Analyst Insights

Analyst Insights are unique perspectives provided by RBN analysts about energy markets developments. The Insights may cover a wide range of information, such as industry trends, fundamentals, competitive landscape, or other market rumblings. These Insights are designed to be bite-size but punchy analysis so that readers can stay abreast of the most important market changes.

By Jeremy Meier - Friday, 4/25/2025 (3:15 pm)

US oil and gas rig count gained two rigs vs. last week, climbing to 587 for the week ending April 25 according to Baker Hughes data. One rig each was added in the Haynesville and Anadarko, while all other basins were unchanged for the week.

By Martin King - Friday, 4/25/2025 (12:45 pm)

For the week of April 25, Baker Hughes reported that the Western Canadian gas-directed rig count was unchanged at 47 (blue line and text in left hand chart below), 15 less than one year ago and remained within the five-year range.

By Jason Lindquist - Friday, 4/25/2025 (10:30 am)

ExxonMobil will transport and permanently store up to 2 million metric tons per annum (MMtpa) of carbon dioxide (CO2) captured at Calpine’s Baytown Energy Center near Houston, the companies announced April 23.

By John Abeln - Thursday, 4/24/2025 (3:30 pm)
Report Highlight: NATGAS Appalachia

During its recent quarterly earnings report, Kinder Morgan discussed a potential expansion of the Elba Express pipeline called Elba Express Bridge.

By Noel Copeland - Thursday, 4/24/2025 (2:00 pm)

Summit Carbon Solutions just hit another speed bump on the road to building what it hopes will be the world’s largest carbon dioxide pipeline.

By Liz Dicken - Thursday, 4/24/2025 (1:45 pm)

More U.S. crude oil found a home in Africa last week than any time since 2023, despite trade tensions and tariff disputes.

By Taylor Noland - Thursday, 4/24/2025 (11:30 am)
Report Highlight: Crude Oil Permian

Enbridge has completed Phase 1 of the Gray Oak Pipeline expansion, increasing the system’s capacity by 80 Mb/d to a total of 980 Mb/d. Phase 2 of the expansion project is scheduled to come online in April 2026, which would add 40 Mb/d.

By TJ Braziel - Wednesday, 4/23/2025 (3:30 pm)
Report Highlight: Crude Oil Billboard

Total U.S. crude oil imports declined by 410 Mb/d to 5.59 MMb/d. Over the past 10 weeks, imports have averaged just 5.885 MMb/d—590 Mb/d below the 6.475 MMb/d average during the same period last year.

By TJ Braziel - Wednesday, 4/23/2025 (3:15 pm)
Report Highlight: Crude Oil Billboard

Net refinery input rose by 325 Mb/d to 15.89 MMb/d, matching the same level seen in 2024. Input should begin climbing above 16 MMb/d in the next two to three weeks and could reach over 17 MMb/d by early July if it follows last year’s trend.

By Christine Groenewold - Wednesday, 4/23/2025 (2:15 pm)
Report Highlight: U.S. Propane Billboard

The EIA reported total U.S. propane/propylene inventories had a build of 2.3 MMbbl for the week ended April 18, surpassing industry expectations of a 1.3 MMbbl increase and the average build for the week of 1.2 MMbbl. Total U.S.

By Christine Groenewold - Tuesday, 4/22/2025 (2:15 pm)
Report Highlight: Chart Toppers

So far for April 2025, the frac spread has averaged $3.65/MMBtu, reflecting a 2% decline from March 2025 and a

By Lisa Shidler - Tuesday, 4/22/2025 (1:00 pm)
Report Highlight: LNG Voyager

Like the classic tune, “Rock the Boat,” U.S. LNG feedgas demand hit choppy water last week, slipping as intake dropped at Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, Cameron, and Plaquemines.

By Martin King - Monday, 4/21/2025 (3:30 pm)
Report Highlight: TradeView Report

The differential in the price of WTI crude oil in Corpus Christi, TX and WTI crude oil in Midland, TX has been volatile for more than a year, with more recent differential action pointing to persistent tightness in available pipeline capacity to ship crude from Midland to Corpus (red dashed recta

By John Abeln - Monday, 4/21/2025 (3:30 pm)
Report Highlight: NATGAS Permian

Permian gas production rebounded slightly last week as Gulf Coast Express came back online following scheduled maintenance that ended April 15.

By RBN Team - Monday, 4/21/2025 (1:45 pm)
Report Highlight: U.S. Propane Billboard

For the past two weeks, prompt Mont Belvieu propane prices have been at a steep premium to the forward market, reflecting turmoil since the onset of the tariff war. As we covered in

By Martin King - Monday, 4/21/2025 (12:30 pm)

Natural gas production in Western Canada has been extremely robust as part of a gradual upward push underway since late 2024.

By Taylor Noland - Monday, 4/21/2025 (11:00 am)
Report Highlight: Crude Oil Permian

Permian Basin crude oil flows to Houston extended their recovery in December, rebounding from the sharp June 2024 decline — the lowest volume since September 2023 (see chart below) — according to the latest monthly data from the Texas Railroad Commission.

By Jeremy Meier - Friday, 4/18/2025 (3:15 pm)

US oil and gas rig count grew to 585 for the week ending April 17 according to Baker Hughes data, a gain of two vs. a week ago. Three rigs were added in Appalachia, while the All Other group fell by one rig. All other basins were flat this week.

By RBN Team - Friday, 4/18/2025 (2:15 pm)

The announcement by Valero to shutter its Benicia refinery by April 2026 may have come as a surprise to city leaders, but it fits with recent trends.

By Jason Lindquist - Friday, 4/18/2025 (9:45 am)
Report Highlight: Hydrogen Billboard

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in steelmaking via carbon-capture technology and a switch to green hydrogen are unlikely to be economically viable before 2030, steelmaker ArcelorMittal said in its Sustainability Report 2024, which was published April 17.