Permian on the rebound
Extreme market volatility is subsiding, tempting operators to acquire promising assets and lift production
The Permian basin is rallying after a sluggish year. Oil production is rising and the basin is seeing a sizeable chunk of the shale patch consolidation that has been playing out across the industry over the past year. The recovery is being tempered somewhat by increased discipline among producers and by uncertainty over the future of drilling on federal land. But the fact that production is picking up despite these constraints illustrates the basin’s resilience. The Permian dominates US domestic oil production. And given this status, it is unsurprising that recent M&A—though not all—has been concentrated on the basin. Leading the way, Texas-based independent Pioneer Natural Resources com
Also in this section
3 March 2026
The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in US–Israeli strikes marks the most serious escalation in the region in decades and a bigger potential threat to the oil market than the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis
2 March 2026
A potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalating US-Iran conflict risks disrupting Qatari LNG exports that underpin global gas markets, exposing Asia and other markets to sharp price spikes, cargo shortages and renewed reliance on dirtier fuels
2 March 2026
The South Asian consumer’s next move could tighten the Middle East oil market overnight
2 March 2026
Canadian independent’s evolving portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago gives it access to the Atlantic LNG market and a close-up view of developments in neighbouring Venezuela
