(By Oil & Gas 360) – May 22, 2026– Energy markets spent the week caught between diplomacy and distrust. Headlines pointing toward a possible U.S.–Iran agreement pressured prices lower, but underneath the surface, inventories continue tightening, LNG concerns are growing, and confidence in global shipping routes remains fragile. Markets may be hoping for resolution, but they’re still pricing risk. THIS
(By Oil & Gas 360) – What began as wartime disruption has evolved into something far more strategic, Iran is increasingly turning access through Hormuz into geopolitical and economic leverage. The shift is becoming more visible by the week as Tehran expands operational control, imposes new transit procedures, and reshapes how commercial shipping moves through one of the world’s most important
(Oil & Gas 360) By Greg Barnett, MBA – For years, America’s rare‑earth and critical‑minerals problem was framed as a single failure: too much dependence on China, too little domestic mining. That framing was incomplete. What is emerging now is not a race to simply dig faster. It is a coordinated effort to rebuild capability across an entire system—using defense
(BOE Report)- U.S. shale producers have the lowest stock of drilled-but-uncompleted wells on record, limiting their ability to move quickly to boost crude output and replace rapidly depleted oil inventories after exports and refinery processing jumped to plug the shortfall in supply caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Producers in the United States have increased exports to Asia and
This week’s Baker Hughes Rig Count shows that the U.S. increased by 4 last week, resulting in a total count of 562 rigs. Canada increased by 24 over last week, resulting in a total Canadian count of 162 rigs. Breakdown by region Of the regions tracked by Baker Hughes, the Permian regions experienced an increase this week. Meanwhile, no regions
(World Oil) – Several vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked in recent days, underscoring the “very real” risks that remain for shipowners in the Persian Gulf whether or not a peace accord is signed, Chevron Corp. Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said. “There still has been kinetic activity this week, some of which has been reported in the
(Investing) – HOUSTON – Oil futures fell more than 2% on Friday and were on track for their steepest weekly decline since early April after reports that the U.S. and Iran had reached agreement on a potential ceasefire extension. Brent crude futures for July, which expire later on Friday, were down $1.74, or 1.86%, at $91.97 a barrel by 10:58 a.m. CDT
