Rigzone: Iraq Energy Panel Approves Gas Deal

A top Iraqi government energy committee has approved a deal with Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) to capture and exploit gas from its giant southern oil fields, the country's oil minister said Sunday.

The Iraqi oil ministry struck a deal in July with Shell and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. (8058.TO, MSBHY) to develop gas production in southern Iraq. To become valid the deal needs approval from the Baghdad government.

"It was agreed upon by the energy committee and was sent to the cabinet for approval," Abdul Kareem Luaiby told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of an Iraqi energy meeting in Amman, Jordan. The committee is chaired by the deputy prime minister for energy affairs, Hussein al-Shahristani, and its members include the ministers of oil, electricity and finance.

Luaiby declined to say when exactly the cabinet would approve the deal. The agreement must first be examined by the cabinet's legal and specialized offices, he said......Read the entire article.

Lower Inventory Forecast Boost Oil Prices Before Tuesdays Open

According to Bloomberg news this morning a survey of analyst [according to the median of 10 analyst estimates in a Bloomberg News survey] shows the U.S. Energy Department may say U.S. crude supplies dropped by 3 million barrels last week in a report due out tomorrow. Giving crude oil bulls a boost before Tuesdays open in the U.S.

But that boost is only enough to bump traders into the "new normal" resistance in the 90+ area with Stochastics and RSI remaining overbought and diverging. Turning bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are still likely near term.

Closes below last Tuesday's low crossing at 83.20 would confirm that the corrective rally off August's low has ended while opening the door for a possible test of August's low crossing at 76.15 later this fall. If October renews the rebound off August's low, the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.66 is the next upside target.

First resistance is last Wednesday's high crossing at 90.48. Second resistance is the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.66. First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 83.20. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 82.95. Crude oil pivot point for Tuesday morning is 87.39.


Just click here for your FREE trend analysis of crude oil ETF USO

Commodities Bounce Back as Japanese Sell Off Euro Overnight

Reuters is reporting that the dollar came off it's seven month highs against major currencies after Japanese exporters were detected selling it. Falling 0.7 percent to 77.07, helping lift dollar denominated commodities such as gold, copper and crude oil.

The euro held firm on Tuesday morning after a choppy session overnight saw a wave of short covering lift it by more than two cents on hopes that China will bolster Italy by buying its bonds, but traders found few reasons to stay upbeat about the currency.

Read the entire Reuters article.

Oil Tankers to Lose Money on Saudi - U.S. Route Through 2012

The U.S. is importing the smallest amount of Persian Gulf crude in 14 years as demand weakens and domestic production climbs, signaling that tankers on the route will lose money for at least another year.

The world’s biggest oil consumer bought 1.7 million barrels a day from Saudi Arabia and six other Persian Gulf states in the first half, the least since 1997, according to the latest Department of Energy data. Daily U.S. output averaged 5.58 million barrels, the most since 2004, the data show. Some owners have paid clients to charter their tankers on the route since March and will probably have to keep doing so until at least the end of 2012, Arctic Securities ASA in Oslo estimates.

The U.S. is boosting output of oil, shale gas and ethanol as President Barack Obama seeks to cut the nation’s dependence on foreign fuel. Fewer cargoes from the Middle East to the U.S., the world’s second-biggest tanker route, mean an expanding vessel glut. There are about 25 percent more supertankers than cargoes available in the Persian Gulf, the most since October, according to Bloomberg surveys of shipbrokers and owners.

“The U.S. is awash with domestic oil and increasingly divorced and less reliant on foreign imports,” said Andreas Vergottis, the research director at Tufton Oceanic Ltd. in Hong Kong, which manages the world’s largest shipping hedge fund. “Not only is end use of oil shrinking, but domestic production of crude oil is rising rapidly”......Read the entire article.

Sharon Epperson: Where Are Commodities Headed on Tuesday?

CNBC's Sharon Epperson discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets and looks at where oil and precious metals are likely headed tomorrow.

Euro Rebound Gives Crude Oil Bulls Hope

Crude oil closed higher on Monday due mostly to a rebound in the Euro against the dollar. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Tuesday and bulls are under pressure to follow through if they stand a chance of gaining the upside momentum this week or anytime soon. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought, diverging and are turning neutral to bearish signaling that a short term top might be in or is near.

And we know traders are getting tired of hearing it but closes below the reaction low crossing at 83.20 would confirm an end to the corrective rally off August's low. Closes above the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.66 would confirm an end to this summer's decline.

