RBN Energy Blogcast: Recent Episodes
RBN Energy
amp;A since Devon Energy and Coterra Energy announced their $21.4 billion merger in early February, just a few weeks before the war on Iran started and the Strait of Hormuz was closed. But other, somewhat smaller — but still noteworthy — deals continue to happen.
It has been a volatile spring and summer for global natural gas markets as the war in Iran has dragged on, seemingly causing prices to jump — or falter — with every headline. Today, we discuss Europe’s gas storage woes and the potential ramifications as its time runs out to refill inventories.
Over the past 16 years, BP has undergone multiple restructurings of its upstream portfolio, interrupted by a shift to — and then from — one of the sector’s most ambitious energy transition strategies. Today, we chronicle the evolution of one of the industry’s most significant integrated companies.
The Haynesville is the nation’s #3 natural gas producer, and close to most of the U.S.’s LNG export capacity. That makes gas pipelines from the Haynesville to the Gulf Coast critically important — and valuable — assets, a reality Williams Cos. just affirmed with its plan to buy Momentum Midstream.
Refined product prices have remained elevated this summer even as crude oil prices have fallen from their 2026 highs set just a few months ago. In today’s RBN blog, we look at several factors that help explain the seeming disconnect between product prices and crude oil prices.
Louisiana’s refineries process vast amounts of domestic crude oil — much of it from the offshore U.S. Gulf — and imported oil from Canada and other countries. The refineries also play a critically important role in supplying refined product to the Southeastern U.S and the Mid-Atlantic states.
Since early 2026, disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz and shifts in Venezuelan exports have shifted crude oil and product flows from their historical norms. On the U.S. domestic front, closures of West Coast refineries and proposed new pipelines to that region suggest more changes are coming.
Crude oil — often mistakenly described as a single, standardized commodity — is anything but uniform. Every stream has its own chemical fingerprint, including differences in density and sulfur content. Today, we’ll dig into why crude quality matters and how it can make a real difference to the bottom line.
One of the seminal energy-related controversies of the past decade was the construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline, but much of its capacity is unused in the shoulder season. Now, three projects aim to debottleneck MVP: Transco’s Southeast Supply Enhancement as well as MVP Southgate and MVP Boost.
Geopolitical developments have resulted in perhaps the most chaotic and unstable energy market in the last 50 years, but sharply lower global crude oil prices and a rollback in U.S. production could be just ahead, two forecasts at the heart of our newly available Future of Fuels report.
nbsp;we look at crude oil flows and supply/demand balances in the southwestern and northwestern parts of the Bayou State — and how the status quo may be in for changes.
The first half of 2026 was a tale of two commodity markets as crude oil prices surged during the spring while natural gas prices retreated after an exceptionally strong winter rally. Today, we examine which oil and gas producers outperformed and why investors rewarded certain business models over others.
Natural gas-fired generation is king in the realm of data center development, at least for the near term. Still, hyperscalers are taking a variety of steps to mitigate the climate impact of their expanding gas use. These include adding CCS, building renewables and supporting new nuclear.
Several projects in the works would expand crude oil pipeline takeaway capacity out of Western Canada. But, given the pace of production growth there, will enough takeaway space come online in time to prevent pipeline capacity shortages and the price dislocations that come with them?
Natural gas prices in the Permian spent the first half of the year in the red. Then, in mid-June, Kinder Morgan flipped a switch and now Waha prices are back above zero. The “switch” was a compression expansion on Gulf Coast Express, which added a desperately needed 570 MMcf/d of takeaway capacity.
Over the past 18 months, Gulf Coast dock capacity capable of handling either LPG or ethane has grown significantly. It’s something relatively new called “flex capacity,” and it’s a darned good thing it’s online. Without it, both LPG and ethane export capacity would already be maxed out.
Demand for natural gas in Northeast and pipeline capacity out of Appalachia are poised to grow in the coming years, but will production follow suit? Even if market conditions improve, it’s not a done deal. Today, we look at which producers are best positioned to grow if conditions warrant.
nbsp;In today’s RBN blog, we examine crude oil flows into and out of the Bayou State, assess supply/demand balances, and explore why is could be increasingly important to understand those balances.
The U.S. energy industry is continuously evolving. Unlike the previous era of unconventional supply growth, demand is increasingly determining where capital will be deployed, reshaping investment priorities. That’s today’s subject and the focus of our upcoming School of Energy: Foundations.
There are several approaches hyperscalers can take to mitigate the climate-related impacts of their increasing gas consumption for data centers. These include buying and retiring environmental credits; capturing and sequestering gas-plant CO2; and developing more renewables and nuclear capacity.
Efforts to develop a new LNG export terminal along the Delaware River near Philadelphia appeared to be going nowhere. But now it seems that Penn America Energy’s moribund plan for such a project has gained new life with a new company name and a new site — in Eddystone Borough, PA.
The price of the D4 Renewable Identification Number has increased 130% so far in 2026, a response to a 70% increase in the minimum bio-based diesel volume mandate and a higher price premium for soybean oil. Today, we analyze the additional factors at play, from theoretical and practical standpoints.
amp;P consolidation. As that activity winds down, rising realizations for both oil and gas have spurred a major consolidation among royalty trusts as well as a recent successful initial public offering.
A number of states have been early movers in the data center world, but several in the Northeast — while not yet major data center hubs — are laying the groundwork for a much bigger role. Today, we examine the plans of several states and how they could impact the region’s natural gas market.
Many hyperscalers now acknowledge that they will rely heavily on natural gas-fired generation to power their new data centers, at least for the near term. But that conflicts with “net zero” goals, so many AI giants are moving to mitigate the environmental impact of their fast-rising gas use.
Louisiana refineries don’t pipe in all the crude oil they need from the Houston and Nederland areas or the U.S. Gulf, or ship it in from abroad. Some depend on crude that is piped in from Longview, TX, and others get at least some of their oil from Capline, which moves crude south from Illinois.
For decades, the major integrated oil companies have been judged by their global scale, diversified business models and shareholder returns. But are their U.S. upstream businesses competitive? Today, we provide answers that may surprise many investors.
Liquids pipelines operate quite differently from their gas-pipeline cousins. They are regulated under a different law than gas pipelines, plus they face broader competition. As a result, they enjoy more flexibility in some respects but less in others than gas systems.
The sourcing of crude oil for the 14 refineries in Louisiana has been shifting over the past few years and the pace of that shift is picking up as more U.S. Gulf production flows to Texas (and less flows to the Bayou State), new pipeline projects come online, and refineries modify their crude slates.
The price of the D4 Renewable Identification Number (RIN) has increased by 130% so far in 2026, accompanied by a 60% increase in the price of soybean oil and other renewable feedstocks. Today’s blog gives a high-level view of what is behind this year’s bull run in the D4 RIN and related commodities.
As anyone who drives a car that requires premium gasoline will surely tell you, the large difference between the prices of regular and premium grades shows no signs of going away. Today, we look at how the two were once priced, when they diverged, and what it likely means for future prices.
Midwestern states are important markets for natural gas producers in the Marcellus/Utica, as are states in the Mid-South, like Kentucky and Tennessee, and states in the Deep South. But expanding gas sales in those markets will require a lot more pipeline capacity, and that’s exactly what’s in the works.
Open seasons are a key part of marketing capacity for gas pipeline and storage projects, but they can also raise several regulatory questions. And the answers depend on what kind of open season it is. Today, we take a deep dive into the ins and outs of a gas project open season.
amp;Ps are facing a dramatically different commodity environment. With cash flows rising, producers faced pressures to reassess priorities as hydrocarbon prices increased. Today, we look at how they responded.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on applying its “blanket authorization” rules to a lot more gas pipeline projects than in the past. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the proposal and what the planned change would mean for pipeline owners and developers.
With a line of sight to expanding pipeline capacity from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, producers plan to grow crude oil production. Today, we go through all the Alberta oil sands growth projects planned over the next several years.
amp;Ps to ratchet up their production into the 2030s. In today’s RBN blog, we continue our review of these projects.
The NGL business is one of the most logistically complex segments of the energy industry. To really make sense of it you need to step back and look at the big picture. That’s exactly what our new U.S. NGL Infrastructure Map provides — a comprehensive view of the entire NGL value chain.
The early signs of a rebound can be seen in Venezuela, where crude oil production and exports are on the rise, although plenty of unknowns remain. Today, we look at how much Venezuelan crude is reaching the U.S., how the U.S. import slate has changed, and preview our latest Drill Down Report.
There’s an interesting aspect to the buildout of new Permian gas processing capacity, NGL pipelines, fractionators and NGL export terminals, namely that virtually all of the projects are being undertaken by midstream companies that handle NGLs along their entire value chain, from wellhead to water.
The Marcellus/Utica still has vast amounts of natural gas to supply the ongoing surge in demand from power generators and LNG exporters. But there’s a catch: A significant step-up in Appalachian production can only occur if new pipeline infrastructure is built to transport that gas to where it’s needed.
The U.S. is at the tail end of an incredible wave of LNG expansion that has so far seen nine new projects across seven terminals reach a final investment decision in a little over a year. Today, we take a closer look at the Commonwealth LNG project and what comes next for U.S. LNG development.
amp;P profits, a surge in capex to capture fatter cash flows seemed like a sure thing, but that would have been a losing bet. Today, we review oil and gas producers’ investment and production guidance and analyze potential future strategy.
