BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Memorial Day holiday weekend is generally considered the start of the summer driving season, and this year it’s highlighted by relatively low gasoline prices. GasBuddy.com says the average retail price of a gallon of gas in North Dakota is up more than a nickel over the week to $2.26. But that’s still almost 30 cents ...

VIENNA (AP) — OPEC is not yet in safe harbor. But ahead of a top-level meeting, the 13-nation oil cartel appears close to weathering the storm of slumping crude prices that threatened to bankrupt some members and called into question its relevance. After touching a 13-year low early this year, the price of oil has moved steadily upward to its ...

PARIS (AP) — French company Technip has signed a preliminary $500 million deal to upgrade a key Libyan oil facility, along with Italy’s Eni and Libya’s state oil company. The move is part of French diplomatic efforts to boost Libya’s fragile unity government. The signing in Paris on Tuesday comes as Libyan forces are fighting to push back Islamic State ...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Utilities Board has called a meeting for Wednesday to consider allowing construction to begin on an oil pipeline in areas outside federal jurisdiction. Houston-based Dakota Access LLC wants to begin digging the Iowa portion of a 1,150-mile pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois. Construction has begun in North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois ...

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — A phased return of more than 80,000 residents of the fire-damaged oil sands city Fort McMurray will begin Wednesday as planned, Alberta’s premier announced Tuesday. Rachel Notley said that the wildfire is no longer an imminent threat to the city and critical infrastructure has been repaired. The massive wildfire destroyed about 2,400 structures almost a month ...

PARIS (AP) — France is bracing for new strikes this week and continues to face a gasoline shortage, with six out of height refineries blocked or partially disrupted by protests against a labor law. About 20 percent of gas stations were still low or empty across the country Tuesday, according to the UFIP national oil industry lobby. Some French labor ...

LONDON (AP) — Consumer prices across the 19-country eurozone fell again in May but look set to rise in the months ahead due to the recent pick-up in oil prices — an outlook that means the European Central Bank will likely refrain from announcing more stimulus measures this week. Official figures published by statistics agency Eurostat on Tuesday showed inflation ...

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The economic slowdown gripping countries across the Persian Gulf can be seen in layoffs, slowed construction projects and government cutbacks. For the millions of foreign workers drawn by brighter job prospects, it can have a far-darker side if they find themselves deep in debt. Gulf countries like Qatar largely don’t have bankruptcy laws, leaving laid-off workers ...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The possibility of an American Indian burial site in northwest Iowa may require relocation of a crude oil pipeline route and delay the beginning of construction in Iowa, the only one of four states where work hasn’t begun. The Dakota Access pipeline passes through the Big Sioux Wildlife Management area in Lyon County, traditional homeland ...

It’s been an odd couple weeks for the Bakken. This highlight reel features an eclectic mix of justice, oil and saltwater spills, theft of oilfield explosives and the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. Scroll down to see what you missed! 7. 105K gallons of saltwater-oil mixture spills in North Dakota MARMARTH, N.D. (AP) — A tank overflow has caused a spill of ...