Europe set to be short of diesel fuel in winter 

10 August |Energy Crisis

Northwest Europe is expected to start the winter with record low levels of diesel, which fuels large sections of the economy. European customers may face energy rationing this winter as prices continue to rise amid fears that Russia could cut off gas supplies.  

According to Wood Mackenzie, the continent’s stocks of road diesel, heating oil and other diesel-type fuel are likely to shrivel this November to the lowest level since records began, dating back to the beginning of 2011. 

Russia is Europe’s largest supplier of diesel and associated fuels, exporting more than three-quarters of a million barrels per day for use in heavy machinery, transportation, farming, fishing and power and heating in Europe. 

According to data from Insights Global, supplies of fuel in independent storage facilities in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp oil trade region are at their lowest level since 2008.  

The rise in diesel prices in Europe impacts the industry by rising fuel and transportation prices, passing on costs to consumers through high costs across the economy. 

The ban on imports from Russia could become more of a problem early next year for the shortage of natural resources. Europe is short of diesel-type fuel, while Russia has been Europe’s biggest external supplier. 

John Cooper, director general of Fuels Europe, which is a division of the European Petroleum Refiners Association, said that there is a clear link between diesel and GDP as “everything that goes into and out of a factory” requires diesel. 

10 August | Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine halts oil flows via Russia pipeline to Europe over payment issue

Ukraine has suspended oil flows from Russian pipelines to parts of central Europe as Western sanctions prevent it from accepting transit fees from Moscow, reported Reuters, citing Russian state-controlled pipeline transport company Transneft. 

Oil flows along the southern route of the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since early this month, impacting countries such as Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Via the southern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, Russia supplies 250,000 barrels per day. 

However, the northern route of the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Poland and Germany, remains unaffected. 

Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol and Hungarian energy firm MOL confirmed the halt of oil flows for a few days via the Druzhba pipeline, in the wake of issues related to transit fees payment. 

Transneft told the news agency that it made payments for oil transit for August 2022 to Ukrainian pipeline operator UkrTransNafta on 22 July 2022.

Russian bank Gazprombank handled the payment. However, the money was returned on July 28 due to the processing of the transaction failed due to European Union restrictions. 

Subsequently, UkrTransNafta halted oil flows from the critical pipeline. As per the new sanctions imposed on Russia by the Western nations, banks in Europe are required to receive approval from a relevant government authority to allow a transaction, Transneft said.

5 August | Deals

TC Energy partners with Mexico’s CFE to develop $4.5bn gas pipeline 

Canadian natural gas company TC Energy has signed a deal with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), Mexico’s state-owned electric utility, to develop a $4.5bn natural gas pipeline. 

The Southeast Gateway Pipeline is intended to supply natural gas to Mexico’s central and southeast regions. The two firms have reached a final investment decision to proceed with the construction of the 715km-long offshore pipeline project, which is expected to have a capacity of 1.3 billion cubic feet per day. 

Planned to be commissioned by mid-2025, the pipeline will originate onshore in Tuxpan, Veracruz, then continue offshore, prior to making landfall at Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz and Dos Bocas, Tabasco. 

As part of the deal, TC Energy and CFE will consolidate existing assets that have been disputed between the two parties. These assets include the Tamazunchale, Tula-Villa de Reyes and Tuxpan-Tula pipelines. 

The assets will be consolidated under a US dollar-denominated take-or-pay transportation service agreement, which will be extended through to 2055. 

TC Energy president and CEO François Poirier said: “The Southeast Gateway Pipeline will be TC Energy’s second marine natural gas pipeline in Mexico, connecting to the coastal regions of Veracruz and Tabasco, and is another prime example of our ability to originate world-class projects that offer incremental growth to our long-term outlook.” 

5 August | Production

Eastward gas flows increase via the Yamal-Europe pipeline 

Eastward gas flows from Germany to Poland via the Yamal-Europe pipeline increased on 5 August, while Russian flows to northern Europe remained stable, according to transmission system data. 

