LatAmOil - Latin America Oil & Gas

Excelerate plans small-scale LNG plant in Argentina

US-based Excelerate is moving forward with plans to establish a small-scale LNG export complex in Argentina, a company representative said last week.

US government penalises four companies for moving Venezuelan oil, fuels to Cuba

The US Treasury Department said on September 24 that its Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) had imposed sanctions on four companies involved in transporting crude oil and petroleum products from Venezuela to Cuba.

Head of Colombian industry group hopes government will allow fracking in 2020

The head of a Colombian oil and gas industry group has urged the government to allow investors to start work on pilot drilling programmes involving hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in 2020.

CNH gives Eni-led group green light for drilling Ehecatl-1 well

CNH has reportedly given Eni (Italy) and its partners Cairn Energy (UK) and Citla (Mexico) permission to move forward with the drilling of an exploration well at Mexico's offshore Block 7.

GlobalData sees more IOCs entering Brazil’s Pre-Salt fields as operators

Brazil is likely to start seeing a wider range of companies serving as operators of upstream oil and gas projects in the short term, according to GlobalData.

Colombia’s pilot fracking schemes remain in limbo

Colombia's highest administrative court has extended a temporary moratorium on fracking but has also said the ban does not apply to “comprehensive investigative pilot projects.”

Double discovery offshore Guyana

Both ExxonMobil (US) and Tullow Oil (UK-Ireland) have announced new oil finds offshore Guyana this week.

Long-time emerging markets investor bullish on Brazilian oil

Veteran investors Mark Mobius has suggested that last weekend’s aerial attacks on oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia might benefit Brazil in the long term.

Western Geco begins wide-azimuth survey in Bay of Campeche

Schlumberger's Western Geco subsidiary has begun work on a multi-client wide-azimuth survey offshore Mexico, in the Bay of Campeche.

SPEC LNG and partners to offer additional LNG services at FSRU in Cartagena

Colombia’s Sociedad Portuaria El Cayao, known as SPEC LNG, has teamed up with three other companies to make additional services available at its LNG import facility in Cartagena.

Mexican government strikes a deal with another gas pipeline contractor

Mexico’s government has struck an agreement with Fermaca, a domestic company, on the revision of natural gas pipeline contracts signed when the previous government was still in power.

TPI urges fossil fuel industry to face up to climate change

Senior diplomat: US government won’t rule out sanctions on Rosneft for Venezuelan oil trade

The US government may take action against Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil operator, for expanding its trade in Venezuelan crude oil.

Mexico’s president finds new enthusiasm for reform – up to a point

Mexico's president is opening up new opportunities for private investors but still has unrealistic expectations about what Pemex can achieve in a year.

Brazil wraps up first round of Open Acreage programme auctions

Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) has successfully auctioned off 33 blocks in the first round of its Open Acreage programme.

YPF execs voice optimism about plans for new LNG plant

Two high-ranking representatives of Argentina’s national oil company (NOC) YPF said last week that they remained optimistic about the prospects for ramping up LNG exports.

Perupetro says Peru LNG complex saw exports rise in August

Peru’s national oil company (NOC) Perupetro said last week that it had seen LNG exports from the terminal in Pampa Melchorita rise year on year last month.

CNPC subsidiary reportedly suspends work on Sinovensa expansion project

Venezuela’s plans for expanding the production capacity of Sinovensa, a joint venture between the national oil company (NOC) PdVSA and China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), may be suffering a setback.

Argentina pushes on with LNG plan amid political upheaval

Argentina’s YPF continues to pursue a plan for a major LNG export project, but political uncertainty in the country will likely slow progress.

Chevron seeking more favourable terms for possible exit from Venezuela

Chevron is reportedly taking steps to ensure a softer landing in the event that it has to exit Venezuela.

One price freeze leads to another

Argentina’s Energy Secretariat is seeking to temper the impact of its decision to impose a temporary freeze on crude oil and motor fuel prices.

Eco Atlantic ally optimistic about prospects for additional oil finds offshore Guyana

Kinley Exploration, a US-based company with close ties to Canada’s Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas, has expressed optimism about the prospects for further oil discoveries offshore Guyana.

Bahamian NOC seen preparing for exploration drilling in 2020

The national oil company of the Bahamas has reportedly made arrangements to launch an offshore exploration drilling programme next year.

Stabilis considering Monterrey as site for small-scale Mexican LNG plant

Houston-based Stabilis Energy has said it is considering the Mexican city of Monterrey as a potential site for its first LNG project in the Central American country.

Mexico strikes deal on Sur de Texas-Tuxpan gas pipeline

Mexico's national power provider CFE has struck a deal with four companies involved in the construction of new gas pipelines.