Apache joins the likes of BG Group, Statoil, Shell and Transocean in closing offices and curtailing drilling operations.

FORBES: Oil Giants Fear Revolution Is Coming To Them Next

Two recent wells, one drilled by Britain's BG Group and the other by America's Exxon Mobil, proved dry.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's oil policy

That of Britain's BG Group is big, Another, by Norway's Statoil, is bigger.

ECONOMIST: African energy

By 2025, these four countries will be the largest consumers of LNG, according to a presentation by BG Group Plc.

FORBES: Alaska's Plans To Export LNG To Asian Markets Is Huge For Oil And Gas Majors

Southern Union and BG Group are looking to do the same from their Lake Charles import terminal, while on the Texas coast, Freeport LNG wants in the game as well.

FORBES: To Import Less Oil, U.S. Must Export More Gas

It also reduced its holdings in Apple by 20%, profiting from a rise that saw the US tech giant become the world's most valuable firm, and also sharply cut its stakes in Vodafone, BG Group and ExxonMobil.

BBC: Norway oil wealth fund made big gains in 2012

Second, the government might be tempted to revisit existing contracts, which would be bad for confidence and disastrous for Petrobras and its partners (Britain's BG Group has a 25% stake in Tupi and Portugal's Galp Energia 10%).

ECONOMIST: Brazil