Saudi Arabia - joining the dots

A series of blog entries exploring Saudi Arabia's role in the oil markets with a brief look at the history of the royal family and politics that dictate and influence the Kingdom's oil policy

Monday, 10 September 2018

Valeura's value protected by another gas price increase in Turkey

Valeura has announced that BOTAS, which owns the Turkish natural gas network and imports 82% of Turkey’s gas, has announced a fourth natural gas reference price increase. This increase is 14% (63% compounded so far this year) to around USD5.60-6.00. This increase more than compensates for the recent depreciation in the Turkish Lira by maintaining the gas price in USD broadly unchanged. On a related note, Valeura has drilled the Yamalik-1 well...

Friday, 7 September 2018

EnQuest acquires remaining Magnus stake

EnQuest has exercised its option to acquire the remaining 75% interest in Magnus from BP, together with an increase in the interests of the Sullom Voe Terminal (to 15.1%), Ninian Pipeline System (to 18.0%) and Northern Leg Gas Pipeline (to 41.9%). The transaction will add c.60mmboe of 2P reserves and 10mmboe of 2C resources. To fund the transaction, EnQuest is looking to raise USD138 million in a 3-for-7 rights issue at 21p/share, which represents a 46% discount to the closing share price of 6 September 20...

Monday, 3 September 2018

Spirit Energy farms in to Hurricane's Greater Warwick Area

After many years of trying to find a farm-in partner, Hurricane Energy has finally succeeded in bringing in farminee for its Greater Lancaster/Warwick Area in the West of Shetlands. Hurricane's tough journey had the company combating a falling oil price environment coupled with industry scepticism around its "fractured basement reservoir" plays. In 2017, it ploughed on alone with the sanction of an Early Production System ("EPS") at the Lancaster...

Thursday, 23 August 2018

Tolmount sanctioned with first gas by end 2020

Premier Oil, Dana Petroleum and Antin has sanctioned the Tolmount gas field in the UK North Sea which is planned to be onstream towards the end of 2020. This represents major project for the partners with 500bcf of gas and plateau production of 300mmcfpd. This field will further help steer the fortunes of the two upstream partners. Premier Oil is looking for longer term growth projects having been financially constrained for years under a debt mountain and now that Catcher is onstream. For Dana, the company has been strategically lost with its...

Tuesday, 21 August 2018

Energean bearing fruit in the Eastern Med

Energean has published a new CPR highlighting the conversion of 2C resources into 2P reserves at the Karish and Tanin fields. Net 2P reserves for the fields now stands at 298mmboe with 22tcf gas and 32mmbbl liquids (gross) being upgraded. The company’s net 2P reserves including its Greek fields are now at 349mmboe. A further 0.2tcf gas and 1mmbbl liquids remain in contingent resources relating to the Karish B reservoir and will be upgraded upon...

Thursday, 2 August 2018

All Tawke on Peshkabir: Is Tawke production declining?

The Tawke PSC encompasses the Tawke and Peshkabir fields. In 2017, operator DNO commenced production at Peshkabir and in 2018, drilled the Peshkabir-4 and -5 wells taking production up to 30-35mbopd. However, the limited disclosure by DNO means it is difficult to break out the production on the Tawke PSC between the Tawke and Peshkabir fields. Based on various disclosures between DNO and partner Genel, it appears that production at Tawke is declining,...

Wednesday, 1 August 2018

Total sells Norweigian assets to AkerBP for USD205 million

Total has agreed to sell interests in a portfolio of 11 licences in Norway to AkerBP for a cash consideration of USD205 million. The portfolio includes four discoveries with net recoverable resources of 83mmboe. The acquisition allows AkerBP to consolidate its position around the Alvheim, NOAKA and Skarv hubs as well as adding exploration acreage near its operated Ula field (AkerBP 80%). Increasing stakes in fields and discoveries and having...