Exxon Top Spender at US Gulf Lease Sale Oil Daily (Thursday, August 21, 2008) Supermajor Exxon Mobil emerged somewhat surprisingly as the biggest spender at the latest sale of Gulf of Mexico oil and gas exploration leases in New Orleans on Wednesday.

Statoil to Shut Gas Field Into 2009 International Oil Daily (Thursday, August 21, 2008) UK natural gas and power prices shot up Wednesday after Norway's StatoilHydro said it is shutting in production from its North Sea Kvitebjorn gas and condensate field, possibly until next spring, after discovering a pipeline leak.

TNK-BP, BP Compete For Turkmen Block As Pressure Mounts Nefte Compass (Thursday, August 21, 2008) In a development that has the potential to further undermine relations between the Russian and British shareholders in TNK-BP, the Russia-based joint venture is competing against its 50% owner BP for the rights to an offshore block in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.

Market Mind-set Swims South In North Sea, Elsewhere Energy Intelligence Briefing (Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 17:58 GMT) There appears to have been a change in the underlying perception of prevailing market forces. The widespread concern about a potential future shortage of supply that was the dominant factor behind rising prices may now be taking second place to growing worries about widespread demand erosion. Overall, global demand is still increasing thanks to the emerging markets, but -- for now at least -- supply growth appears to be keeping pace.

Sakhalin-1 Exports To China Back In Sight World Gas Intelligence (Wednesday, August 20, 2008) The fate of future gas output from the Exxon Mobil-operated Sakhalin-1 project on Russia's Pacific shelf remains at the center of a fierce battle, with Exxon scoring some important points as China apparently moves back up into pole position in Russia's export priority list. The US major's plan to export Russian gas to China has reportedly gained support from some high-ranking Russian officials, and even Gazprom lists China as a likely recipient of Russian gas via a Sakhalin-Vladivostok pipe.

Nabucco Undaunted World Gas Intelligence (Wednesday, August 20, 2008) The six-company Nabucco consortium says a market survey has indicated "huge demand" for the pipeline it plans to start operating in 2013 across Turkey and via the Balkans to Austria, and Managing Director Reinhard Mitschek says he is undaunted by recent events in Georgia, where Russian troops remain in control of much of the country despite pledges to withdraw. In an interview Tuesday with WGI, Mitschek said Nabucco's six backers "want to start building the pipeline in 2010," as scheduled.

McCain Offshore Trip Keeps Focus on Energy Oil Daily (Wednesday, August 20, 2008) Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain appears determined to keep the campaign spotlight on high energy prices and his call for increased access to offshore oil and gas reserves in the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). On Tuesday he drew attention to the hot-button issue by visiting an offshore platform that produces oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico.

Fresh Controversy Dogs Kuwait Refinery International Oil Daily (Wednesday, August 20, 2008) A dispute between Kuwaiti Water, Electricity and Energy Minister Mohammad al-Olaim and lawmakers over the award of contracts for the planned Al-Zour refinery is unlikely to affect the signing of $14.5 billion worth of deals, but it underscores the difficulty of doing business in Kuwait -- something about which contractors have long complained