Articles
24 December 2025
Outlook 2026: Grand plan for offshore leasing should give boost to US Gulf
As activity in the US Gulf has stagnated at a lower level, the government is taking steps to encourage fresh exploration and bolster field development work
23 December 2025
Outlook 2026: Revitalising Syria’s oil and gas sector – A new chapter
The new government has brought stability and security to the country, with the door now open to international investment
23 December 2025
Outlook 2026: LNG markets and the overhang
A third wave of LNG supply is coming, and with it a likely oversupply of the fuel by 2028
22 December 2025
Outlook 2026: Energy realism regains the initiative from energy idealism
Weakening climate resolve in the developed world and rapidly growing demand in developing countries means peak oil is still a long way away
22 December 2025
Outlook 2026: The US energy paradox – Efficiency at home, influence abroad
The US’ domestic energy market may be stagnating, but its role in the global energy system looks set to bloom
22 December 2025
Outlook 2026: Energy transition – Quo vadis in 2026 and beyond
With a rapidly rising global population and energy security and affordability at the top of countries’ agendas, a dose of realism is needed when it comes to the transition
19 December 2025
Outlook 2026: Stability vital for future energy pathways
With global energy demand continuing to rise, the world needs investment, investment and more investment
19 December 2025
Outlook 2026: The geopolitical weaponisation of LNG
Global gas markets are being reshaped by politics as much as by gas prices and fundamentals. From Washington to Doha, Brussels and Beijing, LNG has become a strategic weapon as much as a commodity
19 December 2025
Outlook 2026: LNG’s Pacific FID race heats up – Ramp-ups, rejuvenations and restarts
The US Gulf dominated investment decisions this year, but Asian importers’ concerns over supplier diversity mean the focus is shifting
18 December 2025
Outlook 2026: Trump’s LNG diplomacy will likely run into commercial, regulatory reality
The president is aiming for ‘energy dominance’ via LNG sales, largely to Europe, but supply is set to outstrip demand, and EU regulations remain a stumbling block
18 December 2025
Outlook 2026: South America’s oil growth story masks hidden risks
Brazil, Guyana and Argentina to lead additional crude supply increases, but the rest of the region remains patchy
17 December 2025
Oil price weakness set to curb large-scale M&A
Companies will continue shifting more towards gas, where the outlook is stronger
17 December 2025
A tale of two regulatory landscapes: the UK and Norway
The stark contrasts between the UK and Norway demonstrate how policy stability can shape the long-term trajectory of a mature basin
16 December 2025
Special Report: Lighting the way out of bad energy policy
How New Zealand highlights the importance of a clear, consistent and considered approach to oil and gas
16 December 2025
Petroleum Economist: December 2025/January 2026
The December 2025/January 2026 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
16 December 2025
Outlook 2026: The next oil shock – From peak demand mirage to structural tightness
Oil prices look set to come under pressure next year as oversupply hits, but longer-term the risk is underinvestment as demand continues to grow past 2030
16 December 2025
Why the Gulf will be the stabilising force in an uncertain energy transition
Abdullah Aljarboua serves as a senior fellow in the energy macro & microeconomics programme at KAPSARC. His work spans macroeconomics, energy-economic modelling, large-scale optimisation and advanced computational techniques for modelling complex energy policy dynamics. Here he speaks with Petroleum Economist about the Gulf region’s role in shaping the energy landscape over the coming decades
15 December 2025
Outlook 2026: US onshore holds steady at sluggish rate as shale stagnates
As contradictory as it might seem, US oil output has continued to grow over the last several years, even as drilling in the shale plays has maintained a slow decline. This improbable dichotomy is a testimony to the industry’s technological prowess
12 December 2025
Outlook 2026
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
Canada’s Asian pivot faces hurdles
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
New Zealand is back open for business
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
New Zealand’s gas horror story will haunt for years to come
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
9 December 2025
OPEC presses pause
The group’s oil production declined in November, our latest analysis finds, amid divided sentiment over market balances and geopolitical jitters
8 December 2025
The looming risks of a US-Venezuela war
The Caribbean country’s role in the global oil market is significantly diminished, but disruptions caused by outright conflict would still have implications for US Gulf Coast refineries
5 December 2025
Learning from oil’s supercycle miss
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Explainer: What do Russia’s oil giants own overseas?
