The latest from Rigzone.com: Industry Headlines:

• API: Proposed Oil Export Curbs Reek of N. Korean Economics
  The American Petroleum Institute is setting the record straight on Congressman Ed Markey's claim that oil from the Keystone XL pipeline will be exported.

• ExxonMobil's Natural-Gas Push Could Hit Small US Producers
  ExxonMobil's decision to leave its U.S. natural-gas output untouched may push some smaller producers out of the business, force consolidation in the industry and make the co. an even more powerful force in the oilpatch.

• Imperial Oil Approves $2B Cold Lake Oil-Sands Expansion
  Imperial Oil Ltd. said the $2B expansion of its big Cold Lake oil-sands operation will add more than 40,000 barrels of commercial bitumen production a day.

• Ex-BP Safety Chairman To Quit Board
  Sir William Castell has decided not to stand for re-election at the company's next AGM in April.

• Tullow 'Could Double Production' in 5 Years after Ugandan Deal
  Tullow Oil's long-delayed $2.9B deal to sell stakes to Total and CNOOC can finally proceed after the co. signed a joint oil-production sharing agreement with the country.

• Environmental Group Files Suit Over Ongoing Oil Leak
  Waterkeeper Alliance and its Gulf Coast Waterkeeper organizations filed a federal lawsuit against Taylor Energy Company arguing that the company has failed to stop oil flowing from a spill that occurred in 2004.

• E&Y: Bakken to Contribute Significantly to 2012 U.S. Production Growth
  E&Y anticipates further growth and transaction activity in the Bakken oil shale in North Dakota in 2012 as more undeveloped property comes online and begins to produce.

• Gulfsands Petroleum Suspends Syria Exploration
  Gulfsands Petroleum said it is suspending exploration activities in Syria, only two days after announcing strong drilling results in the strife-ridden country.

• Chesapeake Wins Judgment Over Blanket Assignment Dispute
  A Pennsylvania state appeals court on Jan. 27 ruled that the Recorder of Deeds of Wayne County, did not have the authority to reject Chesapeake's subsidiary's attempt to combine 211 lease assignments into one document.

• Total Jump Starts $4.2B Hild Development
  Total has launched the development of the $4.2B Hild field, subject to approval from the Norwegian government.

• SandRidge to Acquire Dynamic Offshore Resources for $1.28B
  SandRidge Energy, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Dynamic Offshore Resources, LLC for aggregate consideration of $1.275 billion.

• Pathological Complacency: When Things Can Go Wrong By Being the Best
  World-class know-how can ironically introduce a very real danger into the oil and gas workplace.

• Shell Reveals New Growth Agenda for 2012
  Shell expects to make a net capital investment of $30 billion in 2012, 80 percent of this in the upstream area of its operations.

• US House Republicans Move To Expand Oil Drilling
  The House Natural Resources Committee passed a trio of bills directing the govt to allow drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans -and open up a chunk of the Arctic refuge to drilling.

• Source: Petrobras Launches $7B Bond Deal
  Orders from investors wanting a piece of the massive $7 billion issue from Petrobras have exceeded $27B, with more than 400 accounts participating, according to a source.

• Juniors Target O&G Success Against the Odds
  Several WA-based juniors are working to ensure they are the 'next big thing' in oil and gas.

• Argentinean Governors to Push Oil Companies to Invest More
  Governors from Argentina's top 10 oil-producing provinces will meet next week in a bid to push oil and gas companies to increase oil and gas output.

• DECC Launches 27th Offshore Licensing Round
  The DECC announced new opportunities for UK oil and gas exploration with the launch of the 27th offshore licensing round.

• Texas Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure Rule In Effect
  The Texas Railroad Commission's new rule requiring oil and gas producers to disclose the chemical used in hydraulic fracturing has taken effect.

• European Commission Could Tap Oil Stocks if Iran Stops Sales
  EC says that European member states hold, on average, 120 days of oil stocks.