Oil and Gas Industry

Strategists Forecast USA Crude Inventory Build

In its latest weekly petroleum status report at the time of writing, which was released on July 30 and included data for the week ending July 25, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) highlighted that U.S. commercial crude oil inventories, excluding those in the SPR, increased by 7.7 million barrels from the week ending July 18 to the week ending July 25.

Russia Oil Revenue Down by Third in July on Weak Prices, Strong Ruble

Still, lower global crude and oil-product prices helped the government to reduce subsidies it pays to Russia’s refiners to partially compensate for the difference in fuel prices at home and abroad, a measure designed to boost gasoline and diesel supplies to the domestic market. In July, the budget transferred 59.9 billion rubles in subsidies, down by 58 percent from a year ago.

Phinia Closes SEM Acquisition

SEM specializes in advanced ignition systems for natural gas, hydrogen, and other alternative fuels, along with injector stators and linear position sensors tailored for both on- and off-highway commercial vehicles and industrial markets. Additionally, SEM offers ignition and fuel injection solutions designed for the professional handheld equipment sector, Phinia noted.

Halliburton awarded contract for Northern Endurance Partnership CCS monitoring

Halliburton will manufacture and deliver the majority of the equipment required for this project from its U.K. completion manufacturing facility in Arbroath. For more than 50 years, the center has supported North Sea operations and provides on-site product development and testing resources alongside advanced manufacturing capabilities to support efficient production and the delivery of equipment.

Trinidad to award ExxonMobil deepwater exploration acreage

In February 2025, Trinidad and Tobago launched a bid round for 26 deepwater exploration blocks that included Block 24 and Block 26, along with 24 blocks in the Trinidad and Tobago Deep Atlantic Area, but does not include the blocks that ExxonMobil is interested in. Reuters reports that the company first approached the Trinidadian authorities to obtain the blocks in November 2024.

Saudi Arabia’s ADES to acquire Shelf Drilling in all-cash deal

“With this transaction, we reinforce our position as a market leader in shallow-water offshore drilling, offering superior services to our client base alongside enhanced scale, asset quality and operational reach,’ said ADES CEO Mohamed Farouk. “The transaction is supported by Shelf Drilling’s USD 1.5 billion firm backlog and provides access to key regions with solid growth prospects.”

EPA Set to Cancel $7 Billion in Solar Project Grants

Under the $7 billion Solar for All program, the 60 grant recipients were expected to create new or expand existing low-income solar programs, which would enable over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from distributed solar energy. The 60 applications selected to receive the awards included 49 state-level awards, six awards to Tribes, and five multistate awards spanning the entire country.