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Crude oil

Statoil to supply ethane for NOVA Canada cracker

NOVA Chemicals has signed a memorandum of understanding with Statoil to secure a long-term supply of ethane from the Marcellus Shale basin. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ExxonMobil marine affiliate to build two crude oil tankers for US West Coast use

Exxon Mobil’s US marine affiliate, SeaRiver Maritime, signed a letter of intent with Aker Philadelphia Shipyard to build two US flag crude oil tankers in partnership with shipbuilding technology firm Samsung Heavy Industries.

Chevron forms technology alliance with NASA to improve oil, natgas recovery

Chevron and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have formed an alliance to develop a range of technologies to improve the production and recovery of oil and natural gas resources, the groups said on Monday.

US petroleum demand increased in June - API data

Total US petroleum deliveries in June were up on both a year-on-year and month-on-month basis, according to information released Friday from the American Petroleum Institute (API). Moreover, deliveries were up 1.9% for the first six months of 2011 over the same period in 2010.

Norway bomb blast targeted oil ministry - reports

The bombing that rocked Oslo, Norway, on Friday appeared to target the nation’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, according to local media reports. The explosion blew out the windows of a large government office building and damaged several others, including one that holds the prime minister’s office, according to the Washington Post.

Safety progress in Gulf of Mexico drilling should lead to more US permits - API

The US oil and natural gas industry has significantly improved offshore safety, according to Erik Milito, group director of upstream and industry operations at the American Petroleum Institute (API), in testimony delivered this week to the US Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.

China's CNOOC to buy Canadian oil sands firm Opti

Chinese oil giant CNOOC has agreed to acquire Canadian oil sands producer Opti Canada for about $2.1 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.

NuStar, Koch reactivate Texas pipeline to transport Eagle Ford shale to Corpus

As part of an agreement with Koch Pipeline Co., NuStar Logistics has reactivated its Pettus South Pipeline to transport Eagle Ford Shale crude oil to Corpus Christi, Texas.

Oil, natural gas drilling in US increased in Q2 - API

US oil and natural gas well drilling activity increased in the 2011 second quarter, according to a quarterly analysis released by the American Petroleum Institute (API). An estimated 10,939 oil wells, natural gas wells and dry holes were completed, up 14% from 2010’s second quarter and up 46% from 2009’s second quarter.

Apache CEO lauds hydraulic fracturing disclosure law in Texas, asks others to follow

A new hydraulic fracturing disclosure law in the state of Texas - signed by Gov. Rick Perry late on Friday - demonstrates that states and oil and gas producers can work together to increase public confidence in the industry while developing abundant and cleaner-burning natural gas resources, according to Apache Corp. CEO G. Steven Farris.