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Letter from Saudi Arabia: US-Saudi energy ties enter a new phase
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
Letter from London: Oil’s golden triangle
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
Libya’s upstream caught between hope and caution
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
1 December 2025
Equinor: Keeping offshore
The Norwegian NOC has used its offshore oil and gas prowess to expand into offshore wind, but project setbacks and lower returns are a concern for investors
28 November 2025
Reality bites for Indonesia’s oil ambition
A more pragmatic approach has seen the country reverse its production decline in 2025 but its 1m b/d target still seems out of reach
27 November 2025
The complex crude glut picture
The swelling crude supply story involves the key plot twists of reluctant buyers, limited oil stocks and refiners playing the long game
27 November 2025
Alberta’s energy hub sees silver lining
US tariffs bolster Alberta’s Industrial Heartland exports to Asia
26 November 2025
Eni: Success through satellites
The Italian firm is unique among IOCs in setting up entities specialising in particular regions and low-carbon technologies, creating greater flexibility in attracting investment
25 November 2025
Letter from Abu Dhabi: ADNOC’s evolution putting it atop the energy chain
Once a national oil champion, the company is now so much more
25 November 2025
XRG breaks the mould of Gulf NOCs
In the year since its formation, ADNOC’s energy investment company has made ambitious forays into M&A. With new leadership appointees from Wall Street’s elite, the scale of that ambition is set to ramp up
25 November 2025
Peru: The new energy frontier in South America
The country is open for business and is unlocking vast opportunities for both onshore and offshore exploration
24 November 2025
Sonatrach feels the winds of change
Algeria’s state energy company has new leadership looking to inject fresh momentum into its upstream E&P sector—with majors’ interest piqued by untapped unconventional gas deposits
21 November 2025
Tax policy will shape Russia’s oil future
The consensus among market observers is that the country’s oil output will fall in the long term. Yet few recognise how Moscow’s shifting tax regime is designed to keep the next barrel commercially viable
20 November 2025
The curious case of oil-on-water
The market is facing being drowned in excess crude, but one caveat is that a large chunk is due to buyers reluctant to snap up sanctioned barrels
19 November 2025
The duality of US shale
A sector beset by pessimism and pain amid price weakness contrasts with data signalling production strength and resilience
18 November 2025
Brazil could be an energy trailblazer
The oil powerhouse will not just join the top five crude exporters in the coming years, it may be a model for how petrostates balance growth, policy and sustainability
18 November 2025
Can Oxy’s integrated CO₂ approach set a new benchmark for transition-era oil companies?
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
18 November 2025
How BP and Shell are charting new energy trajectories, part 2
In the second of this two-part series, we look at Shell’s refocusing on returns and the speculation surrounding a potential takeover of BP
17 November 2025
How BP and Shell are charting new energy trajectories, part 1
The pursuit of new oil and gas growth opportunities by European companies highlights the way forward for the two majors. In this first of a two-part article, we look at BP
13 November 2025
Gas should fare better than oil under Canada’s new regime
The new federal government appears far more supportive of oil and gas than former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s climate-focused administration, but the prospects look better for the latter hydrocarbon
12 November 2025
Petroleum Economist: November 2025
The November 2025 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
10 November 2025
Lukoil loses its growth prospects
The Russian firm made a significant attempt to expand overseas over the past two decades but is now trying to divest its global operations
10 November 2025
OPEC+ nears output targets amid unsolved riddles
OPEC+ has proven to be astute at bringing back oil production, but mysteries around Chinese buying, missing barrels and oil-on-water have left the group in wait-and-see mode
7 November 2025
Germany under pressure to solve Rosneft refinery problem
The Russian company’s German assets are under Berlin’s management and are exempt from sanctions, for now, but a permanent solution still needs to be found
6 November 2025
Letter from Europe: Western retreat raises doubts over climate leadership
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
5 November 2025
Turkmenistan's pipe dream
Construction of the pipeline in Afghanistan is making tangible progress, but extending it into Pakistan and India remains unrealistic for political reasons
4 November 2025
Mexico must overhaul its NOC
Crucial structural reforms and change in operating philosophy are needed to arrest PEMEX’s ongoing decline and restore oil production growth
4 November 2025
Accelerating MENA’s gas transformation
Gas has become a pillar of MENA economies and a catalyst for development strategies, fostering cooperation and creating new paths for economic diversification. Continued progress will require substantial investment and adapted regulations
30 October 2025
Nigeria aligns independents with NNPC