The rapid buildout of Permian gas processing plants and other NGL-related infrastructure in Texas and southeastern New Mexico isn’t just continuing, it’s accelerating. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the latest project announcements and why gas and NGL production in the Permian are still rising.
The U.S. propane market typically follows predictable trends. With much of domestic demand occurring in the colder months, storage builds in the summer and is withdrawn in the winter. But since mid-April, storage levels have increased by only 1.2 MMbbl. Today, we explore what is going on and why.
As the Marcellus/Utica became the U.S.’s premier natural gas production region in the 2010s, a larger portion of its output headed out of the Northeast. An increasingly important part of the story has involved greater demand for gas from within the Northeast, especially the power sector.
amp; roll song titles. Then … give it away for free. Not exactly a textbook business plan. Today we turn the page. Novi Labs has acquired RBN Energy. Today’s blog is all about the logic of this deal and what it means for our customers.
The global oil market has been especially volatile this year, but the United Arab Emirates’ decision to cease its OPEC membership provided another jolt. Today, we dig into why the UAE chose this path and the potential implications for the global market and U.S. producers.
amp;A in the Anadarko lately, most for steady-as-she-goes production assets at reasonable prices.
With their scale and 130-gigawatt pipeline of new large-load customers, the planned combination of electric utility and wholesale power giants NextEra Energy and Dominion may substantially accelerate the buildout of new gas-fired power plants and, with that, the need for more pipeline capacity.
The prospect of procuring steady production assets at reasonable prices has been spurring interest in the Anadarko Basin. In the past few weeks, two privately held producers closed on deals totaling more than $4 billion, with another $1-billion-plus agreement announced this month. What’s going on?
An emergency fuel waiver by the Environmental Protection Agency is allowing refineries and refined product terminals to supply gasoline with a higher Reid vapor pressure this summer than previously permitted. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, the waiver may well increase gasoline supply and improve refinery and blender economics.
A lot of work must be done to revive Venezuela’s crude oil industry, which has suffered from years of poor management and underinvestment. Exports have rebounded sharply in early 2026, but much more could be done. Today, we outline the additional steps that could boost export volumes.
After being in virtual limbo the past couple of years, the U.S. Northeast gas market is reawakening. New pipeline development is, well, no longer a pipe dream. Today, we begin a series evaluating the impacts of these changing fundamentals on the Northeast gas market outlook.
The monthslong closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the related surge in crude oil exports from the U.S. Gulf Coast has prompted two big questions: (1) how much oil can the region’s marine terminals reliably send out on a sustained basis and (2) does the USGC need more export capacity.
U.S. crude oil production averaged a record 13.6 MMb/d in 2025, up nearly 1.6 MMb/d from 2023, but crude export volumes remained remarkably stable — at or very near 4.1 MMb/d — until a recent Iran-related surge. A key reason: “capacity creep” expansion projects at several Gulf Coast refineries.
Oil markets have been pushed higher by supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions, while natural gas prices have strengthened on weather-driven demand, reinforcing a powerful near-term earnings tailwind. The question is a familiar one: What will producers do with these additional cash flows?
The U.S. is seeing softer domestic demand for traditional fuels, but pockets of the country remain highly dependent on imported gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. Today, we’ll zero in on which PADDs are at the highest risk for shortages and price spikes if the Iran war drags on for an extended period.
Natural gas demand is building fast along the Gulf Coast. New LNG export terminals, data centers and power generation — and new pipelines to deliver the incremental gas. That’s all baked in. What’s still far from certain is where all the gas will come from, and how intense the battle for gas supply will become.
It’s been eight weeks since the steady flow of crude oil and refined product tankers out of the Persian Gulf ended, and the impacts on refineries and product suppliers in key parts of the world are becoming clearer. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the state of refining in the U.S., Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
A data center developer’s top priorities are speed, speed, and speed, with cost and other factors coming next. Today, we look at how developers must solve the issues around offtake agreements and power generation and also preview our latest Drill Down Report.
We’ve blogged about rising demand for natural gas in the southeastern U.S. and the pipeline projects being planned there. But there’s more to the story — a bigger picture — namely, that gas consumers in the region increasingly find themselves competing for supply with LNG exporters.
There are three main factors affecting today’s propane market: export economics, dock space and storage levels. The Iran war has dramatically shifted export economics and filled dock space, yet storage remains at all-time highs. In today’s RBN blog, we look at what’s in store for the rest of 2026.
The rapid expansion of data centers is one of the biggest stories in the energy sector and the Monarch Compute Campus, which will soon start taking shape in West Virginia, could be a compelling test case for future development. Today, we look at the strategy behind it.
The energy industry touts vast U.S. oil and gas resources, but increasingly limited volumes that can be practically and profitably developed have left producers struggling to replace proven reserves. Today, we analyze the trends that are limiting the industry’s ability to ramp up future output.
The West Coast, particularly California, has been the U.S. region hardest hit by the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly regarding the Golden State’s ability to obtain refined product imports. Today, we discuss the impact of the closure.
A combination of new natural gas takeaway capacity out of the Permian, rising feedgas demand from LNG export terminals and stronger gas prices at the Waha Hub will support a steady increase in associated gas production. But an important question looms: Will there be enough gas processing capacity?
Nashville is known for its music, but it’s also a fast-growing gasoline and diesel market, uniquely positioned between the Gulf Coast and Midwest. With major development projects planned, such as the new Tennessee Titans stadium, it’s getting to be a tight squeeze for the area’s fuel terminals.
As rising AI-driven demand for data centers has supported growth in key markets like Virginia and Texas, developers are increasingly casting a wider net. Today, we examine the factors drawing large-scale projects to “non-key” states, with a close look at Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
U.S. refineries are, of course, far less dependent on crude oil from the Middle East than they were before the Shale Revolution. But the cutoff in oil supplies from the Persian Gulf is forcing several U.S. refiners to look elsewhere for the mostly medium-sour crude they had been sourcing from the region.
As crude oil production continues to grow in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, more pipeline capacity will be needed. The 590-Mb/d Trans Mountain Expansion in 2024 temporarily provided a period of surplus capacity, but that is shrinking. Today, we go through all the projects in the works.
U.S. LNG has been on the fast track as new export capacity along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast draws in increasing volumes of U.S. natural gas. The impact of that unprecedented buildout only intensified over the past several weeks with the war in Iran and its effects on Persian Gulf LNG.
The roiling of global energy markets by war in the Middle East has magnified the importance of domestic oil output and heightened interest in capital spending. Today, we look at the 2026 forecasts and offer some far-too-early speculation about the industry response to the recent surge in oil prices.
Permian wells are churning out 22 Bcf/d of residue natural gas, but for many producers that gas abundance is a hindrance. A persistent shortfall in takeaway capacity has made negative prices at Waha an all-too-regular thing. But the situation will soon be changing for the much-better.
There’s no shortage of work to be done to revive Venezuela’s crude oil industry, much of which suffered from years of poor management and minimal investment. One rehabilitation effort that could deliver a lot of bang for the buck would be to repair and restart the industry’s crude upgraders.
Data center development is booming across the country. But power and water supplies, fiber connectivity, and regulatory environments differ across states. Today’s RBN blog compares seven leading states for data centers on the key factors that help determine development outcomes.
The war-related loss of LNG export capacity in Qatar suggests that existing and planned LNG export terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast will be running flat-out over the next few years, and that the Texas/Louisiana region will need even more natural gas storage capacity than previously figured.
End markets for Canadian crude oil have evolved as production and export capacity have grown, especially in the past few years. Today, we dig into the data to see where Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin crude oil supply goes, how it gets there, and how those destination markets have evolved.
The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran and the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz isn’t just stranding significant volumes of refined products in the Persian Gulf. It’s also resulting in potentially extensive and long-lasting damage to some refineries there and trapping crude oil that Asian refiners depend on.
A regulatory topic that had long been very backburner — the so-called “311” transportation of natural gas — is suddenly front and center because it applies to the slew of new, mostly intrastate pipelines that have been built across Texas to get Permian gas to LNG terminals on the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
The upstream oil and gas sector has been periodically roiled by dramatic price swings triggered by world events over the last five decades. Today, we analyze the impact of bottoming oil prices on earnings and cash flows as the industry girds for an unpredictable 2026.
Crude oil supply from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin continues to grow. At times, it has exceeded the region’s outbound pipeline capacity. Today, we’ll take a close look at the periods of pipeline surplus and scarcity, and how they correlate with WCSB price discounts relative to U.S. price benchmarks.
More Canadian heavy crude barrels are on their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast and some, if not most, of that oil could be taking a somewhat circuitous route — through the Rocky Mountain states. Today, we discuss highlights from RBN’s new multiclient study on this important topic, developed with Plainview Energy Analytics.
While most of the discussion about Venezuela involves crude production, it’s important to know that the country was also once a major refiner before it began a decade-long downturn. Today, we look at the history of Venezuela’s refining sector and the prospects for a turnaround.
A lot of attention has been paid to the massive volumes of crude oil and LNG currently trapped in the Persian Gulf. What’s sometimes overlooked, however, is that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also major exporters of refined products, and that they and Qatar also send out copious amounts of LPG.
The White House has issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, which will allow foreign tankers to move crude oil and refined products between U.S. ports in a bid to cool gasoline prices. Today, we dive into what the waiver could mean for U.S. refiners, consumers, and other market participants.
Today, we detail U.S. plans to release 172 MMbbl from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, examine how it compares with U.S. actions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and why the SPR could drop to levels not seen since the Reagan administration.
amp;Ps have been selling off non-core holdings and, with those deals, zeroing in on the shale basins they see as the keys to their success.
