West Texas Intermediate crude hovered near $90 per barrel on July 23, 2026, with Brent trading higher in the mid-to-high $90s amid escalating disruptions across multiple global oil transit routes. Markets are reacting to simultaneous pressures on four critical choke points: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal corridor, and the […]
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In a timely July 20, 2026, article for City Journal, energy analyst Mark P. Mills dismantles the persistent narrative of an “energy transition” — the idea that wind, solar, and batteries will soon replace oil, natural gas, and coal. Mills, executive director of the National Center for Energy Analytics and author of The Cloud Revolution, […]
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Global oil markets are navigating heightened volatility as geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, militant attacks, environmental constraints, and regulatory hurdles converge on several of the world’s most critical maritime and pipeline chokepoints. Brent crude prices have shown sharp swings, with peaks well above $90 during periods of acute disruption (including levels around or exceeding $94 in […]
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Oil markets are back on edge. Brent crude has surged above $90 per barrel for the first time in weeks, driven by a fresh attack on a Kuwaiti tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and renewed fighting between the United States and Iran. Early Tuesday (July 21, 2026), the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported […]
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ENB Pub Note: This article was first run on RHG Phoenix Petroleum’s Blog. We will be interviewing them on the podcast soon. Halliburton executives signaled a positive outlook for North American oilfield activity in 2026 during the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings release and conference call on July 21, 2026. The Houston-based oilfield services giant highlighted recent gains […]
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Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to back increased North Sea oil and gas activity, including potential approvals for the Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oil field, as part of an early policy push focused on energy security, jobs, and economic growth. Burnham, who formally took office today after succeeding Keir Starmer, has […]
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The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), the world’s largest emergency crude oil stockpile, is facing serious operational challenges after years of massive drawdowns, deferred maintenance, and mismanagement. One of the four primary storage sites has been left inoperable, equipment purchased with taxpayer dollars was left exposed and unusable, and critical infrastructure repairs were neglected. President […]
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In a dramatic adaptation to regional turmoil, Iraq has mobilized thousands of tanker trucks to haul fuel oil—and soon crude—across the border into Syria, rerouting exports to Mediterranean ports like Baniyas. This overland operation stands as a stark paradigm shift from the traditional reliance on massive sea tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. While sea […]
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The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated July 18, 2026) shows the U.S. active drilling rig count at 567, marking a solid +11 week-over-week (WoW) increase and +37 year-over-year (YoY) gain. This reflects resilient drilling activity amid a stable-to-rising trend over the past 12 months, with the count holding in the mid-to-high 500s range. Key […]
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In a development that echoes broader regional efforts to reduce vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, ExxonMobil is emerging as a key partner in Iraq’s drive for energy self-sufficiency—particularly by ending its costly and geopolitically sensitive dependence on Iranian natural gas. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met directly with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods in […]
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