Russian crude prices are at their lowest since the war in Ukraine began, as sanctions deepen the discounts the nation’s oil industry needs to offer and benchmark futures tumble.  On average, Russian oil exporters are receiving just over $40 a barrel for cargoes shipped from the Baltic, Black Sea and the eastern port of Kozmino, according to data from Argus Media. That’s down 28% over the last three months, with recent restrictions targeting oil giants Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC widening the markdowns.  Mounting Western pressure on Russia’s oil trade has made it increasingly difficult to sell and deliver the barrels, with measures also targeting refiners at top buyers like India. In addition, global benchmark oil prices are sliding, trading below $60 a barrel for the first time since May on Tuesday.  The revenues Russia receives for its oil — which combined with gas account or about a quarter of the nation’s state budget — are critical to fund its war. Lower income strains the finances of the nation’s oil companies and reduces the amount of tax they pay into the Kremlin’s coffers.  The Trump administration has engaged in a diplomatic flurry geared toward ending the conflict over the last few weeks. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Russian economic growth was slowing down on a recent visit to India.  Indian officials said they expect imports from Russia to be about 800,000 barrels a day this month, sharply lower than in November, though still a significant volume of supplies. A Chinese refiner recently bought a shipment of crude from Russia’s eastern ports at the steepest discount this year. The two Asian nations are the main buyers of Russian oil.  WHAT DO YOU THINK? Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate

In its latest short term energy outlook (STEO), which was released on December 9, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) again raised its West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price forecast for both 2025 and 2026. According to this STEO, the EIA now expects the WTI spot price to average $65.32 per barrel in 2025 and $51.42 per barrel in 2026. The EIA’s December STEO marks the latest in a line of STEOs with average WTI spot price forecast increases for both 2025 and 2026. In its previous November STEO, the EIA projected that the WTI spot price would average $65.15 per barrel in 2025 and $51.26 per barrel in 2026. The EIA’s October STEO projected that the WTI spot price would average $65.00 per barrel this year and $48.50 per barrel next year, and its September STEO forecast that the WTI spot price would average $64.16 per barrel in 2025 and $47.77 per barrel in 2026. Although the September STEO included an increase in the average WTI spot price forecast for 2025, compared to the previous August STEO, the average WTI spot price forecast for 2026 was unchanged from the previous STEO. A quarterly breakdown included in the EIA’s December STEO projected that the WTI spot price will average $59.31 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2025, $50.93 per barrel in the first quarter of 2026, $50.68 per barrel in the second quarter, and $52.00 per barrel across the third and fourth quarters of next year. The WTI spot price averaged $71.85 per barrel in the first quarter, $64.63 per barrel in the second quarter, and $65.78 per barrel in the third quarter, the December STEO showed. It highlighted that the WTI spot price averaged $76.60 per barrel overall in 2024. In a J.P. Morgan report sent to Rigzone by

Chevron Corp, lowered the price of Venezuelan crude offered to US refiners after a tanker was seized by American forces in the Caribbean and as global prices drifted lower.  The oil supermajor sold a batch of Venezuelan oil on Dec. 11 — a day after US forces seized a vessel off the country’s coast — at weaker prices compared than a batch offered on Monday, according to people with knowledge of the situation.  The administration of President Donald Trump is stepping up pressure on Venezuela by targeting oil revenues critical to the survival of Nicolas Maduro regime. The seized vessel, the Skipper, is currently near the Dominican Republic and appeared to be en route to the US, according to vessel movements tracked by Bloomberg. While it’s unclear when the ship will be able to discharge, it’s expected arrival is pressuring already weak prices in the Gulf Coast market, the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private.  Chevron’s operations in Venezuela continue in full compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business, as well as the sanctions frameworks provided for by the US government, the Houston-based company said in a statement.  The company sold about 10 oil cargoes of different grades for loading next month, in a sign that it’s pressing ahead despite heightened tensions between the two countries. The cargoes were sold in two separate tenders and price levels were not immediately available.  WHAT DO YOU THINK? Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Phillips 66 said Monday it expects a $2.4 billion budget for next year, consisting of $1.1 billion in sustaining capital and $1.3 billion in growth capital. “The 2026 capital budget reflects our ongoing commitment to capital discipline and maximizing shareholder returns”, chair and chief executive Mark Lashier said in an online statement. “We are investing growth capital in our NGL value chain and high-return refining projects, while also investing sustaining capital to support safe and reliable operations”. Houston, Texas-based Phillips 66 expects to shell out $1.1 billion into its refining business, comprising $590 million in sustaining capital and $520 million into growth projects. “With the consolidation of WRB Refining, we incorporated approximately $200 million of sustaining capital and $100 million of growth capital into the budget”, Lashier said. Phillips 66 recently acquired an additional 50 percent stake in WRB Refining LP from Cenovus Energy Inc for $1.4 billion, fully taking over the Wood River and Borger refineries, as confirmed by Phillips 66 in its third quarter report October 29. Wood River in Roxana, Illinois, has a gasoline and distillates production capacity of 176,000 bpd and 140,000 bpd respectively. Borger in Borger, Texas, produces up to 100,000 bpd of gasoline and 70,000 bpd of distillates, according to Phillips 66. The refining allotment for 2026 also includes a multiyear investment at the Humber refinery to enable the production of higher-quality gasoline and expand the facility’s access to “higher-value global markets”, the company said. Phillips 66 expects to start up the project in the second quarter of 2027. Located in North Lincolnshire on the English east coast, the Humber site produces up to 95,000 barrels per day (bpd) of gasoline and 115,000 bpd of distillates, according to Phillips 66. The refining budget also includes “over 100 low-capital, high-return projects to improve market capture