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine not only led to the demise of Russian pipeline gas supplies to Europe and caused prices to spike, but it also helped create new arbitrage opportunities for U.S. LNG shippers. In today’s RBN blog, we look at the different approaches the U.S. upstream has adopted in response.
Despite ongoing efforts by Pemex to boost production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, the Mexican market still depends on imports from the U.S. for just over half of its refined product needs. And moving nearly 700 Mb/d of transportation fuels to population centers south of the border is no easy task.
nbsp;The current spike in fuel prices adds another (though likely short-term) component to the debate. Today, we’ll dive into the debate, focusing on ethanol blending policies.
With Canadian crude oil production continuing to grow, the industry and politicians are considering options to add pipeline export capacity out of Western Canada. In today’s RBN blog, the second of a series, we review the major pipeline projects that have expanded markets for Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin crude oil since 2010, and how those expansions lined up with supply growth.
A major theme under the second Trump administration has been “energy dominance,” with a focus on expanded drilling, increased oil and gas production, and an easier path to project approvals. Today, we explain why the goal of “energy dominance” doesn’t mean going it alone, especially when it comes to the refining sector.
“Location, location, location” doesn’t just apply to residential and commercial real estate. It also holds true for natural gas storage, which is in high-and-rising demand along the Texas/Louisiana border, where a slew of new LNG export capacity is coming online — new gas-fired power plants, too.
New and expanded natural gas storage facilities near the Texas/Louisiana border are coming online and being planned, mostly in response to the ongoing buildout of LNG export capacity along the Gulf Coast and new gas pipelines to those terminals.
U.S. exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to Mexico have been mostly rising the past 15 years. Over that same period, the Mexican government’s policy on the import-related roles of state-owned Pemex and private companies has zigged and zagged, slowing efforts to develop new midstream infrastructure.
amp;Ps, differences in financial performance often stem from accounting methodology, specifically from whether a company uses the Full Cost (FC) or Successful Efforts (SE) method to account for its oil and gas properties. Today, we examine why this seemingly mundane topic really matters.
New LNG export capacity near the Texas/Louisiana border, rising natural gas production in the Haynesville (and the West Haynesville), and new pipelines transporting that gas south to the Gulf Coast have spurred a lot of interest in gas storage — and storage developers are responding.
This year will be a tale of two halves for the Permian. Natural gas production and pricing figure to remain fairly stable until the back half of this year, when more than 5 Bcf/d of new pipeline capacity comes online, giving the basin room to grow for the first time in a long time.
Northeast Texas is increasingly a key conduit for natural gas supply pushing toward rising Gulf Coast LNG demand. The region’s supply is poised to surge over the next decade, driven by new inflows from the Permian and rising local production, including from the emerging Western Haynesville play.
Utah legislators seeking to lower the state’s at-the-pump tax on gasoline and diesel have proposed a tax of up to 24 cents on every gallon of motor fuel produced at Utah’s five refineries. That has raised the ire of refiners and out-of-state consumers of Utah-sourced fuels, who cite several reasons why the move would be a mistake.
The U.S. has been drilling for oil and gas for more than 160 years, and what to do with those wells once they are no longer productive has long been an issue, as they can also be significant emitters of methane, a major greenhouse gas. Today, we discuss a new approach that aims to address both issues.
The six states in EIA’s PADD 1C subregion — Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia — consume massive volumes of refined products but produce very little themselves. That dichotomy spurred a multi-decade buildout of highly efficient pipeline, marine and trucking networks.
Florida is the nation’s fourth-largest consumer of natural gas, and its consumption has tripled since 2000, mostly due to the development of nearly 30 GW of new gas-fired power plants. In today’s RBN blog, we examine the state’s remarkable growth and whether additional pipeline capacity might be needed.
There’s more interest than ever in increasing coordination between the U.S. gas and electric sectors. Each market now depends more heavily on the other than ever. Yet significant hurdles remain, many stemming from fragmented and distinct regulatory regimes and deeply entrenched operating practices on both sides.
The U.S. midstream sector experienced a massive infrastructure buildout in the 2010s, followed by a sharp pullback after 2020, and then a new era of financial discipline and deleveraging. Now, AI-propelled power load growth and a wave of LNG export expansion are pushing midstream capex higher again.
The next four years will reshape the future of North America’s natural gas market. LNG exports are set to surge as new terminals across the U.S., Canada and Mexico come online, causing ripple effects through global energy trade and fueling new demand from Europe and Asia.
Devon Energy and Coterra Energy’s newly announced merger didn’t come as a huge surprise. They have highly complementary assets in the Permian and the Anadarko and their deal promises $1 billion or more in synergy-related savings. Finally — and this is important — their combination had been urged on by an activist investor.
For the past several years, a potent combination of market developments has incentivized PADD 2/Midwest refiners — and their midstream partners — to move increasing volumes of refined products east. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss what’s been happening lately and how it’s affecting refiners.
The arrival of a special, 460-Mbbl shipment of U.S.-sourced naphtha in Venezuela a few days ago underscored a critically important fact, namely that production of Venezuelan heavy sour crude requires steady inflows of imported diluent. Today, we’ll discuss Venezuela’s need for diluent and how it’s likely to be met.
The evolving situation in Venezuela is rife with uncertainty. But as the outlook for Venezuelan crude oil improves, there are significant market issues at play as well, including the potential for renewed competition with Canadian heavy crudes along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Buoyed by record-level feedgas demand and several planned export terminals reaching important development milestones, 2025 was a banner year for U.S. LNG. Today, we’ll examine some of the sector’s near-term challenges and look at where demand could increase in the long term.
Mexico’s still-rising demand for U.S.-sourced natural gas — and new pipelines to deliver it — has been driven by the buildout of new power plants and, more recently, by planned LNG exports. Today, we discuss more private-sector midstreamers and the new gas demand that may bring them new opportunities.
NGL production in Western Canada hit an all-time high in 2025 and looks to be headed even higher in the years ahead. Major midstream players, such as AltaGas, have been undertaking infrastructure expansions to deal with all the additional gas processing, Y-grade fractionation and product exports.
The news out of Venezuela has commanded the world’s attention since early January, with the country’s highly prized heavy crude oil caught in a geopolitical tug of war. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll lay out where Venezuela’s crude oil is produced and how it differs from grades elsewhere.
Mexico’s process for planning new gas pipelines is very top-down, with state-owned Cenagas and CFE playing key roles. But the buildout of pipelines there has been largely accomplished by private-sector companies that are now planning another round of projects that will spur more gas exports from the U.S.
The U.S. refining industry has been on a real rollercoaster ride in recent years. Today, we take a region-by-region look at the future of the U.S. refining industry and explain why reductions in refining capacity are expected in some areas while others may be in a position to thrive.
All roads lead to Louisiana in the natural gas market, and those roads have become increasingly crowded as LNG demand sucks in gas from other states. Today, we discuss Boardwalk’s Kosci Junction project and how it will impact the gas market in Louisiana, Mississippi and beyond.
Even if Permian crude oil production were to stagnate over the next few years, the region’s output of NGLs would likely increase by half, from the current 3.2 MMcf/d to about 4.8 MMcf/d in 2030. Anticipating that growth, NGL midstreamers are planning new NGL pipeline capacity from West Texas to the Gulf Coast.
Sure, natural gas markets have experienced lots of changes the past few years. But all that was merely a prelude. The main event — a transformation of Gulf Coast markets — is about to begin. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss our upcoming GasCon 2026 conference on this market-shifting inflection point.
Wow! Pragmatism! Driven by physics, economics and, yes, even politics. It’s clear that 2025’s reset will carry into 2026, and energy markets are breathing a collective sigh of relief. So what does this renewed tilt toward fossil fuels mean for markets? Today, our Prognostications for 2026.
Well, 2025 is now in the books, allowing us time for reflection, resolution-making and pretending we always knew how the year would turn out. And unlike many, we also look into the rear-view mirror to see how we did with last year’s predictions. That’s what we’ll do in today’s blog.
Regularly scheduled refinery turnarounds are one the most important (and expensive) activities of any refiner. Today, we look at what happens during a typical turnaround, the ways refiners seek to manage their risk, and the biggest potential payoffs that come with a well-executed project.
What it takes to get energy from where it is produced to where it is consumed was at the heart of many of RBN’s most popular blogs in 2025. But there were also the three T’s: Trump, tariffs and turbulence.
Crude oil production in the U.S.’s portion of the Gulf of Mexico is poised to top 2 MMb/d for the first time in six years — and only the third time ever. New projects keep coming online. And a newcomer to the U.S. GOM, U.K.-based Harbour Energy, just announced a deal to acquire LLOG Exploration.
Opinions vary on how much U.S. electricity demand may rise and how much that may impact demand for natural gas. But there’s across-the-board agreement that the electric and gas sectors are more intertwined than ever and electric-grid reliability will suffer if gas-fired plants don’t get the fuel they need.
A framework agreement between Canada’s federal government and the province of Alberta aims to kickstart a process to construct a new crude oil pipeline to the country’s west coast that would expand direct crude exports to Asia and reduce reliance on the U.S. as an export customer.
Plains All American’s Basin Pipeline and the complementary Sunrise Pipeline play major roles in moving Permian crude to Cushing, OK, the delivery point for the U.S. benchmark and a key storage hub. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll dig into why the pipes are so important to the Permian, Plains and Cushing.
