Top Energy/Automotive News As Reported

London, 21 April, 2023, (Oilandgaspress): UK’s oil and gas sector is set for a steep decline in production and capital expenditure, alongside a sharp uptick in decommissioning costs, according to the latest data from the North Sea industry’s watchdog.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has calculated that annual crude oil production will more than halve over the current decade, dropping from 49.34m tonnes in 2019 to 24.62m tonnes in 2028, including a six per cent decline this year. Read More


Nissan Formula E Team heads to Berlin this weekend for Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz set to tackle the second double-header of Season 9.

Having hosted more E-Prix than any other venue, the 2.355-kilometre Tempelhof Airport Circuit is a staple of the Formula E calendar and has utilized a variety of layouts. Most recently, it has been used in both directions for its double-header, although this year only the anti-clockwise variation will be raced on.

The circuit, which features a Douglas DC-3 aircraft on the inside of Turn 6, is challenging due to its abrasive surface, putting an even greater emphasis on energy and tire management. Both Nissan and Nato have had success at the track, winning in 2020 and 2021 respectively, while rookie Fenestraz will be making his Berlin bow this weekend. Qualifying gets underway at 10:40 CEST (UTC +2), while the races start at 15:00 CEST. Find out how to watch here. Following the double-header, the team will remain in Berlin for the Rookie Test on Monday 24 April, with Luca Ghiotto and Victor Martins set to drive for Nissan Formula E Team. Read More


Bentley Home Collection – Bayton Sofa – 3

Bentley Home launches a new seven strong collection during Milan Design Week 2023, in collaboration with three world renowned designers and architects. The Bentley Home Atelier at the historical Palazzo Chiesa is transformed for the occasion providing a multisensory backdrop within its inner courtyard garden.

The collection reaffirms the substance and elegance of Bentley Home Design in collaboration with leading designers engaged for their talent and innovative use of sustainable materials, organic forms, expert craftsmanship and cutting-edge production technology. Each piece translates beautifully into practical, contemporary furniture for the home.

Bentley Home has collaborated with Federico Peri on a new table series including a coffee table, which is available in beautiful veneer options as well as in a new Paper Marble finish by Paper Factor®. Architect Riccardo Cavaciocchi, the founder of Paper Factor®, has created a tabletop finish which is similar in look and feel to marble but created using ‘raw paper’ and natural pigments. In line with Bentley’s focus on sustainability, expert craft and materiality, Paper Factor® harnesses traditional techniques using both hand and machine. Fully customisable, it will be offered more widely across the Bentley Home collection during 2023.

Chris Cooke, Head of Bentley Design Collaborations said, “When Bentley collaborates with world renowned designers, it’s more than just a meeting of minds, it is a relationship based on shared purpose. The new capsule collection for 2023 brilliantly combines our relentless pursuit of innovative sustainable materials to provide finishes that are truly unique in shapes inspired by the flowing lines and elegant curves of a Bentley car with expert craftsmanship and comfort.”

The new collection reaffirms Bentley’s most distinctive design features: well-defined lines, the skilful use of wood, iconic curves and contoured shapes.

The Bentley Home Atelier Palazzo Chiesa, Corso Venezia, n. 36, 20122 Milano. Open to the public during Salone del Mobile: Monday 17 April – Sunday 23 April, 10.00am – 9.00pm. The Bentley Home Atelier is open to the public – by appointment – all year. Read More


Hyundai Motor Group announced that it has started building an initial development model of a lunar exploration mobility rover in tandem with aerospace partners. In July 2022, the Group signed a joint multilateral research agreement with six Korean research institutes in the aerospace sector to run and support a consultative body to develop a mobility solution for lunar surface exploration. The consultative body includes Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI), Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH). Following discussions with the various stakeholders, the Group decided the direction for the initial lunar exploration mobility development model. The Group expects to complete the initial test unit as soon as the second half of 2024 and aims to create a model that has launch capability in 2027. Read More


Porsche Cayenne

No matter the year or model, with any Porsche it is possible to undertake an adventure. “Curves” mastermind Stefan Bogner recently proved this on a 3,500-kilometre roadtrip in Patagonia with two first-generation Cayenne models – now part of the Porsche Classic portfolio. The adventure began the moment the cars were chosen for this 3,500 km journey through the beautiful yet rugged landscape of South America. Before they set off on the Austral Highway from Puerto Montt (Chile) to Ushuaia (Argentina), the 2009 and 2010 Cayenne had already clocked up more than 130,000 kilometres. Each was equipped with offroad accessories from Porsche Classic, including roof racks, a roof tent, a roof cage, off-road tires, a stainless-steel skid plate and rear trim, as well as running boards, all available from Porsche Tequipment. Read More


China will ban ships from entering an area north of Taiwan on Sunday due to “possible falling rocket wreckage”, a provincial maritime authority said, days after Beijing conducted large-scale military drills around the self-ruled island.
The area around 160 kilometres (100 miles) from the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, will be closed from 9:00 am (0100 GMT) to 3:00 pm (0700 GMT), the maritime safety administration of China’s eastern Fujian province said Thursday. It added that vessels would be “forbidden to enter” for the duration of the shutdown. The announcement came after Taiwan’s transport ministry said Wednesday that Beijing planned to impose a no-fly zone north of the island due to “space activities”.

