Seventeen environmental organizations have sued in US District Court for Northern California to compel the US Bureau of Land Management to implement its oil and gas 2016 methane venting and flaring rule. Their Dec. 19 action challenges BLMs decision earlier in December to delay most of the regulations compliance deadlines until Jan. 29, 2019, while the agency reviews it further.

US Senate Democrats introduced a bill on Apr. 27 to preserve the 2017-22 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas program a day before President Donald J. Trump was expected to issue an executive order for it to be reviewed, and a day after congressional Republicans introduced bills that would direct Sec. of the Interior Ryan Zinke to review moratoria and future leasing schedules.

Energy Transfer Partners sued in federal district court on Nov. 15 for permission to complete the Dakota Access crude oil pipeline after the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) said the previous day that it would continue to delay issuing easement permits under Lake Oahe in North Dakota for further consultations with the Standing Rock Sioux Indian tribe.

Crude oil products will continue to dominate global energy demand for transportation through 2040 despite surprisingly strong growth in electric vehicle sales, BP PLC said in its 2018 Energy Outlook. Oil and gas will still play a major role under each of the forecasts scenarios, BP Chief Economist Spencer Dale said on Feb. 26 during the reports US launch at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, DC.

Brent crude oil prices dropped more than $1/bbl on the London market June 21 on the eve of a meeting in Vienna by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which agreed on no more than 100% compliance with its existing production-cut targets of 1.2 million b/d.

Mike Reger, founder and CEO of Northern Oil and Gas Inc., Minneapolis, and Brandon Elliott, president, have agreed to realign responsibilities and swap titles.

Diversified Gas & Oil PLC, Birmingham, Ala., expects to close late this month on a $575 million, cash acquisition of 2.5 million net producing acres in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia from EQT Corp., Pittsburgh.

The light, sweet crude oil contract for August delivery fell $1.20 on the New York market July 5 to compromise just under $73/bbl while Brent crude oil for September delivery fell 85 on the London market to keep above $77/bbl.

Oil Search Ltd., Port Moresby and Sydney, has expanded its acreage position on the North Slope of Alaska following the recent 2018 Alaska Lease round.