ENERGY ANALYTICS INSTITUTE (EAI), Author at Editores LatinPetroleum

Venezuela Gov’t, Opposition Weigh Giving Firms Operating Rights

(Reuters, Luc Cohen, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, 6.Dec.2019) — Venezuela’s government and opposition have discussed allowing private companies in joint ventures with state oil company PDVSA to operate oil fields themselves, reversing a longstanding requirement that PDVSA control such operations, three people familiar with the talks said. While a similar […]

ExxonMobil Plans 31-Well Program In Guyana

(Zacks Equity Research, 6.Dec.2019) — Exxon Mobil Corporation is planning to commence a 31-well exploration campaign offshore Guyana, per Argus. The company has submitted requests to the Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana for this drilling program, which will be executed in the Stabroek, Kaieteur and Canje blocks. Drilling from these […]

CITGO Reports 3Q Results

(Citgo, 6.Dec.2019) — Citgo Petroleum Corporation reported strong financial and operational performance as the Board of Directors reviewed with the Shareholder the company’s performance during the first nine months of 2019 at a meeting at Citgo headquarters in Houston. The report included net income of $270 million for the first […]

Chile LNG Imports Slump As Argentina Pumps More Gas

(Argus, 6.Dec.2019) — Chilean imports of liquefied natural gas have fallen to their lowest level in at least three years as the South American country imports more gas from neighboring Argentina. Chile imported just 132,850 mt of LNG in October, according to the latest government data, down 24.9% from September […]

Pemex Finds Giant Oil Field In Quesqui

(Pemex, 6.Dec.2019) — The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, accompanied by the General Director of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Octavio Romero Oropeza, toured the Quesqui oil field, which according to seismic data confirms the existence of a giant oil reservoir of at least 500 million barrels, the equivalent of […]

Parex, Ecopetrol Winners In Colombia Round

(Reuters, Oliver Griffin, 5.Dec.2019) — Companies including Canada’s Parex Resources and Ecopetrol SA won contracts to operate oil blocks in Colombia’s auction round on Thursday, as the Andean nation seeks to reinvigorate its petroleum sector. Ecopetrol and its subsidiary Hocol SA, Frontera Energy Corp and Amerisur Resources Plc were all […]

Petrobras Plans $34bn In Dividends

(Bloomberg, Simon Casey and Sabrina Valle, 5.Dec.2019) — Petrobras plans to pay its shareholders $34 billion in dividends over the next five years as it cuts debt and sells assets to shore up its finances, CEO Roberto Castello Branco said. The plan is a major shift for the state-controlled oil […]

Frontera Announces 2020 Capital Plan

(Frontera, 5.Dec.2019) — Frontera Energy Corporation announced full year 2020 capital plan and guidance information. All values in this news release and the Company’s financial disclosures are in United States dollars, unless otherwise noted. Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said: “Frontera’s 2020 plan demonstrates the Company’s […]

Lightsource BP to Accelerate Global Solar Growth with Further Investment from BP

(Lightsource bp, 5.Dec.2019) — The management of Lightsource BP and BP have agreed to equalise their shareholdings in Lightsource BP to create a simplified 50:50 joint venture structure. As part of the transaction, BP will purchase newly-issued equity in the business to help accelerate Lightsource BP’s growth, supporting its ambitious drive towards […]

Guyana On Brink Of Unimaginable Oil Wealth

(IB Times, Palash Ghosh, 4.Dec.2019) — Ahead of this week’s meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna, the tiny South American nation of Guyana will likely not be on the agenda. However, within a decade this country of just 778,000 people may be as wealthy as […]

Petrobras May Divest Stakes In Marlim, Papa-Terra

(Reuters, 4.Dec.2019) — Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras is considering putting additional stakes in significant offshore oilfields up for sale, executives said on Wednesday, as the company continues to aggressively de-leverage. In a presentation, the executives said they may sell stakes in the Marlim field, as well as the firm’s […]

Petrobras Host Investor Day In NYC

(Energy Analytics Institute, Aaron Simonsky, 4.Dec.2019) — Brazil’s state-controlled oil giant Petrobras hosted media and analyst during its annual investor day event in New York City on Dec. 4, which was followed by another in London on Dec. 6. What follows is the link to the 51-page presentation: Petrobras Investor […]

LatAm, US Ban Travel For Venezuela’s Maduro, Allies

(Reuters, Luis Jaime Acosta, 3.Dec.2019) — Fifteen countries in the Americas agreed on Tuesday to ban 29 Venezuelans, including the oil-producing country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his close allies, from traveling within their borders as part of diplomatic efforts to push him to step down. The meeting included representatives from […]

