Outlook 2024: Brent’s WTI transfusion – A new lease of life or a whole new animal?
With crude production forecast to grow through 2028, what benchmark is going to lead the way?
If there is a second Cold War, then it is in part a struggle between Washington and Moscow for control of Europe’s energy supplies. And the US appears to have just won it. Not only has its crude oil in essence physically replaced all the Urals that Europe stopped buying when Russia invaded Ukraine, but its natural gas—in the form of LNG—has become the replacement of choice for Russian gas. And now US crude West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has reverse-colonised the price of Brent.What was unthinkable as little as six years ago has happened. Europe’s large oil companies, trading houses and refiners have agreed to allow WTI to be included in the mechanism that determines Dated Brent. WTI joined th
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment






