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Oil and Gas Energy News Update

Monday, July 11, 2011

Oil & Gas Post - All News Report for Monday, July 11, 2011

Monday, July 11, 2011


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Commodity Corner: WTI, Brent Settle Lower

- Commodity Corner: WTI, Brent Settle Lower

Monday, July 11, 2011
Rigzone Staff
by Matthew V. Veazey

Oil futures ended the first day of the week lower as the U.S. Dollar gained strength against other major currencies. A stronger greenback makes oil a less attractive buy for investors holding other currencies.

The price of light sweet crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled at $95.15 a barrel, marking a $1.15 slide from the previous trading day. The Brent futures price lost $1.09 to end the day at $117.24 a barrel. The Dollar Index, which gauges the price of the greenback against other major currencies, increased 1.1 percent Monday.

Speculation that debt woes in Europe will escalate provided support for the dollar Monday as the focus shifts to Italy, where some believe that a crisis akin to what Greece recently experienced could erupt. Italian government bond yields rose late last week, signaling reduced confidence in Italy's ability to avert default. The WTI futures price peaked at $96.75 and bottomed out at $94.14 Monday while the intraday range for Brent fluctuated from $115.27 to $118.29.

Buoyed by predictions of warmer-than-normal temperatures throughout the Midwest and East Coast during the next two weeks, natural gas futures gained 8.5 cents Monday. The August contract price settled at $4.29 per thousand cubic feet after trading within a range from $4.18 to $4.34.

Gasoline for August delivery lost two cents to end the day at $3.07 per gallon. It fluctuated from $3.03 to $3.10.

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Vanoil Picks BGP for Kenya Seismic Shoot

- Vanoil Picks BGP for Kenya Seismic Shoot

Monday, July 11, 2011
BGP Inc.

Vanoil has executed an agreement with the Chinese seismic firm Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting (BGP) for a survey over acreage in Kenya. BGP will commence the 2011 seismic data acquisition programs on Vanoil's 100% owned Block 3B in Kenya.

Under the terms of the contract BGP will acquire around 373 line-km, 320-fold seismic data. Completion of the data acquisition phase is expected by the end of September.

This is the second seismic program Vanoil has contracted BGP for. From further evaluation and understanding of the 2010 seismic program, Vanoil has decided to move forward with a second survey. Vanoil said that the data acquired in 2010 is currently being evaluated by Sproule Internationa and results are expected within the next few weeks.

Dal S. Brynelsen, president and CEO of Vanoil, commented, "We are very pleased to have executed a second agreement with BGP and look forward to engaging such a high quality organization to implement our seismic plans for Block 3B."

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Niko Makes Oil Find at Qara Dagh Block

- Niko Makes Oil Find at Qara Dagh Block

Monday, July 11, 2011
Vast Exploration Inc.

Vast Exploration provided the following update on the Niko-operated Qara Dagh Block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Drilling of the Qara Dagh well has reached a total depth of 3,908 meters, has been log evaluated and, as previously reported, the well has been cased to 3,558 meters with a 7 inch casing string. The following intervals have been evaluated where the results to date are summarized below.

Open Hole Interval - Shiranish Formation

This interval from 3,558 meters to 3,908 meters was acidized and flowed light oil confirming an active hydrocarbon column. The interval achieved maximum production rate of 550 barrels of oil per day and 800 mscf/d of gas, although these rates were not sustained for the entire duration of the test. The oil produced is 48 degrees API with no H2S.

From the data interpretation, and the significant spike in observed well bore pressures before the drilling was stopped, it is believed that the well has potentially entered into the first 10 meters of the next reservoir, the Cretacous aged Kometan formation, which is one of the primary target zones previously identified. It is important to note that the Kometan formation is regionally known to be a naturally fractured reservoir which has produced significant quantities of oil.

Mr. Ahmed Said, President & CEO, commented, "We are pleased with the recovery of light oil from this section. Although the reservoir quality appears to be naturally tight, the establishment of an oil column is significant. The possibility of drilling deeper to further evaluate production potential of the Kometan formation is currently under consideration."

Shiranish / Tanjero Interval

Certain sections in this cased interval was perforated and then acidized. The well had intermittent flow of light oil. The maximum rates achieved were 400 barrels per day of 42 to 47 API oil and 520 mscf/d of gas confirming a second active hydrocarbon system with no H2S.

Current Status and Forward Plan

The operator, Niko Resources, is currently in the process of testing the Aalijii Formation which consists of thick sequence of turbidities sand and argillaceous shales. While drilling this section in July 2010, it was reported that an increase in fluorescence, gas readings and free light oil in the mud system was detected.

Further, there are ongoing discussions between the consortium group to possibly deepen the well up to an additional 250 meters, subsequent to the completion of the current testing program. The primary purpose would be to drill deeper to further evaluate the production potential of the proliferous Kometan formation, the zone immediately below the Shiranish formation. Confirmation of the possibility and technical capability of re-entering the well and drilling deeper is expected over the next few weeks.

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