Underpinned by new shipper commitments, a WhiteWater Midstream-led team has upsized the capacity of its planned 2.5-Bcf/d Eiger Express Pipeline to a whopping 3.7 Bcf/d. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the expansion plan.
Three-quarters of the Bakken's top-tier well sites may have already been drilled and the remaining inventory may be less than stellar, but a new AI-based analysis suggests the quality of the rock held by the shale play’s top producers varies widely.
amp;Ps we track have retained investor support over the past three years despite a drop in oil prices. Their formula has been throttling back costs and investment to prioritize shareholder returns.
In newly announced deals, Antero Resources and Antero Midstream will expand their holdings in northern West Virginia and divest non-core assets in eastern Ohio.
All the speculation you hear about the future of data centers comes with the promise of massive amounts of electricity usage down the line. But which facilities are using the most grid power right now?
A new analysis suggests about 75% of the Bakken’s top-quartile locations have been drilled and only 6,100 well sites would generate a good return at the prices we’ve seen the past couple of years.
amp;Ps have battled mightily to mitigate the impact on earnings and cash flows caused by the steady erosion in commodity prices, but concerning trends could impact future earnings.
Targa Resources’ plan to acquire sour-gas specialist Stakeholder Midstream will give the midstream giant an even stronger foothold in the Northern Delaware Basin, where much of the associated gas has high levels of H2S and CO2.
For months, the Trump administration and industry groups have been asserting that EU regulations on methane emissions could result in a sharp decline in — or even an end to — U.S. LNG flows to the EU.
Appalachia is churning out just over one-third of Lower 48 natural gas production and has the potential to produce considerably more. The big question is whether output will finally break out.
Energy Transfer stitched together its Permian Express system over multiple years and it’s now a standout in the company’s midstream portfolio, able to carry 600 Mb/d of Permian crude to Nederland, TX.
Building and expanding refineries is a challenging task involving many moving parts. But even the best projects can unravel if politics shift, the economy sours, or another “black swan” event hits.
Expanded energy development in Alaska has been a priority since President Trump returned to office. We review the moves and how they fit into plans to accelerate Arctic exploration and development.
Buoyed by record crude oil flows and the expectation of further growth in Western Canada, Enbridge has been sanctioning more pipeline expansion projects and discussing plans to add more capacity.
Ovintiv, one of Western Canada’s largest natural gas and condensate producers, has upped its Montney position with a takeover of rival NuVista Energy, continuing the recent consolidation trend.
NGL production in British Columbia has been on the rise. Plans by NorthRiver Midstream to build a pipeline to fractionators in Alberta will give producers in the Montney more runway for growth.
Dangote eyes a massive expansion but still struggles to reach capacity. Dos Bocas faces steeper hurdles. New refineries worldwide keep hitting the wall as bold plans collide with tough execution.
The permitting process for carbon-capture projects is, in some ways, like navigating Houston’s notorious rush-hour traffic — if everyone tries to move at once, gridlock can quickly ensue. That’s true at both the federal level, where the EPA has more sequestration wells under review than ever before, and at the state level, where Louisiana just hit the pause button on its reviews. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how increased interest in carbon capture has exacerbated the permitting backlog.
A few days ago, HF Sinclair joined ONEOK, Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan in planning pipeline projects to move more refined products to Western markets. It’s too soon to say how many of these projects will come to fruition, but what’s certain is that the effort to transport large volumes of products west from PADDs 2, 3 and 4 will significantly impact refinery economics across vast swaths of the U.S. In today’s RBN blog, we‘ll discuss the pipeline projects and how they will affect market dynamics.
amp;A activity the past few months, but several companies in that space have been making significant adjustments to their portfolios, either by acquiring assets from others or selling ownership interests in their own businesses. There’s also been a lot of buzz about major deals that may be in the works. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss a few of the more interesting midstream transactions and what’s spurring them, and also look at the general state of the midstream sector.
More propane production. More exports. More inventories. The U.S. propane market, already oversupplied, is becoming even more so, putting additional downward pressure on prices. At the same time, surging demand from LNG exports and gas-fired power generation is pushing natural gas prices higher. Electricity prices are climbing too, further tilting the scales in propane’s favor. The big question is, will these shifting fuel-price relationships move the needle on retail propane demand.
Out of the blue, Plains All American has scooped up 100% of the EPIC Crude Pipeline. Plains had previously announced an agreement to buy a 55% stake in the Permian-to-Corpus-Christi pipeline from Diamondback Energy and Kinetik Holdings, and on November 5, it said it had closed on a deal to buy the other 45% from Ares Management. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss what the acquisition means for Plains, as well as a possible expansion of EPIC and the planned rebranding of the pipe.
The liquids pipeline rate index, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission uses to adjust the rates charged to shippers on the crude oil, refined products and NGL pipelines it regulates, is the most important rulemaking proceeding for interstate oil pipelines. In today’s RBN blog, we take a deeper dive into the rate index, the disruptions caused by recent attempts to adjust it mid-cycle, and how delays in the review process could cause problems down the road.
The Trump administration has been easing regulations, accelerating project approvals, and proclaiming its undying support for the oil and gas industry. But much of the oil patch is in the doldrums. Crude oil prices are stuck in the low $60s/bbl, upstream capex and oilfield activity are down, and some U.S. producers are struggling. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the contrast between what the industry had hoped 2025 would bring and how things stand now.
Energy Transfer has built one of the largest crude oil midstream portfolios in the U.S., yet one of its most important assets — the West Texas Gulf Pipeline — often flies under the radar. The 72-years-young line is still a workhorse, moving crude from the Permian Basin to Longview and Nederland, TX, where it feeds into Energy Transfer’s massive Gulf Coast export hub. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll look at West Texas Gulf and how it fits into Energy Transfer’s broader midstream strategy.
The eight-year legal clash over the coveted CITGO refinery assets just took another unexpected turn, leaving the potential sale up in the air. The winner of the auction for CITGO’s three large U.S. refineries, related pipelines and terminal assets remains uncertain as the auction faces additional legal hurdles. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll dive into the latest in the court case and what it could mean for the three refineries involved, which have a combined capacity of more than 800 Mb/d.
This past spring — 10 years after Williams Cos. first proposed the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project and one year after it scrapped plans for it — the effort to add 400 MMcf/d of natural gas pipeline capacity into New York City was revived. Since then, FERC has re-approved the project and regulators in New York and New Jersey have been mulling over whether to issue water-quality permits. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss Williams’s renewed push to get NESE permitted and built.
A bullish long-term outlook for rising natural gas demand and pricing has partially mitigated the current deep concerns about the steep erosion of oil prices. However, short-term gas pricing has proven very volatile, as the near-month NYMEX price has yo-yoed dramatically in October and the Energy Information Administration recently cut its January forecast. In today’s RBN blog, we present a new metric that calculates the gas price sensitivity of major U.S. producers.
Several large-scale LNG export projects have reached a final investment decision this year along the U.S. Gulf Coast, with most expected to start up between 2029 and 2031. They will be supported by new pipeline capacity to deliver natural gas from producing areas, but how and where will production increase to meet this new demand? In today’s RBN blog, we detail the movement of gas throughout Texas and Louisiana and highlight the key findings in the newest edition of our Arrow Model.
Less than two months after ONEOK unveiled plans for a big new refined products pipeline from El Paso to the Phoenix area, Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan have jointly proposed an even more extensive project of their own: the Western Gateway Pipeline — now the focus of a binding open season — would enable flows from the St. Louis area to Southern California. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the project and what’s driving the race to move more refined products west from PADDs 2 and 3 to PADD 5.
Keeping up with all the natural-gas-related infrastructure under development along the Gulf Coast is a full-time job. New gas pipelines out of the Permian and the Haynesville. New LNG export terminals from Brownsville, TX, to Plaquemines Parish, LA. And don’t forget new gas storage capacity — that slice of the midstream sector is in the midst of its biggest boom in decades. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll finish our review of the latest round of Gulf Coast storage projects.
nbsp;In today’s RBN blog, we’ll begin a new mini-series in which we update the storage projects we discussed in a number of posts last year and describe the additional projects that have come to light since then.
Neither midstream companies nor the folks who run them can be put into neat and simple categories. Each is unique. At the same time, however, there’s no doubt that some midstreamers take a more aggressive approach to developing projects, while others are more cautious. Each approach comes with risks: on one hand, the possibility of anticipating demand that doesn’t materialize; on the other, the risk of missed opportunities. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the strategies of five leading midstreamers.
The Trump administration promised to put wind in the sails of the fossil fuels industry, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has failed to resolve a key issue regarding the liquids pipeline rate index, under which the commission adjusts the rates charged to shippers on FERC-regulated crude oil, refined products and NGL pipelines. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll review the recent history of the rate index, why it moved sharply higher (and then lower) in recent years, and what lies ahead.
ARM Energy Holdings has reached a final investment decision for the 2.5-Bcf/d Mustang Express Pipeline, which will support Sempra Infrastructure’s Port Arthur LNG Phase 2, the latest of several major LNG projects in the Sabine River area to reach FID. The pipeline is intended to act as a regional header system with a route designed to offer maximum optionality and connectivity. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss what the pipeline could mean for regional gas flows.
Kinder Morgan’s ongoing conversion of the Double H Pipeline to NGL service is only part of a larger plan by the midstream giant to move Bakken-sourced Y-grade from North Dakota to fractionation centers in Kansas and Texas. The Double H, which until recently transported crude oil, runs only to eastern Wyoming, so how will NGLs on the pipeline — renamed Hiland Express — get from there to Conway, KS; Mont Belvieu, TX; and maybe Sweeny, TX, too? In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the possibilities.
