Corporate Investment

Driven by rising global energy consumption and exploration investments, the oilfield service equipment market is expected to grow at a 5.39% CAGR to reach $36.87bn by 2031.
US sanctions against Serbian oil company NIS, owned by Gazprom, were delayed by eight days after talks between Belgrade and Washington, President Aleksandar Vucic said.

PENGASSAN halts gas supply to Dangote refinery after mass layoffs

Nigeria’s oil union ordered the suspension of gas and crude deliveries to Dangote refinery following the dismissal of hundreds of local workers, escalating an industrial dispute with potential supply impacts.
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Vitol strengthens its presence in West Africa by acquiring a 30% stake in the Baleine oil field from Eni, while maintaining an active role in the country’s offshore development.
ShaMaran and several international oil companies have reached a provisional deal with Baghdad and Erbil to resume crude exports from the Kurdistan region via pipeline, after months of suspension.

U.S. oil drilling rebounds amid global tensions

The number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose for the fourth consecutive week, supported by higher crude prices and OPEC+’s difficulties in meeting production targets.
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Baghdad has restarted crude shipments from Kurdistan via the pipeline to Turkey, following a two-year halt linked to legal and contractual disputes involving international firms operating in the region.
Washington offers New Delhi an alternative to its Russian imports while maintaining tariff pressure, exposing a double standard in US energy policy.

North Atlantic takes over Esso France and its strategic Gravenchon refinery

Canadian group North Atlantic will acquire ExxonMobil’s stake in Esso France, including the country’s second-largest refinery, with the ownership change expected by the end of 2025.
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Ghana’s only refinery is preparing to resume operations after a prolonged shutdown caused by technical and financial issues, with a restart scheduled for October according to its management.
BP revises its annual forecast and now expects global oil demand to grow until 2030, due to slower worldwide energy efficiency gains.

Atlas-Oranto secures four offshore blocks to revive oil exploration in Liberia

The Liberian government awarded four offshore oil blocks to Nigerian company Atlas-Oranto for $12 million, strengthening the regional presence of African junior players in offshore exploration.
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Oil companies are preparing for a tough 2026 with lower investments, focusing on financial discipline and cash flow redistribution at the expense of low-return projects.
North Atlantic finalises agreement to acquire ExxonMobil’s stake in Esso S.A.F., marking a decisive step in a strategic transfer in France. Completion remains subject to regulatory approvals expected this quarter.

Dispute escalates between MOL and Janaf over Adriatic pipeline’s supply capacity

A technical dispute between Hungarian group MOL and Croatian operator Janaf raises doubts about the Adriatic pipeline's ability to supply oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
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Commercial crude inventories in the United States declined unexpectedly, as analysts had forecast an increase, amid rising imports and falling exports.
Adnan Ahmadzada, a former senior figure at SOCAR, has been placed in pre-trial detention in Baku on suspicion of large-scale embezzlement and threatening the country's economic security.

Brussels prepares tariffs on Russian oil imported by Hungary and Slovakia

The European Commission is considering targeted tariffs on Russian oil imports still allowed in Hungary and Slovakia, in an effort to bypass existing exemptions.
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Eight oil companies and Iraqi and Kurdish authorities have reached a preliminary deal to restart crude exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, halted since March 2023.
Wood Mackenzie has entered into a strategic partnership with Novi Labs to integrate proprietary well-level production data and advanced lease-to-well algorithms into its Lens Lower 48 solution, covering more than 20% of global oil and gas supply.
Increased output from Opec+ and non-member producers is expected to create a global oil surplus as early as 2025, putting pressure on crude prices, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Brazilian company expands its African footprint with a new offshore exploration stake, partnering with Shell and Galp to develop São Tomé and Príncipe’s Block 4.

Drone strikes major Bachneft refinery in Ufa, fire breaks out

A drone attack on a Bachneft oil facility in Ufa sparked a fire with no casualties, temporarily disrupting activity at one of Russia’s largest refineries.
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The divide between the United States and the European Union over regulations on Russian oil exports to India is causing a drop in scheduled deliveries, as negotiation margins tighten between buyers and sellers.
Against market expectations, US commercial crude reserves surged due to a sharp drop in exports, only slightly affecting international prices.

Russia increases oil exports from western ports by 11% in September

Russia plans to ship 2.1 million barrels per day from its western ports in September, revising exports upward amid lower domestic demand following drone attacks on key refineries.
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QatarEnergy obtained a 35% stake in the Nzombo block, located in deep waters off Congo, under a production sharing contract signed with the Congolese government.
Phillips 66 acquires Cenovus Energy’s remaining 50% in WRB Refining, strengthening its US market position with two major sites totalling 495,000 barrels per day.

Union strike threatens fuel deliveries from Dangote refinery

Nigeria’s two main oil unions have halted loadings at the Dangote refinery, contesting the rollout of a private logistics fleet that could reshape the sector’s balance.
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Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. enters Gabonese offshore with a strategic contract on the Ngulu block, expanding its portfolio with immediate production potential and long-term development opportunities.
BW Energy has finalised a $365mn financing for the conversion of the Maromba FPSO offshore Brazil and signed a short-term lease for a drilling rig with Minsheng Financial Leasing.

Vantage Drilling signs 260-day contract for the Platinum Explorer

Vantage Drilling has finalised a major commercial agreement for the deployment of the Platinum Explorer, with a 260-day offshore mission starting in Q1 2026.
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Permex Petroleum has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Chisos Ltd. for potential funding of up to $25mn to develop its oil assets in the Permian Basin.
OPEC+ begins a new phase of gradual production increases, starting to lift 1.65 million barrels/day of voluntary cuts after the early conclusion of a 2.2 million barrels/day phaseout.

Imperial Petroleum invests in seven vessels despite a 22.8% drop in revenue

Imperial Petroleum expanded its fleet to 19 vessels in the second quarter of 2025, while reporting a decline in revenue due to lower rates in the maritime oil market.
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Eight OPEC+ members will meet to adjust their quotas as forecasts point to a global surplus of 3 million barrels per day by year-end.
Greek shipping companies are gradually withdrawing from transporting Russian crude as the European Union tightens compliance conditions on price caps.

Transneft strategic site targeted in Russia strike

A key station on the Stalnoy Kon pipeline, essential for transporting petroleum products between Belarus and Russia, was targeted in a drone strike carried out by Ukrainian forces in Bryansk Oblast.
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SOMO is negotiating with ExxonMobil to secure storage and refining access in Singapore, aiming to strengthen Iraq’s position in expanding Asian markets.
The European Union’s new import standard forces the United Kingdom to make major adjustments to its oil and gas exports, impacting competitiveness and trade flows between the two markets.