Venezuela And Cuba ‘Circumvent Sanctions’

(Miami Herald, Jim Wyss and Nora Gamez Torres, 3.Dec.2019) — Washington continued to tighten its grip on Venezuela and Cuba on Tuesday, naming six oil tankers that deliver fuel from the South American nation to the island as “blocked property.” The action — just the latest in a series of […]

Petrobras Discloses Binding Phase For E&P Assets

(Petrobras, 3.Dec.2019) — Petrobras, following up on the release dated on 09/30/2019 and 10/15/2019, reports on the beginning of the binding phase regarding the sale of its interests in eight onshore exploratory blocks located in the Recôncavo Basin. Qualified parties for this phase will receive process letters with instructions on […]

Petrobras Starts Espírito Santo Basin Teaser

(Petrobras, 3.Dec.2019) — Petrobras started the opportunity disclosure stage, referring to the sale of its interest in two onshore exploratory blocks, located in the Espírito Santo Basin. Petrobras holds a 50% stake in each of the blocks, in partnership with Cowan Petróleo e Gás, which is the operator and holds […]

Fitch Confirms Ecopetrol Investment Rating

(Ecopetrol, 3.Dec.2019) — Ecopetrol S.A. announced that the risk-rating agency Fitch Ratings has maintained the company’s credit rating at BBB with negative outlook, and its stand-alone rating (without incorporating government support) at bbb. In the press release, Fitch noted the strength of Ecopetrol’s financial profile, due to the continuous improvement […]

Vista, YPF Win Vaca Muerta Licenses

(S&P Global Platts, 3.Dec.2019) — Argentina’s Neuquen province awarded development licenses to Vista Oil & Gas and YPF in Vaca Muerta, a giant shale play that has seen investment and production growth slow this year on economic and political uncertainty. Mexico City-based Vista won a license to develop Aguila Mora […]

Europe

COP25: Developing world Still Paying

(Asia Times, Vijay Prashad, 3.Dec.2019) — On Monday in Madrid, the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference – known as COP25 – began. Representatives of the world’s countries gathered to discuss what is decidedly a serious problem for the planet; no one, except dangerous political forces on the neo-fascist right, denies […]

US Acts Against Movement Of Venezuelan Oil To Cuba

(US Department of State, 3.Dec.2019) — On December 3, the United States identified six PDVSA-owned vessels, pursuant to E.O. 13884 or 13850, being used by the former Maduro regime to ship oil to Cuba, announced US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo. Related Story: OFAC Adds Six Vessels To List […]

OFAC Adds Six Vessels To List

(Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 3.Dec.2019) — The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) add six vessels to its SDN list as of 3 Dec. and as follows. — ICARO Crude Oil Tanker Panama flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9038842 (vessel) [Venezuela-EO13884] (Linked To: PDVSA). […]

Europe

JinkoSolar Supplies Almelo Project In The Netherlands

(JinkoSolar, 3.Dec.2019) — JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.’s affiliate has supplied approximately 40 MW of its ultra-high efficiency Cheetah HC 60 solar modules to Obton, one of the leading global developers and investors of photovoltaic solar energy. The modules were installed in the Almelo project in the Netherlands during the summer […]

Pemex Supports Hidalgo Municipalities

(Pemex, 3.Dec.2019) — As part of the Community and Environment Support Program (PACMA), the General Director of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Octavio Romero Oropeza, presented to the Hidalgo State Governor Omar Fayad Meneses these vehicles worth 9.3 million pesos to be used in 12 municipalities in order to strengthen actions in […]

Bolivia Revises Gas Reserves, Fixes GCC Line

(Argus, Patricia Garip, 3.Dec.2019) — Bolivia’s new interim government has revised down the figure for natural gas reserves, applying a more conservative interpretation of the certified data. Proven reserves are 8.95 Tcf (254bn m³) as of the end of 2017, rather than 10.7 Tcf as the previous government had asserted, […]

Apache Targets 3rd Play At Suriname Well

(Apache, 2.Dec.2019) — Apache Corporation updated the status of its first exploratory well in Block 58 offshore Suriname. Drilling operations on the Maka Central – 1 well commenced in late September with an expected drill time of 30 to 60 days. Upon reaching a depth of approximately 6,200 meters, the […]

