Iran says two loaded tankers hit mines. Ukraine ended a brief energy truce, the SPR put 17 million more barrels on offer, European wholesale gas sits $25 above the U.S. benchmark, and the Secretary of State is touring the world’s largest single-site refinery. Here is how this week’s five biggest stories land in your tank […]
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U.S. upstream oil and gas mergers and acquisitions are showing renewed momentum heading into the fourth quarter of 2026, with foreign strategic buyers and private equity sponsors emerging as key potential catalysts for a late-year surge. After volatility tied to geopolitical events earlier in the year tempered activity, dealmaking rebounded in the third quarter, and […]
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Brent closed Friday at $109.86 and the futures market prices $100 oil into spring. Gas costs about nine times more in Europe and Asia than at Henry Hub, the U.S. benchmark, coal demand is headed for a record, and five of the world’s eight oil chokepoints have trouble. Here is what it means for your […]
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Canadian oil producers are failing to fully capture a global oil-price surge. Alberta’s oil sands operators are receiving roughly $26 a barrel less than U.S. rivals for their heavy crude, as the Western Canadian Select (WCS) discount to West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has widened dramatically in recent weeks—to levels not seen since late 2023. Source […]
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On October 16, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 while simultaneously waiving most of its new sanctions, restrictions, and duties. The move, taken under the Act’s national-interest waiver authority (Section 115), came just days before the measures were set to take […]
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Brent crude settled at $109.86 per barrel on Friday, October 16, after touching $110 intraday—the highest since May—while WTI closed at $101.41. The move capped a week of gains driven by persistent supply risks from the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict (now approaching eight months), Russian-Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure, Houthi activity, and a sharp acceleration in […]
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Oil prices fell about 2% on October 15, 2026, after reports that the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on vessels in the so-called “shadow fleet.” Brent crude futures dropped about $2.28 (2.2%) to around $103.78 a barrel, while WTI fell about $1.34 (1.4%) to roughly $93.75, reversing prior gains. The move reflected hopes that […]
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The Iran war that began around February 28, 2026, with U.S.-Israeli strikes and subsequent Iranian responses, has reshaped OPEC+ crude production and, more sharply, refined product exports. Pre-war levels (roughly February 2026) represented a relatively stable baseline after earlier OPEC+ quota management. Current output remains under significant stress from Strait of Hormuz disruptions, infrastructure attacks, […]
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As of mid-October 2026, U.S. drilling activity continues to firm. Baker Hughes reported its closely watched weekly rotary rig count at 603 for the week ending October 9 (up 5 week-over-week and up 56 year-over-year from 547). WellDatabase’s U.S. Rig Report dated 10.14.2026 showed 608 total rigs (up 6 week-over-week and up 52 year-over-year). Enverus’ […]
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California’s Cap-and-Invest and Low Carbon Fuel Standard added about 47 cents a gallon in July (CEC). Washington’s carbon auction and clean-fuel rules add roughly 36–74 cents. The federal RFS is a separate 1-to-45-cent fight over gross credits versus net pump pass-through. We map the published estimates, keep taxes and refinery closures in their own buckets, […]
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