Irene Himona, Exane BNP Paribas

Total SA (FP) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

"Total's portfolio is great, but it may also carry great risk," Irene Himona , a London based oil and gas analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said by telephone.  

BP plc (BP) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

Thunder Horse Hayward, who took over as CEO from John Browne in , is boosting production growth after delays at projects including Thunder Horse led to an operational gap with rivals. BP has a history of pushing back the frontiers of exploration in North America, and pioneered enhanced oil recovery techniques in Alaska. Oil companies have been increasingly turning to more technically challenging fields as oil rich nations limit access. Tiber will help allay concerns over BP's growth prospects given its reluctance to invest heavily in unconventional projects, such as oil sands in Canada, to replenish reserves as maturing fields age. "What today's announcement proves is that BP is a very, very successful explorer," Irene Himona, an oil and gas analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said by telephone.  

BP plc (BP) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

Hayward, who took over as CEO from John Browne in , is boosting production growth after delays at projects including Thunder Horse led to an operational gap with rivals. BP has a history of pushing back the frontiers of exploration in North America, and pioneered enhanced oil recovery techniques in Alaska. Oil companies have been increasingly turning to more technically challenging fields as oil rich nations limit access. Tiber will help allay concerns over BP's growth prospects given its reluctance to invest heavily in unconventional projects, such as oil sands in Canada, to replenish reserves as maturing fields age. "What today's announcement proves is that BP is a very, very successful explorer," Irene Himona, an oil and gas analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said.  

BP plc (BP) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

Mr Hayward is boosting production growth after delays at projects including Thunder Horse led to an operational gap with rivals. BP has a history of pushing back the frontiers of exploration in North America, and pioneered enhanced oil recovery techniques in Alaska. Oil companies have been increasingly turning to more technically challenging fields as oil rich nations limit access. Tiber will help allay concerns over BP's growth prospects given its reluctance to invest heavily in unconventional projects, such as oil sands in Canada, to replenish reserves as maturing fields age. "What today's announcement proves is that BP is a very, very successful explorer," Irene Himona, an oil and gas analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said.  

Repsol YPF S.A. (REP) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

Repsol YPF SA , the Spanish oil company looking to sell part of its business in Argentina, is switching focus to Brazil to reverse four years of declining production. Output fell 4.9 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, partly because of natural field depletions in Argentina, and Repsol tomorrow may post another decline of 0.8 percent, according to Irene Himona , an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas who yesterday downgraded Repsol's stock rating to "underperform." .  

Total SA (FP) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

"More broadly, this type of crude oil represents a significant portion for the supply of Total's European refineries." In Russia, Total holds a coveted stake in Gazprom's huge Shtokman gas project in the Barents Sea. It is a LUKoil partner in the northern Russian Kharyaga field and in Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Caspian Sea gas field. Irene Himona, oil analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said the deal was intended to secure cheaper crude for the refinery.  

Lukoil OAO (LKOH) - Irene Himona at Exane BNP Paribas

Irene Himona, oil analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said the deal was intended to secure cheaper crude for the refinery. "LUKoil is in a position to more or less guarantee crude supplies from Russia, which tend to be cheaper, heavier crudes," she said. European refiners invest heavily to process more Russian crude and benefit from its discount to lighter, sweeter North Sea oil. Russia's Urals crude was trading at about $70.35 per barrel Friday, compared with $71 for benchmark Brent.