US Shale Offers No Quick Fix for Lost Mideast Crude
U.S. shale producers are unlikely to fill the gap left by reduced Middle East crude exports, even as oil prices climb. Analysts argue that the war‑driven supply loss will be prolonged, and shale’s long lead‑times and capital intensity prevent a rapid output surge. While higher prices improve economics, they do not overcome drilling, permitting and financing constraints. Consequently, the global oil market must adjust to a tighter supply landscape without a quick U.S. shale fix.
South Bow Eyes Increase in Oil Export Capacity to US
South Bow Energy is pursuing binding take‑or‑pay agreements from Canadian producers to fund a new pipeline spur that would add 450,000 barrels per day of crude to its Keystone system. The line would feed directly into the existing Keystone network,...
Qatar’s Al-Kaabi: Market Missing Giant LNG Shortfall
Qatar’s energy minister Khalid al‑Kaabi warned that the ongoing Middle‑East conflict is creating a far larger shortfall in liquefied natural gas (LNG) than market participants anticipate. Damage to export terminals and logistical bottlenecks are curbing Qatar’s ability to meet its...
Prolonged Disruption Turns Focus to Inventories
The International Energy Agency’s chief announced that global oil markets are currently well‑supplied, eliminating any immediate need to tap strategic inventories. While some regions continue to experience supply disruptions, the agency sees no justification for coordinated production cuts at this...
Which Basins Will Supply US LNG Build-Out? Maybe All of Them
U.S. LNG demand is set to surge, but the Haynesville Shale’s production is waning, forcing gas producers to look beyond traditional sources. Analysts argue that the upcoming export capacity will be fed by a mix of basins—including the Permian, Marcellus,...
US AI Boom Creates Big Market Opportunity for Renewable Gas
The United States is experiencing a rapid surge in artificial‑intelligence workloads, prompting a projected 30 percent increase in electricity demand by 2030. To satisfy this growth, utilities are turning to renewable natural gas (RNG) as a low‑carbon, dispatchable fuel for data...
BlackRock-AES Deal Highlights Gas' Edge Over Renewable Power
A BlackRock‑led consortium will take AES private in a $33.4 billion deal, valuing the power producer at roughly $70 billion. The transaction underscores private‑equity interest in regulated energy assets amid soaring electricity demand. It also highlights the competitive pressure gas and nuclear...
Market View: Ample Supply Mutes War's Impact on US Gas Prices
The war in the Middle East has driven global oil benchmarks to multi‑year highs, yet U.S. gasoline prices have remained relatively modest. Ample domestic crude output and record‑high gasoline inventories have insulated the U.S. market from the price shock. Retail...
US Natgas Storage Falls by 132 Bcf
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a 132 billion‑cubic‑foot draw in natural‑gas storage for the week ending Feb. 27, bringing net working inventories down to 1,886 bcf. This decline reflects heightened heating demand and robust LNG export activity as winter deepens. The reduced...
Druzhba Idle as Hungary Secures Russian Oil Supply Guarantees
Hungary has secured a guarantee from Russia to resume crude deliveries, yet the Druzhba pipeline remains idle for both Hungary and Slovakia. The EU stepped in to mediate the dispute, but no operational agreement has been reached. The suspension persists...
Mideast War Casts Cloud on Gulf Petchems, Other Industries
Iran's retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure in the Gulf have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of global oil shipments. The shutdown immediately disrupted energy‑intensive sectors in the region, notably petrochemicals, fertilizers and aluminum, curtailing...
Brent, WTI Crude Prices, Mar. 5, 2026
On March 5, 2026 Brent and WTI crude futures were trading near eight‑month highs as geopolitical risk and trade policy uncertainty intensified. Prices were buoyed by lingering US‑Iran tensions, which have kept supply‑disruption fears alive, while a recent U.S. Supreme Court...
Oil Products Feel Knock-On Impacts as Hormuz Closure Holds
Oil markets are grappling with heightened volatility as the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil passes—remains effectively shut. The closure is forcing traders to reassess supply‑demand balances for refined products, especially diesel and gasoline, which are seeing...
No EU Energy Security Concerns For Now, But Long-Term Risks Rise
European gas prices surged 70 % in a single week as the Middle East conflict intensified, coinciding with historically low storage levels. Despite the spike, EU officials assert there is no immediate risk to gas or oil supplies, citing existing contracts...
US to Insure Hormuz Tankers After Policies Canceled
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will provide war‑risk insurance for vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz after commercial insurers pulled coverage. The move may be paired with U.S. naval escorts to safeguard tankers amid heightened regional tensions....
US Shale Producers to Hold Capex, Output Steady in 2026
U.S. shale producers have signaled that 2026 capital expenditures will remain flat or dip slightly, while overall output is expected to stay level or edge higher after accounting for acquisitions, divestments, and the cyclical nature of multiyear upstream projects. The...
