Author: Erick Parel

When the Paper Price of Oil Catches Up with the Physical Price of Delivered Oil, It Will Be a Violent Swing UP

Energy News Beat In the high-stakes world of global energy markets, two prices for oil exist side by side — but they are telling wildly different stories right now. The “paper” price, reflected in Brent and WTI futures contracts traded on exchanges, sits around $99 per barrel as of April 22, 2026. Meanwhile, the physical […]

Global Oil Inventories Fall to Record Lows. What does this mean to investors and consumers?

Energy News Beat The global oil market is facing its most severe supply shock in years. Ongoing disruptions in the Middle East—driven by conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—have slashed exports by more than 13 million barrels per day (mb/d), triggered massive production shut-ins, and sent inventories plunging. According to the […]

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Has Helped U-Haul by Driving Companies and People to Texas

Energy News Beat Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s policies are giving the moving industry a major boost—especially U-Haul. While Texas surges as the top destination for people and businesses, Illinois continues to bleed residents, jobs, and tax revenue. A recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece highlights how high taxes, heavy regulation, and aggressive climate mandates like […]

US Rig Count Down Slightly This Week

Energy News Beat Houston, TX – April 21, 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 ending April 17, 2026, stands at 543 rigs, down 2 rigs week-over-week from 545 the prior week. Oil-directed rigs […]

Arsenal Resources Exploring Options of a Potential Sale Close to $1.5 Billion

Energy News Beat Arsenal Resources, a privately held pure-play natural gas explorer and producer focused exclusively on the Marcellus Shale, is exploring strategic options—including a potential sale that could value the company near $1.5 billion—according to sources familiar with the matter. The company has engaged financial advisers to gauge buyer interest, as the Marcellus basin […]

Oil Disruption of the Strait of Hormuz May Be More Permanent Than a Few Weeks

Energy News Beat The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz—now in its seventh week—has triggered the largest oil supply shock in modern history. Roughly 20 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude and products once flowed through this narrow chokepoint. Today, tanker traffic has collapsed, exports have plunged to a trickle, and Gulf producers […]

The Iran War Exposed the Real Energy Demand Around the World

Energy News Beat The recent escalation in the Iran conflict — with strikes on energy infrastructure, threats to shipping, and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz — has done far more than spike oil prices. It has laid bare the world’s true energy demand and the fragility of global supply chains. As Brent crude surged […]

UK Doubles Down on Failed Energy Policies with new 10GW Green Energy Push

Energy News Beat As energy prices continue to bite households and industry across the West, the UK government under Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced a fresh push for up to 10GW of new renewable capacity on public land—brownfield sites, railway land, Ministry of Defense estates, and other government assets. Officials claim this could power […]

White House Signs Directive on Defense Production Act for Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, and Logistics Capacity

Energy News Beat In a decisive move to bolster U.S. energy security amid ongoing supply challenges and geopolitical tensions, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Determination on April 20, 2026, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 for domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity. The directive, addressed to the […]

What Happens to the Oil Market if the Iran Talks Are Canceled?

Energy News Beat As of April 20, 2026, U.S.-Iran negotiations remain in a state of high-stakes uncertainty. No final round of talks has been formally confirmed for this week, despite President Trump’s repeated statements that a deal is “very close” and that Iran has signaled willingness to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely in exchange for […]