Companies in the Gulf of Mexico benefit from established infrastructure
Majors eyeing lucrative plays outside the Gulf of Mexico
ExxonMobil isn’t alone among majors in turning its gaze from the US Gulf of Mexico to significant deep-water and onshore shale opportunities elsewhere
ExxonMobil is testing market interest, assessing operators' appetite for acquiring some of its upstream US Gulf of Mexico properties. The major's move highlights the ongoing trend for many oil majors operating in the US to high-grade their upstream portfolios. This means searching the globe for tempting deep-water plays or attractive shale openings. Analysts say reservoir quality and favourable logistics are viewed as premium qualities as companies continue to emphasise cost control. In Exxon's case, this trend has led to its focus on deep-water discoveries, such as the nine in its Stabroek block offshore Guyana. The company also acquired new acreage in Brazil's fifth pre-salt bid round. At
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With Texas LNG approaching financial close, Alaska LNG advancing towards a phased buildout and Magnolia LNG positioned for future optionality, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval says the coming year will demonstrate how the company’s more focused, owner-operator approach is reshaping LNG infrastructure development in the North America
18 February 2026
The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
