The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the 2026 Iran-related conflict has fundamentally altered global liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trade flows. Middle Eastern exports from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran slowed sharply as tanker traffic collapsed and infrastructure faced risks or attacks. Before the escalation, roughly 54 oil, chemical, and LPG […]
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Global oil refineries outside active conflict zones are operating near or at maximum capacity, with almost no remaining buffers to absorb further shocks. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser made the point clearly this week: the system is stretched thin, leaving “little shock absorbers or buffers” against higher fuel prices. A combination of the ongoing war […]
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High fuel prices are likely to persist even if crude oil prices ease in the coming months. Global refining capacity remains critically constrained by the ongoing wars involving Iran (including the Strait of Hormuz disruption under Operation Epic Fury) and Russia-Ukraine, according to warnings from the chief executives of ExxonMobil and Chevron. On recent earnings […]
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In the second quarter of 2026, ExxonMobil and Chevron delivered blockbuster earnings, fueled by elevated oil prices stemming from the ongoing Iran conflict and associated supply disruptions in the Middle East, including pressures around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. These results highlight the resilience of the U.S. majors’ integrated portfolios amid geopolitical volatility, […]
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In a significant move strengthening U.S. energy ties with Iraq, ConocoPhillips has agreed to acquire a 42% interest in BP Energy Company of Kirkuk Limited (BP ECKL), the contractor entity overseeing the redevelopment of major oil fields in northern Iraq’s Kirkuk region. BP will retain the remaining 58% majority stake. The deal, announced on July […]
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Energy News Beat Stand Up – Buckle Up – 10 Huge Stories Welcome to the Energy News Beat Standup, where host Stu Turley breaks down the 10 biggest energy stories reshaping global markets. In this episode, we dive into a world in flux: Russia’s refining capacity is crumbling under Ukrainian drone strikes, Iraq is suspending […]
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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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Chevron Corporation and Microsoft have signed a landmark 20-year power purchase agreement to supply electricity to a major data center campus in West Texas. The deal centers on a large natural gas-fired power plant being developed in partnership with investment firm Engine No. 1, marking one of the largest collaborations to date between a U.S. […]
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In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, maturing conventional fields, and rising global energy demand, the oil and gas industry stands at the threshold of a profound renaissance in energy security. The key? Enhanced recovery techniques—often called tertiary or enhanced oil recovery (EOR)—that unlock vast volumes of oil already discovered but left behind in existing reservoirs. […]
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Guyana’s offshore Stabroek block continues to deliver exceptional results for two of the world’s largest energy companies. In 2025, ExxonMobil reported approximately $4.67 billion in profit from its Guyana operations, while Chevron (through its acquisition of Hess) reported $2.89 billion. The combined $7.56 billion underscores the block’s status as one of the most profitable and […]
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