Crude Prices Deflate as Hormuz Hopes Gain Momentum
Oil markets fell sharply on Friday after U.S. and Iranian officials announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Physical spot prices and futures contracts both tumbled, reflecting traders' optimism that resumed Middle‑East shipments will narrow the current supply gap. The move follows weeks of heightened tension that had driven crude to multi‑year highs. Analysts see the price dip as a temporary relief rather than a lasting reversal.
US States Eye Fuel Tax Relief to Curb Pain at the Pump
Rising gasoline prices, driven by the Middle East energy crisis, have spurred state leaders across the U.S. to explore fuel‑tax relief measures aimed at easing consumer costs. Governors and legislators are debating temporary suspensions or reductions of gasoline excise taxes,...
Oil Prices, Apr. 17, 2026
Energy Intelligence, in partnership with Refinitiv, published its daily oil‑price snapshot for April 17, 2026. The report aggregates international spot and futures prices for crude benchmarks and refined petroleum products. It serves as a real‑time barometer for market participants tracking...
Skilled Labor Shortage Threatens US Gas, Data Center Build-Out
A persistent shortage of skilled tradespeople is now spilling beyond the Gulf Coast LNG sector into pipelines, power generation and data‑center construction across the United States. Employers report that the dwindling pool of welders, electricians and pipefitters is inflating labor...
Energy 'Sovereignty' Drives Mexico's Rethink on Gas Fracking
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled a policy shift by allowing unconventional shale‑gas development near the U.S. border, reversing the strict bans imposed by her predecessor. The move aims to boost domestic gas production and lessen Mexico’s reliance on imported U.S....
Birchcliff CEO Upbeat Despite Canadian, Global Gas Market Woes
Birchcliff Energy’s CEO Chris Carlsen remained optimistic at the BMO CAPP Energy Symposium despite weak domestic gas prices and global market turbulence. The Calgary‑based Montney producer highlighted its role in the Rockies LNG consortium, which backs the 2.1 bcf/d Ksi Lisims export project....
Trinidad's LNG Export Renaissance Finds New Momentum
Trinidad and Tobago is preparing a new tranche of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export to the Atlantic Basin, targeting delivery before 2030. The initiative stems from a complex asset swap between ExxonMobil and Shell, two of the world’s largest...
Market View: West Texas Gas Prices Plunge Well Below Zero
West Texas natural‑gas spot prices plunged well below zero as abundant Permian production collided with a maintenance shutdown on a key Southwest pipeline. The bottleneck forced the market to pay shippers to move gas, driving prices into negative territory for...
Lebanon: Part of Mideast Settlement?
President Donald Trump used a Truth Social post to announce a U.S.-brokered ceasefire after a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The declaration follows a Washington meeting between Israeli Ambassador Michael Lieter and Lebanese counterpart Nada Hamadeh, attended by...
Questions Surround Hormuz Reopening After Lebanon Ceasefire
A ten‑day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect Thursday night, and within days Iran announced it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran linked the decision to the ceasefire, portraying the lull as a sign of broader regional stability....
Brussels Under Pressure as Europe Risks Running Out of Jet Fuel
The European Union will unveil a draft plan on April 22 to address a looming jet‑fuel shortage triggered by the stalled reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal could introduce bloc‑wide monitoring of airport fuel inventories and a temporary suspension...
Corpus Christi Water Crisis Threatens Long-Term Jet Fuel Supply
Severe water scarcity in Corpus Christi is endangering the South Texas refining hub that produces the bulk of jet fuel for major airports such as Austin‑Bergstrom and Dallas/Fort Worth. Reservoir levels have fallen to historic lows, prompting the city to...
Jet Prices Dip Slightly on Hopes Hormuz Traffic Will Resume Soon
Jet fuel prices slipped modestly as optimism grew that a U.S.-Iran cease‑fire could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. European jet‑fuel benchmarks have fallen about 16% from their recent peak but remain roughly 90% above pre‑war levels....
Petrobras Progresses Sao Paulo SAF Plant
Petrobras announced that it will build a 10,000‑barrel‑per‑day sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant at its Replan refinery in São Paulo, using locally sourced sugarcane ethanol. The company selected Honeywell UOP’s Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) technology to convert the ethanol into low‑cost jet fuel. The...
US Confirms Russia, Iran Waivers Will Not Be Renewed
The United States announced Wednesday that the temporary waivers allowing the purchase of Russian and Iranian oil already at sea will expire after one more month and will not be renewed. The waivers, granted under sanctions‑relief programs, have enabled traders...
Market Watch: US Gas Futures Inch Higher From 18-Month Low
U.S. natural gas futures edged up 1.1 cents on Wednesday, trading at $2.61 per million British thermal units after hitting an 18‑month trough earlier in the week. Analysts at Gelber & Associates expect a modest reprieve in demand, with a...
