Oil prices rose over 2% as escalating Middle East tensions and disruptions to key supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz increased fears of a global supply shock. With additional pressure from reduced Russian exports and ongoing uncertainty around Iran negotiations, markets are pricing in a renewed geopolitical risk premium.
TC Energy has signed commercial agreements with LNG Canada to advance Phase 2 of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, establishing the framework needed to move toward a final investment decision. While not yet approved, the expansion could double gas throughput and significantly boost Canada’s LNG export capacity if sanctioned.
Texian Operating Company is actively expanding through acquisitions, as confirmed by recent air permit transfers for two production facilities in Starr County and Wharton County, Texas from Urban Oil & Gas Group. This signals a clear strategy focused on acquiring and optimizing existing, cash-flowing assets rather than pursuing new drilling activity.
Single Barrel Oil & Gas is actively executing a growth strategy centered on acquiring mature, cash-flowing assets, as evidenced by the completed transfer of four wells in Madison County, Texas from Presco in March 2026. These air permit ownership changes confirm not just a deal, but a broader consolidation approach focused on scaling production through low-risk acquisitions rather than new drilling.
Oil prices fell on ceasefire hopes between the U.S. and Iran, easing concerns over disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, though markets remain volatile. Meanwhile, ongoing conflict has taken significant oil and LNG supply offline, tightening product and gas markets and keeping upward pressure on energy prices.
Continental Resources has secured a 15-year naming rights deal for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s new arena, set to open in 2028 as Continental Coliseum. The partnership highlights the company’s deep Oklahoma roots while aligning its brand with a major cultural and economic development in the city.
Louisiana drilling activity declined this week, with total rig counts dropping to 43, driven by reduced onshore activity while offshore remained steady. Despite the slowdown, operators like Apex Natural Gas and Expand Energy continue to lead activity, supported by ongoing permitting that signals future drilling potential.
Oklahoma drilling activity is increasing, led by the Cana Woodford in the Anadarko Basin, as operators concentrate capital in high-performing, liquids-rich plays. Top operators like Mewbourne, Camino, and Validus are driving activity with consistent rig deployments, while less competitive areas such as the Ardmore Woodford and Mississippian remain inactive.
The Haynesville has split into two distinct geological regimes: a shallow, uniform core that enables repeatable, manufacturing-style drilling, and a deeper, more complex system that requires engineered, optimization-driven development.
Ultimately, it’s not operator strategy that defines performance in the basin—it’s the geology dictating whether success comes from execution or design.
Apex Energy is executing a factory-style Haynesville development in De Soto and Caddo Parishes by standardizing well depths around a consistent ~12,000 ft target and deploying repeatable 2–4 well pad designs to maximize efficiency. By focusing on one core zone and drilling it repeatedly with multi-rig, pad-based sequencing, the company is accelerating cycle times, lowering costs, and scaling development like a manufacturing process.