According to operator Gascade, exit flows at the Mallnow metering point on the German border were 4,031,048 kilowatt hour per hour (kWh/h) between 5:00 and 6:00 GMT, up from 3,867,960kWh/h at midnight. 

The physical flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Germany were stable at 14,423,627 kWh/h. Russia reduced pipeline flows to 20% of capacity on 27 July, citing maintenance work. Russia blamed turbine issues for the initial shutdown of the crucial gas supply pipeline in their statement. 

Germany continues to rely on this critical gas supply to power its industrial sector and to heat German homes throughout the winter months. The country’s ongoing gas shortfall, which has forced it to draw on reserves and shut down parts of its industrial sector, could have serious ramifications for Europe as a whole. 

The Yamal-Europe pipeline has a capacity of 33 billion cubic metres, or roughly one-sixth of Russian gas shipments to Europe. Since the beginning of this year, gas has started flowing eastward through the pipeline from Germany to Poland.

5 August | Contracts

ADNOC awards $3.4bn drilling contracts to expand production capacity 

ADNOC Drilling has received two contracts worth over $3.4bn (AED12.6bn) from UAE state-owned oil company ADNOC to charter eight jack-up rigs for offshore operations. 

Awarded by ADNOC’s subsidiary ADNOC Offshore, the two contracts are valued at $1.5bn (AED5.6bn) and $1.9bn (AED7bn), respectively. 

The jack-up rigs are planned to be hired together with personnel and equipment and will be deployed at ADNOC’s offshore fields that account for approximately half of the firm’s production capacity.

During the 15-year contracts, ADNOC Drilling’s rig fleet is expected to help in further unlocking the offshore oil and gas resources in Abu Dhabi. 

UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “This world-leading investment will significantly expand our drilling activity to accelerate growth, drive value, and responsibly unlock the UAE’s resources in response to globally rising demand for energy."

4 August | Deals

Exxon in talks to sell stake in Russia’s Sakhalin-1 development 

Exxon Mobil is considering selling its 30% stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas development in Russia’s Far East to an undisclosed party. 

The Sakhalin-1 development reported a production rate of 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2021, although output from the project declined to 10,000bpd following the sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia, reported Reuters

Earlier this year, Exxon said it took an impairment charge of $4.6bn for exiting the Sakhalin-1 development, its largest Russian investment. In July this year, a senior Russian lawmaker said the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project’s control would be transferred to Russia. 

According to Reuters, ExxonMobil spokesperson Casey Norton said that the company has made ‘significant progress’ in exiting the Sakhalin-1 venture. 

“As operator of Sakhalin-1, we have an obligation to ensure the safety of people, protection of the environment, and integrity of operations."

In brief

Kistos and Serica Energy call off merger talks 

Energy investment firm Kistos has abandoned merger talks with British oil and gas group Serica Energy after they failed to agree on a revised proposal. 

In its statement, Kistos said: “Despite repeated attempts by Kistos, the Board of Serica Energy has failed to engage meaningfully either with respect to Kistos’ proposed offer for Serica or the terms of Serica’s offer for Kistos.” 

Saipem looking to close contracts related to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project 

Saipem is considering terminating contracts pertaining to the $21.3bn Arctic LNG 2 project in Russia, Reuters reported, citing the Italian firm’s interim financial statement. 

Located in the Gydan Peninsula in the western Siberia region of Russia, the project is expected to have a production capacity of almost 20 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas. 

Petrofac consortium secures $300m construction contract from Sonatrach 

Petrofac and its consortium partner Genie Civil et Batiment have secured a provisional award for an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the Tinrhert Development Project.

The contract is valued at approximately $300m and has been awarded by state-owned oil company Sonatrach for construction of the Tinrhert Field Development Project.

Aker Solutions to deliver wellhead platform for Shell’s UK North Sea field 

Shell UK, part of energy major Shell, has awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract to Aker Solutions for an offshore platform for the Jackdaw gas field in the UK North Sea. 