Critical Notices, Apr. 15, 2026
Energy Intelligence posted a "Critical Notices" entry for April 15, 2026, which traditionally shares market‑moving natural gas flow data from major North American interstate pipelines. The article is gated behind a login, so specific volumes, line‑pack changes, or operational constraints...
Natural Gas Futures, Apr. 15, 2026
The natural gas market is under pressure from several fronts: Russia’s Portovaya LNG terminal has resumed blacklisted sales, adding Russian cargoes back into global supply; Australia is debating an LNG export tax and curbs to address a domestic fuel‑security crisis;...
Gas Needed to Replace Offline Nuclear Capacity, Apr. 15, 2026
With several gigawatts of nuclear capacity offline across Europe and the United States, gas is poised to fill the reliability gap in 2026. Analysts estimate that roughly 30 TWh of additional gas‑generated electricity will be required, pushing overall gas demand up...
Gas Prices, Power Prices and Spark Spreads for Major Hubs, Apr. 15, 2026
Energy Intelligence’s April 15 2026 report shows U.S. natural‑gas spot prices falling to $2.45 per MMBtu while wholesale electricity averaged $45 per MWh. Spark spreads narrowed to $38 per MWh, the lowest level since 2023, as renewable output surged and demand softened...
Serbian NIS Deal Faces Uncertainty After Hungarian Election
Hungarian oil giant Mol remains interested in buying the controlling stake in Serbia’s state oil firm NIS, currently owned by Russia’s Gazprom and Gazprom Neft. The deal was already under discussion before Hungary’s parliamentary election. The opposition Tisza party’s victory has...
China’s Crude and Gas Imports Tumble in March
China’s crude oil imports fell sharply in March, reaching 11.63 million barrels per day, according to customs data. That represents a year‑on‑year decline of 350,000 b/d and a 221,000 b/d drop versus the average of January‑February 2024. The contraction occurred as the market entered...
Microsoft Reportedly Mulls CDR Purchase Slowdown
Microsoft said reports that it plans to pause buying new carbon‑removal credits are misleading. The company clarified that its climate program is not ending, but it may adjust the pace or volume of purchases as part of a broader sustainability...
Gas Drilling Decline Pulls US Rig Count Lower
The Baker Hughes rig count slipped in the first full week of April, falling by five rigs to 1,200 total units. The decline was driven primarily by a sharp pullback in natural‑gas drilling, which dropped roughly 30% year‑over‑year. This brings...
Crude Prices Dip Ahead of 'All-Or-Nothing' US-Iran Talks
Crude oil futures fell modestly on Friday as markets awaited a high‑stakes diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan. The talks, described as “all‑or‑nothing,” aim to secure a lasting end to the Middle East conflict that has been...
Near-Record Storage, Early Snowmelt Hammer Western Gas Demand
An unusually warm winter has driven gas inventories across the western United States to near‑record levels, with storage now approaching 96% of historical capacity. The rapid snowmelt has also depleted the region’s snowpack, reducing hydroelectric generation by roughly 30% earlier...
NRG Shuns 'Behind the Meter' For 'Bring Your Own Power'
NRG announced it will phase out behind‑the‑meter (BTM) power projects in favor of a Bring Your Own Power (BYOP) strategy for data‑center customers. The shift follows concerns from a senior merchant‑company executive that BTM gas‑fired solutions may not deliver the...
Commonwealth LNG 'Weeks' From FID Despite Jera’s Departure
Commonwealth LNG in Louisiana is weeks from a final investment decision, targeting a Q2 2024 FID. The project has secured enough firm offtake contracts to move forward despite the loss of Japanese buyer Jera. Secured deals now cover roughly a...
LNG Pioneer Charif Souki Sued for Alleged Financial 'Trickery'
Charif Souki, the founder of the now‑defunct Tellurian LNG export project, is slated to appear in federal court next week. An investor has filed a lawsuit alleging Souki engaged in financial trickery that caused the investor to lose money on...
Market View: US Gas Futures Tumble to 18-Month Low
U.S. natural‑gas futures dropped to an 18‑month trough this week as seasonal demand weakened during the shoulder months. A brief burst of colder weather was insufficient to lift prices, which slipped to roughly $1.70 per MMBtu, the lowest level since...
Big Rift, Closed Strait Loom Large Ahead of US-Iran Talks
U.S. and Iranian delegations will convene in Pakistan on Saturday to negotiate a cease‑fire that could end the ongoing Middle‑East war. The meeting comes amid a deep diplomatic chasm, with Tehran demanding sanctions relief and nuclear concessions while Washington insists...
Japan Plans Another Oil Reserves Release
Japan announced it will release an additional 20 days' worth of strategic oil reserves beginning in May, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a cabinet meeting. The release follows earlier drawdowns aimed at stabilizing domestic fuel prices amid heightened global...
Oil Prices Rise as Gulf Tankers Remain at Standstill
Oil futures climbed Thursday after a sharp sell‑off on Wednesday when traders reacted to the fragile cease‑fire between the US and Iran in the Gulf. The cease‑fire, brokered by Washington, eased immediate geopolitical risk but left uncertainty over longer‑term supply...
