New well permit activity from emerging, mature and previously dormant operators shows that U.S. oil growth is broadening beyond the major shale producers. This reinforces the “Safe Barrel” thesis, where targeted drilling combines with Maintenance Plus strategies to increase production from existing assets while controlling costs.
Mewbourne drilled 193 wells YTD across 90 identified pads, with 64% of activity concentrated in New Mexico and Eddy and Lea counties leading development; Patterson dominates the drilling program, including the most active contractor/rig combinations.
Artificial Lift Optimization is emerging as a key “Maintenance Plus” strategy, with operators using AI, automation, improved ESP and rod-pump performance, workovers and real-time optimization to reduce downtime, flatten declines and unlock incremental production from existing wells. From Chevron “sweating the assets” to Diamondback’s “pump by exception” model, the goal is increasingly to generate more production and free cash flow from the existing asset base without adding significant capital or drilling activity.
Top operators remain bullish on the Eagle Ford, viewing it as a proven, capital-efficient “safe barrel” where existing infrastructure, improving well economics, and Austin Chalk expansion support continued investment. The strategy increasingly combines selective drilling with Maintenance Plus programs—workovers, artificial lift, chemicals, automation, and production optimization—to slow declines, increase existing-well production, and control LOE.
Adamas Energy is moving from post-acquisition transition into active development, with new well and air permits signaling expanding activity across its East Texas position. The overlap between drilling and facility permitting—particularly in the Haynesville—points toward the next phase of spending on production facilities, compression, gathering, pipelines, construction, and automation.
CN Energy Group has begun oil production from a project in Alberta’s Cold Lake region through its Canadian subsidiaries. The company plans to use the investment as a foundation for a broader North American strategy spanning oil production, investment, transportation, trading and supply chain services.
The Granite Wash reached 20 active rigs, matching the Cana Woodford as western Oklahoma continues to anchor drilling activity in the state. OilGasLeads data shows 143 wells drilled through August 12, 2026, led by Mewbourne Oil Company and heavily concentrated in Roger Mills and Custer counties.
Navigator Borger Express LLC received Texas Interstate Pipeline Registration No. 10796 for 93.14 miles of liquid common-carrier pipeline across Hemphill, Roberts, and Hutchinson counties. The pipeline is part of Navigator’s broader Borger Express system connecting Oklahoma crude supplies with the Texas Panhandle refining market.
Goodnight Midstream has taken ownership or control of at least three CWR Management saltwater disposal facilities in Karnes and DeWitt counties, strengthening its produced-water infrastructure footprint in the Eagle Ford. With 176 wells drilled across the two counties in 2026, led by ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy and BPX, the acquisitions could signal expectations for continued or increased drilling and water-handling demand in the region.
Venezuela has signed oil-sector agreements with SLB and Hunt Oil aimed at supporting field development, production enhancement and reservoir studies. The agreements come as Venezuelan crude production averages about 1.25 million bbl/d, with more than 500,000 bbl/d recently flowing to U.S. refiners.
