The outlook for Western Canada’s heavy oil sector in 2025 is decisively optimistic. After years of volatility and infrastructure constraints, a new wave of investment and activity is materializing—driven by strong operator sentiment, a rebound in permitting, and a long-awaited breakthrough in market access: the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline.
Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), one of the largest producers in the Permian Basin, continues to refine its asset portfolio by divesting select non-core operations in West Texas. In a recent move, air permits tied to two key oil & gas facilities in Loving County have been officially transferred to Greenlake Energy Operating LLC, marking another milestone in Greenlake’s rapid emergence as a nimble, low-cost operator in the Permian.
In a year marked by falling oil prices and industry-wide cutbacks, Permian Resources has emerged as a rare success story. While many oil and gas giants slipped in the Forbes Global 2000 rankings amid a 15% drop in crude prices and rig reductions across the U.S., this young, fast-growing operator made its debut at No. 1762. Led by co-CEOs Will Hickey and James Walter—both under 40—Permian Resources has quickly become the largest pure-play producer in the Delaware Basin, proving that bold strategy and disciplined execution still win in a volatile market.
Vaquero Permian Gathering LLC—under the larger Vaquero Midstream banner—is strengthening its Pipeline Addition (PA) footprint with a significant 76 miles of new high-pressure loop pipe, fully detailed in Permit #09432.
Mewbourne and Continental have effectively filled the void left by some public operators that retreated from Oklahoma. Both are privately held and have kept Oklahoma drilling activity robust through 2024–25. Meanwhile, Ovintiv, Devon, and Coterra represent the public E&Ps that still invest in Oklahoma, though generally at a smaller scale and with a gas-focused approach, adjusting capital based on market conditions. Mach Resources stands out as a yield-focused operator concentrated entirely in Oklahoma, sustaining sizable production while carefully modulating its rig count.
From January to June 2025, new well permits in the Permian totaled approximately 3,828, based on daily activity and forecasted June completions. That’s a 15.9% decline compared to the same period in 2024, which recorded 4,551 permits.
The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) has confirmed that the 750-kilometre Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline retains its environmental certificate, clearing the way for construction to continue. The pipeline is designed to supply ~2 Bcf/d of natural gas from northeastern B.C. to the Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal proposed near Pearse Island on the West Coast.
According to the latest Baker Hughes report, the total number of active rigs fell by 4 to 559, the lowest level since November 2021. Oil rigs drove the decline with a loss of 9, while gas rigs rebounded with a gain of 5. Several major basins, including the Permian and Eagle Ford, recorded new lows.
Formed in 2023 and backed by Bayswater Management, Tejon Treating & Carbon Solutions is rapidly establishing itself as a cornerstone in the Permian Basin’s sour gas infrastructure landscape. As operators push deeper into H₂S-rich zones in West Texas, existing infrastructure struggled to keep pace—until Tejon entered with a mission: gather, treat, and responsibly manage sour gas where others couldn’t.
From January to June 2025, new well permits jumped by over 50% compared to the same period in 2024. This surge comes despite volatile natural gas prices, signaling rising operator confidence that LNG exports will transform the market heading into 2026.
