Saturday, December 13, 2025

Oil Patch News

Bousso: ROI-Permian will retain US oil crown after peaking even though it has reached its peak

The Permian Basin is set to reach its peak oil production in December. This will be a turning point for the U.S. Shale Boom that has reshaped the global energy markets over the last 15 years. But drilling innovations mean that output in America's largest oil patch will remain stable for many years. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the Permian Basin, which spans West Texas and southeastern New Mexico will produce an unprecedented 6.76 million barrels of oil per day in December.

Canada's new oil tycoon is shaking up the sector with a bold expansion plan

Canadian banker-turned-oil-tycoon Adam Waterous, an industry outsider who lives in a Rocky Mountain tourist town, not energy hub Calgary, has a plan to cement his company's status as one of ?North America's fastest-growing oil companies. Waterous wants to expand the company more aggressively and more efficiently than its competitors after Strathcona Resources' hostile bid for MEG Energy was unsuccessful. He wants Canada to be the fourth largest oil producer to increase oil and gas production to boost economic growth during a time of tensions between the U.S.

MEG Energy postpones shareholder vote on Cenovus $6 billion merger

The months-long battle for control of Canada’s last pure-play company in the oil sands sector took on a new twist on Tuesday when MEG Energy Corp. postponed an upcoming meeting where shareholders were scheduled to vote on Cenovus Energy’s proposed takeover. Cenovus has exercised its contractual rights to postpone the meeting. MEG announced that it will now be held on 30 October, instead of Wednesday. Cenovus will have more time to convince investors of its offer. It has already sweetened it once, after MEG shareholders complained that the initial bid was too low.

Oilfield executives sour in Dallas Fed survey

According to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey published on Wednesday, oil and gas production in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, the three states that produce the most, declined in the third-quarter as executives expressed a more negative outlook. The decline in oil and gas activity is due to the uncertainty surrounding oil prices, as well as increased frustration towards President Donald Trump and his administration. The executives blamed Trump policies such as tariffs, and his promise to lower oil price, for the decline in activity.

Bloomberg News CEO: Cenovus is 'closing doors' on a higher bid for MEG Energy

Cenovus Energy, Canada, does not intend to increase its bid for MEG Energy, an oil sands producer, despite Strathcona Resources' higher offer, according to its CEO Jon McKenzie, who spoke with Bloomberg News on Tuesday. MEG shares fell by 2%, to C$28.54. Cenovus shares rose more than 3 % to C$23.28. The takeover drama began in May, when Strathcona made a hostile bid of C$5,93 billion for MEG Energy. Cenovus responded with a cash and stock agreement in August. Strathcona increased its stake in MEG from 14.2% to 14.2% since then. It aims to vote against this deal.

Strathcona Energy, Canada, sweetens MEG Energy's bid to top Cenovus

Strathcona Resources, a Canadian oil and natural gas company, increased its bid for MEG Energy Monday in an attempt to surpass Cenovus Energy. MEG's Christina Lake project is one of Canada's most prized assets in the energy sector. Its long reserve life, its low operating costs, and the significant growth potential it offers make it one the last large-scale oil patch expansion opportunities. MEG's Board has approved Cenovus offer to combine Christina Lake with Cenovus adjacent assets.

Viper Energy increases Permian Basin Presence with $4.1 Billion Sitio Deal

Viper Energy has acquired Sitio Royalties, valued at $4.1 billion including debt. The companies announced this on Tuesday. This will increase the inventory and scale of Diamondback Energy's Permian basin unit. Sitio shares rose 11.9% premarket to $19.38 following the announcement. Dealmaking in the U.S. Despite the low oil prices and uncertainty in the market, the Permian Basin is still a lucrative investment. Permian Energy, a New Mexico-based energy firm, announced last month that it would acquire New Mexico Permian assets for 608 million dollars from APA Corp.

US oil M&A declines from highs of 2023 as buyers focus on volume over value

Dealmaking has slowed in the U.S. Oil Patch in 2025. The activity is expected to remain muted throughout the remainder of the year as some prolific buyers concentrate on extracting value from their previous acquisitions while others reduce their appetite for takeovers because of weak oil prices and uncertainty in trade. In the last three month, oil companies spent $17 billion in acquisitions. This is a sharp drop from the peak of dealmaking during the third quarter 2023 when they spent $144 billion in M&A. Benchmark U.S.

Oil below $60 puts US producers in a tough position regarding growth and capital returns

Analysts have warned that a drop in oil prices to below $60 per barrel as a result of an intensifying trade war could cause anxiety throughout the U.S. Oil Patch, forcing companies to take additional measures, including reducing share buybacks or capital expenditures. Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate futures (WTI) fell to their lowest levels since February 2021 as tariffs introduced by U.S. president Donald Trump raised fears of a possible recession due to signs of increased supply from major producers.

Exxon in Advanced Talks for $60B Acquisition of Pioneer - Sources

Credit:  FreezeFrames/AdobeStock

Exxon Mobil is in advanced talks to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources in a deal that could value the Permian shale basin producer at about $60 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The acquisition would be Exxon's biggest since its $81 billion deal for Mobil in 1998 and would expand its footprint in one of the most lucrative regions of the U.S. oil patch.Pioneer's shares rose nearly 12% to $240.47 in premarket trading on Friday while Exxon slipped 1.7%.Pioneer…

Oil Drillers, Bitcoin Miners Bond over Natural Gas

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On U.S. oil patches stretching along the Rockies and Great Plains, trailers hitched to trucks back up toward well pads to capture natural gas and convert it on the spot into electricity.The trailers - carrying pipes, generators and computers - are called “mining rigs.” But their owners aren’t there to drill for oil. They are using stray natural gas unwanted by oil companies to power their search for another treasure: cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.Cryptocurrencies are virtual coins exchanged without middlemen, such as central banks, to purchase goods and services.

New Water Dissolvable Frac Ball Tooling Launched

Victory Elements says its newly launched water dissolvable ceramic materials for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells are designed to provide performance and cost advantages compared to conventional practices including faster completion times, reduced completion costs and less environmental impact. The novel system, featuring solid ceramic frac balls of various diameters, fully dissolves in water and brine solutions without acidification and eliminates mechanical processes to remove or retrieve standard frac balls.

The Emerging U.S. Offshore Wind Industry in a Post-COVID-19 World

Join a webinar on June 17, 2020 for the global release of a major new market study on the depth, breadth and growth prospects of the Offshore Wind Market -- https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UR5uY1boTOKdAAcAXDbR4g
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Join a webinar on June 17, 2020 for the global release of a major new market study on the depth, breadth and growth prospects of the Offshore Wind Market --  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UR5uY1boTOKdAAcAXDbR4gJust when it was looking like the offshore wind industry was finally about to take off in the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced one more significant layer of uncertainty upon an already very complicated playing field. There are currently 15 active offshore wind projects in the planning stages which…

Reinauer Group Ramps Up for the Business of Offshore Wind

Photo: Courtesy Senesco

The promise of a vibrant U.S. offshore wind business has been long in the making. While questions remain on timing and pace, there is renewed confidence in the offshore wind sector, particularly in the northeast United States (global pandemic notwithstanding). Investment in the sector had escalated to start 2020, embodied best by Reinauer Group and its WindServe Marine unit, which when combined with its Senesco Marine boatbuilding and logistics hub give its an ‘ A-to-Z…

Are OSVs Fit for Refit for Offshore Wind?

BEFORE: Island Clipper: Island Offshore of Ulsteinvik, Norway, has had success with conversions.  “before” and “after”.  Photos: Island Offshore

While it is generally agreed that the nascent offshore wind energy market in the U.S. will be a newbuild market, there is a repair and conversion possibility for some stacked OSVs.Though estimates on the pace of the offshore wind energy market in the U.S. vary widely, the direction is clear: offshore wind will be a huge marketplace for construction and support vessels to be deployed in U.S. waters over the next decade. The starting point for estimated vessel demand is the raft of projects along the U.S.

Offshore: OSV Market Report

Photo courtesy Ulstein Group/Marius Beck Dahle

The environment in oil patches onshore and offshore alike has been challenging throughout 2019; worries about an economic slowdown – whether cyclical or induced by a trade war – have weighed heavily on oil prices, even in the face of reduced production by the big producers. Though storm clouds persist, there appears a clearing on the horizon.The fate of Offshore Service Vessels (OSVs) is, naturally, closely tied to the price of oil. Seacor Marine’s John Gellert, in reviewing its Q2 results, said: “Activity levels in the U.S.

Sapura Energy Bags Multiple Contracts

Malaysia’s oilfield services player Sapura Energy said it has has clinched contracts worth a total of MYR 1 billion ($242 million) for several new oil patch deals and one – the company’s first – offshore wind contract.The 10 new contracts are for its engineering and construction and drilling segments across Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Australia, said a press release from the company.In addition, the company has been selected for a frame agreement with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) for fixed offshore structure works…

US Oil Rig Count Holds Steady after Weeks of Gains

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The U.S. oil rig count held steady this week after rising for six weeks in a row even as crude prices soar to multi-year highs, prompting drillers to extract record amounts of oil, especially from shale.The total oil rig count held at 844 in the week to May 18, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday.The U.S. rig count, an early indicator of future output, is much higher than a year ago when 720 rigs were…

Oil Hits Multi-year High on Tight Supply, Iran Sanctions

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Oil prices hit a 3-1/2-year high on Tuesday, supported by tight supply and planned U.S. sanctions against Iran that are likely to restrict crude oil exports from one of the biggest producers in the Middle East.Brent crude oil reached an intraday peak of $79.47 a barrel, up $1.24 and its highest since November 2014, before easing to $78.28, up 5 cents, by 1345 GMT.U.S. light crude was 15 cents lower at $70.81 a barrel, also not far off its highest since November 2014.World…

US Shale Output to Hit Record in June -EIA

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U.S. shale production is expected to rise by about 145,000 barrels per day to a record 7.18 million bpd in June, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Monday.A majority of the increase is expected to come from the Permian basin, the biggest U.S. oil patch, where output is expected to climb 78,000 bpd to a fresh record of 3.28 million bpd, the EIA said in its monthly drilling productivity report https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/drilling/#tabs-summary-2.Soaring Permian crude production has already outpaced pipeline takeaway capacity…