Regulatory
News
March 18, 2026
UK industry group Offshore Energies UK is urging reform of the North Sea windfall tax, saying changes could unlock £50 billion in investment, boost domestic gas production and significantly reduce the country’s reliance on LNG imports.
News
March 17, 2026
BOEM has launched a NEPA environmental review of a proposed well stimulation plan, including hydraulic fracturing, at Platform Gilda offshore California, as part of an accelerated review process under national energy emergency procedures.
News
March 16, 2026
Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Jim Wright said Texas oil and natural gas production remains strong in a letter to President Donald Trump, emphasizing the state’s role in supplying U.S. energy and supporting national security.
News
March 15, 2026
California officials have ordered Sable Offshore to remove a segment of the Santa Ynez Pipeline crossing Gaviota State Park, escalating a dispute days after the Trump administration directed the company to restart offshore oil operations.
News
March 14, 2026
The U.S. Energy Department confirmed that its planned 172-million-barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve release tied to the Iran conflict will be structured as an exchange, with companies borrowing crude and returning it later with additional barrels.
News
March 14, 2026
The Trump administration has ordered Sable Offshore to restore operations at California’s Santa Ynez offshore oil unit and pipeline system under the Defense Production Act, a move aimed at boosting West Coast crude supply and reducing reliance on imported oil.
News
March 13, 2026
The U.S. Interior Department has approved bp's Kaskida deepwater development in the Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico. The project, expected to begin production in 2029, could unlock an estimated 275 MMbbl of oil from bp’s Paleogene discoveries.
News
March 13, 2026
Germany criticized the U.S. decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil cargoes already at sea, warning the move could send the wrong signal to Moscow as oil prices rise following the Iran conflict.
News
March 05, 2026
The Independent Petroleum Association of America welcomed the Interior Department’s move to roll back the offshore financial assurance rule, saying the regulation would have imposed billions in additional costs on independent offshore oil and gas producers.
News
March 04, 2026
The UK government has postponed plans to scrap the North Sea Energy Profits Levy after oil prices surged amid the Iran conflict, leaving producers facing the 78% tax regime for longer than expected.
News
March 04, 2026
North Sea operators are urging the UK government to replace the Energy Profits Levy with a new fiscal framework, saying tax reform could unlock up to £50 billion in investment and strengthen domestic oil and gas production.
News
February 27, 2026
Venezuela has canceled the auction of assets seized from Halliburton after pressure from the U.S. government, a move seen as clearing the way for the oilfield services giant’s return amid efforts to revive the country’s oil sector under U.S. engagement.
News
February 26, 2026
UK officials are holding talks with North Sea oil and gas producers on potentially ending the Energy Profits Levy before its 2030 expiry, as policymakers weigh investment, energy security and jobs against climate and fiscal priorities.
News
February 25, 2026
The Railroad Commission of Texas assessed more than $1.27 million in enforcement penalties across oil and gas and pipeline safety violations during its latest open meeting, issuing fines through a combination of default and agreed orders tied to regulatory compliance.
News
February 20, 2026
U.S. House Republicans have launched an investigation into environmental groups over opposition to ConocoPhillips’ $9-billion Willow oil project in Alaska, a major North Slope development expected to produce about 600 million barrels of crude over its lifetime.
News
February 16, 2026
An Australian court has dismissed a greenwashing lawsuit against Santos that alleged the company misled investors over its climate strategy and net-zero plans, marking a key ruling in energy-related ESG litigation.
News
February 12, 2026
The Independent Petroleum Association of America expressed support for EPA’s repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding and called for clear, durable greenhouse gas regulations affecting U.S. upstream oil and gas producers.
News
February 11, 2026
The U.S. has issued a general license allowing oilfield service companies to resume limited operations in Venezuela, signaling a further easing of sanctions aimed at restoring crude production and rebuilding the country’s oil infrastructure.
News
February 09, 2026
Oilfield service and technology executives are heading to Washington in record numbers this week, urging lawmakers to accelerate permitting reform, stabilize trade policy and ensure regulatory certainty as operators weigh new drilling and infrastructure investments.
News
February 09, 2026
Namibia’s government says it was not notified of TotalEnergies’ planned acquisition of a major offshore exploration stake alongside Petrobras, complicating the latest deal in the fast-growing Orange basin and underscoring regulatory sensitivities as the country moves toward first oil.
News
February 06, 2026
Brazil’s ANP has authorized Petrobras to resume drilling in the Foz do Amazonas offshore frontier following a temporary suspension, reopening one of Brazil’s most closely watched exploration campaigns.