These are challenging times in the oil patch. Crude oil prices continue to sag. E&Ps are trimming their capex, share buybacks, and staff. Some worry that production may be peaking. And yet, upstream M&A activity continues unabated as producers seek to gain scale, expand into new plays — or double down on old ones — and replenish their inventory of top-tier well sites. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss four of the biggest deals announced in the past few weeks.
A fire swept through Chevron’s El Segundo, CA, refinery on October 2, upsetting production of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. The incident raised fresh concerns about higher prices and highlighted the fragility of the state’s refining network, already challenged by years of weak margins, rising regulatory compliance costs and softening gasoline demand. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the immediate impact of the fire and the long-term outlook for California’s refining sector.
The most significant operating expense for energy pipelines is the power needed for pumps and compressors. So, when gas and power prices surge as a result of inclement weather, it can be costly for pipelines. To address that risk, many midstream companies have enrolled in demand-response programs with power providers, where they agree to temporarily cut back some assets. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the strategies that pipelines are using to boost their operations and lower costs.
While several larger midstream companies were focused on building conventional gas gathering and processing infrastructure in the Southern Delaware Basin, a handful of mostly smaller midstreamers were focusing on the Permian’s next challenge: developing systems in the Northern Delaware to gather and treat associated gas with high H2S and CO2 content. In today’s RBN blog, we continue our look at the region’s sour-gas-related assets with a review of what a few of these companies have assembled.
U.S. Gulf Coast ethane exports were up sharply in September thanks to the startup of new export terminals in Texas. The surge in export volumes contributed to an 8% increase in ethane prices between July and September and a similar jump in the ratio between ethane and natural gas. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how the recent additions to export capacity have impacted prices and review the basics of ethane economics.
The midstreamers that built out and/or acquired the sour gas treatment facilities, acid gas injection wells and other assets E&Ps need to exploit the Northern Delaware Basin’s crude-oil-saturated rock are sittin’ pretty. Put simply, they anticipated what is now a race to “Drill, baby, drill!” in Lea County, NM, where the IP rates for crude are high but so are the H2S and CO2 content in the associated gas. In today’s RBN blog, we look at Targa’s, Enterprise’s and MPLX’s sour-gas-related assets.
In the early 2000s, prices for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) were becoming increasingly disconnected from global fundamentals. WTI reflected conditions in the Midcontinent at the Cushing, OK, crude oil storage hub, where bottlenecks repeatedly distorted its value. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how the problem contributed to the creation of the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) 16 years ago, how the index has evolved and whether it remains relevant today.
After setting an annual record of 4.1 MMb/d in 2024, U.S. crude exports started off this year relatively strong, but cracks soon began to show, with volumes falling all the way to 3.2 MMb/d in July, one of the weakest months since 2023. But just when it seemed the momentum was gone, Gulf Coast exports rebounded to near 3.9 MMb/d in August and are topping 4.1 MMb/d so far in September. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how shifts in production, imports and refinery runs have impacted U.S. crude exports.
More than 70 new data centers are under development in Virginia, which is already the world’s leading hub for the massive, high-tech facilities. But given the rapid pace of the buildout and the challenges that come with it, it’s probably no surprise that not everyone in the Old Dominion State is as enthusiastic about data centers as they once were. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll look at some of the biggest data centers in the works and discuss their path forward.
It’s well understood today that the U.S. natural gas market turned from potential domestic shortages to major LNG exports thanks to the Shale Revolution. What is not so well remembered is that the dramatic shift in the U.S. gas market wasn’t widely understood at the time and took several years to be accepted by the energy industry. In today’s RBN blog, we turn our attention to the beginnings of the Shale Revolution and how it allowed the U.S. to evolve into the world’s largest LNG exporter.
Before data centers were the hot topic everywhere, Virginia was already rolling out the red carpet and it seemed that tech firms were constructing facilities as fast as humanly possible, drawn by the state’s robust fiber-optic network and low power prices. But while other states are racing to catch up, Virginia may be hitting the brakes. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll look at what makes Virginia so “sweet” for data center developers, their impact on the state, and efforts by some to slow progress.
The popularity of weather derivatives has ebbed and flowed since their introduction in the late 1990s but trading activity has rebounded in recent years as the trading community has increasingly begun to reassess the need to hedge weather-related risks — everything from high temperatures and rainfall levels to power prices and cooling demand. In today’s RBN blog, we examine the role of weather derivatives, how they are used to hedge risk, and why they may be becoming increasingly important to the energy industry.
Natural gas prices at the Waha hub in West Texas plunged below zero again recently after force majeure and maintenance events across multiple pipelines left Permian producers scrambling to move their gas out. Persistent congestion will remain a big headache this fall and likely again in the spring, before the new Blackcomb and Hugh Brinson pipelines come online in 2026. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll highlight the importance of gas-flow analysis and pipeline modeling to preview our upcoming Natural Gas Master Class, which features real-world examples from today’s market, including a look at recent negative pricing in the Permian and Appalachian outflows on Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).
Ten years ago, U.S. exports of natural gas in the form of LNG were a footnote in the market. But that all changed in 2016. In February of that year, the first shipment of LNG from the Lower 48 states set sail when the vessel Asia Vision departed from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana. This was the culmination of a remarkable turnaround, not only at Sabine Pass, but for the U.S. natural gas market as a whole. Eight years earlier, Sabine Pass had been completed as an import terminal, as it was projected that the U.S. would face significant shortages of natural gas supplies. Shale turned that business model on its head.
Data center mania is sweeping across the U.S., grabbing headlines and spurring investor interest. It has now reached Louisiana, where Meta is building one of the largest developments in the Western Hemisphere. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll look at two gigantic projects planned for Louisiana, the early challenges the Bayou State faced in luring developers, and why it may now be a strong contender to emerge as a major Southern data center hub after a relatively slow start.
The numbers out of Eddy and Lea counties in southeastern New Mexico are nothing short of staggering. Crude oil production at 2.3 MMb/d, or one-sixth of total U.S. output. Natural gas production north of 9 Bcf/d and rising fast. More than 90 active rigs — again, one-sixth of the U.S. total. Many top E&Ps are stoked about the Northern Delaware Basin because of its stacked benches of high-quality, crude-saturated shale and carbonate formations. But much of the associated gas emerging from wells in Lea County is “off-spec” — tainted by levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) that need to be dealt with — and producers and midstreamers have been scrambling to develop the sour-gas-related infrastructure required to support production growth. In today’s RBN blog, we begin a detailed look at the Northern Delaware’s existing and planned infrastructure for handling sour gas, including special gas gathering systems, amine treatment facilities, acid gas injection (AGI) wells, sweet gas pipelines and processing plants.
The last three years have seen historic changes in the U.S. octane market. The wholesale value of octane, the primary yardstick of gasoline quality and price, spiked threefold in 2022, followed by another year of high values in 2023. The numbers for 2024 and (so far) 2025 have been more stable, but still historically high. In today’s RBN blog, we look at why retail octane values have risen so high and why refiners have been capturing only a small share of the corresponding increase.
Although Labor Day has passed, most of the country is still enjoying balmy and relatively tranquil weather as we approach the onset of fall. However, a decline in crude oil prices since a mid-June peak has induced a profound chill in the boardrooms of oil and gas producers. Investors are becoming increasingly nervous as the crude spot price approaches $60/bbl, a widely accepted inflection point that, if breached, could threaten the post-pandemic financial stability the industry has enjoyed. In today’s RBN blog, we review the midyear adjustments to 2025 capital budgets and explore investment trends that could impact future production and results.
This summer, like the spring, winter and fall that preceded it, has seen a lot of dealmaking among midstreamers. And not just M&A and divestitures by the folks who gather, transport and process hydrocarbons but a major acquisition — and a rare IPO! — in the produced water slice of the midstream pie. Apples and oranges, maybe, but there are two common themes, namely that bigger is better and that zeroing in on core areas is key. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss some of the most significant midstream deals of Q3 2025.
The data center boom is sweeping across the country and Texas has garnered more proposals for new centers than almost any other state. If every planned project were to go forward, it would mean nearly 9 gigawatts (GW) of additional electricity demand, or just over 1 Bcf/d of natural gas. That’s enough to power the entire country of Switzerland. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll check out the biggest planned data centers across the Lone Star State and give a quick rundown on where things stand for each one.
OPEC+ is ramping up production, WTI is hanging below $65/bbl, and Permian crude oil production growth has slowed to a crawl, raising the question of whether oil output in the U.S.’s #1 shale play might, in fact, be peaking. That’s making some folks on the NGL side of things a little skittish. They’re wondering what a leveling off — or an outright decline — in Permian crude production would mean for associated gas and the volumes of Y-grade being piped to Mont Belvieu and other fractionation hubs. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss a new model that forecasts Permian NGL production under a variety of scenarios.
Oil and gas producers’ interest in each of the U.S.’s shale and tight-rock production areas has waxed and waned over the past quarter century or so. First it was the Barnett Shale, the birthplace of the Shale Revolution in the late 1990s. Then came the Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus/Utica, Eagle Ford, Bakken, Permian, Denver-Julesburg (DJ) and SCOOP/STACK. And, as always, E&Ps are looking for “the next big thing.” The Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah certainly isn’t a Permian, Bakken or Eagle Ford, and it may not even be a DJ, but production of its unusual waxy crude has been on a tear lately, and a lot of people are asking how much further Uinta production can grow and how long those higher levels could continue. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss highlights from our new Drill Down Report on the Uinta.
