Russian Oil and Gas Industry: News

Bloomberg wrote:Putin's New Gas Strategy Actually Makes Sense
JAN 22, 2015 11:41 AM EST
By Marc Champion

When Russia canceled a planned pipeline to deliver natural gas to Europe across the Black Sea last month and said it would redirect the project to Turkey, some thought it was a bluff, others a sign of financial weakness and still others a rebuke to the West over Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin turned elsewhere to look for new partners.

In reality, the change made good commercial sense and should have happened years ago, according to a new report by some of the most knowledgeable people on Russia's gas industry.

The shift also means that Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas company, won't be able to completely cut Ukraine out of the transit business, as the original South Stream pipeline had sought to do, for years to come. And, the authors might have added, the new arrangement is healthier for Europe, too.

The cancellation of South Stream is part of a broader change of strategy for Gazprom that plays to the company's strengths, say Jonathan Stern, Simon Pirani and Katja Yafimava at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

The previous strategy to acquire distribution networks deep in EU markets. And while the report's authors are more cautious, this was also in part politically motivated. It was meant to exert Russian political power as much as to make profits for Gazprom, which is one reason the European Union drew up regulations to obstruct it.

South Stream was expensive -- conservatively priced at about $20 billion and by some estimates as much as $65 billion. It never made commercial sense, even when EU demand for gas was projected to soar and Gazprom controlled prices by negotiating separate long-term contracts with individual buyers.

Today, Gazprom faces new price competition from spot markets at gas hubs around the EU. Plus, new EU rules -- some still being written -- would force Gazprom to open up its European pipelines to other suppliers and distributors.

The Ukraine crisis prompted EU officials to move aggressively against South Stream for not complying with the new rules. And collapsing oil prices (to which long-term gas contracts are tied) made the economics of South Stream look even worse. Eventually, Gazprom pulled the plug.

The company then proposed redirecting the pipeline project to Turkey, its second-largest customer in Europe and the only European market projected to grow strongly. The gas Turkey now gets via Ukraine would come direct from Russia. And any additional amounts could be taken to a hub at Turkey's EU border and sold. Nevertheless, Gazprom would still need to send substantial amounts of gas to Europe through Ukraine until at the very least 2020, according to the Oxford report.

It's by now clear that Gazprom's pivot to Turkey was not a bluff, even if negotiations on price and the pipeline's route continue. Gazprom has already allocated resources to the Turkish project.

Nor was the South Stream decision based only on cost. That couldn't explain why Gazprom hired two barges and 200 personnel to start laying pipes on the seabed, Stern and his team said.

Other decisions taken at about the same time suggest a bigger shift at play: Gazprom abandoned efforts to buy 100 percent of the Opal gas pipeline, which lies entirely within Germany. It also walked away from advanced talks on an asset swap that would have given more extraction assets in Western Siberia to the Wintershall unit of BASF Group, in exchange for Gazprom's full ownership of the German company's interest in a domestic storage and trading business in Germany.

Not long before, Gazprom had finally agreed on terms to supply piped gas to China and iced its plans to develop terminals to export liquid natural gas. Putin sold that move as punishment for the EU and proof he could find alternative markets. But in essence, Gazprom is returning to the business it knows better than anyone else and the one it can more easily afford: extracting and delivering natural gas through pipelines.

Russia's gas giant no longer has ambitions to own the whole extraction-to-European-consumer chain, or to invest in expensive LNG technologies. Instead, it will have a simpler, transactional relationship with the EU in the sale and purchase of gas. And that is exactly as it should be.

Kyo wrote:

Bloomberg wrote:
Russia's gas giant no longer has ambitions to own the whole extraction-to-European-consumer chain, or to invest in expensive LNG technologies. Instead, it will have a simpler, transactional relationship with the EU in the sale and purchase of gas. And that is exactly as it should be.

kvs wrote:

Austin wrote:http://m.ria.ru/economy/20150124/1044098492.html

He says russia debt is 12-13 % and if required can be increased

How can Russia increase debt do they print more money which means higher inflation or some other way they increase debt ?

