Saturday, April 18

Tag: Petroleum

Gulf Suppliers Cut Crude Sales to Russian-Backed Indian Refiner
Oil & Gas Industry

Gulf Suppliers Cut Crude Sales to Russian-Backed Indian Refiner

India’s Nayara Energy has cut refinery operations to 70-80% capacity after Saudi Aramco and Iraq’s state oil company SOMO suspended crude supplies following European Union sanctions targeting the Russian-backed facility. The 400,000 barrel-per-day Vadinar refinery, majority-owned by Rosneft, has lost its traditional 3 million barrels monthly from Gulf suppliers and now relies entirely on Russian crude. The supply halt follows EU sanctions imposed in July as part of the bloc’s 18th sanctions package against Russian energy assets. Saudi Aramco and SOMO suspended deliveries to avoid sanctions exposure, severing established commercial relationships with one of India’s largest private refiners. The final Saudi shipment of Arab Light crude arrived July 18 aboard the VLCC Georgios, while th...
Indian Refiners Resume Russian Oil Purchases despite US Tariff Pressure
Geopolitics, Oil & Gas Industry

Indian Refiners Resume Russian Oil Purchases despite US Tariff Pressure

India’s state-owned refiners have resumed Russian crude purchases for September delivery, prioritising commercial benefits over mounting diplomatic pressure from Washington. Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation secured Russian Urals crude at $3-per-barrel discounts for September and October shipments. The companies had paused purchases in July when price differentials narrowed but recommenced buying as commercial terms improved. The procurement restart occurs despite US President Donald Trump’s 25% additional tariff on Indian goods, imposed August 27 to penalise India’s continued energy trade with Russia. The levy specifically targets Delhi’s Russian oil imports, which have provided India with $12.6 billion in savings over 39 months. IOC has expanded its Russian...
HPCL profits from slate agility and downstream efficiency
ESG

HPCL profits from slate agility and downstream efficiency

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) surprised with a tenfold jump in quarterly profit to ₹4,371 crore, as marketing margins improved and throughput reached record highs. Visakh and Mumbai refineries together processed 6.66 million tonnes in Q1, operating above 109% utilisation. The company’s edge lies in crude-sourcing agility. Chairman Vikas Kaushal confirmed HPCL is actively scouting non-Russian barrels to cushion against narrowing discounts and sanctions. “Alternative crudes will be critical to hedge volatility,” he said, signalling a portfolio approach more typical of global traders than Indian PSUs. On operations, HPCL has invested in advanced process controls, waste heat recovery, and energy management systems. Fuel and loss were trimmed to 6.88%, a record low. Analysts ...
ONGC squeezes brownfields while scouting new offshore pools
Oil & Gas Industry

ONGC squeezes brownfields while scouting new offshore pools

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) reported an 18% rise in consolidated profit in Q1 FY26, despite a 20% fall in realised crude prices to $66 per barrel. The story is one of disciplined engineering: smaller exploration finds in Mumbai Offshore, restart of the PY-3 field in the Cauvery Basin, and enhanced oil recovery projects at mature fields in Ahmedabad. Gas is becoming the strategic cushion. ONGC has brought coal-bed methane from North Karanpura to market and commenced supplies from Tripura into GAIL’s city-gas network. These incremental additions mirror international practices—Equinor in Norway and Petrobras in Brazil have likewise prioritised brownfields and small pools when prices soften. Safety remains under scrutiny after a recent fatal incident at subsidiary MRPL. Manage...
Indian Oil balances volatile margins with LNG hedges and Russian barrels
Oil & Gas Industry

Indian Oil balances volatile margins with LNG hedges and Russian barrels

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s largest refiner, saw profit pressure in the June quarter as marketing margins fluctuated and inventory losses weighed. Revenues held near ₹2.22 trillion, but the numbers underlined how exposed state refiners remain to crack spreads and regulatory discipline. Operationally, IOC is leaning on term LNG contracts indexed to Henry Hub to hedge against volatile spot prices. Earlier this year it signed a five-year supply arrangement with Trafigura, ensuring baseload gas for its captive power and city-gas distribution. The company has also resumed purchases of discounted Russian oil as arbitrage widened, trimming feedstock costs at coastal refineries. Executives argue flexibility is key. “Securing a diverse crude basket is central to operational stabilit...
ONGC’s ₹4,606cr Bet on the Bay: How a Slice of the Krishna–Godavari Basin Could Fuel India’s Energy Push
Corporate Watch

ONGC’s ₹4,606cr Bet on the Bay: How a Slice of the Krishna–Godavari Basin Could Fuel India’s Energy Push

By Pallab Bhattacharya  Newscript, August 12, 2025 Fig.1: Arms Of Urja Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s latest move is not a mega-field gamble but a calculated strike on two modest offshore blocks that could quietly strengthen India’s energy security. The ₹4,606.35 crore investment in Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrika and GS-49 fields, sitting under the shallow waters of the Bay of Bengal, is about squeezing proven reserves with precision rather than chasing headline-grabbing wildcats. Ten wells, two unmanned platforms, a pipeline to shore, and an expanded onshore terminal at Odalarevu form the skeleton of the project. If all goes to plan, first gas could flow by the latter half of the decade. But before any drill bit turns, the project must pass its first—and potentially slowest—tes...
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