Under the new contract, Aker will provide a complete wellhead platform that is not permanently crewed.

3 August | Results 

BP’s Q2 profits soar to $9.3bn due to high energy prices 

BP has reported a profit attributable to shareholders of $9.3bn for the second quarter of 2022, a three-fold jump from $3.1bn a year ago. 

The British oil major’s underlying replacement cost profit, used as a proxy for net profit, also tripled to $8.5bn, from $2.8bn in the second quarter of 2021. The surge was attributed to strong realised refining margins and oil trading, and higher liquids realisations. 

For the quarter that ended on 30 June 2022, the company’s total revenues and other income surged to $69.5bn, from $37.56bn a year earlier. Operating cash flow increased to $10.9bn, from $5.4bn in the same period a year ago. 

Production for the quarter stood at 924,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an increase of 5.5% compared with the same period in 2021. 

In a statement, the firm said: “For 2022 and subject to maintaining a strong investment grade credit rating, BP remains committed to using 60% of surplus cash flow for share buybacks and intends to allocate the remaining 40% to further strengthen the balance sheet.” 

2 August | Deals

Saudi Aramco to buy Valvoline’s lubricants unit in $2.65bn deal 

Saudi Aramco has agreed to acquire Valvoline’s lubricants unit, Valvoline Global Products, in a deal worth $2.65bn. 

Valvoline plans to use the cash proceeds to accelerate share repurchases, reduce debt and invest in its retail services business.

Aramco expects the acquisition to optimise its global base oils production capabilities and expand research and development (R&D) activities while complementing Aramco’s premium branded lubricant products. 

Subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the transaction is scheduled to close in 2022 or early 2023.

Valvoline will also sign a long-term supply agreement with the Global Products business to purchase motor oil and related products. 

Earlier this year, Aramco announced a net income of $39.5bn for the first quarter of 2022. 

Aramco downstream senior vice-president Mohammed Al Qahtani said: “Valvoline’s global products business fits perfectly with Aramco’s growth strategy for lubricants as it will leverage our global base oils production, contribute to our R&D capabilities, and strengthen our existing relationships with original equipment manufacturers."

In brief

Kistos and Serica Energy call off merger talks 


Energy investment firm Kistos has abandoned merger talks with British oil and gas group Serica Energy after they failed to agree on a revised proposal. 


In its statement, Kistos said: “Despite repeated attempts by Kistos, the Board of Serica Energy has failed to engage meaningfully either with respect to Kistos’ proposed offer for Serica or the terms of Serica’s offer for Kistos despite the board of directors of both companies acknowledging the industrial logic in combining the portfolios of the two companies.” 

Saipem looking to close contracts related to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project 


Saipem is in deliberations to terminate contracts pertaining to the $21.3bn Arctic LNG 2 project in Russia, Reuters reported, citing the Italian firm’s interim financial statement. 


Located in the Gydan Peninsula in the western Siberia region of Russia, the project is expected to have a production capacity of almost 20 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas. 

Petrofac consortium secures $300m construction contract from Algeria’s Sonatrach 


Petrofac and its consortium partner Genie Civil et Batiment have secured a provisional award for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Tinrhert Development Project in Algeria. 


The contract is valued at approximately $300m and has been awarded by state-owned oil company Sonatrach for construction of the Tinrhert Field Development Project. The work will involve a new central processing facility featuring inlet separation and decarbonisation units. 

Aker Solutions to deliver wellhead platform for Shell’s UK North Sea field 


Shell UK, part of energy major Shell, has awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract to Aker Solutions for an offshore platform for the Jackdaw gas field in the UK North Sea. 


Under the new contract, Aker will provide a complete wellhead platform that is not permanently crewed. The platform comprises a topside and a steel jacket. Aker will also be responsible for the associated load-out, offshore hook-up, and commissioning.