The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Baker Hughes and Schlumberger

CHICAGO, July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A-Free Report), Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX-Free Report), Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM-Free Report), Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE:BHI-Free Report) and Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE:SLB-Free Report).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:

Oil & Gas Roundup

Royal Dutch Shell plc's (NYSE:RDS.A-Free Report) yet another major discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and Chevron Corp's (NYSE:CVX-Free Report) launch of its new $1.4 billion oil facility were the major headlines over the past week.  

Overall, it was a mixed week for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 1.1% during the period to close at $101.95 per barrel. However, natural gas prices ended the week at $3.95 per million Btu (MMBtu), down 4.7% over the period. (See last 'Oil & Gas Stock Roundup' here: Crude Under $101, Whiting-Kodiak Combo Creates Bakken Behemoth)

Oil prices clocked their first gain in five weeks, as stockpiles logged a larger-than-expected decline indicating strong domestic demand for the commodity. Geopolitical forces also played their part in brightening sentiments with the Malaysia Airlines incident in eastern Ukraine and Israel's decision to expand ground offensive in Gaza.

Natural gas fared badly, hitting a seven-month low on a larger-than-expected supply gain. This was further aggravated by expectations of tepid electric power demand with forecasts of cooler weather conditions across most parts of the Midwest and Northeast U.S.

Recap of the Week's Most Important Stories

1.    Integrated energy behemoth Royal Dutch Shell announced that it has made yet another major find in the deepwaters of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in the Norphlet play. This discovery – the third in the region – was made using the Rydberg exploration well, which is located 75 miles off the Louisiana coast and was drilled to a depth of 26,371 feet. Though evaluation of well results is still under progress, Shell estimates resource potential of about 100 million barrels of oil equivalent (Read More: Shell Strikes a New Find in the Norphlet Play in GoM)

2.    U.S. energy major Chevron Corp. announced that its subsidiary U.S.A. Inc. has started commercial production from a $1.4 billion facility at its Pascagoula, MS refinery. The newly built manufacturing plant will add to Chevron's premium base oil production capacity, thereby making it the largest producer in the world.

3.    U.S. energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM-Free Report) and its partners have submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy in order to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the proposed Alaska LNG project. The application seeks the approval to export about 20 million metric tons per annum of LNG for a period of three decades to countries that have existing free trade agreements with the U.S. and to non-free trade agreement countries as well.

4.    Last week also saw a kickoff in quarterly reporting from the oilfield services segment, with biggies Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE:BHI-Free Report), Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE:SLB-Free Report) and others already coming out with second quarter numbers. While the results were a mixed bag, they were mostly unanimous in pointing towards an improving North American market, coupled with strength in the Middle East and Asia. Additionally, the companies remain positive about stepped-up activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

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