In the second quarter of 2026, ExxonMobil and Chevron delivered blockbuster earnings, fueled by elevated oil prices stemming from the ongoing Iran conflict and associated supply disruptions in the Middle East, including pressures around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. These results highlight the resilience of the U.S. majors’ integrated portfolios amid geopolitical volatility, […]
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California’s energy debate often rests on a convenient narrative: gasoline and diesel demand is falling, so aging refineries can—and should—simply close. A recent CalMatters commentary by Ranjit Deshmukh, an environmental studies associate professor at UC Santa Barbara, advances exactly this view. Titled in essence “Aging oil refineries don’t need more public dollars. California should let […]
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U.S. drilling activity showed mixed signals this week as different rig count providers reported divergent weekly moves against a backdrop of solid year-over-year gains. The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated July 24, 2026) puts the active U.S. rig count at 575, up 1 from the prior week and up 47 from a year earlier. […]
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ENB Pub Note: This article was first run on RHG Phoenix Petroleum’s Blog. We will be interviewing them on the podcast soon. Halliburton executives signaled a positive outlook for North American oilfield activity in 2026 during the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings release and conference call on July 21, 2026. The Houston-based oilfield services giant highlighted […]
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In a development that echoes broader regional efforts to reduce vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, ExxonMobil is emerging as a key partner in Iraq’s drive for energy self-sufficiency—particularly by ending its costly and geopolitically sensitive dependence on Iranian natural gas. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met directly with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods in […]
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Chevron Corp. is set to sign non-binding memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Iraqi government on Friday, advancing negotiations for major investments in two of Iraq’s key oil fields while joining efforts to develop pipelines that would allow Iraqi crude exports to bypass the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz. The move signals deepening U.S.-Iraq energy ties […]
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Phillips 66 Chairman and CEO Mark Lashier issued a clear warning on June 24, 2026, at the Reuters Global Energy Forum in New York: refining and petrochemical earnings face greater volatility due to ongoing uncertainty from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Lashier highlighted how uncertainty in crude supply and shipping lanes causes refining margins […]
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As global oil prices remain elevated amid geopolitical tensions — including recent spikes tied to Middle East conflicts and risks around the Strait of Hormuz — Guyana’s offshore oil sector is surging ahead. This tiny nation (population under 1 million) is delivering one of the world’s most remarkable energy success stories, proving that energy security […]
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The global oil tanker industry is riding an unprecedented wave of profits fueled by the ongoing Iran conflict, but shipowners are already bracing for a sharp reversal. According to a new Financial Times report, tanker owners are warning of a potential market crash if the Strait of Hormuz reopens or as broader market forces take […]
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Houston, TX – June 6, 2026 – U.S. oil-directed drilling rigs posted their sixth consecutive weekly gain this week—the longest upward streak in domestic exploration since mid-2022—pushing the Baker Hughes oil rig count to 431. The increase comes as higher crude prices, fueled by ongoing disruptions and geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, continue […]
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