First resistance is still last Wednesday's high crossing at 90.48. Second resistance is the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.66. First support is the reaction low crossing at 83.20. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 79.38.

The U.S. ...... Top Crude Oil Producer By 2017?

We have been known to poke some fun at the oil futures predictions that have come out of Goldman Sachs the past couple of years. Most have been almost laughable. But we can't help but report on a statement coming out of Goldman Sachs this week as they predict the U.S. to be the leader in crude oil production in 2017. Honestly, if we had some leadership in Washington we would be the worlds leading oil producer and all of our economic woes a thing of the past. Both, are yet to be seen.

In the release Goldman Sachs is saying that U.S. oil production should reach 10.9 million barrels a day by 2017, a third higher than 8.3 million barrels currently. Russia, now the top oil producer, should see production increase only 100,000 barrels in the same period, for an output of 10.7 million barrels a day.

QR Energy [QRE] Makes Big Investment in U.S. Oil and Natural Gas

QR Energy LP, ticker QRE, announced on Monday it will purchase oil and natural gas fields in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Costing the company $577 million.

The Houston based energy company will purchase the properties from the Quantum Resources Fund. Funding of the purchase will come from the issue of $350 million in convertible preferred units and it will also pay Quantum $227 million in cash. This deal should close on Oct. 1.

QR Energy said the fields contain an estimated 37.1 million barrels of oil and is spread over 109,305 acres and already has approximately 1,600 wells.

QRE investors are already enjoying a great dividend at 9 1/2 percent, $1.65 per share as QRE trades slightly to the upside this morning at 17.14.

Transaction Highlights

Properties located in existing core areas: Permian Basin, Ark-La-Tex and Mid-Continent

Net production of 8,000 Boed expected for the fourth quarter of 2011

Total proved reserves of 37.1 MMBoe are 65% proved developed and 41% liquids (oil and NGLs)

More than 1,500 producing oil and natural gas wells

Inventory of low risk development opportunities

Reserve life (R/P) of 12.7 years

77% operated by value based on standardized measure

Expected to be immediately accretive to Distributable Cash Flow per unit

Click here to get a free trend analysis for QRE

Crude Oil Starts The Week Down as European Debt Crisis Looms Large

Crude oil starts the week on a sour note falling for a third day, the longest decline in a month, as most traders feel that Europe will not shake off their debt crisis and economic growth will continue to be under pressure. Combine that with the return of normal production in the Gulf of Mexico as hurricane season appears to be winding down.

Crude oil was lower in Sunday evenings overnight trading as it extends the decline off last Wednesday's high. Stochastics and the RSI are still overbought, diverging and are turning bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

Closes below last Tuesday's low crossing at 83.20 would confirm that the corrective rally off August's low has ended while opening the door for a possible test of August's low crossing at 76.15 later this fall. If October renews the rebound off August's low, the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.85 is the next upside target.

First resistance is last Wednesday's high crossing at 90.48. Second resistance is the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.85. First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 83.20. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 82.95. Crude oil pivot point for Monday morning trading is 87.46.

Oil N' Gold: Weekly Technical Outlook For Crude Oil

Crude oil edged higher to 90.48 last week but lacked follow through buying and failed to sustain above 90 psychological level. The recovery from 75.71 is so far slightly stronger than expected. But the look of the price actions are still corrective, thus, favoring it's merely a consolidation. Hence, while further recovery could still be seen as long as 83.20 minor support holds, we'd expect upside to be limited below 100.62 resistance and bring resumption of fall from 114.83 eventually. Below 83.20 minor support will flip bias back to the downside for retesting 75.71 low first.

In the bigger picture, medium term rebound from 33.2 is treated as the second leg of consolidation pattern from 147.24 and should have finished at 114.83 already. Current decline should target next key cluster support at 64.23 (61.8% retracement of 33.2 to 114.83 at 64.38) next. Sustained break will pave the way to retest 33.2 low. However, break of 100.62 resistance will indicate that fall from 114.83 has completed after meeting missing 100% projection target. The corrective structure of such decline in turn argues that rise from 33.2 is still in progress for another high above 114.83.

In the long term picture, crude oil is in a long term consolidation pattern from 147.27, with first wave completed at 33.2, second wave might be finished. Upon confirmation of medium term reversal, the third wave of the pattern should have started for a retest on 33.2 low.