bp has appointed Murray Auchincloss as chief executive officer. Auchincloss, who had been interim CEO since September 2023 after the resignation of Bernard Looney, will continue as a member of the bp board. His appointment was made after a ‘robust and competitive’ search process, carried out by the board over the past four months with support from international search advisers. This included consideration of external candidates. Helge Lund, bp chairman said: ’The board is in complete agreement that Murray was the outstanding candidate.’ Kate Thompson has been appointed as bp’s CFO and will join the company›s board with immediate effect.

Lebanon has announced its Third Offshore Licensing Round. Closing date for bids is 2 July 2024. Blocks on offer are: Blocks 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the northern half of the country’s maritime exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Blocks 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 in the southern half. Blocks 8 and 10 are still under negotiation since the Second Offshore Licensing Round.

Shell has agreed to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to Renaissance, a consortium of five companies comprising four exploration and production companies based in Nigeria and an international energy group.

Chevron is putting its natural gas business in Canada’s Duvernay Shale for sale as it continues to streamline global operations after several big acquisitions. The assets, which produce about 40,000 barrels of oil and gas a day from about 235,000 acres in the Duvernay field in central Alberta, could fetch up to $900 million, according to the Houston-based advisory firm Energy Advisors Group.

Indonesia is reported to be seeking bids on 10 oil and gas blocks this year as the country seeks to increase its reserves amid sluggish output, according to an official in its energy ministry.