The air restrictions would be in force from 9:30 am to 9:57 am (0130 to 0157 GMT) on Sunday, the ministry said, adding that the zone lies “on the convergence areas of many international routes”. Read More


AKK pipeline abandoned over alleged 570% inflated contract sum

The Guardian gathered that the companies – Infrastructure and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Infrastructure Bank of China and China Export Credit Agency (SINOSURE) – were to provide 85 per cent or $2.38 billion funding requirement. Their Nigerian counterparts, Oilserve and Oando, are to shoulder the balance 15 per cent or $420 million. With the development, the project has been stalled, as there is no funding to cover cost of the second and third legs from Abuja to Kaduna and Kaduna to Kano. It was learnt that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), through the Nigeria Gas Transport Processing Company (NGTPC), had attempted to bridge the funding gap, but lacked the needed liquidity. The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano 614 kilometres gas pipeline, identified as one of the eight major transmission infrastructure critical for development, is riddled with inconsistencies for several reasons. Read More


Auto Trader said it recorded a 65 per cent drop in inquiries for electric cars last month compared with January 2022. The company’s Road To 2030 report blamed the decline in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) on a multitude of factors, including their premium price tags, the cost-of-living crisis, higher interest rates for borrowing and increase in energy prices. The report follows Elon Musk’s suggestion that he will slash the price of Teslas in the US for a staggering sixth time this year to rejuvenate demand for the company’s battery-powered vehicles. Read More


Shell awards Serikandi Kent Joint Venture 5 Year Commissioning and Start Up Services Contract

Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn Bhd (BSP) has awarded Serikandi Kent Energy Solutions Sdn Bhd a five-year contract to provide Commissioning and Start-Up Services. Serikandi Kent Energy Solutions Sdn Bhd, is a Bruneian Incorporated Joint-Venture between Kent Plc headquartered in Dubai and Serikandi Oilfield Services.

It aims to provide integrated services to clients in Brunei Darussalam in multiple areas around rejuvenation, asset integrity, major greenfield and brownfield projects. The award marks the first win for the joint venture that combines Kent’s global expertise with Serikandi’s fifty years of execution capability and experience. Read More


BW Offshore has closed the sale of the FPSO BW Athena to an undisclosed third party. The transaction is part of BW Offshore’s strategy to transition to floating energy infrastructure investments. The sale of the FPSO will have a limited positive effect on results to be presented for Q2 2023. At the time of closing, the unit was unencumbered and debt free. Read More


Total Energies E&P Nigeria and Shell, yesterday, pledged to end routine gas flaring as industry operators insisted development of the gas sector in Nigeria might remain elusive if prevailing challenges are not tackled. Managing Director, Crude Oil and Gas Commercial at Total Energies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Dabotekenari Alabo, speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, said insecurity and tariff issues about gas must be addressed. According to him, Nigeria’s crude oil and gas production is on the decline. Read More


Shell U.K. Ltd has completed the restart of operations at the Pierce field in the UK Central North Sea, following a significant upgrade to allow gas to be produced after years of the field producing only oil. Pierce is a joint venture between Shell companies (operator, 92.52%) and Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited (7.48%.)

Substantial modifications were made to the Haewene Brim floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), which is used to produce hydrocarbons at the Pierce field. A new subsea gas export line was also installed, connecting to the SEGAL pipeline system, which brings gas ashore at St Fergus, north of Aberdeen.

To enable the upgrade, the FPSO, which is owned and operated by Bluewater, stopped producing in October 2021. It then spent six months in dry dock where it was transformed into a vessel that could also produce gas, which had previously been re-injected into the reservoir.

Peak production is expected to reach 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which is more than twice the production prior to the redevelopment, with more gas being produced than oil. The gas will be sent through newly installed subsea pipelines and the oil will be transported by tanker, as before. Read More


The German cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill that bans most new oil and gas heating systems from 2024, the economy minister said, a policy designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions but that critics warned could be costly for poorer households. Berlin’s ruling coalition last month agreed that almost all newly installed heating systems in Germany should run on 65% renewable energy from 2024, both in new and old buildings.Houses could also use heat pumps that run on renewable electricity, district heating, electric heating or solar thermal systems as acceptable alternatives to fossil fuel heating, according to the bill, which was seen by Reuters. Read More


Emerson to showcase innovative hydrogen solutions
Emerson will exhibit its extensive range of measurement, control, software and electrical technologies at World Hydrogen 2023, May 9-11 in Rotterdam Ahoy, Netherlands. Our broad portfolio of green hydrogen products and solutions is designed to help you meet the challenges of hydrogen fuel production, distribution and end-use applications. Emerson enables you to build the hydrogen projects of tomorrow with proven, high performance, easy-to-maintain solutions while using data to optimize your process and reduce downtime through predictive maintenance. Booth C22 will highlight how Emerson’s control and safety systems, measurement devices, pneumatic solutions, lighting and electrical components, and flow control solutions provide safe and precise control to help optimize production efficiency and purity, ensure safe distribution and maximize fuel cell safety and efficiency. Main stand in Hall 6, Booth C22 Read More


British car maker JLR has ditched the name Land Rover after 75 years as it switches to its ‘House of Brands’ strategy.

