The Energy Information Administration’s latest Short Term Energy Outlook signals a turning point for U.S. crude: production is projected to average 13.5 million barrels per day in 2026, about 100,000 barrels per day lower than 2025, ending a four-year run of annual gains. The forecast reflects global supply growth near 1.3 million barrels per day, slightly ahead of demand growth around 1.1 million barrels per day, a setup that supports higher inventories and softer prices.
The Permian Basin, which has been the primary engine of U.S. tight oil growth, is expected to contribute little incremental oil in 2026. EIA projects Permian crude output rising only from 6.54 million barrels per day in 2025 to 6.56 million in 2026, with gains in Alaska and offshore offset by declines elsewhere. Recent regional data through October 2025 show Permian oil down year over year while gas is up, reinforcing a continued shift toward gassier production.
In its outlook, the agency forecasts weaker oil pricing, with West Texas Intermediate averaging $51 in 2026, down from about $65 in 2025. Henry Hub natural gas is expected to average roughly $4 per MMBtu next year, easing after winter strength.
‘Landman’ TV Show Spurs TCU to Launch Land Management Course
Interest in land...
Interest in land management is rising amid attention from the TV series Landman, prompting Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business to pilot an eight-week undergraduate seminar on Land Management and Land Administration led by energy finance professor Tom Seng. After an informal survey drew early interest, 26 students enrolled, and Seng is recruiting practicing land professionals to guest lecture and help students understand core topics aligned with American Association of Petroleum Landmen certifications. Seng says the program aims to correct misconceptions about the job, highlight the economics of a career, and better prepare students for internships in a field facing an aging workforce. The course frames modern land work as increasingly technical and digitized, spanning mineral acquisitions and divestitures, quasi-legal lease interpretation, multi-state land system differences, title work, and right-of-way issues tied to midstream development.
Canadian oil companies are the big losers from Trump’s Venezuelan maneuvers
Scanning the markets for winners and losers from this...
Scanning the markets for winners and losers from this weekend’s regime change in Caracas, investors have identified one category of shares set to lose out: Canadian oil producers.
The most widely-traded in this sector with U.S. listings of Canadian Natural Resources, Suncor Energy, and Cenovus Energy, all of which have slumped in pre-market trading on Monday. While U.S. energy stocks are benefiting from what’s perceived to be a huge opportunity for a bonanza in Venezuela, the ramifications for Canadian producers are less propitious.
Canadian oil companies tend to produce a heavy, sour crude, mostly from tar sands in Alberta, requiring a lot of refining. Because of this, it traded at a significant discount in the U.S. This was before the possibility of this sudden advent of Venezuelan crude becoming available on the American market also, and now competing with the Canadian product. Venezuelan crude, mostly drilled in the Orinoco Belt, is also thick and viscous and so will provide direct competition.
Trump takedown of Venezuela’s dictator could inject price premium into oil market, strategist projects
A new article on MarketWatch.com argues that news of a US raid that captured...
A new article on MarketWatch.com argues that news of a US raid that captured Nicolás Maduro has injected fresh geopolitical risk into oil pricing, with some expecting an initial price dip when markets open. BCA Research strategist Marko Papic says any selloff could be a buyable move. Still, he warns traders may start pricing a higher risk premium if Washington turns more aggressively toward Iran, since Iran-related disruptions could outweigh any future Venezuelan supply gains. While Venezuela holds vast reserves, analysts note that restoring production and export capacity would take years and billions in investment, making a rapid jump to 3 to 5 million barrels per day unrealistic. The piece also highlights Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ as the near-term price drivers amid fiscal strain and potential production restraint. Others caution that markets may ignore the headlines after past whipsaws, and Dragonfly Intelligence sees limited immediate crisis risk but high ongoing instability.
Say yes to the CES: The tech industry’s biggest trade...
Say yes to the CES: The tech industry’s biggest trade show of the year, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), kicks off this week in Las Vegas. Business leaders, manufacturers, and developers have descended on the Strip to demo new products and pitch their visions for the upcoming year. The show floor opens tomorrow, but starting today, there will be a bevy of big announcements from some of tech’s most notable names. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su will each give a keynote address today. The event ends on Friday.
Teens as young as 14 are among the casualties of the New Year’s bar fire in Switzerland that killed more than 40 people. Local authorities are investigating whether proper age verification measures were in place.
Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week, as Russia claimed, President Trump said yesterday.
Bluefin tuna sold for a record $3.2 million at the first auction of the year for Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.
Sprinkles Cupcakes, the company behind viral “cupcake ATMs” in Las Vegas, Austin, and other US destinations, shut down on Dec. 31.
Avatar: Fire and Ash took the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office for the third weekend in a row and crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide.
