IPAA (Jan. 5, 2022) – Thanks to the shale revolution, the United States went from energy scarcity to energy dominance. An abundance of natural gas produced domestically allowed the country to begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the lower-48 in 2016 and within a few short years become a global LNG exporter.

As 2021 came to close, data show that the United States just became the world’s biggest exporter of LNG for the first time in history after a rapid rise the past five years.

According to Bloomberg:  “Output from American facilities edged above Qatar in December due largely to a jump in exports from the Sabine Pass and Freeport facilities, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Cheniere Energy Inc. said last month that it achieved its first cargo from a new production unit at its Sabine Pass plant.”

Energy In-Depth:  #1 in LNG Exports

Forbes (Dec. 23, 2021) – The energy revolution, accelerated by the pandemic, is changing the DNA of the oil and gas industry at its core.

In a recent interview Glynn Williams, CEO of Silixa — a company that provides fiber optic-powered data solutions for the oil and gas sector (as well as several others) — reveals something of the emerging recognition that the oil and gas industry can make a strong contribution to the renewables sector:

“Many people and entire states depend on the prosperity and well-being of independent oil and gas companies (IOCs) and their suppliers, but they are still being cast unfairly as the villains of climate change and the renewables revolution. In reality, they have been fully engaged in the huge undertaking of transitioning their businesses and practices toward the renewables sector. So, far from being its enemies, they are increasingly its facilitators.”

How Oil Companies Are Facilitating The Renewable Revolution

Carlsbad Current-Argus (Dec. 5, 2021) –  As global energy companies target the oil-rich Permian Basin in southeast New Mexico and West Texas for future growth in their extraction operations, a recent study showed smaller, independent producers lead growth in the region over the last few years amid a boom in fossil fuel development.

While major energy producers like ExxonMobil and Chevron tend to long-term target extraction projects throughout the world, independents typically focus on driving faster profits from specific oil-producing areas like the Permian and smaller operations. Independents tend to only focus on one sector of the oil and gas supply chain, such as exploration and production, while the majors fully integrate to include production, processing, refining or distribution.

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis reported in a recent study that independent oil and gas producers were leading the Permian in production even as larger companies seek to grow operations in the region.

Smaller, Independent Oil & Gas Producers Leading Permian Growth