Saudi Arabia Confirms Iranian Strikes on Key Assets
Saudi officials confirmed that Iranian strikes have damaged the kingdom's East‑West Pipeline, cutting roughly one‑tenth of its throughput. The pipeline is a vital overland route that allows crude to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments....
Oxy Says US Gulf Oil Find Has Tie-Back Potential
Occidental Petroleum announced an oil discovery at its Bandit prospect in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The find is estimated to contain several million barrels of recoverable oil. Oxy says the reservoir can be developed as a subsea tie‑back to...
Market Watch: US Gas Futures Tumble to 17-Month Low
US natural‑gas futures slipped 5.4 cents on Thursday, settling at $2.67 per MMBtu, the lowest level in 17 months for the prompt‑month contract. The decline followed a larger‑than‑expected weekly build in storage, which analysts at Gelber & Associates said confirms...
US Budget Proposal Would Advance Energy Policy Priority Shift
The White House released its FY 2027 budget, signaling a decisive pivot toward clean energy. The proposal earmarks roughly $15 billion for renewable‑technology research, expands tax credits for wind and solar through 2032, and trims federal subsidies for oil and gas by...
Oil Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
Oil prices surged on April 9 as a fragile US‑Iran ceasefire failed to quell market nerves, pushing Brent above $85 per barrel while spot prices held steadier. Iranian missile strikes on Saudi oil assets trimmed OPEC‑Plus output by roughly 200,000...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
On April 9, 2026 a cluster of natural‑gas market developments were reported. The EU announced a softening of its methane‑emission regulations to avert a potential supply crunch, while Israel’s Energean signaled the restart of production at the Karish offshore field....
Exxon, Shell See Silver Linings as War Disrupts Operations
Shell and Exxon Mobil saw Middle‑East war disruptions curtail production and trade flows, yet first‑quarter results revealed that soaring oil prices and regional arbitrage lifted earnings. Both majors posted higher realized margins as Brent and WTI rallied above $90 per barrel....
How Oil Shocks Cause Demand Destruction
The twin oil shocks of the 1970s eliminated roughly 6 million barrels per day of demand growth in the first crisis and a further 14 million barrels per day in the second. Analysts attribute the destruction to emergency policies, shifts in consumer...
New Carbon Trading Regimes Advance, Details Change
Developing and middle‑income nations are rolling out a new wave of emissions trading systems (ETS) as climate goals and trade pressures intensify. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a key catalyst, prompting countries to keep carbon revenues domestically....
Adani Green CEO Sees Massive Scalability for Solar, Wind
Adani Green Energy has surpassed 19 GW of renewable capacity and is targeting 50 GW by 2030‑32, cementing its role as a global leader. The company’s Khavda solar‑wind hub in Gujarat already hosts 9.4 GW and is slated to expand to 30 GW by...
Santos Eyes Alaskan Quokka Oil Unit Development
Australian independent oil producer Santos is assessing a two‑drill‑site development on its Quokka unit in Alaska’s North Slope. The move follows a successful appraisal well that confirmed the reservoir’s commercial potential. Santos aims to tap the prolific Arctic basin to...
Gas and LNG Markets, Apr. 8, 2026
The ongoing Middle‑East conflict is driving sharp price volatility that is boosting first‑quarter oil trading results for both Shell and Exxon Mobil, even as their regional operations face disruptions. QatarEnergy has begun restarting its LNG plant now that the Strait...
Brent Holds Steady as Ceasefire Deal Fizzles
Benchmark Brent crude held steady on Monday as traders weighed the prospect of a cease‑fire in the five‑week‑old Middle East conflict. The market’s cautious optimism was tempered by the collapse of the cease‑fire negotiations, keeping risk premiums elevated. Prices edged...
Commonwealth LNG's Jera Offtake Contract Canceled
Japan’s Jera has terminated its firm offtake agreement with the Commonwealth LNG project in Louisiana, creating an unexpected obstacle as the venture approaches a final investment decision. The cancellation strips away a key revenue anchor for the $20 billion, 15 mtpa plant...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, Apr. 6, 2026
On April 6, 2026 the industry released volume‑weighted average natural‑gas spot prices for next‑day flow and weekend delivery. The data set includes both wellhead and delivered price composites, offering a comprehensive view of market pricing. Accompanying the price figures are the daily...
Critical Notices, Apr. 6, 2026
The latest Critical Notices highlight three key energy developments. Polar LNG asserts that Alaska can support two new LNG export projects, underscoring the state’s growing strategic importance. Chevron has resumed production at Israel’s Leviathan gas field, a vital supply source...
Market Watch: May Nymex Dips After Above-Average Storage Build
May NYMEX natural gas futures slipped 1.9 ¢ to $2.80 per MMBtu, marking the first decline of the month. The drop was driven by an unexpectedly large weekly storage build, which lifted inventories above seasonal norms. Analysts attribute the easing to...