There is something called bonds.   Like Canada Bonds.  

AlfaT8 wrote:

Kyo wrote:

Bloomberg wrote:
Russia's gas giant no longer has ambitions to own the whole extraction-to-European-consumer chain, or to invest in expensive LNG technologies. Instead, it will have a simpler, transactional relationship with the EU in the sale and purchase of gas. And that is exactly as it should be.

When did Gazprom give up on LNG???

kvs wrote:http://www.minenergo.gov.ru/news/company_news/21380.html

http://unconventionaloilrussia.com/en/blog/gazprom-neft-khantos-completes-first-shale-oil-hydraulic-fracturing/

Oil is flowing from the first two fracked wells in the Bazhenov "oil shale" formation.    Commercial production is still a ways off,
but the point is that this oil resource is being developed.

http://www.unconventionaloilrussia.com/en/blog/bazhenov-formation-search-big-shale-oil-upper-salym/
http://www.unconventionaloilrussia.com/en/blog/bazhenov-formation-search-big-shale-oil-upper-salym-part-2/

Venik wrote:
After the Fracking Boom

Over the past year or so, American politicians of various denominations have made a big deal of the supposedly booming shale oil production in the country. Indeed, the US oil production surged briefly last year reaching nearly 200,000 Mbbl. This was still a long way from peak production in the early 1970s, but it was significant increase, causing much excitement in the industry.

Recently, Obama trumpeted his administration's great success "containing" Russia. Obama owes much of this "success" not to brilliance of his foreign policy but to oil production boom in the country that it widely believed to be the driving force behind the recent plunge in the price of oil. However, America's latest oil boom fueled by credit is starting to look increasingly like a bubble.

A Soviet reporter visiting the United States in the seventies was so impressed by the glittering facade, he told friends back home America was so wealthy, every family had a car, a house, and a mortgage. Clearly, the concept of a mortgage had evaded his understanding. When oil prices were above the hundred-dollar mark, financing for the domestic oil industry was abundant and, expecting quick returns and wide profit margins, borrowers could not be bothered to haggle over the terms.

"On Friday, WTI and Brent crude oil both surged by approximately 8 percent after a Baker Hughes report showed that 94 U.S oil rigs and 11 Canadian oil rigs were taken offline in the past week – the largest drop since 1987." (Forbes; 2015-01-31)

"Bankruptcy filings in the oil and gas sector are widely expected to increase in the coming months following a slide of more than 50 percent in crude oil prices since June, to about $50 per barrel." (Reuters; 2015-01-08)

In a nutshell, over a year ago, when oil prices were still in triple-digits, fracking boom diverted investments from offshore drilling to on-shore operations. To attract this investor interest, the budding fracking industry generated much hype, predictably but unintentionally drove oil prices down and committed suicide. Meanwhile in Russia, no oil rigs closed and no oil companies filed for bankruptcy.

"Given the continued gradual reduction of gas production in Europe can be expected that exports of" Gazprom "to European countries in the medium term will be restored and will be about 155-160 billion cubic meters per year," - he said. Supply growth will depend on the weather conditions. Exports of "Gazprom" in the CIS countries at the end of last year fell by 9% - to 162.7 billion cubic meters in 2013 to 147 billion.

But the average price of Russian gas to Europe, excluding the Baltic and CIS countries, declined. In 2012 it was 403 dollars per thousand cubic meters, and 2013 - 385 dollars, in 2014 - 341 USD.

"On the export price of Russian natural gas, primarily affected by the fall in prices on the world oil market. At the same time, the negative impact of price trends in the oil market in the contract prices of" Gazprom "has been largely offset by a change in the contracts, which were aimed at their adaptation to market conditions, "- said Alexander Medvedev. The average price of Russian gas supplies to the Baltic States and the CIS in the last year amounted to $ 272 per thousand cubic meters against 274 dollars a year earlier.

