Energy news for August 18, 2026
August 18, 2026 · 13 stories
13 stories from across markets and power. The day led with JAPEX begins second well to test CO2 storage site for Tomakomai project.
Power
JAPEX begins second well to test CO2 storage site for Tomakomai project
JAPEX started drilling a second well on 15 August to test whether Hokkaido rock formations can store CO2 for the Tomakomai project.
Markets
SoCalGas program delivers $10 million in free energy upgrades in 2025
SoCalGas gave schools and public agencies more than $10 million in free upgrades in 2025, with $32 million in savings expected over time.
Upstream
ReconAfrica flows gas at Namibia's Kavango West well, sets up horizontal test
ReconAfrica flowed hydrocarbons from two zones at Namibia's Kavango West well and will next drill a 1,000-meter horizontal test of the Huttenberg formation.
Power
NANO Nuclear and Quadrant Nuclear sign MoU on HALEU fuel supply
The companies signed a non-binding MoU to discuss long-term HALEU fuel supply from Quadrant's planned Vanguard facility at Idaho National Laboratory.
Upstream
Equinor buys 17.4% stake in Namibia's PEL 90 license
Equinor enters Namibia by picking up a 17.4% stake in a Chevron-operated Orange Basin license with a drill-ready prospect due to be tested in 2026.
Markets
NRC sets comment deadlines for latest reactor license amendment notice
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's biweekly notice covers license amendments from July 21 to August 3, with comments due September 17.
Markets
DOE renews Secretary of Energy Advisory Board for two years
The Department of Energy will renew the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board for two years starting August 26, 2026, with an annual budget of about $375,000.
Markets
TGS lands multi-year contract for AI seismic interpretation model
TGS will apply its Seismic Foundation Model to an international oil company's exploration and development work under a new multi-year contract.
Upstream
Coast Guard sets 500-meter safety zone around Chevron's ANCHOR FPU in Gulf of America
Chevron requested the 500-meter no-entry zone around its ANCHOR floating production unit in Green Canyon Block 763, Gulf of America.
Markets
NMFS extends bp's Gulf of America seismic survey permit by a month
A delayed start pushed bp's ocean-bottom seismic survey past its original end date, so NMFS extended the marine-mammal take permit into October.
Power
Castrol's PG25 cooling fluids validated by NVIDIA for AI data centres
NVIDIA has validated Castrol's ON PG25 and PG25T direct-to-chip cooling fluids for AI factory and data centre infrastructure.
Upstream
Georgina Energy completes water well ahead of September Hussar spud
Georgina Energy has finished the water well for its Hussar drilling program in Western Australia, with the September 2026 spud date still on track.
Power
Equinor buys 87.71% stake in Lackawanna gas plant for $940 million
Equinor will pay $940 million for a majority stake in the 1,483 MW Lackawanna gas plant in Pennsylvania, expanding its US power business in PJM.
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