Crude oil prices went lower today, after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported an estimated inventory increase of 4.2 million barrels for the week to February 23.
The price of a WTI barrel soared to heights not seen since November as the market braces for an OPEC+ decision on oil production levels in April and beyond.
The long-awaited Duqm Refinery Project (DRP), valued at US$8.5 billion and capable of processing 230,000 barrels per day (bpd), was officially inaugurated on 7 February, this project, along with ancillary projects costing approximately US$10 billion, enhances Oman's appeal to China and nearby Iran.
A North American company is preparing to drill two wells that could be crucial for a new phase of European energy.
The expanded Trans Mountain will add 590,000 barrels daily to the country's oil pipeline network. With production already on a growth trajectory, it will only provide producers with offtake capacity relief for a very short while. Canadian oil production could hit 5.3 million barrels daily this year, this would be a record high and an excess on the country's pipeline network.
While some countries decrease reliance on Russian energy due to sanctions, others, like China and India, deepen ties with Moscow to secure low-cost energy supplies. China and India's increased imports of Russian energy contribute to a decline in oil prices and undermine the effectiveness of U.S. and EU sanctions. India's defense of buying Russian energy highlights its strategic energy and economic considerations amid global geopolitical tensions.