Merger activity this year has been frequent in Canada’s oil and gas sector as companies strive for scale and efficiencies in an increasingly competitive landscape. The latest M&A salvo arrived in late August when MEG Energy agreed to a takeover offer from Cenovus Energy to create the largest bitumen producer in Alberta’s oil sands. With billions of barrels of reserves up for development, it is a chance for Cenovus to further consolidate and expand its existing lead in bitumen output from the oil sands. However, what might seem a straightforward corporate merger has been buffeted by a rival bid from Strathcona Resources in its attempt to create scale and ensure its own long-term competitiveness. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll examine the details of the two offers and what is at stake for all involved.
The refining industry is complex and unpredictable. Recent plant closures in the U.S. and abroad, as well as mounting pressure to produce more renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), have shifted the landscape. In addition, an eight-year battle over CITGO’s three U.S. refineries has taken a new direction. Despite these shifts, the refining industry has remained resilient. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss how refineries balance these changes and make choices to shape their future, the focus of our upcoming Refined Fuels Master Class. Warning: Today’s blog is a blatant advertorial.
Strong demand for refined products (especially jet fuel) in Arizona and refinery closures in Southern California have spurred the development of a new refined products pipeline from West Texas to the Phoenix area. ONEOK, whose acquisition of Magellan Midstream Partners made it a player in refined products, has announced an open season for the proposed Sun Belt Connector pipeline, which would expand PADD 2 and PADD 3 refiners’ access to premium markets out West. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss ONEOK’s plan and how it could impact refined products markets.
North America is an integrated energy market so deeply connected that it functions as one massive, interdependent system for the three “drillbit hydrocarbons”: crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. But the rapid changes happening in the market now — driven not only by supply/demand dynamics and evolving infrastructure but also regulatory policies and political pressures — mean it’s more important than ever to talk about how the ongoing relationship between the U.S. and Canada will evolve and strengthen in the coming years. That was the focus of our School of Energy Canada and the subject of today’s RBN blog. Warning: Today’s blog includes some blatant plugs for a newly available replay of our recent conference in Calgary.
Which is true, A or B? (A) Data center demand to power AI applications is the most transformative force to hit energy markets in years, or (B) This is one of the most overhyped, inflated narratives ever. We hear a constant stream of announcements, promotions and proclamations from developers, tech giants, utilities and politicians, many predicting a revolutionary surge in electricity and gas demand that will change everything. At the same time, others warn of a speculative bubble destined to pop. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, sorting out which side is closer to reality is one of the most important questions facing U.S. energy markets.
For most of us, matching spending with income is the logical path to financial stability. However, after decades of aggressive investment in search of growth, the “dollars in equals dollars out” method of allocating free cash flow has been an adjustment for many U.S. oil and gas producers. Their post-pandemic concentration on keeping capital spending well below inflows, maintaining healthy leverage ratios and directing excess funds to reward shareholders with dividends and stock buybacks has revitalized the industry and restored investor confidence. But ebbing commodity prices have upped the difficulty of this quarterly zero-sum game. In today’s RBN blog, we will analyze the shifts detected in Q2 2025 cash allocation of the 38 major U.S. E&Ps we cover.
After a decade of regulatory and legal challenges, Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) finally came into service in the middle of last year. The 2-Bcf/d pipeline — soon to be expanded to 2.5 Bcf/d via additional compression — was designed to ease natural gas takeaway constraints out of the Marcellus/Utica and help production there break past its current plateau near 36 Bcf/d, but bottlenecks on the massive Transco Pipeline have complicated matters. In today’s RBN blog, we look at efforts to unleash more Appalachian gas in the domestic market, focusing on the Southside Reliability Enhancement Project (SREP), which has enabled more gas to reach North Carolina.
Crude oil production in the Permian may or may not have peaked — that’s TBD. What we do know is that even if the shale play’s oil output flatlines, the Permian will generate increasing volumes of natural gas (and NGLs) and virtually all of it will need to be piped to other markets, primarily the Gulf Coast to feed existing and planned LNG export terminals, gas-fired power plants and other large consumers. To keep pace with that undeniable need for more Permian-to-Gulf takeaway capacity, WhiteWater has announced plans, through its Matterhorn joint venture (JV), for yet another mountain-themed gas conduit to the coast. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss WhiteWater’s newly unveiled Eiger Express Pipeline.
Refineries in Europe, Latin America, Russia and China are facing a host of issues that could ultimately benefit U.S. refiners. Europe has high operating costs and political pressures. Attacks have damaged Russia’s refineries, and the country continues to get blasted with steeper sanctions. China’s aging plants are closing and there are no new large-scale projects on the horizon. Latin America lags in capacity growth. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how these global issues are boosting opportunities for U.S. refiners.
U.S. interstates are populated with electronic displays that update drivers in real-time on traffic conditions, road closures, weather alerts and other important events. If there was a sign for executives steering our nation’s oil and gas producers, it would likely read “Poor Visibility, Slow Down Ahead.” After a short-lived price rally in Q1 2025, the industry faced lower commodity realizations and macroeconomic headwinds in Q2 2025, which spooked investors and hardened a cautious investment approach. In today’s RBN blog, we analyze the latest results of the 39 major U.S. E&P companies we cover and look at what’s ahead.
The fact is, many major E&P acquisitions include at least some production assets that don’t align with the acquiring company’s long-term strategic plans. Also, it’s often true that big-dollar M&A increases the buyer’s debt level — and it’s typical in such cases that the company commits to quickly reducing its debt through the divestiture of non-core assets. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, there’s a lot of that going on now, and in many cases smaller, private-equity-backed producers are scooping up the acreage and production being sold.
Midstreamers developing natural gas takeaway capacity out of the Permian have understandably focused on pipelines to the Gulf Coast — and along the coast to LNG export terminals and other big gas consumers. But don’t forget the Desert Southwest, where demand for gas-fired power is soaring. Energy Transfer recently committed to building a 516-mile, 1.5-Bcf/d expansion to its Transwestern Pipeline system from West Texas to the Phoenix area, and hinted that it might double the project’s capacity due to the high level of interest. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss Energy Transfer’s aptly named Desert Southwest Project, what drove its quick progress to a final investment decision (FID), and what other westbound projects out of the Permian might still happen.
Crude oil production in the Permian may or may not have peaked — that’s TBD. What we do know is that even if the shale play’s oil output flatlines, the Permian will generate increasing volumes of natural gas (and NGLs) and virtually all of it will need to be piped to other markets, primarily the Gulf Coast to feed existing and planned LNG export terminals, gas-fired power plants and other large consumers. To keep pace with that undeniable need for more Permian-to-Gulf takeaway capacity, WhiteWater has announced plans, through its Matterhorn joint venture (JV), for yet another mountain-themed gas conduit to the coast. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss WhiteWater’s newly unveiled Eiger Express Pipeline.
In the U.S., crude oil trading hubs like Houston, Midland and Cushing get the lion’s share of the market’s attention. But travel a bit further north and you can find one of the more unusual and liquid crude markets in the country — Guernsey, WY — a focal point for producers in Western Canada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Over the last few months, Guernsey differentials have tightened significantly, finally flipping to a premium to Cushing. We have seen this phenomenon occur before, most notably seven years ago after the startup of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the recent movement in Guernsey differentials and what the future could hold for the often-overlooked sales point.
As demand for data centers accelerates, developers continue to search for locations that offer the best combination of several factors, starting with the availability of uninterrupted (and affordable) power. Those variables have led to a data-center buildout in several parts of the U.S., such as Northern Virginia, Texas and California’s Silicon Valley, but Canada has its own set of positives to lure developers. In today’s RBN blog, we look at the state of data-center development in Canada, how the factors that affect site selection differ from the U.S., and how Canada is working to become a bigger player in the global market.
The original Cactus Pipeline was a pioneer in moving large volumes of crude oil from the Permian and the Eagle Ford to the Corpus Christi area, which quickly became a leader in U.S. crude exports. Cactus II, an even longer and larger pipeline that came online in H2 2019, only added to Corpus Christi’s export prominence. But the competition with Permian-to-Houston pipelines is fiercer than ever and negotiated rates on pipelines to the Texas Gulf Coast are under pressure. In today’s RBN blog, we look at the Cactus I and Cactus II pipelines and their significance.
A crude oil leak last Tuesday at the Enterprise Crude Houston (ECHO) terminal disrupted regional flows and caused crude differentials to move higher over the course of the week. While the spill was swiftly addressed by terminal owner Enterprise Products Partners, it still affected inbound and outbound operations for a few days. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the role of the ECHO terminal and show how even an isolated incident can quickly have an impact on the market.
A few months ago, Enbridge unveiled its plans to expand its massive Mainline and smaller Express/Platte crude oil pipeline systems into the U.S. Midwest/Great Plains. We blogged about those plans, and followed up with a look at how the incremental volumes of Western Canadian crude on the Mainline and Express/Platte might move south from PADD 2 to where they’re wanted most: the Gulf Coast. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss efforts to piece together a more direct pipeline route from Alberta to Cushing and on to the Texas/Louisiana coast.
