Author: Stu

US Crude Oil Inventories Decreased by 7.2 mb to 404.5 mb

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Weekly Petroleum Status Report on July 29, 2026, covering the week ending July 24, 2026. Commercial crude oil inventories (excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) fell by 7.2 million barrels (precisely 7.167 million barrels) to 404.5 million barrels. This marked a sharp draw that far exceeded market expectations […]

Oil Prices Ignore the Warnings of the Physical Markets. Refinery Crack Spreads Grow

The paper oil markets continue to signal relative calm, with WTI futures hovering in the low-to-mid $80s per barrel range in late July 2026, even as the physical markets scream warnings of tightening supplies and stress. Futures traders appear focused on hopes of de-escalation, adaptability of flows, and potential diplomatic pauses. Yet the actual delivery […]

LNG Vessel Demand Soars as US Leads Project Growth, and Qatar is Offline

Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers is set to be significantly stronger than previously expected over the next decade. French containment-system specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz SA (GTT) has raised its forecast for LNG carrier gas-containment system design orders to about 550 vessels in the 2026–2035 period, up from its earlier estimate of more […]

Iraq Militias Attack Saudi Oil Facilities for a Second Day

Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory launched drone attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, according to Saudi authorities. The incidents add pressure on the kingdom’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing regional tensions and constraints on its crude oil export routes. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry […]

Why Do Californians Pay More At the Pump?

ENB Pub Note: This article first ran at the Energy Institute at HAAS. We recommend reading their blogs.  Breaking down more than two decades of the state’s gasoline price premium. The war is back on, crude oil prices are back up, and the cost of gasoline has reversed its declines of a few weeks ago. […]

The Energy Balance Globally is Shaken, and Green Energy is Tripling Down, While Oil and Gas Are Unbalanced

ENB Pub Note: This article was first published on the Energy News Beat Substack. Head over there to comment.  Tough times ahead, and countries are picking sides. The world’s energy system is under simultaneous assault from geopolitics and policy ideology. Critical oil and gas flows through maritime and pipeline chokepoints are disrupted or rerouted at […]

Leaked UK Grid Report Warns Net Zero Push Raises Blackout Risks

A leaked report commissioned by the UK’s National Energy System Operator (Neso) has raised serious alarms that the country’s aggressive net zero transition is increasing the risk of blackouts while driving up electricity costs for consumers. Produced by energy consultancy Cornwall Insight and shared with The Times by a whistleblower, the document highlights how the […]

Expand Energy Buys Twin Eagle to Gain Market Access in $1.25B Deal

  Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: EXE), North America’s largest natural gas producer, announced on July 27, 2026, that it has agreed to acquire Twin Eagle Holdings, N.A., LLC, a leading private asset-backed natural gas marketing and optimization business, for $1.25 billion from Five Point Infrastructure. The deal, subject to customary adjustments, closing conditions, and regulatory […]

German Industry Warns Energy-Price Shock is Crippling Investment and Growth

German companies are delaying investments and increasingly eyeing production moves abroad as stubbornly high energy costs erode competitiveness, according to the latest survey from the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). The findings, highlighted in a July 27, 2026 Bloomberg report drawing on the DIHK’s Energiewende Barometer 2026, underscore deepening structural pressures from Germany’s […]

Iran Threat Moves into Europe, Defending Russian Trade

Iran’s ballistic missile threats have expanded beyond the Middle East into Europe, with Ukraine becoming the latest target after the United Kingdom. This escalation ties directly to Tehran’s strategic partnership with Moscow and the defense of critical Caspian Sea trade and military logistics routes that sustain both nations amid ongoing conflicts and sanctions. On July […]