OPEC governor Ademola Adeyemi-Bero explains Nigeria First policy as the African producer looks to drive production back above 2m b/d and play crucial role in OPEC
29 October 2025
Nigeria charts ‘just transition’ course for NOCs
OPEC Governor Ademola Adeyemi Bero argues that only by prioritising oil and gas through partnerships with IOCs and stable OPEC market management can NOCs fulfil their pivotal global role
28 October 2025
Explainer: How the EU will wean itself off Russian gas
Questions remain about how the phase-out will be implemented and enforced in practice
28 October 2025
Gas storage to grow more critical in energy transition – IGU
The International Gas Union calls for a ‘whole-system’ approach, combining planning of gas, electricity and hydrogen networks to ensure energy systems remain flexible and resilient during the transition
27 October 2025
Shell offshore deal signals Nigerian gas coming of age
FID on the HI development suggests the country’s chronically under-exploited gas reserves are beginning to be properly exploited
24 October 2025
China’s oil plan comes together
The country’s rapid output growth is an example that other producers could learn from
22 October 2025
MENA states try to change their gas fortunes
While Syria has gas import plans and Jordan is targeting greater production, Egypt is struggling with declining output and Lebanon with the after-effects of conflict
21 October 2025
Oil’s fragile AI trillions
Prices risk hitting $10/bl should the tech bubble burst amid worrying economic fallout
21 October 2025
MENA states sharpen their gas focus
The GCC countries and other states in the region are looking to make greater domestic use of gas, both that produced at home and imported volumes
21 October 2025
Ipieca: Guiding the global energy industry through a sustainable transition
At the forefront of the energy transition, Ipieca guides oil and gas companies on climate, water and social performance, helping the sector scale technologies like CCUS and methane reduction while aligning global standards with sustainable development goals.
21 October 2025
Technology, capital discipline and the future of unconventional oil
Technological innovation and stricter carbon goals are redefining the economics of shale. Chevron’s Dr Johannes Alvarez weighs what’s next for unconventional producers.
20 October 2025
China seizes oil security opportunity
A combination of geopolitical uncertainty and OPEC+ barrels has driven a renewed focus on building strategic oil stocks despite flagging demand
20 October 2025
Mideast states power up their gas priorities
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are ploughing resources into gas—with a growing eye on facilitating domestic use in power and value-added sectors
17 October 2025
Arctic LNG comes in from the cold
Beijing now appears prepared to accept discounted Russian LNG, even at the cost of heightened sanctions risk
17 October 2025
Natural gas: A vital bridge for the Middle East’s energy future
With responsible development and rigorous regulation, gas can help the region move forward not just as an energy exporter, but as a global leader in the energy transition
17 October 2025
Gulf Energy Excellence Awards® 2025 winners honoured at Houston gala
The black-tie gala recognised the energy industry’s leading innovations and thought leaders from across the value chain
16 October 2025
MENA's gas metamorphosis
Across the Middle East and North Africa, gas is taking an enhanced role in helping build out economies that need to diversify away from crude oil dependence
13 October 2025
OPEC+ exposes its producers’ limits
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iraq appear to be only members able to increase output as Russia approaches close to maximum capacity
13 October 2025
Petroleum Economist: October 2025
The October 2025 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
10 October 2025
Russia’s fuel crisis: Difficult but not catastrophic
International and opposition media claim that two-fifths of the country’s refining capacity is offline, but the true situation is not so dire
9 October 2025
An all-energy stance
A balanced approach—combining hydrocarbons, renewables and emerging clean technologies—is essential for both energy security and sustainability
8 October 2025
From green goals to ground realities
As the EU remains deadlocked over its 2040 emissions goal, the IEA has tempered its climate rhetoric, forecasting that oil and gas will continue growing over the coming decades
7 October 2025
Mexico’s upstream Pemex gamble
The government refuses to expand E&P access despite the NOC’s high debt pile, falling crude output and growing gas import dependence
7 October 2025
ADNOC’s Australia avoidance
The Middle East NOC’s decision to exit Santos signals changing rules for Australian gas investors
6 October 2025
Fear and loathing in US LNG buildout
Overall gas optimism is blighted by concerns over lingering regulatory and infrastructure hurdles that could hamper expansion of US LNG exports, weaken security and stifle AI ambitions
2 October 2025
East Med needs less talk, more action – Energean CEO
Some operators are not committed to developing their gas resources, whether because they are too small or of lower priority, or because of geopolitical concerns, says Mathios Rigas
2 October 2025
Hungary defends Russian energy use
Claims the country lacks alternatives to Russian oil and gas may be exaggerated, although higher costs and reduced security of supply are legitimate concerns.
1 October 2025
Middle East doubling down on oil strength
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq and Kuwait aim to turn geological advantage into sustained geopolitical power via greater spare capacity
1 October 2025
India’s LNG falling short
More needs to be done to meet the government’s ambitious targets for gas
30 September 2025
Indigenous opposition may slow Canadian fast-track
Federal and provincial governments have passed legislation to speed the development of hand-picked projects, but failure to win Indigenous support may stymie their plans
29 September 2025
The uphill battle against flaring and methane emissions
While some countries have made significant strides in reducing routine flaring and methane emissions, the global picture is still marked by slow progress and growing volumes
25 September 2025
States, markets and the geopolitics of gas
Geopolitics is just as significant as market factors or climate action in shaping the future role of gas
24 September 2025
Letter from London: Twilight outside the desert
The dangers of a lack of oil and gas investment will leave the Middle East shouldering an even greater responsibility, with far-reaching implications for the energy landscape
24 September 2025
ExxonMobil’s Russian door remains ajar
While the US oil major has declined to return given the sensitivities over Ukraine, Sakhalin 1 and other energy projects are temptations that will not go away
23 September 2025
YPF reinvents itself
Under a new Argentine president and company CEO, YPF has shed dozens of non-core assets as it doubles down on the Vaca Muerta shale and LNG
23 September 2025
Deepwater’s race against time
E&Ps are on the lookout for the next big deepwater discovery amid questions over the Guyana and Santos basins, but technological advancements provide optimism
22 September 2025
Russia may defy production capacity doubters
The OPEC+ producer could bring significant idle barrels to the market in the next 12 months
22 September 2025
Challenger advances in Uruguay’s frontier
The UK-listed junior’s strategy is maturing prospects and then bringing on board bigger partners to continue development
19 September 2025
Nigerian oil theft: Breakthrough or false dawn?
Progress on fixing Nigeria’s long-term oil pipeline theft problem needs to be supported by a wider strategy to avoid relapse
19 September 2025
Arrow’s oil positivity defies Colombia headwinds
CEO Marshall Abbott highlights success in the Llanos Basin and explains why Colombia has a lot of untapped potential
18 September 2025
US sees energy dominance as strategic necessity
The Trump administration is using energy exports to strengthen political and economic ties with allies and weaken adversaries, while simultaneously exploiting those ties to open up further markets for US energy
18 September 2025
China’s role as oil buffer stock manager
The country’s intervention in global oil markets to stabilise prices could last well into 2026
16 September 2025
Letter from Italy: Faith in gas reaches new zenith
Politicians and executives alike expressed confidence in the trajectory for gas demand at this year’s Gastech, and record volumes of FIDs suggest little concern about a supply glut
16 September 2025
Kuwait Oil Company: Driving national progress through social responsibility
For the Kuwait Oil Company, a cornerstone of Kuwait’s economy, corporate social responsibility is not an optional add-on but a deeply embedded responsibility.
15 September 2025
Letter from Vienna: OPEC at 65
Following its founding in September 1960, OPEC has become a key player in the global energy sector and a vital source of market stability
11 September 2025
OPEC’s realignment
The group is cleansing itself of non-compliers and resetting expectations as it unwinds quicker than expected in a bid to go beyond production quotas
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