U.S. oil and gas drillers posted a modest weekly gain according to the industry’s most widely followed benchmark, while production continues to hold near record levels. This points to ongoing capital discipline even as output edges higher. The Latest Rig Counts Baker Hughes reported the U.S. rotary rig count rose 5 week-over-week to 593 for […]
Continue Reading
Major U.S. shale producers are dialing back capital expenditures in key basins even as crude prices remain elevated, prioritizing shareholder returns, debt reduction, and free cash flow over rapid production growth. This capital discipline is creating headwinds for U.S. oil supply expansion at a time when global markets continue to seek reliable barrels. According to […]
Continue Reading
Saudi Aramco has put a stark number on the energy fallout from the ongoing US-Iran conflict: more than 2.6 billion barrels of oil supply lost since fighting erupted in February 2026. That figure, first highlighted by Aramco CEO Amin Nasser in early August and amplified in a recent Reuters report widely shared on X by […]
Continue Reading
The Trump administration’s third mandated offshore oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico) offered more than 81 million acres across roughly 15,100 unleased blocks on August 12, 2026. Conducted by the Marine Minerals Administration (the agency formed by combining the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the […]
Continue Reading
The International Energy Agency’s latest Oil Market Report underscores a deepening imbalance in global oil markets. Despite a sharper-than-expected contraction in demand driven by elevated prices from the ongoing Iran conflict and related disruptions, supply shortfalls have widened even more, producing the tightest near-term balances in years. At the time this article is written, Brent […]
Continue Reading
We had Doomberg ready, and the system was overwhelmed, so we rescheduled for tomorrow. How will the US Grid Handle the Cuts to Wind, increased Nat Gas, and can it be maintained? Tomorrow we have the CEO of Jackery Power Solutions and Doomberg stopping by the podcast for two different interviews. We will be covering the home […]
Continue Reading
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis—sparked by U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran beginning in late February and marked by Iranian attacks on shipping, assertions of control, U.S. naval responses and blockades, and sharply reduced tanker traffic—has delivered the largest oil supply disruption on record. At its peak, the effective closure or severe constriction of the waterway, […]
Continue Reading
In the heart of the Midland Basin, two pure-play Permian operators are delivering a clear message in mid-2026: well productivity is holding up—and in key cases improving—amid ongoing efficiency gains across the broader Permian. Recent Hart Energy/Oil and Gas Investor analysis highlights Diamondback Energy’s (FANG) new Midland Basin wells showing a strong rebound in early […]
Continue Reading
The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated August 7, 2026) shows the national active rig count rising modestly by 3 week-over-week to 583, up 42 from the same period a year earlier. Oil-directed rigs accounted for the bulk of activity at 427 (+1), with gas-directed rigs holding steady at 127 and smaller contributions from thermal […]
Continue Reading
Houston-based ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), the largest U.S. independent oil and gas producer, reported second-quarter 2026 results on August 6, 2026, that beat Wall Street expectations. Higher commodity prices more than offset a year-over-year decline in production, driving sharp gains in earnings and cash flow. The company also reaffirmed full-year guidance, doubled share repurchases, achieved a […]
Continue Reading