The U.S. has emerged as the world’s hydrocarbon superpower, exemplified by its meteoric rise in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market.   That’s what Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac) said in a statement sent to Rigzone recently, which highlighted several charts that “spotlight the most significant trends reshaping the [energy and resources] sector globally” and were included in the company’s latest Horizons report. “You don’t need to look too far back to find a U.S. which was building LNG import infrastructure and now in under 10 years it has become the world’s largest LNG exporter,” WoodMac said in the statement. The company noted in the statement that, by 2030, the U.S. is projected to account for 30 percent of global LNG output. A chart included in the statement outlined that the U.S. would continue as the world’s largest LNG exporter in 2030, followed by Qatar and Australia. WoodMac also highlighted in its statement that the U.S. “leads global oil production (including oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids), delivering one-fifth of the world’s volumes”. “In comparison, its closest competitors, Saudi Arabia and Russia, produce only 65 percent and 50 percent of U.S. volumes, respectively,” it added.   Malcolm Forbes-Cable, Vice President, Upstream and Carbon Management Consulting at Wood Mackenzie, said in the statement, “the resurrection of U.S. LNG is a crucial reminder of what a resource-rich, free-market country like the U.S. can do”. “This hydrocarbon hegemony is now being leveraged as a diplomatic tool,” he added. In its latest short term energy outlook (STEO), which was released on December 9, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected that gross U.S. LNG exports will average 14.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2025 and 16.3 billion cubic feet per day in 2026. Gross U.S. LNG exports averaged 11.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2024, this STEO highlighted. A quarterly breakdown included in the EIA’s latest STEO forecasted that gross U.S. LNG exports will come in at

North America’s rig count stayed flat week on week, according to Baker Hughes’ latest North America rotary rig count, which was published on December 12. The total U.S. rig count dropped by one week on week and the total Canada rig count rose by one during the same period, keeping the total North America rig count at 740, the count outlined. The total North America rig count comprised 548 rigs from the U.S. and 192 rigs from Canada, the count showed. Of the total U.S. rig count of 548, 528 rigs are categorized as land rigs, 17 are categorized as offshore rigs, and three are categorized as inland water rigs. The total U.S. rig count is made up of 414 oil rigs, 127 gas rigs, and seven miscellaneous rigs, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which revealed that the U.S. total comprises 478 horizontal rigs, 54 directional rigs, and 16 vertical rigs. Week on week, the U.S. land rig count rose by one, its offshore rig count dropped by two, and its inland water rig count remained unchanged, Baker Hughes highlighted. The U.S. oil rig count rose by one week on week, its gas rig count dropped by two by week on week, and its miscellaneous rig count remained unchanged week on week, the count showed. The U.S. horizontal rig count rose by two, its directional rig count dropped by four, and its vertical rig count increased by one, week on week, the count revealed. A major state variances subcategory included in the rig count showed that, week on week, Texas added two rigs, and Ohio and Louisiana each added one rig. This subcategory revealed that New Mexico dropped three rigs and Colorado dropped one rig week on week. A major basin variances subcategory included in Baker Hughes’ rig count showed