Iran Expands Attacks to Targets Outside Strait of Hormuz
Iran escalated its campaign against regional energy assets, deploying armed drones against the United Arab Emirates' main oil export hub and striking major ports in Oman. The attacks, which originated beyond the Strait of Hormuz, signal a widening of Tehran's...
China's Gas Output Expected to Rise Amid Shale Push
China’s domestic natural‑gas production is set to climb in the near term as the government backs unconventional shale projects. Analysts forecast a steady output rise, driven by new drilling licences and financial incentives. The push aims to offset growing demand...
LNG Prices Surge on Qatari Supply Disruption
LNG spot prices jumped sharply after a supply disruption in Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters. In Northeast Asia, the price rose $1.75 week‑on‑week to $12.45 per MMBtu, while Southwest Europe saw a $5.05 increase to $14.75 per MMBtu....
Oil Prices Surge Higher as Market Adjusts Ceiling Scenarios
Brent crude rose to $85 per barrel on Tuesday, marking a notable surge amid heavy trading. The rally reflects market reaction to escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over supply disruptions. Traders are now focusing on how constrained...
Venture Global Strikes Five-Year LNG Deal With Trafigura
Venture Global, one of the United States' leading LNG exporters, has signed a five‑year supply agreement with global commodity trader Trafigura, effective from this year. The contract locks in a steady volume of U.S. liquefied natural gas for Trafigura’s worldwide...
Israel Shuts Major Gas Fields Amid Latest Round of War
Israel announced a precautionary shutdown of production at its major offshore gas fields, including Tamar and Leviathan, as hostilities with Iran intensify. The move follows a wave of attacks on energy infrastructure across the Middle East Gulf region. Officials say...
Hormuz Trade Slows to Trickle as Attacks Continue
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, has seen trade reduced to a trickle after a wave of escalatory attacks. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, followed by Iranian reprisals triggered by the reported assassination of Supreme Leader...
NRG Targets Data Centers With 6.4 GW of Gas-Fired Capacity
NRG Energy announced plans to add 6.4 GW of gas‑fired generation capacity aimed at powering the United States’ rapidly expanding data‑center sector. The utility sees data‑center electricity demand outpacing traditional commercial loads, prompting a strategic shift toward flexible, dispatchable gas assets....
For Two Large US Gulf LNG Projects, Diverse Paths Ahead
Two major LNG export projects on the U.S. Gulf Coast are taking divergent routes. One developer announced confidence in securing investment and long‑term offtake contracts, signalling a clear path to construction. The second project’s sponsor warned that without an external...
Market View: Spring Fever Drags US Gas Prices to 5-Month Low
U.S. natural‑gas futures slid below $3 per million British thermal units, marking a five‑month trough. The decline stems from milder winter forecasts that curb heating demand as the season ends. Elevated storage levels further buttressed the price drop, while market...
Oil Prices Hit 8-Month High as US-Iran Tensions Fester
Oil prices jumped to eight‑month highs on Friday as diplomatic hopes between the United States and Iran faded, reigniting geopolitical risk premiums. Brent crude breached the $85‑per‑barrel mark while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose above $80. Traders cited potential supply...
Crude Prices Dip on Hint of US-Iran Optimism
Crude futures fell on Tuesday after Iran's foreign minister indicated a potential US‑Iran agreement on uranium enrichment could be reached in Geneva. The optimism trimmed the geopolitical risk premium, pushing WTI and Brent below $80 per barrel. Prices had been...
Gas and LNG Markets, Feb. 24, 2026
The global gas and LNG market entered a volatile phase in late February 2026, driven by tighter supply, rising spot prices, and shifting demand patterns across Europe and Asia. European winter demand outpaced supply, prompting higher contract renegotiations, while Asian...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, Feb. 24, 2026
The Energy Information Administration released the February 24, 2026 natural‑gas spot price report, detailing volume‑weighted average prices for next‑day flow and weekend delivery. The data include both wellhead and delivered price composites, along with the day’s trading range, total gas volume, and...
Natural Gas Futures, Feb. 24, 2026
Natural gas futures settled at $2.85 per MMBtu on Feb. 24, 2026, marking a 3% weekly gain. The rally was fueled by colder-than-expected temperature forecasts across the U.S. Midwest and a continuation of OPEC+ production cuts extending into 2027. Liquefied natural...
US Interior Guts Environmental Reviews for Oil, Gas Drilling
The U.S. Department of the Interior finalized a rule on Monday that slashes the time required to secure oil and gas drilling permits on federal lands. The regulation trims environmental review periods, limiting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments to...
Clean Energy Sector Sorts Out US Tariff Ruling Impacts
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated most of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on clean‑energy imports. The decision instantly altered market expectations for solar panels, wind turbine components, and battery materials that had been adjusting to higher...
Natural Gas Weekly Spot Prices, Feb. 20, 2026
Interstate natural gas spot prices for the U.S. and Canada were released for the week ending Feb. 20, 2026. The Henry Hub benchmark climbed to $2.85 per MMBtu, up 3% from the prior week, while Canadian prices slipped to C$2.70...
