December 8, 2025 Edition
At Valor, our goal is to keep you informed of the latest news and updates from the oil and gas industry. We are committed to sharing the insights and knowledge that our team gathers to help you stay ahead in this dynamic sector. From mergers and acquisitions to regulatory changes and technological advancements, we cover all the key developments that impact the industry. Stay tuned for weekly updates to keep you well-informed.
- Antero to buy HG gas assets for $2.8 billion
- Summary: Antero Resources Corp. and its pipeline affiliate agreed to acquire HG Energy II LLC’s assets for a combined $3.9 billion in cash, with Antero Resources paying $2.8 billion for Marcellus shale upstream assets and Antero Midstream paying $1.1 billion for pipeline assets. Concurrently, Antero Resources announced the sale of its Ohio Utica Shale production assets for $800 million. This expansion comes as U.S. natural gas futures recently hit $5 for the first time in nearly three years.
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- Targa to acquire Stakeholder Midstream for $1.25 billion
- Summary: Targa Resources agreed to buy rival Stakeholder Midstream for $1.25 billion in cash, expanding its Permian Basin capacity with 480 miles of pipelines and 180 million cubic feet per day of processing. The deal, expected to close in Q1 2026, includes carbon capture infrastructure and oil gathering assets backed by long-term contracts across 170,000 acres. Targa plans to fund the acquisition using cash on hand and a $3.5 billion revolving credit facility, with RBC Capital Markets advising.
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- U.S. oil rig count rebounds after last week’s losses
- Summary: The U.S. total rig count rebounded by five to 549 this week, driven by a six-rig increase in oil rigs to 413, even as gas rigs dipped slightly to 129. U.S. crude production rose to 13.815 million bpd, just 47,000 bpd shy of the record, while the frac spread count was reported at 173. Benchmark oil prices moved higher on the news, with WTI trading up at $60.26 per barrel and Brent crude climbing to $63.92.
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- Energy trader BGN plans global gas expansion
- Summary: Energy trader BGN plans to expand its fledgling natural gas business into a global portfolio by investing in plants, vessels, and pipelines. This initiative coincides with a forecasted boom in the liquefied natural gas market, supported by ramping exports from the United States and additional output from Qatar. While the surge in global supply is expected to push prices lower, BGN is moving to establish its presence ahead of the new supplies.
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- Oil market sets stage for high-stakes December
- Summary: Following a stable November with Brent trading between $62.48 and $65.16, analysts lowered 2026 price forecasts to $62 per barrel citing a potential 4.2 million bpd oversupply. OPEC+ maintained Q1 2026 quotas, while U.S. natural gas futures hit a 35-month high of $4.9 per MMBtu on record feedgas demand of 18.2 Bcf/d. Notable developments include Targa’s $1.25 billion purchase of Stakeholder Midstream and court approval for Elliott’s $5.9 billion acquisition of Citgo Petroleum.
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- U.S. gas price falls to lowest level since May 2021
- Summary: The average U.S. gasoline price fell to $2.95 per gallon over the weekend, its lowest level since May 2021, as nearly every state saw declines ahead of the holidays. GasBuddy attributes the 8.5-cent weekly drop to completed refinery maintenance and rising OPEC output, with Oklahoma stations hitting $1.99 while California averages $4.51. The EIA confirmed the trend with a December 1 price of $2.985 and projects 2026 retail prices will average $2.98 per gallon, down from $3.31 in 2024.
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- Oil climbs to 2-week high on Fed rate-cut signals, supply concerns
- Summary: Oil prices reached a two-week high on Friday, with Brent crude rising 0.8% to settle at $63.75 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate increasing 0.7% to close at $60.08. This momentum was fueled by an 87% market expectation of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next week, alongside optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade talks. Geopolitical uncertainties involving potential supply disruptions from Russia and Venezuela supported the second straight weekly gain for both benchmarks.
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