March 30, 2026 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.
- Waha prices will remain weak until fall, analysts say
- Summary: Natural gas prices at the West Texas Waha hub averaged negative $3.80 per MMBtu in March, driven by pipeline maintenance and crude-focused production growth. Analysts from East Daley Analytics noted that U.S. gas remains dislocated from surging global benchmarks like JKM and TTF because domestic LNG export facilities are already operating at maximum capacity. Relief is expected by September 2026, when the Blackcomb pipeline and Gulf Coast Express expansion are slated to come online, potentially lifting Waha futures to $3.35 per MMBtu.
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- U.S. drillers cut oil and gas rigs for second week in a row, Baker Hughes says
- Summary: U.S. energy firms reduced the total oil and gas rig count by nine to 543 for the week ending March 27, marking the first back-to-back weekly decline since January. Oil rigs dropped by five to 409, while gas rigs fell by four to 127, leaving the total count 8.3% below last year’s levels. Despite fewer active rigs, the EIA projects 2026 crude output will rise to 13.61 million bpd and gas production will reach 109.5 bcfd as the Iran War drives the first WTI price increase in four years.
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- Oil execs forecast higher near-term WTI prices in Q1 Dallas fed energy survey
- Summary: Executives from 116 oil and gas firms have significantly revised their price expectations upward in the first quarter 2026 Dallas Fed Energy Survey. Amid heightened geopolitical volatility and supply disruptions in the Middle East, the mean forecast for WTI crude oil at the end of 2026 jumped to $74.04 per barrel, up from just $62.41 in the previous quarter’s survey.
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- “The cushion is gone”: Rystad Energy warns of structurally fragile oil market
- Summary: Rystad Energy reports that the global oil market has reached a critical tipping point. After four weeks of absorbing the 17.8 million bpd disruption from the Strait of Hormuz via surplus inventories and floating storage, those buffers are now largely depleted. The market has shifted from “buffered” to “structurally fragile,” meaning even minor secondary shocks could now trigger disproportionate and violent price spikes.
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- Fed survey finds texas oil and gas activity rebounds, uncertainty remains high
- Summary: The Q1 2026 Dallas Fed Energy Survey reveals a significant turnaround for the Texas energy sector. The Business Activity Index surged 27 points to 21, marking the first expansionary reading in nearly a year. While oilfield services are driving this recovery, the “rebound” is complicated by a stark divide between large and small producers and a “jobless” recovery.
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- Kodiak Gas Services acquires large compression assets
- Summary: Kodiak Gas Services has significantly expanded its Permian Basin footprint through a $24 million acquisition of 20,000 horsepower (HP) in large-scale compression assets. This deal includes a seven-year service agreement expected to generate $7 million in annualized revenue. Beyond this acquisition, Kodiak is scaling its infrastructure with new facilities in Pecos and Midland to support a total projected addition of 170,000 HP in 2026.
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- Why natural gas bills aren’t rising like prices at the pump
- Summary: While U.S. gasoline prices have surged nearly $1 in a month to almost $4 per gallon, domestic natural gas remains an “energy island.” Prices at the Henry Hub in Erath, Louisiana, have held steady near $3 per MMBtu, even easing slightly in recent weeks. This stability is driven by the fact that U.S. LNG export terminals are already running at maximum capacity; because no additional gas can physically leave the country to capture higher global prices, the domestic surplus remains trapped at home, keeping prices subdued.
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