Author: Erick Parel

Oil Tankers and Traffic Test Hormuz Reopening

Energy News Beat In a significant development for global energy markets, Iran announced today that the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” to commercial shipping for the remainder of the fragile ceasefire period tied to the Lebanon truce. The announcement, made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, comes amid ongoing U.S. naval restrictions on […]

Tanker Fleet Knocking at the Gulf of America, but What Are They Buying and for Whom?

Energy News Beat A record armada of crude oil tankers is steaming toward the U.S. Gulf Coast in April 2026. Maritime intelligence from Windward shows roughly 171 crude tankers en route—well above the typical monthly average of about 110. Market data firm Kpler reports that 28 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), each capable of hauling […]

Where are Oil and LNG Prices Heading? What are the second order impacts for consumers and investors?

Energy News Beat The global energy markets are in flux as of mid-April 2026, shaped by severe disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict (centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz). This has curtailed roughly 7–10 mb/d of crude, NGLs, and refined product exports in March–April, triggering sharp price spikes and inventory draws. Brent […]

Javier Blas writes in Bloomberg, over the years, liberals became increasingly hostile to fossil fuels as the evidence of climate change accumulated.

Energy News Beat This is from the Doug Sheridan LinkedIn account. We highly recommend following and connecting with Doug Sheridan.  The great Javier Blas writes in Bloomberg, over the years, liberals became increasingly hostile to fossil fuels as the evidence of climate change accumulated. From 2020 onward, the hostility turned into militant opposition, culminating with […]

The House Passes the FENCES Act – Rep. August Pfluger

Energy News Beat In a significant victory for American energy producers, manufacturers, and workers, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6409, the Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act, on April 16, 2026, by a vote of 220-208. Sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11), this commonsense permitting reform bill amends the […]

New Wave of US LNG Projects Could Add Over 6 Bcf/d of Export Capacity

Energy News Beat The United States is in the midst of a historic expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure. After a decade of rapid growth that transformed the U.S. from a minor player into the world’s largest LNG exporter, a new wave of projects under construction and recently sanctioned is poised to […]

Iran War Sends Shockwaves Through Central Asia’s Fragile Economies

Energy News Beat By RFE/RL staff – Apr 15, 2026, 1:00 PM CDT Cargo shipments through Iran are delayed for weeks, forcing costly overland rerouting and supply chain disruptions Shipping costs and energy prices are surging, putting pressure on households and government budgets across the region Landlocked Central Asian economies face rising inflation and slower growth due […]

The Bay Area’s $100 Billion Natural Gas Appliance Ban

Energy News Beat ENB Pub Note: This article was first published on the California Globe. We highly recommend bookmarking their site and reading daily.  Residential natural gas appliances are a modest factor in the region’s air quality equation By Marc Joffe, April 15, 2026 3:00 pm On January 1, 2027, San Francisco Bay Area homeowners will awaken to […]

U.S. Weekly Rig Count: April 10, 2026 – Slight Decline Continues as Oil Rigs Hold Steady While Gas Activity Dips

Energy News Beat Houston, TX – April 16, 2026 – The latest U.S. rotary rig count data shows a modest pullback in drilling activity. According to Baker Hughes, the total U.S. rig count for the week of April 10, 2026, stands at 545 rigs, down 3 rigs week-over-week (WoW) from 548 the prior week. Year-over-year […]

The Shale Revolution Hits the Road

Energy News Beat The U.S. shale revolution didn’t just transform American energy—it created a blueprint the rest of the world now wants to copy. After two decades of explosive growth that made the United States the world’s top oil and gas producer, the playbook of horizontal drilling, multi-stage fracking, and relentless cost-cutting is crossing borders. […]