In this ICYMI episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Mikaila Adams, Managing Editor - News, recaps the long-delayed-but-now-closed deal between Chevron Corp. and Hess Corp. and highlight details from a new report on global upstream merger and acquisition activity from Rystad Energy—including potential deals to look out for this year.

References

Arbitrator rules in favor of Chevron, Hess in Guyana dispute with ExxonMobil (OGJ Online, July 18, 2025)

Global M&A activity slows amid rising valuations and fewer deals, Rystad Energy report

Civitas cuts back on capex, launches $100 million savings push (OGJ Online, May 9, 2025)

Canadian Natural Resources to acquire certain Alberta assets from Chevron for $6.5 billion (OGJ Online, Oct. 7, 2024)

In this Market Focus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Conglin Xu, Managing Editor, Economics, takes a midyear look at the global oil market, noting developments thus far with a look at what may lie ahead. 

Global crude inventory has been building steadily year-to-date. In an apparent oversupply, price action has a followed the fundamentals.

Market sentiment has been shaped by three major forces: escalating macroeconomic uncertainties surrounding the US and China, OPEC+'s evolving production strategy, and political risks amid military conflicts in the Middle East. 

In short, we are in a market where risks remain high. Barring unexpected disruption or major policy reversal, oil price momentum could continue to drift sideways through this year's third quarter. 

In this second part of a two-part Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk, upstream editor, continues his discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) and the idea of "The Great Crew Change," with an emphasis on new-hire training, manager turnover, and Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) article quality.

Did you miss the June 10 Part I episode where Procyk talked new hire competence, training, and statistical-based oilfield engineering? Listen in here! 

In this first part of a two-part Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk, upstream editor, discusses new hire competence, training, and statistical-based oilfield engineering, all with an eye toward AI. 

In this episode, Procyk mentions a 2022 article that appeared in the February 7, 2022, print edition of Oil & Gas Journal discussing the Liza development in Stabroek block offshore Guyana.

In this ICYMI episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Robert Brelsford, Downstream Editor, recaps details of Valero’s recent decision to shutter its refinery in Benicia, Calif., and the increased discussion it’s spurred regarding what some are calling California’s anti-industry energy policies. 

Read OGJ's coverage of Valero's warning to the government of California for more detailed information. 

While the planned refinery closure won’t be a first for net zero-focused state, it has triggered more aggressive attacks on California leadership and legislation.

This is a first of future ReEnterprised episodes that will take a closer look at California’s refining sector and the laws and regulations that govern it.

In this Market Focus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Conglin Xu breaks down recent developments in the global energy markets.

The US and China reached a temporary trade agreement on May 11. The US will lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from 140% and China will reduce tariffs on US imports to 10% from 125%. Certain tariffs, particularly those related to cars, steel, and aluminum, remain in place. Overall, the agreement led to a positive response in global markets. US stocks surged, and oil prices experienced a strong uptake.

With tariffs reduced, if sustainable, there is the expectation of an increase in industrial activity, likely to drive higher demand for oil, supporting prices in the near term. But the deal is temporary, and uncertainty remains. Prior to the deal, certain North American shale producers began releasing first-quarter 2025 earnings reports, detailing plans to reduce capital spending and remain flexible in the current macro environment.  

In this episode of ReEnterprised we talk about CCS, traditional hydrocarbons drilling, and the interface between these and the oil and gas workforce.

In this Insights episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Alex Procyk, upstream editor, talks with Derek Dixon, vice-president of business development for GreenFire Energy. Dixon provides an overview of GreenFire Energy's enhanced geothermal and hybrid geothermal projects and provides insights on the state of geothermal developments.

In this latest Market Focus episode of the Oil & Gas Journal ReEnterprised podcast, Conglin Xu, Managing Editor, Economics, dives into insights from the latest Oil & Gas Journal special report on capital spending. 

According to the OGJ annual capital spending survey, the combined capex of six major oil companies—ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, Equinor, and TotalEnergies—is projected to be US$108-112 billion in 2025. This marks a decrease from $113.7 billion in 2024 and $114.7 billion in 2023 and remains significantly lower than the pre-pandemic level of $123 billion in 2019.

Notably, majors are scaling back on earlier aggressive investments in renewables. 

From shifting strategies among oil majors to merger and acquisition activity in the shale sector to new developments in the refining sector and the Canadian oil industry, there’s a lot to unpack. 

With this episode, Oil & Gas Journal kicks off a new series within the ReEnterprised podcast: The Business.

In these sponsored The Business episodes, Oil & Gas Journal will talk with companies across the energy space about their latest activities.

In this episode, "Rapid Response Fabrication: Delivering When It Matters Most," we are joined by Dan Creech, executive vice-president of strategy and business development for Enerfab Process Solutions.

Listen in to learn about Rapid Response Fabrication, how it was developed, and how it’s executed to get operations safely back underway in the shortest time possible.