Author: Stu

NOV Reports Q1 2026 Earnings: Revenue Holds Steady at $2.05 Billion Amid Middle East Disruptions; Management Eyes Multi-Year Capital Equipment Cycle

Houston, TX – April 29, 2026 – NOV Inc. (NYSE: NOV), a leading provider of oilfield equipment and technologies, reported first-quarter 2026 results that reflected resilience in its diversified portfolio despite significant headwinds from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Consolidated revenues reached $2.05 billion, a 2% decline from the prior-year period, while net […]

Phillips 66 Beats Q1 Estimates by $.88 Per Share as Refining Margins Surge

Houston-based integrated energy company Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) delivered a solid first-quarter 2026 earnings beat, reporting adjusted earnings of $0.49 per share—surpassing Wall Street consensus estimates of a $0.39 per share loss by $0.88. The company posted net income of $207 million, or $0.51 per diluted share on a reported (GAAP) basis. Strong refining operations, […]

US Rig Count Up One this week

Houston, TX – April 29, 2026 – The latest U.S. rotary rig count data shows a modest rebound in drilling activity. According to Baker Hughes, the total U.S. rig count for the week ending April 24, 2026, stands at 544 rigs, up 1 rig week-over-week from 543 the prior week. Oil-directed rigs fell by 3 […]

Farm Bill Amendment Pits Big Refiners Against Smaller Operations. Is It Time to End Ethanol?

A controversial amendment to the 2026 Farm Bill is lighting up Capitol Hill, pitting big refining interests against smaller operations in a classic Washington showdown over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and ethanol mandates. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) introduced Amendment 289, which would force year-round nationwide sales of E15 (15% ethanol gasoline) by aligning its […]

UK Wind Falls to 0.6 GW Over Weekend

The United Kingdom’s vaunted renewable energy fleet delivered a stark reality check over the recent weekend. Despite boasting approximately 32 GW of installed wind capacity—onshore and offshore combined—actual output plummeted to just 0.6 GW, less than 2% of nameplate capacity. This collapse occurred overnight, when solar generation was zero, leaving Britain functionally reliant on dispatchable […]

Why did the UAE leave OPEC, and what is the Global Impact

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the broader OPEC+ alliance, effective May 1, 2026—marking the end of nearly 60 years of membership since 1967. This move strips OPEC of its third-largest producer and delivers a significant blow to the cartel’s ability to […]

Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Tuapse Refinery. How Many Refineries Are Out of Commission Around the World?

Ukrainian drone strikes continue to hammer Russian oil infrastructure, with the latest assault on the Tuapse Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai marking the third hit on the facility in April alone. Overnight on April 27-28, 2026, drones ignited fires and damaged additional storage tanks, triggering a state of emergency, an oil spill, and direct Kremlin […]

Europe’s Jet Fuel Crisis is Developing and California is Not Far Behind

Europe is staring down a jet fuel supply crunch that could disrupt summer travel as early as June, with imports from the Middle East — historically its largest external source — completely halted this month. California, already grappling with refinery closures and heavy reliance on strained Asian imports, is only weeks behind, with tanker tracking […]

EU Energy Management Decisions Will Cost Them, and They Just Bought Historic Levels of Russian LNG

The European Union’s energy policymakers have spent years touting their “REPowerEU” strategy as a masterstroke of independence from Russian fossil fuels. Yet in March 2026—mere weeks after the EU began rolling out its formal ban on short-term Russian LNG purchases—the bloc imported more Russian liquefied natural gas than in any month on record. According to […]

Is Secretary Bessent Merging the Petrodollar with Argentina-Style Dollar Domination?

In a landmark testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and follow-up statements, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has outlined a bold new strategy: expanding permanent dollar swap facilities with Gulf and Asian allies to reinforce U.S. dollar dominance amid global energy shocks. This comes as the traditional petrodollar framework—anchored by a 50-year arrangement with Saudi […]