The build-out of the Permian’s midstream infrastructure over the past 10 years has created extraordinary opportunities for startup companies, most of them backed by private equity. Each of us could cite several examples of midstreamers that, with a combination of guile and grit, developed gathering systems, gas processing plants, pipelines and other infrastructure to serve the fast-growing needs of producers and shippers. In many cases, the assets they constructed were later sold — often at a hefty profit — to much larger firms. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, even in the midst of sector consolidation, the entrepreneurial spirit of smaller Permian midstreamers continues.
<p>Odds are there’s never been a busier, more frantic time for natural-gas-related infrastructure development in Texas and Louisiana than right now. Construction is underway or imminent at no fewer than seven Gulf Coast LNG export terminals with a combined capacity of 16 Bcf/d.</p>
The U.S. refining industry has undergone a number of changes in recent years and more turbulence looks likely as global economic and trade patterns shift and energy transition moves forward. For some refineries, this has led to closures due to weak profits, rising regulatory costs and declining demand for products, particularly gasoline. But other refineries have prospered — and even invested in expansions — while the U.S. industry as a whole has evolved into the most competitive system in the world. Overall, the prospects have been very regionally (and even facility) specific. As detailed in the most recent Future of Fuels report from our Refined Fuels Analytics (RFA) practice, this regional differentiation will continue and shift over the coming years. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss what we expect for the U.S. refining industry — where closures will likely take place, where the industry might actually add capacity, and the reasons for those actions.
Data centers are a buzzy topic in the energy industry, and while there is still a lot of fuzziness about what will actually get built and how much natural-gas-fired power will be needed to support these projects, there’s no doubt that major technology companies are well along in planning a number of massive data centers across the country. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll offer a snapshot of the plans announced by tech giants Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google) and Meta (Facebook).
The oil and gas industry is always working to develop the most efficient methods for unlocking more hydrocarbons. To cut costs and maximize output from their acreage, some companies are rolling out more creative well designs, such as U-turn (aka “horseshoe”) and J-hook wells, which use dramatic, 180-degree underground turns to access more oil and gas from each location. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of these approaches and the technical hurdles associated with drilling these deep bends underground.
Any number of things can impact the price of specific types of crude oil at various locations — supply interruptions, takeaway constraints and refinery outages, to name just a few. Every so often, the stars align and just about all those factors narrow the differential between, say, Western Canadian Select (WCS) and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at the U.S. Gulf Coast to near-record levels. Well, that’s happening now, for the first time in five years. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the shockingly small WCS/WTI differential and what’s driving it.
The European Union (EU) appears poised to substantially increase its imports of U.S. LNG after reaching a trade deal with the Trump administration that includes a pledge to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy over three years. The trade agreement and the EU’s plans to phase out deliveries of Russian LNG and piped-in natural gas by 2027 may end up being a big positive for U.S. producers. But that doesn’t mean it’s all clear sailing, thanks to competition with Qatar and uncertainty around EU regulations. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how U.S. exporters could still get squeezed on price and volume between today and 2030.
Not long ago, several large-scale carbon-capture projects had plenty of momentum, fueled by a push toward decarbonization and expanded federal tax credits. But while progress on many projects has slowed as they faced a host of problems, Tallgrass’s plan to convert its Trailblazer pipeline from natural gas service to carbon dioxide (CO2) has had a comparatively smooth ride, thanks in large part to an engagement strategy that has allowed it to navigate the trickiest potential complication — local opposition. In today’s RBN blog, we review Trailblazer’s conversion, examine why Tallgrass’s strategy has succeeded where similar projects have failed, and look at what happens next.
The San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado has seen more than its share of booms and busts in the last 100-plus years. During the Shale Era, natural gas production in the 7,500-square-mile basin has been slowly declining, undercut by competition from more prolific, better-situated wells in the Permian and Eagle Ford. But a small band of “San Juan believers” think the region is poised for yet another rebound, this time due to what they view as massive, untapped potential in the basin’s Mancos Shale. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss recent developments in the San Juan — and the basin’s extensive pipeline infrastructure.
Western Canadian crude oil production is rising fast. To keep pace, Enbridge is planning expansions to its pipelines into the Midwest and Great Plains. But PADD 2 refineries are maxed out on heavy crude, so virtually all those incremental barrels will need to keep flowing south to refineries and export terminals along the Gulf Coast. Can the pipelines from PADD 2 to PADD 3 handle the higher volumes? In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the knock-on effects of rising Western Canadian production and Enbridge’s pipeline expansions.
MPLX’s July 31 announcement that it has reached an agreement to acquire Northwind Midstream for $2.375 billion puts a spotlight on two undeniable trends. First, the acquisition is the latest in what by now is a long series of multibillion-dollar deals by midstream giants to expand their Permian-to-Gulf, “wellhead-to-water” networks that gather, process, transport and export crude oil, natural gas and/or NGLs. Second, Northwind has been a pioneer in gathering and processing unusually sour associated gas in the prolific Northern Delaware Basin, an area of particular interest to a growing number of E&Ps. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the deal and what it brings to MPLX.
U.S. E&Ps’ strategic shift from growth at any cost to a laser focus on cash flows to fund shareholder returns revitalized their investor base. But that strategy has been challenged as crude oil prices have eroded since their mid-2022 peak, with producers struggling to balance the need to maintain output and the pressure to sustain dividends. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll see how things are going with the oil and gas companies that bear no responsibility for the costs and complications associated with the finding, development and production of hydrocarbons — the entities that own mineral and royalty interests.
Crude oil producers in the prolific Permian Basin have plenty of options to move their barrels, especially since pipeline capacity currently exceeds production, but not every route out of the basin is equal. One of the hottest destinations for Permian crude is Houston, which boasts an attractive mix of refining and export demand. In today’s RBN blog, we look at the pipelines that transport Permian crude to Houston, discuss why it’s such a vital spot, and preview our latest Drill Down Report.
Through the early years of the Shale Era, produced water gathering systems in the Permian were mostly small, simple and focused solely on transporting the salty, petroleum- and mineral-tainted water emerging from wells to nearby saltwater disposal wells. In the 2020s, though, these systems — now mostly owned and operated by third-party produced water specialists — have been becoming larger, more interconnected, and more likely to include at least some water recycling and reuse. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll continue our look at big, far-reaching produced water systems in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
It's an integrated energy market that stretches across the North American continent, from Texas and Florida to the mountains of British Columbia and Canada’s industrial heartland in Ontario/Quebec — a cross-border network so deeply connected, it functions as one massive, interdependent system for oil, natural gas and NGLs. That system is undergoing major shifts and challenges, driven not only by changing supply/demand dynamics and evolving infrastructure within the market itself, but also by powerful external forces, including regulatory policies and political pressures. That’s why we couldn’t think of a better time — or a better place — to host RBN’s 19th School of Energy than in Calgary next month. In today’s RBN blog — a blatant advertorial — we’ll highlight how our upcoming conference will dig into how the interconnected energy landscape is changing and why understanding those shifts is more critical than ever. You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!
Expectations for electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the U.S. took a sharp detour into uncharted territory earlier this month when President Trump signed the landmark budget reconciliation bill into law. Known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the law dramatically scales back EV subsidies, eliminates penalties for automakers that don’t meet fuel-efficiency standards, and significantly restricts state-level zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) programs. In today’s RBN blog, we look at why the law is likely to slow the pace of EV adoption and impact forecasts for vehicle sales and gasoline demand — a key topic in the just-published Future of Fuels report from our Refined Fuels Analytics (RFA) practice.
Perhaps the most hyped-up topic in energy these days is how much electricity new data centers will need to keep up with the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI). And that’s prompting some big questions, such as where all the power will come from and how much natural gas demand will rise. But another crucial question may be whether these data centers will pull that power from the grid or generate it themselves on-site. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the benefits and challenges of each approach.
The Bakken Shale needs more natural gas takeaway capacity, North Dakota wants to encourage more in-state consumption of Bakken-sourced gas, and two entities — WBI Energy and a combo of Intensity Infrastructure Partners and Rainbow Energy Center — have each proposed similar (but not identical) cross-state pipelines that would help achieve those aims. But, assuming that two new pipelines would be overkill, which of the two proposals is the more likely to advance to a final investment decision (FID), construction and operation? In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the two competitors and the state of North Dakota’s impending decision on which pipeline project to support.
There’s a lot going on in the Permian produced water space lately. Crude-oil-focused production in the prolific shale play is generating vast and increasing volumes of produced water that needs to be recycled or injected into disposal wells. State regulators, concerned about injection-related seismic activity, are tightening their rules, ramping up oversight and cracking down. Produced water gathering systems are being expanded and long-distance pipelines are being planned and built. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the latest developments and where things are heading.
Associated gas production in the Bakken Shale continues to increase and, with more NGL pipeline capacity coming online and a new option on the horizon, there’s a gunfight brewing between two of the U.S.’s largest midstreamers. At one end of a dusty Wild West street stands the sheriff in town, ONEOK, which recently completed an expansion of its Elk Creek NGL Pipeline. At the other is a renowned midstreamer from Texas, Kinder Morgan, which is staking a claim in the Rockies by converting its Double H crude oil pipeline to NGL service — renaming it Hiland Express when it does — and planning an NGL header pipeline. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, Kinder is the first to challenge ONEOK in this space.
The Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) has been transformative. Originally built as a west-to-east pipeline, its main job was to give Rockies natural gas a way to reach premium markets in the Midwest and the Northeast. But by the time it was constructed, surging production in the Marcellus and Utica shales had overwhelmed the need for Rockies gas in the East, and REX evolved to become a major outlet for Appalachian gas to the Midcontinent. Now, REX has moved beyond its first two incarnations, and its owner, Tallgrass Energy, has announced plans to build a greenfield pipeline that would connect REX and the markets it serves with the prolific Permian Basin, 900 miles south of the existing mainline. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss REX’s history, where it stands today, and how a new pipeline connection with the Permian might fit into its evolving strategy.
The budget reconciliation bill signed into law July 4 by President Trump — known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) — dramatically scales back a number of clean-energy tax credits and adds a new layer of complexity for some projects, leading to a lot of doom and gloom around clean-energy initiatives, but the new legislation is a big positive for the carbon-capture industry. In today’s RBN blog, we look at how changes to the 45Q tax credit could help advance carbon-capture efforts while also providing a boost to producers of crude oil and blue hydrogen.
The bitter, eight-year battle to control CITGO Petroleum’s three U.S. refineries could soon be coming to an end. A Delaware court has recommended a $7.38 billion bid from Dalinar Energy Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of Canadian miner Gold Reserve Ltd. There’s opposition, but a final decision could be just weeks away. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss what a resolution would mean for the three refineries, which have a combined capacity of more than 800 Mb/d.
The European Union (EU) has taken a number of steps in recent years to end its reliance on Russian natural gas, which accounted for nearly half of the bloc’s supplies before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But while the changes happening in Europe might provide a boost for global LNG exporters, including projects in operation or under development in the U.S., the EU’s policy shifts have also introduced greater uncertainty around demand. In today’s RBN blog, we look at the increasing difficulty in predicting EU gas demand and what it means for U.S. exporters and the rest of the global LNG market.
The uncertainty and angst spurred by the ongoing trade war doesn’t seem to have dampened foreign companies’ interest in acquiring upstream and midstream energy assets in the U.S. The recent rumor — still unconfirmed — that Mitsubishi Corp. is in talks to acquire Aethon Energy Management’s massive holdings in the Haynesville for a reported $8 billion is only the latest indication that overseas interest may be stronger than ever. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the latest round of foreign investments in U.S. energy and what’s driving those deals. We’ll also look at the Aethon assets on the block.
The Wink to Webster Pipeline, operated by ExxonMobil, stands out as the largest crude oil pipeline by capacity exiting the prolific Permian Basin in West Texas. What makes it even more of a midstream icon is the company’s hands-on management of the entire process, from the production well to the long-haul run to delivery to ExxonMobil’s refineries. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll examine Wink to Webster’s complicated ownership structure, how it connects directly to terminals run by its owners and its destination flexibility.
Drilling techniques originally developed to unlock oil and gas from shale formations are increasingly being adapted to access and extract heat from deep underground rock formations, enabling the generation of electricity from geothermal sources. And while geothermal’s share of total U.S. electricity generation remains quite small, it may be poised to accelerate, opening up new opportunities for companies in the oil and gas sector. In today’s RBN blog, we explain the basics of geothermal energy, its main advantages and drawbacks, and how U.S. expertise in oil and gas comes into play.
You might have thought the flurry of acquisitions and buyout deals that midstream companies entered into over the past couple of years would have satisfied their evident desire to refocus, expand and reshape their businesses. But you’d be wrong. In the first half of 2025 — a period of considerable uncertainty in the energy industry — midstream players continued to buy and sell pipelines and other important assets at a frenetic pace. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss some of the more interesting recent transactions and what they tell us about the midstream space.
Alberta’s petrochemical industry received bad news in late April when Dow, one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies, announced that it was delaying construction on an immense expansion of its ethane cracker in Fort Saskatchewan, AB, only a little more than a year after sanctioning the project. Although the length of the delay remains uncertain, the slowdown has created unwanted ripples across other projects that were tied to the expansion, especially for companies working to provide a substantial increase in ethane and natural gas supplies that will be required by the project. In today’s RBN blog, we take a closer look at the delay and what it might mean for Alberta’s energy industry.
The Marcellus/Utica has massive natural gas reserves, but daily, weekly and annual production in the three-state shale play is limited by three key factors: in-region demand, takeaway capacity and gas prices. In recent years, the basin’s output has been rangebound between 34 and 36 Bcf/d and Appalachian producers see only modest gains in 2025. But a handful of pipeline projects and rising gas demand from power generators suggest the Marcellus/Utica may finally be on the verge of a production breakout. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the leading E&Ps’ production forecasts for 2025 and the prospects for considerably higher output by the end of this decade.
Marcellus/Utica natural gas production grew by leaps and bounds in the 2010s, but the pace of growth has slowed dramatically in recent years, mostly due to takeaway constraints. Finally, the prospects for renewed growth are improving. New pipeline capacity out of Appalachia is coming online — especially to the booming Southeast, and maybe the Gulf Coast too. New LNG export capacity is about to be commercialized. And a lot of new gas-fired generating capacity — much of it tied to planned data centers — is under development within (or very near) the Marcellus/Utica region. In today’s RBN blog, we examine the three big gas-demand drivers behind the shale play’s impending renewal.
It’s shaping up to be an incredible year for U.S. LNG growth, with record levels of feedgas demand and exports along with progress on the regulatory front, as the Trump administration has cleared away hurdles that had previously stalled project development. Now, Cheniere Energy has announced a positive final investment decision (FID) on its Corpus Christi Midscale expansion. In today’s RBN blog, we take a closer look at the Midscale project and others that could move forward this year.
Canada’s energy industry has seen more than its share of merger-and-acquisition activity this year. The latest big deal involves the midstream sector, with Keyera agreeing on June 17 to buy Plains Midstream Canada’s NGL business in Canada for C$5.15 billion ($3.75 billion). The purchase will transform Alberta-focused Keyera into a nationwide NGL machine and caps its very busy first half of 2025. In today’s RBN blog, we take a closer look at the agreement and how it ties into other recent initiatives by the Canadian midstreamer.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) took several steps in June to slash red tape and speed the construction of natural gas projects in the U.S. interstate and export markets. This is the latest in state and federal efforts to reduce the years-long legal battles around energy infrastructure and quicken the development of vital projects such as pipelines and LNG terminals. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll highlight the recent efforts to remake and improve the permitting process.
The details of a trade deal between the U.S. and China, announced June 26 by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and confirmed by China, remain sparse. Once they are finalized, the requirement for U.S. exporters to obtain a Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) license to send ethane to China should be lifted, but the effect on trade flows is already apparent. In today’s RBN blog, we review the impact of the BIS license requirement, the still-pending imposition of fees on vessels owned or operated by China, and the risk that comes with using the energy industry as a bargaining chip in trade talks.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026-27 did more than just set renewable fuel mandates for the next two years, they included dramatic shifts in the way that imported fuels and feedstocks are handled and raised the likelihood of higher compliance costs during a time in which the federal government has been focused on keeping prices under control. In today’s RBN blog, we look at the critical changes that will affect imported biofuels and feedstocks and the potential cost impact.
Since its beginning in western Pennsylvania 166 years ago, the oil and gas industry has been on a relentless quest to unlock more hydrocarbons. And for years, the focus has been on drilling more productively, not just drilling more wells. The techniques that have evolved since the start of the Shale Revolution have led to rapid increases in the length of horizontal laterals, boosting initial production (IP) rates — a critical development but posing new challenges for drillers. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss why longer laterals in horizontal wells aren’t the answer in every shale play, the advantages of the two types of tubing used in those wells, and how they can help boost productivity.
The summer movie season opened with the latest — and reportedly last — entry in the Tom Cruise-propelled “Mission: Impossible” franchise called “The Final Reckoning.” That title reminded us that, to E&P executives, the commodity price crash at the onset of the pandemic in 2020 must have seemed like the final blow in a series of financial crises that brought many of their companies to the verge of bankruptcy. But in a dramatic, “Mission: Impossible”-style recovery, producers restored their battered balance sheets and won back investors by radically shifting cash allocations. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll review the rise of the new E&P hero — dividends — and analyze how producers apportioned cash flows in Q1 2025.
For several years now, the biggest hurdle to natural gas production growth in the Marcellus/Utica was takeaway constraints — there simply wasn’t enough capacity on gas pipelines out of Appalachia to support a significant bump-up in regional output. Things have been changing though. The Mountain Valley Pipeline and a slew of expansion projects along Transco are allowing increasing volumes of gas to move to and through Virginia and the Carolinas. The proposed Borealis Pipeline across Ohio would enable up to 2 Bcf/d to move down the Texas Gas Transmission system to the Gulf Coast. And, as we discuss in today’s RBN blog, Kinder Morgan is planning several major projects in the Deep South — including the 2.1-Bcf/d Mississippi Crossing and 1.3-Bcf/d South System Expansion 4 projects — to move more gas into Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Energy-market risks abound. Israeli attacks on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure. The looming possibility of a global trade war. Up-and-down prices for WTI and Brent. Still, in the midst of all this doubt and instability, oil and gas producers continue to buy and sell major upstream assets in the U.S. — and gobble up entire companies — in ongoing efforts to grow their businesses, reshape their portfolios and/or reduce their debt. In today’s RBN blog, we continue our look at recent big-dollar deals in the U.S. oil and gas industry.
The EPIC Crude Pipeline, which stretches from the prolific Permian Basin in West Texas to Corpus Christi, has operated above its original nameplate capacity for more than a year, with volumes rising in recent months. Owner EPIC Midstream in April sold its NGL pipeline to Phillips 66 for $2.2 billion and its Olefins Pipeline to Howard Energy Partners in December 2024. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the EPIC Crude Pipeline and what might be ahead.