Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration
(WTI) Energy and Commodities For 2012
by David Fessler, Investment U Senior Analyst Wednesday, December 21, 2011: Issue #1669 As my colleagues have done earlier this week, I’m now putting myself in the hot seat with regards to my prognostications from a year ago. Around this time last year, I opined that commodities...
15Jan2012 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(MWE) MarkWest Energy Partners – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading MarkWest Energy Partners (MWE) to Outperform from Neutral, reflecting its promising future prospects. The master limited partnership’s (MLP) targeted growth capital investments since 2006 have been driving its strong, long-term volume growth. We continue...
13Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LNG) Will Natural Gas Rebound This Year?
Among the most commonly asked questions by energy investors this new year is: will low natural gas prices continue in 2012 or will we see a durable rebound in prices from their multi-year plight? From a peak of about $13.60 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2008 (referring...
8Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Strikes Oil in Santos Basin
Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (PBR), or Petrobras S.A., announced the discovery of oil in the pre-salt reservoirs of the country’s Santos Basin. The new well reinforces the region’s potential of 5-8 billion barrels of recoverable reserves. Drilled...
7Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LNG) An Alternative Way to Capture Emerging Market Growth
by David Fessler, Investment U Senior Analyst Tuesday, December 6, 2011: Issue #1658 Many countries outside the United States operate state-controlled companies. Most are giant behemoths, employing millions of people between them. These companies – among the world’s largest...
6Dec2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(RIG) Transocean Tanks on Offering Notice
Offshore drilling giant Transocean Ltd. (RIG) priced a public offering of 26 million shares at $40.50 a piece, with a 30-day over-allotment option for an additional 3.9 million shares. The Zug, Switzerland-based owner of the world’s largest offshore rig fleet plans to use...
30Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Hits Oil in Campos Basin
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR) announced the discovery of an accumulation of crude oil in Marlin Complex, offshore Campos basin. However, Petrobras did not disclose the amount of oil discovered. The presence of oil was traced in post-salt rocks through the well 4-VD-18-RJS...
30Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil Cuts Yield on Storm Alert
Statoil ASA (STO) has reduced its output at three platforms off central Norway as a precautionary measure against a severe winter storm forecast for the weekend. The non-critical personnel have been removed from three of its platforms namely ––Njord, Heidrun and Aasgard,...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Finds Oil in Santos Basin
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR) confirmed the discovery of superior quality oil in the south Santos Basin well 4-SPS-91 (4-BRSA-1002-SPS). As per the oil sampling tests, the find was in an approximately 2,160 meters deep sandstone reservoir in the post-salt area known...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RIG) Transocean Misses Earnings Targets – Profit Tumbles
Offshore drilling giant Transocean Ltd. (RIG) reported weak third quarter 2011 results, hurt by the decline in utilization rates and high operating costs even as rig rates rose. Earnings per share, excluding expenses associated with the Macondo well incident, gains from asset...
7Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RIG) Transocean Update Shows Higher Dayrates
Offshore drilling giant Transocean Ltd. (RIG) recently issued a monthly ‘Fleet Update Summary’ covering the company’s drilling rig status and contract information. As per the report, Transocean secured additional work for four of its mid-water rigs, with three of them getting...
23Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DO) Diamond Offshore Drilling Analyst Maintains Shares at Neutral
We have maintained our Neutral recommendation for Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) given its solid fundamentals and financial disciplines, partially mitigated by stringent regulations as well as the lingering effects of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) drill ban and related U.S. policies. Texas-based...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PTEN) Patterson-UTI – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) shares to Outperform from Neutral, reflecting strong demand for its services in North America. The company has been benefiting from increased activity in the unconventional oil and liquids-rich plays in the region, which have more...
20Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil ASA to Upgrade Troll Capacity
Statoil ASA (STO) has contracted Norway’s engineering group, Aibel, for the upgrade of a gas compression capacity on the Troll A platform in the North Sea. The contract is worth NOK 2.7 billion ($483 million). Per the agreement, Aibel is responsible for engineering, procurement,...
20Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PTEN) Patterson-UTI – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) shares to Outperform from Neutral, reflecting strong demand for its services in North America. The company has been benefiting from increased activity in the unconventional oil and liquids-rich plays in the region, which have more...
15Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Oil Industry Mergers and Acquisitions 2011
by Justin Dove, Investment U Research Monday, September 12, 2011 Oil Services Industry Set for “Gusher Of Profits” As Ian Cooper’s recent article for Wealth Daily stated, the world isn’t necessarily running out of oil. It’s running out of “easy to get” oil. Oil...
14Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(HP) Helmerich & Payne Earnings Scorecard
Contract drilling services provider Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP) reported robust third quarter fiscal 2011 results on July 29 with both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Second Quarter Recap The quarter’s earnings of $1.00 per...
15Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RIG) Transocean Misses Earnings Forecast – Backlog Weak
Offshore drilling giant Transocean Ltd. (RIG) reported bleak second quarter 2011 results, hurt by the decline in utilization rates, lower backlog and higher operating costs. Earnings per share, excluding expenses associated with the Macondo well incident, tax charges and loss...
5Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LNG) Important Natural Gas Investment You’re Ignoring
by Matthew Carr, Investment U Research Analyst Friday, July 15, 2011: Issue #1557 Stand at any metropolitan bus stop. Chances are, a city bus will rumble by advertising, “This Bus Runs on Clean Burning Natural Gas.” Hear that garbage truck squealing and grinding gears through...
5Aug2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Strikes Oil Yet Again
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR) announced the discovery of two new oil and gas fields in the Espirito Santo basin, netting three finds in the arena. Although the estimated size of the fields was not disclosed, they definitely strengthen Petrobras’ position in the...
11Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil ASA and FMC Technologies in $43M Workover Deal
Statoil ASA (STO) has awarded a $43 million contract to FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI) in order to support workover operations at four fast-track fields in the North Sea. This goes to show the effort that the company is making to increase productivity in the North Sea region. As...
8Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil ASA to Pay $2.47 Billion for New Rigs
Oil giant Statoil ASA (STO) has awarded a contract worth $2.47 billion to Norway’s Songa Offshore. Per the deal terms, Songa will build two category D semi-submersible rigs for use on Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) with specified terms of 8 years each that could extend to...
7Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HP) Helmerich & Payne Secures Rig Deal
Global contract drilling company Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP) signed a deal to manufacture and operate 12 additional FlexRigs. Eight exploration and production companies, names of which were not disclosed, contracted Helmerich & Payne for the construction job. Although...
6Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Expands in Biofuel World
Brazilian state-run energy firm Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR) acquired a 50% stake in a local biodiesel company BSBIOS Industria e Comercio de Biodiesel Sul Brasil S.A. for 200 million Brazilian reals or $128.4 million. Petrobras executed the deal through its subsidiary...
5Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Start Extended Well Test at Aruana
Brazilian state-run Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR) has commenced production of oil at the Aruana area, following the start-up of extended well test (EWT). The Aruana area is in the post-salt layer of the southern area of the Campos Basin offshore Brazil. Petrobras...
1Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil Strikes Oil Near Oseberg
Norway’s Statoil ASA (STO) has discovered oil and condensate in the North Sea’s Krafla West prospect. Situated around 26 kilometers south-west of the producing Oseberg South find, the discovery well encountered hydrocarbons in two columns with a total thickness of 300 meters. Initial...
30Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EC) Roche Holdings Gets FDA Panel View on Avastin
Roche Holdings Ltd. (RHHBY) recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) has recommended that the agency should withdraw its approval for the use of Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel in previously...
30Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petrobras and Partners Strike Oil
Brazilian oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras (PBR) announced the discovery of two levels of high-quality crude oil at a well in the country’s ultra deepwater pre-salt Campos Basin. Apart from Petrobras, which has a 30% interest in the 1-REPF-11A-RJS well (informally...
29Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil ASA Focuses on Offshore Wind
Norway-based Statoil ASA (STO), through its subsidiary, has signed two contracts for the sale of a major part of its key onshore wind power assets. This forms a part of Statoil’s endeavors to concentrate on the offshore market. The first contract consists of the sale of 50%...
29Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STO) Statoil ASA Awarded Contract for Subsea Compression
Statoil ASA (STO) has awarded a contract to Aker Solutions for subsea compression topside modifications on the Statoil-operated Asgard A and B platforms in the North Sea. The contract is worth NOK 650 million ($116.7 million). This deal is classified as an engineering, procurement,...
26Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued