7/17/2026
Weather extremes from Chile's record snow to Canadian wildfires disrupt shipping and infrastructure, while Texas operators ignore the noise and keep drilling.
7/16/2026
Oil rises on renewed U.S.-Iran tensions as Canadian wildfires threaten production and Permian operators pursue drilling, royalties, and smaller deals.
7/14/2026
Iran shipping threat, naval patrols in the Strait of Hormuz, rising rig counts, UAE production highs, and what it all means for independent energy operators.
7/13/2026
The biggest stories from the weekend, from America's World Cup exit to rising Texas rig counts, oil prices, and what it all means for independent operators.
7/10/2026
From World Cup heartbreak to OPEC, oil prices, and U.S. energy, here's what mattered this week for independent operators, mineral owners, and investors.
7/8/2026
Why America should stop watching the Strait of Hormuz and focus on Texas, Permian Basin, and the independent oil and gas operators building U.S. energy security.
7/7/2026
Team USA's World Cup run ends, OPEC opens the taps, and independent operators face a new oil market driven by supply, capital, and disciplined execution.
7/6/2026
USA faces Belgium in the World Cup as oil prices cool, OPEC output rises, rigs climb, and independent operators rethink capital raising.
7/3/2026
America’s 250th birthday arrives as oil prices cool, rigs rise, and independent operators face a market built on discipline, not panic.
7/2/2026
The U.S. moves on in the World Cup, oil prices slip as Iran talks continue, and independent operators may finally have the advantage in a calmer energy market.
7/1/2026
Oil prices open July under pressure as U.S.-Iran talks continue, Wall Street watches inventories, and independent operators prepare for a market driven by execution instead of panic.
6/29/2026
Oil steadies near $72 Brent, U.S. rigs rise, and independent operators face a market rewarding cash flow, discipline, and local knowledge.
6/27/2026
The Iran peace agreement continued reshaping global energy markets, Wall Street spent the week questioning whether AI stocks had gotten too expensive, New York politics took an unexpected turn, and independent operators quietly found themselves in one of the strongest positions they've been in all year.
6/26/2026
June 26, 2026 Wildcatters Daily Intelligence: oil and gas markets drop war premium, New York politics shift left, and the outlook for independent operators.
6/24/2026
We are officially launching Wildcatters Intelligence—bringing live commodity pricing, rig counts, capital raises, M&A transactions, operator logs, and macro watches into one home. Plus: today’s headlines covering Hormuz shipping, Ukraine strikes, and Wall Street volatility.
6/23/2026
Oil prices stabilize near $77 as Strait of Hormuz recovery begins, technology stocks slide on Fed rate hike concerns, and SpaceX shares experience their largest post-IPO selloff.
6/22/2026
Oil prices cool as Strait of Hormuz recovery begins, while landowners scrutinize low-producing wells and operators deploy digital wellheads powered by flared gas.
6/20/2026
The preliminary peace agreement with Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to slide 15%. Plus, Federal Reserve updates and the Permian Basin royalty distribution surge.
6/19/2026
Voters and investors are increasingly looking outside traditional power structures, creating unique advantages for independent oil and gas operators who rely on local knowledge.
6/18/2026
Oil prices drop to three-month lows as the U.S. and Iran announce a framework agreement, while SpaceX surges post-IPO and power plants are fast-tracked for AI demand.
6/17/2026
A framework agreement between the U.S. and Iran sends Brent crude down, while the U.S. becomes the world's top oil exporter and SpaceX valuation approaches $2 trillion.
6/16/2026
A framework agreement between the U.S. and Iran sends Brent crude to the low $80s, while the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve hits its lowest level since 1983. We look at natural gas structural demand.
6/15/2026
Geopolitical risk in the Middle East keeps oil prices supported, while the U.S. becomes the world's top oil exporter. We look at natural gas demand from data centers and the unique opportunities for independent operators.
6/13/2026
U.S. energy drillers pull back on gas rigs while crude prices hold on global supply concerns, and private capital targets high-margin gas infrastructure.
6/12/2026
Oil prices remain elevated on geopolitical risk, but capital markets prioritize returns over speculative growth. We analyze the U.S. natural gas boom, independent operator opportunities, and structural inflation.
6/11/2026
WTI prices climb and capital returns selectively to energy, but major public consolidation leaves valuable non-core opportunities. We analyze record-low DUC backlogs and the natural gas investment boom.
6/9/2026
As the energy market shifts from oversupply concerns to energy security, independent operators find themselves uniquely positioned. We analyze why oil is poised to stay near $100, the collapse of DUC backlogs, and record natural gas investments.
6/8/2026
Consolidation among major operators is creating major opportunities. We analyze why local brokers and land professionals hold the edge, the implications of record-low DUC backlogs, and Chevron's big bet on international shale.
6/6/2026
WTI crude spent much of the week trading in the low-to-mid $90s while Brent approached $100 per barrel as supply disruptions and geopolitics drive prices higher. Here is what this means for mineral and royalty owners.
6/4/2026
Clearing pipeline bottlenecks in the Permian Basin and growing global LNG export needs are stabilizing royalty cash flows and boosting mineral lease values across major U.S. shale basins.
6/3/2026
While crude prices remain elevated, energy forecasts vary widely from $60 to $100 per barrel. We analyze how capital returns selectively, the growing margins of independent operators, and what happens when U.S. shale faces record-low backlogs.
6/2/2026
U.S. crude exports reached a record 5.6 million barrels per day in May as global buyers seek stability. Yet, capital discipline and a record-low shale well backlog constrain production capacity, driving a wave of upstream M&A dealmaking and high-quality offshore investment.
6/1/2026
For the better part of a decade, the story in U.S. oil and gas has been one of consolidation. While capital is returning to energy, it is not being distributed evenly—independent buyers are finding unique opportunities in producing assets, minerals, royalties, and niche operating strategies.
5/31/2026
U.S. drilling activity enters a holding pattern as public operators prioritize capital discipline and operational efficiency over aggressive growth despite supportive WTI oil prices.
5/29/2026
Saudi Arabia is expected to lower its July crude prices to Asia for a second consecutive month as weaker Asian demand and falling spot premiums begin outweighing recent supply concerns.
5/28/2026
Global energy markets remain fixated on oil prices, but a structural shift is underway as natural gas infrastructure spending surges to a 10-year high amid Middle East geopolitical tensions.
5/27/2026
New pipeline construction across Texas is becoming increasingly important as global LNG markets remain under pressure following continued disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict.
5/26/2026
WTI crude prices have moved sharply higher over the past several weeks as global supply concerns continue building. While previous cycles would have triggered aggressive shale growth, Permian Basin producers stay disciplined.