EUCI Blog

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer First quarter 2026 U.S. upstream oil and gas sector mergers and acquisitions (M&A) hit a quarterly two-year high – $36 billion – before activity cooled in the face of market and geopolitical uncertainties, according to Enverus Intelligence Research. “The slowdown in volume reflects less active deal flow in March…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Following a five-year trend spurred by investments, rising natural gas prices, and growing demand, the year-over-year national average electric revenue rose 9% to 14.6 cents a kilowatt-hour (kWh) in February 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Forty-three states and the District of Columbia saw increased revenue…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer U.S. natural gas net exports are set to rise nearly 30% to 20.5 billion cubic feet a day by 2027, spurred by five new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). Already the world’s largest LNG exporter, the EIA is projecting LNG…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Iranian hackers have increased their targeting of water and electric utilities since the U.S. and Isreal launched their war against Iran, according to an advisory by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). “Iranian government-affiliated actors routinely target poorly secured U.S. networks and internet-connected devices,” the agency said.…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The war in Iran, while upending world energy markets, may have some winners in U.S. liquefied gas (LNG) exports and renewable energy, according to an analysis by industry risk consultant DNV. Still, the war is exacting a heavy and lasting toll. “Without knowing the duration and possible escalation of…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran have roiled energy markets and may lead to a reordering of energy priorities, but at least in the short run will not have the same impacts as previous geopolitical disruptions, according to Rystad Energy. For example, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine,…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The global natural gas market is set to be reshaped in 2026 by a surge of new liquified natural gas (LNG) capacity, which will help lower market prices and spur demand, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The increase in global gas demand slowed to less than 1%…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The U.S. shale oil and gas sector is poised for a “new wave of consolidation” among small- and medium-sized producers facing an increasingly competitive landscape, according to industry consultant Rystad Energy. “Scale and efficiency are key catalysts for exploration and production (E&P) players who are seeking favorable business valuations,…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The U.S. is the world’s biggest natural gas producer – with three regions in the country each producing more gas than most countries – but demand continues to outpace production leading to higher natural gas prices. “Retail U.S. natural gas prices for every sector have increased so far this…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Oil and gas upstream mergers slumped in the third quarter of 2025, as doggedly low oil prices kept buyers away, with deals dropping to $9.7 billion, making it the third straight quarterly decline, according to Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR). The year began with a flurry of mergers and acquisitions,…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer While geopolitical risks tend to push up the price of oil, an increase in supply and global economic uncertainties has tamped down the price of oil to its lowest in nearly three years. Global petroleum inventories rose by an average of 1.8 million barrels a day in the second…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The sea lanes vital to the global oil market are under pressure from geopolitical events as shipments through five critical maritime “chokepoints” drop and insurance rates rise, according to a Rystad Energy analysis. In 2023, more than 71 million barrels a day (bpd) of oil and 26 billion cubic…