Appalachia has supplied the largest share of natural gas production in lower 48 in recent years, but growth has slowed because of pipeline constraints.  FERC authorized the Mountain Valley pipeline to begin operations in 2024 to add new takeaway capacity.  U.S. Energy Information Administration said Feb. 13 that production in Appalachia is expected to increase […]

Count of active drilling rigs in U.S. was unchanged in the past week after the addition of 3 gas-directed rigs and the loss of 3 oil-directed rigs left the total count at 551 active rigs for the second week in a row.  Baker Hughes said in its weekly report of Feb. 13 the count declined […]

U.S. Energy Information Administration said the nation’s natural gas marketed production is forecast to increase 2 percent to average 120.8 Bcfd this year and then increase again in 2027 to 122.3 Bcfd.  About 69 percent of the forecast total production in the next 2 years is expected to come from Permian, Appalachia and Haynesville. In […]

U.S. Energy Information Administration said Henry Hub spot prices for natural gas averaged $7.72 per million BTU in January.  That’s an increase of 81 percent from December because of “increased heating demand, reduced production and large inventory withdrawals as winter storm Fern blanketed a large portion of the U.S.”  In its short-term energy outlook released […]

Enverus’ latest rig count update released this week shows the number of frac crews in Permian Basin has increase in the past week and the past year.  As of Jan. 23, 2026, there were 106 crews in Permian Basin compared to 94 a week ago and 103 a year ago.  Across the U.S., there were […]

Findlay, Ohio-based MPLX said recently its capital spending for 2026 is expected to be about $2.7 billion, including an expansion of its Permian-to-Gulf Coast integrated value chain.  The capex will be comprised of 90 percent focus on growth capital and 10 percent on maintenance capital.  MPLX is progressing its long-haul pipeline growth to support expected […]

U.S. Energy Information Administration this week repeated its forecast of declining crude oil prices in 2026 and 2027.  After an estimated average of $69 per barrel in 2025, EIA said Feb. 10 in its short-term energy outlook that the price is expected to average $58 per barrel this year and $53/b in 2027.  EIA said […]

A second oil and gas company in the past week has announced relocation of its headquarters from Oklahoma City to Houston.  Expand Energy said this week chairman Mike Wichterich has been named interim CEO after the departure of CEO Nick Dell’Osso, who also resigned his seat on the company’s board.  Expand said it will relocate […]

Houston-based Chevron said last week its worldwide and U.S. net oil-equivalent production set annual records in 2025.  The Hess acquisition added 261,000 boed while Chevron legacy operations added another 124,000 driven by growth in the Permian Basin and project ramp-ups at TCO in Kazakhstan and in the Gulf of America.  Chevron said the Permian Basin […]