EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) is making bold moves in 2025. With its latest acquisition of Encino Energy — Ohio’s largest oil producer in the Utica Shale — the company has deepened its U.S. shale footprint while continuing to deliver strong financial results.
The U.S. drilling market continues to “eek out” progress, stringing together modest week-over-week increases. Gains remain uneven—Texas is slipping while Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming are seeing growth. Gas rigs continue to provide stability, while oil rigs drive incremental weekly gains.
The Permian Basin has long been the heart of U.S. shale, defined by efficiency gains and relentless innovation. The first wave of AI adoption in the Permian focused on automation—optimizing drilling workflows, streamlining logistics, and reducing downtime. But the next frontier is emerging fast: AI-powered reservoir analysis and data reprocessing.
When oil trades near $60 per barrel, many U.S. shale producers face a margin squeeze. Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN), however, stands apart as one of the most efficient operators in the sector. With a true corporate breakeven near $45 WTI—well below the Dallas Fed’s industry survey range of $61–70—Devon thrives in conditions that challenge peers.
Van’t Hof emphasized that the first wave of AI adoption is about automation—saving time and eliminating repetitive tasks. For a company managing thousands of wells, even small administrative processes, like checking and reconciling payments, can become massive time drains. AI tools can automate these workflows, freeing up people for higher-value tasks.
EOG Resources is one of the largest U.S. exploration and production companies, active across multiple basins and expanding through acquisitions. Pierce Hammond, VP of Investor Relations, presented the company’s strategy and performance, emphasizing its mission: to be among the highest-return and lowest-cost producers while maintaining strong environmental performance.
A Drilling Spacing Unit (DSU) is the core building block of shale development. Instead of thinking about wells in isolation, operators plan, drill, and complete an entire unit of acreage as a system. A DSU often covers multi-section pads with 4–12+ wells drilled sequentially, then completed and tied into shared facilities.
Mach Natural Resources LP has completed $1.3 billion in acquisitions from Sabinal Energy and IKAV Energy Inc., nearly doubling its production and expanding into the Permian and San Juan Basins. The transactions, funded through a mix of debt and equity, also strengthen Mach’s financial position with an upsized $1.0 billion revolving credit facility, a new $450 million term loan, and a borrowing base increase to $1.45 billion.
Permian Basin operators are wrapping up 2025 with a notable rise in drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) — about 25% more than where they started the year. At first glance, that might look like deferred production, but it’s actually a calculated move shaped by market and operational realities.
The Government of British Columbia has officially approved the Ksi Lisims LNG project, granting its provincial environmental assessment certificate after nearly five years of review. This milestone clears the way for construction to begin as early as this year on a $16.8 billion project that promises to reshape Canada’s energy landscape.
