Author: Erick Parel

France Shuts Off More Nuclear Power as Heat Builds Across Europe, Sparking an Energy Domino of Failures

Energy News Beat Electricité de France (EDF) has shut down the Golfech-2 nuclear reactor in southern France as a blistering heatwave drives temperatures toward 40°C across parts of Europe. This is the latest in a record number of heat-related outages hitting France’s nuclear fleet this summer, curbing output from what remains the backbone of Europe’s […]

Expand Energy’s First Far Western Haynesville Wildcat IPs 27.5 MMcf/d

Energy News Beat Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: EXE), North America’s largest independent natural gas producer, has reported a strong initial production (IP) rate of 27.5 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) from its first horizontal wildcat in the Far Western Haynesville. The Bobby Yancey #2H well, located in Houston County, Texas, features an 8,158-foot lateral […]

The impending collapse of California’s transportation fuel infrastructure

Energy News Beat ENB Pub Note: This article first ran on America Outloud by Ronald Stein and Mike Ariza, and both have been on the Energy News Beat Podcast and should be followed! This is urgent. With the loss of transportation fuel supplies from Asian refineries resulting from the Iranian War and California’s huge dependency, […]

QatarEnergy Adapting while Protecting its Revenue Stream

Energy News Beat In the shadow of the ongoing Iran war that erupted in late February 2026, QatarEnergy—the world’s second-largest LNG exporter—is sending carefully calibrated signals to the global market. On one hand, it is cautiously testing the resumption of its own exports through the Strait of Hormuz. On the other, it is aggressively securing […]

U.S. Sale of Venezuela’s Oil Hits $13 Billion Since Maduro Capture

Energy News Beat President Donald Trump announced this week that U.S.-controlled sales of Venezuelan oil have generated more than $13 billion since the January 3, 2026, capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. The figure aligns with Financial Times calculations of revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts. Trump stated the proceeds have “paid for that war […]

US Crude Oil Inventories Decreased by 7.2 mb to 404.5 mb

Energy News Beat The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Weekly Petroleum Status Report on July 29, 2026, covering the week ending July 24, 2026. Commercial crude oil inventories (excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) fell by 7.2 million barrels (precisely 7.167 million barrels) to 404.5 million barrels. This marked a sharp draw that far […]

The Misconception of California’s Lower Demand for Gasoline and Diesel Sparks Debate

Energy News Beat California’s energy debate often rests on a convenient narrative: gasoline and diesel demand is falling, so aging refineries can—and should—simply close. A recent CalMatters commentary by Ranjit Deshmukh, an environmental studies associate professor at UC Santa Barbara, advances exactly this view. Titled in essence “Aging oil refineries don’t need more public dollars. […]

Oil Prices Ignore the Warnings of the Physical Markets. Refinery Crack Spreads Grow

Energy News Beat The paper oil markets continue to signal relative calm, with WTI futures hovering in the low-to-mid $80s per barrel range in late July 2026, even as the physical markets scream warnings of tightening supplies and stress. Futures traders appear focused on hopes of de-escalation, adaptability of flows, and potential diplomatic pauses. Yet […]

LNG Vessel Demand Soars as US Leads Project Growth, and Qatar is Offline

Energy News Beat Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers is set to be significantly stronger than previously expected over the next decade. French containment-system specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz SA (GTT) has raised its forecast for LNG carrier gas-containment system design orders to about 550 vessels in the 2026–2035 period, up from its earlier […]

Iraq Militias Attack Saudi Oil Facilities for a Second Day

Energy News Beat Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory launched drone attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, according to Saudi authorities. The incidents add pressure on the kingdom’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing regional tensions and constraints on its crude oil export routes. […]