In addition, "Gazprom" plans to reduce the current year purchases of gas in Central Asia and replace it with Russian gas.

Russia's energy giant Gazprom and the Turkish government have determined key reference points for the construction of the new natural gas pipeline's route, as well as technical solutions for the pipeline's route through the country, Gazprom has announced.

"During the pipeline's engineering process, growing demand for natural gas in the Istanbul area will be noted. As a result, the amount of natural gas supplied to Turkey's border with Greece has been adjusted to 47 billion cubic meters," the statement said.

It was previously believed that the pipeline, which will run on the bottom of the Black Sea, would supply a total of 63 billion cubic meters, with 13 billion going to Turkey and the rest going to the hub on the Greek border, where it would be available to European consumers.

On Saturday, Gazprom's Deputy Chairman Alexei Miller and Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz discussed the project's implementation and conducted a helicopter survey of the pipeline's land route in Turkey.

As a result, the pipeline's landing point in Turkey was determined, as well as the distribution point for Turkish customers and the point at which the pipeline will enter Greece. The entire pipeline through Turkey will be 180 kilometers long.

The pipeline's completion is projected for December 2016, and it is expected that in the near future, permits will be granted for the survey and design of the Turkish undersea section of the pipeline.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20150207/1017948692.html#ixzz3R9JAK5N6

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Minister Sergei Donskoi and Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangene agreed on further cooperation in the field of oil and gas. The head of the Ministry of Natural Resources said in an interview with Trend. Tass on Sunday after the last negotiations.
Agreement on hydrocarbons
"We discussed with the Iranian Minister of Petroleum prospects of participation of Russian companies in the oil industry and in the field of oil exploration, as well as the possibility of training Iranian specialists in the oil industry on the basis of Russian educational institutions", - said Don.
In addition, meetings were held with the Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade of Iran Mohammad Reza Nematzade "addresses the issue of using the experience of Russian geologists in search of the territory of Iran deposits of ferrous and precious metals, coal and other minerals that are of interest for the economic development of the Islamic Republic" he said.
Water resources management
On Saturday, held talks with Don Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchianom. The parties agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of water management, as will be soon signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding. They also discussed a wide range of possible interaction and exchange of experiences in research and inventory of water resources, the balance of groundwater, water purification issues and especially the process of desalination of sea water. Ministers also agreed to cooperate in the study of climate change and its impact on water resources.
"The great interest shown our Iranian colleagues to conduct exploration of ground water and soil, as Iran is experiencing a severe shortage of fresh water - said Don. - We have agreed to connect the possibility of "Rosgeologiya" to find new aquifers. So that this area of ​​cooperation - one of the most promising. " "We also discussed with Mr. Chitchianom the preparation in Russia Iranian specialists hydrogeologists," - the minister added.
Agreement in the field of ecology
In addition, Don attended the last conference in Tehran on environmental issues, together with the Vice President of Iran and head of the Environmental Protection Masoume Ebtekar.
"I was impressed by the new technologies that are used in Iran for water purification, as well as the system of protection of natural freshwater reservoirs that supply the city - said the head of the Ministry of Environment. - We also had the opportunity to meet with a sufficiently large network of protected areas and nature reserves, which are stored and water resources, and rare animals and landscapes. " According to him, the parties discussed in detail the issues of cooperation between Iran and Russia in the field of environmental protection, focusing on the problems of conservation of biological resources of the Caspian basin.
Following the meeting, Don and Ebtekar signed the Protocol on the Protection of the biological diversity of the Caspian Sea to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention). This framework was signed on 4 November 2003 in Tehran, representatives of the five Caspian littoral states - Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. As stated in the Convention, it focuses on "the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea from pollution, including the protection, preservation, restoration and sustainable and rational use of biological resources."

Viktor wrote:Nice  

Russia's LetterOne Buys German Oil and Gas Company for $5.1 Bln

magnumcromagnon wrote:Could this be a reason why Victoria Nuland wants a Maidan/Color Revolution in Macedonia? Over the fact Macedonia is joining the Turk Stream, South Stream re-route?

magnumcromagnon wrote:Could this be a reason why Victoria Nuland wants a Maidan/Color Revolution in Macedonia? Over the fact Macedonia is joining the Turk Stream, South Stream re-route?

