Punting On Russia: So Far So Good, And Slowly Getting Better

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM)and Rosneft have strengthened their partnership even further by completing an agreement that will give Exxon Mobil access to an extra 234,000 square miles in the Russian Arctic for oil and gas exploration; and a separate agreement that grants Rosneft a 25 percent stake in the Point Thomson natural gas play on Alaska’s North Slope.The agreements were announced on Wednesday, after having been signed by both Igor Sechin, the president of Rosneft, and Stephen Greenlee, the President of Exxon Mobil Exploration Co., in front…

Zacks.com submits: BP Plc’s (BP) share-swap agreement with Russia's state-operated oil company Rosneft (RNFTF.PK) is in dire straits. First, the U.K.

By Dividend Kings:Exxon Mobil (XOM) is a giant of a company with hands in almost every facet of the world economy. It is also one of the most successful companies for its investors, providing consistent and solid returns for years.

"Big Oil" has to make "Big Investments" in exploration and capital equipment to earn those "Big Profits" We hear a lot from the media and politicians about the "big profits" of "Big Oil" companies like ExxonMobil, which earned $9.45 billion in the first quarter of 2012, and $41 billion last year.  But the media never reports about the "big investments" companies like ExxonMobil make, which are almost equal to the profits it earns.

Russia's largest oil company Rosneft said Thursday it had signed an agreement with US oil giant Chevron to explore for oil in the Black Sea."Chevron will finance initial exploration activities, including seismic surveys and exploration drilling," Rosneft said, without providing financial details of the deal.Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his deputy in charge of energy, Igor Sechin, oversaw the signing at Putin's Novo-Ogarevo residence just outside Moscow, Rosneft said.

Russia’s decision to give China a share of prized Arctic exploration licenses as part of a “breakthrough” deal signals how the world’s largest oil and gas producer and the biggest energy consumer are redrawing the global energy map.

By Ry Frank:The oil and gas industry has struggled with a variety of issues over the past five years, but many of the companies continue to post strong numbers and offer great investments. Exxon Mobil (XOM) is the largest at $400 billion, but the appeal lies in its solid dividend and its upcoming exploration deal in Russia.

By Mel Daris:Exxon Mobil (XOM) resembles an ever-expanding giant octopus with its arms reaching out in various directions, turning whatever it touches into gold. The company recently announced the multi-billion-dollar expansion of its Baytown petrochemical complex.