MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Aug 8, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

NATIONAL: After anemic storage injection, profit-taking stalls natural gas futures; Despite trade deal with EU, U.S. LNG could still get squeezed on price, volumes; Enverus and Blackstone bet big on the energy intelligence revolution; INTERNATIONAL: Crude drops for sixth straight session; What is the world’s most valuable oil and gas brand?; Russia’s oil exports have decreased modestly since 2022, shifting toward Asia.

NATIONAL

After anemic storage injection, profit-taking stalls natural gas futures
NGI’s Daily Gas Price Index/Kevin Dobbs
Natural gas futures fell short of rallying for a third consecutive session on Thursday, despite a bullish inventory report and forecasts for strong August cooling demand. The September Nymex gas futures contract settled at $3.067/MMBtu, down a penny day/day. It reached an intraday high of $3.148 but slipped as the session wore on and traders took profits. NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. was flat at $2.700. That ended the week’s three-day cash market rally amid lofty late summer temperatures. [MDN: Well, at least it stayed above $3. That’s the magic number. The longer it stays above $3, the more likely it will continue to stay there.]

Despite trade deal with EU, U.S. LNG could still get squeezed on price, volumes
RBN Energy/Richard Pratt
The EU’s trade deal with the Trump administration, including a $750 billion U.S. energy purchase pledge over three years, aims to boost U.S. LNG exports as the EU phases out Russian gas by 2027. However, U.S. exporters face challenges from Qatar’s low-cost LNG production and secured European terminal capacity, which could limit U.S. market share. Qatar’s 48 MMtpa capacity expansion by 2029 and long-term contracts position it as a baseload supplier, potentially relegating U.S. LNG to a swing supply role with volatile pricing. EU regulations, like the Methane Regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, add compliance burdens, with potential fines for non-compliance impacting Qatar’s supply decisions. Despite a projected increase in U.S. LNG capacity (71-74 MMtpa by 2029), competition, regulatory uncertainties, and a declining EU gas demand trend could squeeze U.S. LNG on price and volume by 2030, altering global LNG trade dynamics. [MDN: There are a lot of unknowns, but don’t let that extinguish your enthusiasm for our expanding LNG exports. There is reason for great hope. Projections like this, even from “friendly” sources like RBN, always assume the world is static, that it will be in 2030 as it is today. That’s simply not the case. New innovations come along. The electric sector is changing rapidly. New turbine manufacturers (that use natgas) will no doubt come along. The world is dynamic and always changing, and American capitalism and ingenuity change right along with it. There’s every reason to have tremendous optimism for the future of our LNG exports.]

Enverus and Blackstone bet big on the energy intelligence revolution
Forbes/David Blackmon
Private equity giant Blackstone has acquired Enverus, a leading energy data analytics and SaaS platform, in a deal valued at over $6 billion, marking a significant investment in the energy intelligence sector. Enverus, with over 8,000 customers across 50 countries, including 95% of U.S. oil and gas producers, provides critical digital infrastructure for the energy industry, leveraging nearly $900 million in AI and product innovation. The acquisition aligns with Blackstone’s expertise in data-rich industries and its $25 billion energy investment portfolio, aiming to scale Enverus globally. Enverus, which evolved from a Texas-based lease data provider into a diversified energy analytics leader, has seen multiple ownership transitions since 2012. CEO Manuj Nikhanj views the deal as a “launchpad” for growth, positioning Enverus to drive AI-driven solutions and real-time intelligence in the rapidly evolving energy transition landscape. [MDN: The small get big, and the big get bigger. Enverus is an important company in the O&G space. Most, if not all, of M-U drillers subscribe to their services.]

INTERNATIONAL

Crude drops for sixth straight session
Bloomberg/G. Smith, M. Gindis, C. Cartier
Oil prices dropped to their lowest settlement in over two months, with West Texas Intermediate futures falling below $64 a barrel, marking a six-session losing streak, the longest since December 2023. The decline was driven by anticipation of a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, which could impact Russian crude supply availability. Traders are also reacting to Trump’s push for a Ukraine ceasefire and new tariffs on India for purchasing Russian energy, though these levies are less severe than feared. Concerns about a potential oil oversupply later this year, following OPEC+’s return of significant production capacity, combined with worries about slowing economic growth due to Trump’s broader tariffs, further pressured prices. Commodity traders may amplify the decline through algorithmic selling. Meanwhile, India’s state-owned refiners are reducing Russian crude purchases, potentially increasing demand for alternative oil grades, while U.S. crude inventories dropped, though Cushing hub stocks rose for a fifth week. [MDN: WTI for September delivery fell 0.7% to settle at $63.88 a barrel. Brent for October settlement slid 0.7% to settle at $66.43 a barrel. Perfect prices.]

What is the world’s most valuable oil and gas brand?
Rigzone/Andreas Exarheas
According to the Brand Finance Energy 100 2025 report, the world’s top 100 most valuable energy brands are collectively worth $688.6 billion, with $444.1 billion from the top 50 oil and gas brands (up 4% from 2024) and $244.5 billion from the top 50 utility brands (up 5%). Shell retained its position as the most valuable oil and gas brand for the eleventh year, despite a 10% drop in brand value to $45.4 billion, bolstered by its focus on LNG and gas and a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 87.5/100. Aramco held second place with a stable $41.7 billion valuation, while PetroChina’s brand value rose 17% to $33.3 billion, securing third. ExxonMobil and Petronas followed in brand strength with BSI scores of 85/100 and 83.7/100, respectively. The report highlights the energy sector’s resilience and convergence toward innovation and net-zero commitments. [MDN: Interesting survey. It uses something called the Brand Strength Index (BSI) to evaluate brands based on a number of factors, not just the market capitalization of a company. Shell comes out as #1 in the O&G space. Congrats!]

Russia’s oil exports have decreased modestly since 2022, shifting toward Asia
U.S. Energy Information Administration – Today in Energy
From 2020 to 2024, Russia’s crude oil and condensate exports averaged 5.0 million barrels per day (b/d), dropping to 4.3 million b/d in the first half of 2025, compared to 4.8 million b/d in 2024, influenced by sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s share of these exports fell from 51% in 2020 to 12% in 2024 and 11% in 2025, with Türkiye receiving over half of Europe’s portion. Conversely, Asia and Oceania’s share rose from 41% in 2020 to 81% in 2024, driven by increased exports to China (2.2 million b/d in 2024, 2.0 million b/d in 2025) and India (from 50,000 b/d in 2020 to 1.7 million b/d in 2024, 1.6 million b/d in 2025). On August 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on India for importing Russian oil, potentially impacting future Russian export volumes. [MDN: In other words, Russia is still exporting significant volumes of oil, raking in the money, despite the world criticizing the country for its war on Ukraine. Only Donald Trump has made a dent in Russia’s ability to export oil. And that’s only a dent.]