International Business News - oilgas http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday slammed the government's move to allow U.S. oilfield services provider Halliburton Co. to begin operating in Malaysia, saying the country doesn't need "blood money." http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/48156-congress-davis.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/mahathir-calls-for-ban-on-halliburton.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/mahathir-calls-for-ban-on-halliburton.htm Sat, 17 May 2008 08:05:44 EDT Human rights activists "ethically and morally" condemned 24 European corporations on Friday, accusing them of environmental contamination, labor exploitation and selling dangerous pesticides in Latin America. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/48158-aptopix-peru-latam-eu-summit.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/rights-activists-in-peru-condemn-corporations.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080517/rights-activists-in-peru-condemn-corporations.htm Sat, 17 May 2008 08:07:30 EDT Shares of Rowan Cos. rose on Friday and helped send the Standard & Poor's 500 index to a higher finish, as the price of oil set a new all-time record. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/s-p-500-leaders-laggards-rdc-key.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 17:42:45 EDT Fitch Ratings raised Devon Energy Corp.'s issuer-default rating on Friday, saying the energy company's reserves of oil and gas are producing a lot of cash and make default unlikely. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/fitch-ratings-raises-idr-rating-on-devon-energy.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:57:13 EDT As the price of crude oil again hit all-time highs, U.S.-traded shares of several European oil and gas companies followed suit. The price of oil hit to a peak of $127.82 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and light, sweet crude for June delivery settled up $2.17 at a record close of $126.29. That was nearly double its closing price of $62.55 one year ago. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/adrs-in-focus-european-oil-stocks-set-records.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:44:10 EDT Following is a summary of top stories in the energy sector Friday afternoon. Crude Continues to Climb http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/energy-sector-roundup-oil-heading-higher.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:27:48 EDT Emerging markets oil and gas ADRs jumped in afternoon trading Friday as the price of oil set another all-time high on the New York Mercantile Exchange. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/adrs-in-focus-emerging-markets-oil-and-gas.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 15:25:39 EDT The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by 16 this week to 1,862. Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,471 were exploring for natural gas and 381 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Ten were listed as miscellaneous. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/us-oil-and-gas-rig-count-up.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 14:17:25 EDT The vice president of marketing for oil and gas producer Comstock Resources Inc. sold 5,000 shares of common stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/comstock-resources-vp-sells-shares.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 13:20:17 EDT State-run Saudi Arabian Oil Co., or Saudi Aramco, and U.S. oil giant ConocoPhillips said Friday they have approved continued funding for the development of a refinery in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea city of Yanbu. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/conocophillips-saudi-aramco-confirm-joint-project.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 11:53:19 EDT Atlas Energy Resources LLC is selling more stock than planned a day earlier, the energy company said Thursday. Atlas Energy now plans to sell 1.8 million shares of stock, whereas on Thursday the company said it planned to sell 1.6 million. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/atlas-energy-to-sell-more-stock-than-planned.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 11:02:15 EDT Oil and natural-gas producer Exco Resources Inc. said Friday its board approved a $123 million increase to its 2008 capital budget, bringing its total budget to $923 million. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/exco-resources-boosts-capital-budget-by-123m.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 10:21:05 EDT Trico Marine Services Inc. said Thursday it has agreed to buy a majority stake in Norwegian subsea service company DeepOcean ASA for NOK 32 ($6.30) per share in cash, and has made an offer to acquire the remaining shares. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080516/trico-marine-makes-682m-bid-to-acquire-deepocean.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 08:28:49 EDT Natural-gas producer Atlas Energy Resources LLC said Thursday that it priced a public offering of 1.6 million common units representing Class B limited liability company interests. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/atlas-energy-prices-offering-of-common-units.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:48:18 EDT ConocoPhillips spent nearly $2.8 million to lobby on climate change legislation and other energy-related issues in the first quarter of the year. The company also lobbied on legislation dealing with foreign trade agreements, permitting issues and more, according to the form posted online April 15 by the House clerk's office. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/conocophillips-spent-nearly-2-8m-lobbying-in-1q.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:46:50 EDT Chevron Corp. spent nearly $3 million to lobby on offshore oil and gas development and other energy-related issues in the first quarter of the year. The company also lobbied on legislation dealing with foreign trade agreements, climate change, price gouging, patent reform, tax issues and more, according to the form posted online April 21 by the House clerk's office. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/chevron-spent-3m-lobbying-on-energy-issues-in-1q.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:44:39 EDT A judge has refused to stop construction of a crude-oil pipeline that would be built through eastern North Dakota, saying state regulators took adequate safety precautions in deciding its route. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/judge-denies-attempt-to-halt-nd-oil-pipeline.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:39:44 EDT El Paso Pipeline Partners L.P. said Thursday it named William A. Smith to the board of its general partner. The addition of Smith, 63, gives the El Paso Pipeline GP Co. LLC board seven directors, three of whom are independent. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/el-paso-pipeline-names-william-a-smith-to-board.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:31:04 EDT BP America spent $2.6 million to lobby on oil and gas production and exploration, as well as foreign trade agreements and other issues in the first quarter of the year. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/bp-america-spent-2-6-million-lobbying-in-1q.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:30:26 EDT Another proxy advisory firm on Thursday recommended shareholders vote to split the top leadership roles at Exxon Mobil Corp., joining a growing chorus of dissidents calling for change at the world's largest publicly traded oil company. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080515/proxy-firm-advises-exxon-mobil-leadership-split.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 17:21:07 EDT