Newly announced minimum acceptable bids for the shallow-water development phase of Mexico’s Round One are internationally competitive, according to analysis from research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie Ltd., which adds that two thirds of the qualified companies could place bids. Source: News
Conditions seen worsening for majors until late 2016
Fundamental business conditions for integrated oil and gas companies will worsen before signs of improvement appear late next year, according to a Moody’s Investors Service assessment based on reduced expectations for crude oil and natural gas prices. Source: News
API: EPA should heed cities’ inability to meet current ozone limits
New US Environmental Protection Agency data, which show states and cities are having trouble meeting current ground-level ozone limits, cast doubt on their ability to meet stricter requirements the agency is considering, an American Petroleum Institute official said. Source: News
Watching Government: Obama’s ozone remarks
When he addressed the Business Roundtable on Sept. 15, US President Barack Obama acknowledged there could be problems for states and cities when the US Environmental Protection Agency issues possibly more stringent ozone rules on Oct. 1. Source: News
White House not inclined to end crude oil export ban, official says
The White House believes a decision on whether to end a 40-year-old ban on exports of US-produced crude oil should come from the US Department of Commerce instead of the Oval Office, White House Press Sec. Josh Earnest said. Source: News
Owning the agenda
Senate Democrats and former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton have joined US President Barack Obama’s escalating campaign to sacrifice welfare from fossil energy to newly sanctified fear about climate change. Source: News
Poland’s energy challenge
Amid the economic chaos of the past decade that has befallen Europe, Poland has managed a steady, uninterrupted climb. Source: News
Label obsession degrades coverage of climate change
If the politics of climate change must begin and end with name-calling, a squabble about labels can seem serious. Source: News
Cheetah exploration well off Cameroon proves noncommercial
Noble Energy Inc.’s Cheetah exploration well in the Tilapia license offshore Cameroon reached the targeted Cretaceous interval, encountering both crude oil and natural gas shows in multiple noncommercial reservoir sands. Source: News
BHI: Recent downward shift continues for US rig count
The US drilling rig count fell 4 units to 838 rigs working during the week ended Sept. 25, marking the fifth straight week of declines, according to data from Baker Hughes Inc. Source: News