Invenergy Expands Via Deal With Colombia’s EPM

(Invenergy, 2. Dec.2019) — Invenergy executed a strategic partnership agreement with Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM), one of Colombia’s largest public electric utilities, to develop, build, and operate large-scale wind and solar energy projects in Colombia. This partnership combines Invenergy’s renewable development and operational expertise with EPM’s domestic know-how to […]

Petrobras Discloses Teaser In Sergipe-Alagoas Basin

(Petrobras, 2.Dec.2019) — Petrobras started the opportunity disclosure stage, referring to the sale of its interest in the onshore fields of Dó-Ré-Mi and Rabo Branco, belonging to the BT-SEAL-13 Concession, located in the SergipeAlagoas Basin. The teaser, which contains key information about the opportunity, as well as the eligibility criteria […]

PdV Gets Curacao Reprieve

(Argus, Patricia Garip, 2.Dec.2019) — Venezuela’s state-owned PdV struck a preliminary agreement with Curacao to hang on to the Isla refinery and Bullen Bay terminal for a transition period of up to one year after its lease expires at the end of December. The preliminary lease extension is another notch […]

UN Secretary Chief Guterres: “Point Of No-Return Hurtling Towards Us”

(Energy Analytics Institute, Aaron Simonsky, 1.Dec.2019) — UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the media in a press briefing one day ahead of the COP25 2019 to be held in Madrid, Spain. “We are confronted by an escalating global climate crisis,” Guterres said. “The point of no-return is no longer over […]

As Troubles Grow, Mexicans Keep the Faith With AMLO

(NYT, Elisabeth Malkin, 1.Dec.2019) — One year into his term, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador faces a stagnant economy and spiraling violence, but Mexicans still place their hopes in him. Every day before dawn, a knot of unemployed men gather at the gate of a construction site, hoping to land […]

EP PetroEcuador, Freepoint Ink Fuel Oil Deal

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 29.Nov.2019) — EP Petroecuador awarded the export of 380,000 barrels of Fuel Oil No. 4 to Freepoint Commodities LLC. Freepoint won the contract by presenting a negative $1.88 per barrel differential, EP PetroEcuador announced Nov. 29 in an official statement, adding the international benchmark for […]

Fuel Retailers To Invest $750mn In Mexico In 2020

(Argus, Sergio Meana, 29.Nov.2019) — Fuel retailers could invest Ps15bn ($750mn) in Mexico next year mostly in 175 greenfield stations — if they can overcome regulatory hurdles — as well as technology to keep up with new rules, industry association Onexpo estimates. Permitting backlogs and political uncertainty already stalled development […]

Asia

JinkoSolar Supplies 300MW Tiger Modules In China

(JinkoSolar, 29.Nov.2019) — JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. supplied 300MW of its high energy density Tiger panels for an ultra-high voltage demonstration plant in Qinghai Province, China. The Qinghai Ultra High Voltage Demonstration Plant is the first ground mounted utility project in the world to install JinkoSolar’s Tiger panels which have […]

Cuba Working To Boost Renewable Energy

(Xinhua, 29.Nov.2019) — Cuba hopes to generate a quarter of its energy needs from renewable sources over the next decade, an industry official said on Thursday. The government’s Renewable Energy Development Program aims to raise clean energy output from today’s 4 percent to 24 percent by 2030, said Tatiana Amaran, […]

Profile: Tullow In Guyana

(Tullow, 29.Nov.2019) — Guyana has become an industry hotspot following giant oil discoveries in the Starbroek block. Tullow has interests in two neighbouring licences offshore Guyana with a 60% operated interest in the Orinduik block and a 37.5% non-operated interest in the Kanuku block. Tullow’s position in Guyana dates back […]

Latin America Oil & Gas Summit: Uruguay

(IN-VR, 29.Nov.2019 ) — IN-VR invites international oil & gas companies to the Latin America Oil & Gas Summit in 5-6 December 2019, at Uruguay, Punta Del Este Resort & Spa. For the first time, NOCs and hydrocarbons agencies will be sharing onshore and offshore updates for the region’s huge […]

EP PetroEcuador, Glencore Ink Cutter Stock Deal

(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 28.Nov.2019) — Ecuador’s state oil and gas company EP Petroecuador awarded Glencore Ltd. a contract to import 1,050,000 barrels of Cutter Stock. Glencore won the contract by presenting a positive $1.77 per barrel differential, EP PetroEcuador announced Nov. 28 in an official statement. In accordance […]

Petrobras Shares Slip On Production Target

(Reuters, Roberto Samora , 28.Nov.2019 ) — Shares of Brazilian oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA slipped on Thursday after its oil and gas production outlook for next year disappointed analysts, despite ambitious long-term output forecasts in its new five-year strategic plan. Petrobras, as the state-run company is known, aims to […]

Petrobras Inks Deal To Divest Frade Field

(Petrobras, 28.Nov.2019) — Petrobras signed with PetroRio Jaguar Petróleo Ltda., subsidiary of Petro Rio S.A., a contract on 28 Nov. for the sale of 30% stake in the Frade concession, located in the Campos Basin, north coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro for $100 million. Currently, PetroRio holds […]

Oil Brightens Guyana’s Prospects

(CaribNews, Mellany P., 28.Nov.2019) — President David Granger said Wednesday that the emerging petroleum industry provides an “exciting economic and enterprising development” for Guyana and will enhance economic growth by increasing investment, including upstream investment. Addressing the Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019, Granger insisted that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) […]

Bolivia Seeks To Lower Regional Electric Tariffs

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 28.Nov.2019) — Bolivia’s Energy Ministry ordered the Nuclear Electricity and Technology Authority (AETN) to reduce electrical rates in the domestic market in “some departments” where payments for services are high. The ministry referred to departments such as Beni and announced that steps to export energy […]

Venezuela Offers Suppliers Payment In Yuan

(Reuters, Mayela Armas, Corina Pons, 28.Nov.2019) — Venezuela’s government and its oil company PDVSA have offered to pay suppliers and contractors into accounts in China using the yuan currency, five people familiar with the matter said. The move made in recent months is the latest example of how Caracas has […]

Brazil, China, UAE Firms Eying Petrobras Refineries

(Reuters, Tatiana Bautzer and Carolina Mandl, 28.Nov.2019) — Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA has selected four groups for the second round of bidding for four refineries up for sale, including China’s Sinopec, Abu Dhabi’s state investor and two Brazilian firms, according to four people with knowledge of the […]

Ecopetrol Measures Ahead Of Shareholders’ Meeting

(Ecopetrol, 28.Nov.2019 ) — In accordance to Colombian Corporate Law and Securities Regulations concerning illegal, unauthorized and unsafe practices by the issuers of securities, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A. approved the following measures to guarantee the adequate representation of the shareholders at the Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting to […]

Maduro Sent $900mn In Oil To Cuba, U.S. Official Said

(El Nuevo Herald, Nora Gámez Torres, 27.Nov.2019) — Embattled leader Nicolás Maduro sent about $900 million in oil to Cuba this year despite the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, a U.S. top diplomat told reporters on Wednesday. The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said that Maduro has the money […]

Venezuela-linked Sanctions Put Floor Under Oil Spreads

(S&P Global Platts, 27.Nov.2019) — The benchmark Dubai crude futures market structure moved higher in mid-morning trade in Asia Wednesday as new sanctions imposed on a Cuban company over its links to Venezuelan oil tradingput the focus back on the global supply shortage of medium and heavy high sulfur crudes. […]

Guaido Sacks Colombia Envoy, Oil Boss Freites Quits

(Argus, 27.Nov.2019) — Another prominent figure in Venezuela’s US-backed parallel administration has abruptly departed and an oil union leader has quit the main opposition political party in the latest signs of internal discord. In a 26 November letter, self-declared interim president Juan Guaido informed his Colombia envoy Humberto Calderon Berti […]

Apache To Explore Offshore Cuba

(Dominican Today, 27.Nov.2019) — The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) awarded Apache Dominican Republic Corporation, a subsidiary of the US Apache Corporation, an offshore block in the San Pedro de Macorís basin for exploration and exploitation of oil and gas. The award was delivered at the country’s first auction […]

Rosneft Undermining US Plans In Venezuela?

(Atlantic Council, Matthew Bryza, 27.Nov.2019) — US President Donald Trump is conducting policies of “maximum pressure” on two countries, Venezuela and Iran. In Venezuela, Russia’s state-owned oil company, Rosneft, actively undercuts this US policy by helping Caracas circumvent Washington’s tough economic sanctions. Yet Washington has not applied broad sanctions against […]

Bolivia Repairing Carrasco-Cochabamba Gas Pipeline

(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 27.Nov.2019) — Bolivia commenced operations to repair a 200-meter section of the Carrasco-Cochabamba Gas pipeline damaged by an explosion that left the industrial sector of Cochabamba, La Paz and Oruro without power supply. Work has started and shortly normalization of gas flows are expected to […]