Buried in its announcement yesterday which highlighted a £15bn investment into electric models and production in the UK, was the news Land Rover was being killed off. The car manufacturer said yesterday that it will focus on four brands in the future – Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender and Discovery.The decision to remove Land Rover from that brand line-up is one that will shock and sadden fans of the iconic car maker.

It will also mean dealerships up and down the country will need rebranding as the Land Rover logo is prominently displayed on showrooms.

Speaking at a presentation, JLR’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern said: ‘The reality is Range Rover is a brand and so is Defender.

‘Customers say they own a Range Rover. In luxury, you need absolute clarity. Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography doesn’t give it.

‘We love Land Rover, but there isn’t as much equity as Range Rover, and Defender is increasing massively.’

JLR said the Land Rover name won’t disappear completely with some models carrying the badging inside and out as a ‘trust mark’. Read More


U.S. Rig Count is down 3 from last week to 748 with oil rigs down 2 to 588, gas rigs down 1 to 157 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 3.

The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is up 3 to 20, up 8 year-over-year.

Canada is down 16 to 111 rigs.
Canada Rig Count is down 16 from last week to 111, with oil rigs down 7 to 45, gas rigs down 9 to 66.

RegionPeriodRig CountChange from Prior
U.S.A14 April 2023748-3
Canada14 April 2023111-16
InternationalMarch 2023930+15
Rig Count Overview & Summary Count

Renault Group reported a 30 per cent rise in revenue during the first quarter.
It said group revenue went up to €11.5bn (£10.14bn) between January and March versus the same period in 2022, with automotive revenue comprising €10.5bn (£9.26bn) of that figure.

Worldwide sales totalled 535,000 vehicles in the first quarter – up 14.1 per cent compared with 2022’s first three months. Sixty-eight per cent of group sales on the retail channel came from Renault’s five main countries in Europe: the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. In Europe, group sales were up 27.3 per cent in a market that was up 16.2 per cent, although precise figures weren’t given.

The Austral has recorded 15,500 sales this first quarter, said Renault, and more than 11,000 of the Megane E-Tech Electric were shifted. Read More


Following the publication by L’Obs of a file entitled “Black water from TotalEnergies in Yemen”, TotalEnergies publishes the exhaustive answers transmitted as part of their investigations.

  1. What did you do with the sludge/solid residues that appeared during the evaporation of the produced water in your retention basins?

A permanent skimming system had been installed to recover the residual oil separated from the production water from the surface of the evaporation ponds. The separated oil was then recycled in oil production facilities.
With regard to the solid residues accumulated at the bottom of the basins, no intervention was carried out in order not to damage the coating of the basins and thus avoid any pollution of the soil.

  1. Did you construct any disposal/storage wells for surplus produced water? If so, at what depth and under what stratum of Hadhramaut? Did you check the tightness of these evacuation shafts? If so, how often ?

The water produced was treated and then reinjected into the reservoirs (about 1,800 meters deep for the Byiad and about 3,500 meters deep for the Basement) through injection wells dedicated to each reservoir. The head pressure of the injection wells was constantly monitored from the control room to ensure the integrity of these wells. All well barrier elements were also tested and inspected every 6 to 12 months to ensure their integrity. The excess water produced was sent to evaporation ponds located on the Karhir and Atuf fields. There were no wells for injecting water into the aquifers. Read More


Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starship exploded into a ball of fire on 4/20 during its second failed orbital launch in a week.

The world’s largest and most powerful rocket – which was unmanned – lifted off in South Texas and successfully cleared the launchpad, its first milestone.

But the craft was sent into a tailspin when the rocket failed to separate over the Gulf of Mexico. The mission ended at around four minutes when the failure sent the craft crashing toward Earth, imploding mid-descent.The companies leadership – including Musk – has repeatedly stressed the experimental nature of the launch and said any result that involved Starship getting off the launchpad would be a success. The mission was always due to end with the destruction of the Starship rocket, which was supposed to orbit the earth for about an hour before crashing into the Pacific. Read More


Lexus LM

The ten best cars unveiled at Shanghai motor show. BMW i7 M70, the German car giant’s most powerful electric car to date with a massive 650bhp. Lexus LM, which stands for Luxury Mover. The Japanese marque has confirmed it will be sold in Britain. luxury limo launched in Shanghai that will cost well in excess of £100,000 is the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV. MG Cyberster – the reborn brand’s vision for an MGB for the 21st century. And it will come with scissor doors. Polestar 4 boasts an acceleration from rest to 62mph in 3.8 seconds up to a top speed of 124mph. Zeekr is the latest EV brand in the Geely group, which also consists of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk&Co and LEVC. The electric SUV is likely to have a range of up to 350 miles Read More


OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.

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