Market Watch: Nymex Dips Below $3 Amid Mild March Outlook
Nymex natural gas futures for March slipped 1.5 cents to $2.996 per MMBtu on Thursday. This marks the first time the prompt‑month contract has settled below the $3 threshold since mid‑October. Despite short‑term expectations of cooler weather early next week, analysts...
Spot Cash Electricity Prices, Feb. 19, 2026
On February 19, 2026, the U.S. spot cash electricity market posted a 3.2% increase in average price, reaching $58.4 per megawatt‑hour. The rise reflected higher natural‑gas forward curves and a dip in wind generation across the Midwest. Day‑ahead trading volumes...
China's Solar Industry Braces for Disruption
China’s photovoltaic manufacturing capacity has surged past 1,100 GW annually, roughly twice the world’s current demand of 580 GW. The glut has driven panel prices down and intensified competition among predominantly private firms. Overcapacity is now triggering a wave of bankruptcies and...
Majors' 'Cash Cow' Model Starts to Show Limits
Western oil majors continue to benefit from Brent prices above $60 per barrel, yet a deep‑seated surplus is dampening market optimism. Preliminary 2025 results show that the capital spending commitments made during the 2021‑22 post‑COVID recovery are already under strain,...
Gas and LNG Markets, Feb. 17, 2026
The Energy Intelligence roundup shows European LNG prices falling to two‑month lows as a global supply surge pressures the market. Analysts argue that low‑cost contracts and expanded regasification capacity are crucial for price‑sensitive emerging economies to absorb the influx. At...
Non-Opec-Plus: Flows Poised to Change as Output Grows
In 2026 non‑OPEC‑plus producers are expanding output, prompting a fresh reshuffle of global crude flows. The United States is set to import more Venezuelan oil, freeing domestic barrels for export. India, under pressure to curb Russian supplies, is turning to...
Balances: Supply Surplus Narrows After First Quarter
Supply and demand balances show a 3.1 million‑barrel‑per‑day surplus in the first quarter of 2026, the largest for the year and unchanged from the previous month. Asian storage facilities have largely absorbed the excess crude, preventing immediate price spikes. Nevertheless, continued...
Oil Prices Edge Higher Ahead of US–Iran Nuclear Talks
Oil prices nudged higher on Monday as traders priced in the upcoming US‑Iran nuclear talks, which aim to ease regional tensions. The market also factored in OPEC‑plus’s plan to increase output later in the year, tempering the risk‑off sentiment. Brent...
M&P Sees Silver Lining in Venezuela
Maurel & Prom (M&P) is lobbying Venezuelan authorities to regain access to its Urdaneta Oeste oil field after being omitted from the government’s initial roster of approved foreign operators. The Paris‑listed firm argues that the field, capable of delivering several thousand...
TotalEnergies, Oman Eye Marsa LNG Expansion
TotalEnergies and Oman’s state‑run OQ Exploration and Production are evaluating a second liquefaction train for the Marsa LNG project, which is currently under construction. The additional train would significantly raise the plant’s export capacity, positioning the facility as a major...
Taiwan Commits to $69 Billion US Energy Trade Pact
Taiwan's state-owned enterprises have signed a trade agreement with the United States committing to purchase $44 billion in liquefied natural gas and crude oil and $25.2 billion in power‑generation equipment by 2029. The deal, announced on Feb. 12, creates a $69 billion energy trade...
Oil Prices Level Out Despite Possible Opec-Plus Supply Growth
Oil prices closed Friday largely unchanged after a session marked by sharp swings between macro‑economic headwinds and geopolitical support. Traders weighed the prospect of OPEC‑plus expanding output against lingering demand concerns. The market’s equilibrium suggests that supply‑side expectations have not...
Are AI Data Centers a Scapegoat for Rising US Energy Costs?
US retail electricity prices have spiked, prompting criticism of new AI data center projects. While AI‑driven facilities consume large amounts of power, they represent a modest slice of total grid demand. The backlash threatens a key source of future natural‑gas...
Largest US Gas Producer Expand Ousts CEO, Heads to Houston
Expand Energy, the United States' largest gas producer, announced the removal of CEO Nick Dell'Osso. The leadership change coincided with a plan to relocate the corporate headquarters from Oklahoma City to the Houston metropolitan area. Analysts say the ouster is...
Delfin LNG Explosion Prompts Lawsuit, Broader Safety Concerns
On February 3, a pipeline explosion at the Delfin LNG export project in the Gulf of Mexico halted construction and triggered a lawsuit alleging negligence by the developers and contractors. The incident adds to a history of delays that have already...
Market View: For Gas Prices, a Tale of Two North Americas
The Northeastern United States is enduring its coldest winter in over three decades, pushing spot gasoline prices to a significant premium. In contrast, Western Canada is enjoying its warmest winter in a century, easing local fuel costs. The divergent weather...
