Energy Blast – Feb 13, 2012

Italy’s injection of Russian gas into its national network yesterday was expected to be over 10 million cubic meters less than the volume requested.  The EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger insists that there is ‘no danger’ of a European gas shortage.  Gazprom lowered its target exports for Europe this year, only 2.7% higher than last year, due to slowly recovering demand.  On the tactics used by TNK-BP to maximise crude oil output, including unmanned drones with heat-sensors.  The Moscow Times reports on Tyumen’s ‘seemingly infinite oil and gas wealth’.  A report citing Russia’s Energy Ministry suggests that the country needs to spend $11.7 billion on oil pipelines if it’s to avoid a deficit on the domestic market.