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian crude oil exports are expected to rise this year and beyond as volumes are diverted away from domestic refineries which are cutting capacity as part of a modernisation drive, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

Novak told Reuters that Russia, one of the world's biggest oil producers, will maintain its crude oil output at over 10 million barrels per day (bpd), despite some expectations of a plunge in production due to lower prices.

He said Russia will continue consultations with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Russia will meet OPEC officials in June in Vienna to discuss the impact of shale oil production on global oil markets.

Up to now, Russia has been cutting crude oil exports and instead sending much of its crude production to domestic refineries, a move that offers better margins than selling crude to the market at current low prices.

But crude oil exports are seen rising by up to 3 million tonnes in 2015 and to 280 million tonnes per year by 2035 from 224 million tonnes in 2014, Novak said.

Since 2000, refinery output in Russia has grown by over 45 percent to 294 million tonnes per year in 2014. That is on a par with the peak reached in the mid-1980s when the Red Army needed fuel for its campaign in Afghanistan.

Under the modernisation programme, Russia's refineries will switch to produce fewer low-quality products such as fuel oil and more high-quality products such as diesel and gasoline, but in lower volumes.

"The strategy is to cut refining throughput," Novak said. "That's due to an increase in light products output on the back of modernisation."

He forecast a decrease in oil product output to 291 million tonnes in 2015 and further to 280 million tonnes by 2035.

Consultants EY, which advise the Energy Ministry on taxes, say they expect a rise in Russian diesel production to 33 percent of the domestic oil product basket by 2020, from 26 percent in 2013.

The growth in refinery production and improvements in oil product quality have so far continued, despite Western sanctions over Moscow's role in the Ukraine conflict. According to the Energy Ministry, 19 new units are expected to be commissioned at Russian refineries in 2015 against eight in 2014.

Novak said there was no need for new refineries, while outdated plants would be closed.

"Ineffective (plants) will cease to exist due to competition," he said.

Russian No.2 oil producer Lukoil (LKOH.MM) has announced plans to shut its Ukhta oil refinery.

Novak said Russia planned to export 31 million tonnes of oil to China this year, up 3 million tonnes from 2014.

SUSTAINABLE OUTPUT

Lukoil has predicted that Russian oil production may be down 8 percent by the end of next year as low prices force companies to cut back on drilling in Siberia.

Novak dismissed such a pessimistic scenario, saying crude oil output will stay this year at 525 million to 527 million tonnes (10.5 million to 10.54 million bpd).

"We don't expect any cuts despite lower prices and some other problems," he said.

Russia still expects to pump at a rate of 505 million to 525 million tonnes annually through to 2035, Novak said. He said the fall in global oil prices was mitigated by the fact that many oil firms' costs were in roubles, and the currency has been losing value.

Still, he said, Russian oil companies will reduce their investment programmes by 10-15 percent, awaiting better times when crude oil prices recover. Globally, over $1 trillion of investments were postponed due to lower oil prices, Novak said.

Novak, a former Finance Ministry official, said an oil price of around $60 per barrel is "OK" for Russian business, taking into account the plunge in the rouble's value. However, $70-$80 would be "more just", the minister said.

He said that by year-end the oil price could pick up to $65-$70, as a result of companies scaling back investment and the consequent fall in supply.

Novak also said a profit-based tax in the Russian oil industry - one of the key stimuli for the shale oil boom in the United States - was not seen before 2022.

(Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya, Anastasia Lyrchikova and Olesya Astakhova; Editing by Christian Lowe, Alexander Winning and Dale Hudson)

Russia plans to sign the contract on western route gas supplies to China in the second quarter of 2015.

Unlike the Power of Siberia, the Altai pipeline has the same resource base as the gas supplies to Europe - Western Siberia