E&P

ConocoPhillips, determined to get out of deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and battered by a $1.5 billion 1Q2016 net loss, said Thursday that it would slash its 2016 capital expenditures (capex) budget by $700 million.

National Oilwell Varco Inc., which designs and manufactures equipment and components used in oil and natural gas drilling, laid off 6,000 more people in the first quarter and has closed or is in the process of closing 200 facilities worldwide, painful reductions to allow the Houston operator to “maintain its investment for the future,” CEO Clay Williams said Thursday.

EQT Corp. started the year strong, once again turning in record natural gas production and gathering volumes as it continued to navigate through the commodities downturn during the first quarter.

ConocoPhillips, determined to get out of deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and battered by a $1.5 billion 1Q2016 net loss, said Thursday that it would slash its 2016 capital expenditures (capex) budget by $700 million.

Onshore drilling contractor Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. has to date stacked more than half of its pressure pumping horsepower, an estimated 1 million hp, and expects the fracturing unit to see a 20% further decline in activity during the second quarter, management said Thursday.

EQT Corp. started the year strong, once again turning in record natural gas production and gathering volumes as it continued to navigate through the commodities downturn during the first quarter.

Onshore drilling contractor Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. has to date stacked more than half of its pressure pumping horsepower, an estimated 1 million hp, and expects the fracturing unit to see a 20% further decline in activity during the second quarter, management said Thursday.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) dismissed one-quarter of its workforce last week and continues to look for a buyer to take over the distressed U.S. energy portfolio, CEO Richard Adkerson said Tuesday.

Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) said this month that Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest proposal to enact a 6.5% severance tax on natural gas production would give the state the highest effective rate in the country.