Foreign Buyers and Private Equity Positioned to Drive a Fourth-Quarter Upstream M and A

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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ENB Weekly Rig Count Comparison of Baker Hughes, Enverus and WellDatabase — Rigs Are Up

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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Weekly Rig Report: Baker Hughes Flat at 588, WellDatabase at 601 After a North Dakota Reclass, Enverus Still Running Higher

The three major U.S. rig tallies are telling the same structural story and three different weekly headlines. Baker Hughes held unchanged at 588 for a second straight week. WellDatabase printed 601, down 30 week over week but up 23 year over year. Enverus’s GPS-based daily count continues to run well above both weekly censuses, last […]

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US Weekly Rig Count Up Slightly

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 […]

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Expand Energy’s First Far Western Haynesville Wildcat IPs 27.5 MMcf/d

Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: EXE), North America’s largest independent natural gas producer, has reported a strong initial production (IP) rate of 27.5 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) from its first horizontal wildcat in the Far Western Haynesville. The Bobby Yancey #2H well, located in Houston County, Texas, features an 8,158-foot lateral and represents an […]

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U.S. Weekly Rig Count Rises Sharply to 557 as Oil Activity Strengthens in Core Basins

The latest U.S. Rig Report from WellDatabase, dated June 12, 2026, shows the total active U.S. rig count at 557 — up 15 rigs week-over-week and +2 year-over-year. This marks a meaningful rebound after a period of relative stability.energynewsbeat.co The increase was driven primarily by oil-directed drilling, with gains concentrated in the Permian Basin and […]

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Haynesville Expansion Pushes into East Texas as Caturus, Aethon Seek New Inventory

The Haynesville-Bossier Shale play, long anchored in Northwest Louisiana, is redrawing its boundaries westward into East Texas. Operators are chasing fresh drilling inventory in the Shelby Trough and surrounding counties as core areas mature and Gulf Coast LNG demand surges. Leading the charge are Caturus Energy, Adamas Energy (formerly Aethon Energy), and other well-capitalized players […]

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