The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that France's Total on Tuesday became the latest energy major to dial back planned spending this year. The Globe's Jeff Lewis writes that Total shaved $3-billion (U.S.) from its 2015 budget compared with a year ago, with spending cuts planned in the U.K. North Sea and in Canada's oil sands.
Meanwhile, oil-field service company Baker Hughes cut 7,000 jobs, or 11 per cent of its staff, just days after Schlumberger said it was slashing 9,000 jobs from its global work force. The cuts are fresh evidence that oil's slide is taking a toll on growth plans of some of the world's largest energy firms.
Oil skidded again Tuesday as the International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for global growth, a sign of the darkening economic mood beyond the United States.
Some analysts say the slide may extend longer than is widely expected as OPEC members refuse to cede market share on the U.S. Gulf Coast to rivals that include Canadian oil sands producers, such as Suncor Energy and Husky Energy.
A wave of heavy Canadian crude is set to hit the region via Enbridge's newly started Flanagan South and Seaway pipeline systems, adding to supply pressures in the refining hub.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.