trading, when U.S. futures briefly crashed into negative territory. U.S. crude [Read more]
Oil prices surge over 10% amid early signs of U.S. fuel demand recovery
Oil prices jumped on Thursday, extending steep gains in the previous session on signs the U.S. crude glut is not growing as quickly as expected and that gasoline demand battered by COVID-19 restrictions is starting to pick up. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed to a high of $17.35 a barrel and were up 14.3%, or $2.15, at $17.21 at 0350 GMT. The U.S. benchmark surged 22% on Wednesday. Brent crude rose 10.3%, or $2.33 to $24.87 a barrel in light trading, with the June [Read more]
Trump told Saudis: Cut oil supply or lose U.S. military support
As the United States pressed Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia, President Donald Trump gave Saudi leaders an ultimatum. In an April 2 phone call, Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The threat to [Read more]
Shell cuts dividend for first time since World War Two
Royal Dutch Shell cut its dividend for the first time since World War Two on Thursday as the energy company retrenched in the face of an unprecedented drop in oil demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shell also suspended the next tranche of its share buyback programme and said it was reducing oil and gas output by nearly a quarter after its net profit almost halved in the first three months of 2020. Shell's shares in London dropped 6.7% in early trading on Thursday, underperforming [Read more]
Why all eyes will be on the expiry of Brent oil futures this week
The expiry of the June contract for Brent oil futures in Europe on Thursday will possibly be the most watched event in oil markets for some time after the U.S. benchmark plummeted below zero for the first time in history last week. The coronavirus pandemic has killed oil demand as over four billion people are in lockdown and last week, ahead of its contract expiry, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures crashed deep into negative territory making it a liability for anyone holding [Read more]
Oil prices claw back losses as storage fills less rapidly than feared
U.S. oil prices jumped on Wednesday, trimming some of this week's losses, after U.S. stockpiles rose less than expected and on expectations demand will increase as some European countries and U.S. cities moved to ease coronavirus lockdowns. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed to $15.34 a barrel, or 15.6%. Brent crude futures rose 8.1%, or $1.71, to $22.66 a barrel. U.S. crude inventories rose by 10 million barrels to 510 million barrels in the week to April 24, [Read more]
U.S. court ruling could threaten pipeline projects with delays
Several major U.S. oil and natural gas pipeline projects could be at risk of delays after a U.S. district judge in Montana this month said the Army Corps of Engineers had inappropriately used a national permit program, energy analysts said on Tuesday. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris ruled on April 15 that the Army Corps violated federal law by issuing the so-called Nationwide Permit 12 that allows pipelines to cross water bodies because it did not adequately consult with other federal [Read more]
Continental Resources sued by rival over failed $200 million oil deal
Casillas Petroleum Resource Partners sued Continental Resources Inc, alleging the Oklahoma shale producer last month backed out of a $200 million oil and gas deal as prices crashed. U.S. crude futures prices have tumbled, with coronavirus-related lockdowns and travel restrictions souring demand as OPEC and other producers waged a price war, sending oil to $13 a barrel this month from $61 at the start of the year. On March 6, the day a supply pact by OPEC and allies collapsed, Continental [Read more]