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Latest prices & markets coverage from Oil Authority and industry sources

Oil Authority Analysis363 articles

Ultra large crude carrier Hellespont Alhambra underway at sea, photographed by the U.S. Coast Guard
Prices & Markets23h ago

Gulf Tanker Freight Adds $12.83 a Barrel as Brent Hits $111.91, 24% Above Goldman's $90 Target

Gulf tanker freight now adds $12.83 a barrel as Brent hits $111.91, 24% above Goldman's $90 target. Who wins if Hormuz flows stay at 82% of normal?

Map of Alberta federally regulated pipelines with Trans Mountain shown in green across western Canada
Prices & MarketsYesterday

WCS Discount Hits $26.40 to WTI as Full Pipelines and Record Tanker Costs Trap Canadian Heavy Crude

WCS crude settled $26.40 under WTI at Hardisty, the widest gap since 2023, as full pipelines and record tanker costs trap Canadian barrels. See the math.

US Navy destroyer USS Porter transits the Strait of Hormuz at sea in 2012
Prices & MarketsYesterday

Iran Claims Seven Ships Hit in Gulf as Brent-WTI Gap Widens to $12.11, Covering 60.6% of a $40 Million Supertanker Freight Bill

Iran says it hit seven ships as Brent leads WTI by $12.11, double the $5.89 gap we logged. Against $20 freight, a US supertanker cargo falls $15.8M short.

Dammam No. 7, the first commercial oil well in Saudi Arabia, photographed in March 1938
Prices & MarketsYesterday

Brent Hits $112.29 After Houthi Drone Strike at Shaybah as 1 Million Bpd Field and 7 Million Bpd Bypass Pipeline Face Risk

Brent hit $112.29 after a Houthi drone strike at Shaybah killed two. Here is what 1 million bpd and a 7 million bpd Saudi bypass pipeline are worth at risk.

Enbridge crude oil tank farm near Cushing, Oklahoma, showing large storage tanks on flat terrain
Prices & MarketsYesterday

Brent-WTI Spot Gap Collapses From $30.39 to $7.33 as Cushing Crude Climbs to $107.89 Per Barrel

Brent's spot premium over WTI collapsed from $30.39 to $7.33 per barrel in five sessions. See what the EIA data means for a 2 million barrel cargo.

Enbridge crude oil storage tank farm at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI futures
Prices & MarketsOct 21, 2026

EIA Confirms 3.1 Million Barrel US Crude Draw as Exports Drop 24.7% and Output Slips 410,000 bpd

EIA confirms a 3.1 million barrel US crude draw to 412.5 million, but exports fell 24.7% and output slipped 410,000 bpd. Here is the days-of-cover math.

Very large crude carrier VLCC Aktaia oil tanker underway at sea under open sky
Prices & MarketsOct 21, 2026

Oil Freight Hits $20 a Barrel Versus $3 Last Year, Adding $40 Million to Every Supertanker Cargo as Brent Trades at $107.86

Tanker freight jumped from $3 to $20 a barrel, a $40 million bill per supertanker cargo, and Goldman now sees it as an upside risk to its $90 Brent call.

Oil tanker Solomon Sea sailing in the Solent with cargo tanks and bridge visible
Prices & MarketsOct 20, 2026

Gulf Crude Flows Fall to 8.5 Million bpd, Stranding $1.27 Billion a Day at $110 Brent While EIA Assumes Only 4.5 Million bpd Shut In

Gulf crude flows fell to 8.5 million bpd from over 20 million, stranding $1.27 billion a day at $110 Brent while EIA assumes just 4.5 million bpd shut in.

Large oil storage tanks at the Ras Tanura port terminal in Saudi Arabia
Prices & MarketsOct 19, 2026

Brent Settles at $109.55 as WTI Jumps to $103.66, Squeezing the Spread to $5.89 Ahead of Contract Expiry

WTI surged 2.2% to $103.66 while Brent slipped to $109.55, shrinking the spread to $5.89 from $8.45 as Houthi strikes on Saudi sites keep traders on edge.

Trans Mountain Pipeline running alongside the Yellowhead Highway carrying crude oil from Edmonton toward Burnaby in western Canada
Prices & MarketsOct 19, 2026

WCS Discount Hits $26.40 per Barrel at Hardisty, 2.4 Times the 2025 Average, as Pipelines Fill and Gulf Coast Freight Soars

Western Canadian Select settled $26.40 under WTI at Hardisty, 2.4 times the 2025 average. Freight, full pipelines and Venezuelan barrels drive the gap.

Gas flare burning at the Ryazan oil refinery in Russia during October 2020
Prices & MarketsOct 19, 2026

Brent Slips to $108.22 After Russia Diesel Waiver, but 7.6 Million Barrels a Month Covers Under One Day of Hormuz Losses

Russia's diesel deal sent Brent down 1.5% to $108.22, but 7.6 million barrels a month covers less than one day of the 11.5 million bpd Hormuz shortfall.

Oil tanker underway at sea off the Yemen coast carrying crude cargo toward export markets
Prices & MarketsOct 18, 2026

Dated Brent at $130 Sits $24 Above ICE Futures as Hormuz Squeezes Physical Crude

Dated Brent held at $130 while ICE futures settled at $105.92, a $24 physical premium. Here is what the gap means for refiners, diesel and Hormuz risk.

Oil product terminal at the Preemraff Lysekil refinery with tankers moored alongside
Prices & MarketsOct 17, 2026

Brent Settles at $109.86, Highest Since May, as EIA Sees $105 and Goldman Targets $90 for December

Brent hit $109.86, its highest settle since May, and WTI's discount shrank $4.41 in a week. EIA says $105 for Q4, Goldman says $90 by December. Who is right?

Oil refinery in Groves, Texas, near Port Arthur, with processing towers and distillation columns
Prices & MarketsOct 15, 2026

IEA Accelerates 100 Million Barrels of Emergency Oil Including 20 Million in Diesel as US Refineries Hit 98% Capacity

IEA agreed Thursday to accelerate 100 million barrels of emergency oil, 20 million in diesel, as US refineries hit 98% capacity and retail diesel broke $6.

NASA MODIS satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz and Musandam Peninsula, the world's most critical oil transit chokepoint
Prices & MarketsOct 14, 2026

Iran Plans to Intensify Hormuz Tanker Strikes as API Reports 11.12-Million-Barrel US Crude Draw

Brent settled at $106.10 on Wednesday's ICE close after Iran pledged deeper Hormuz tanker strikes; API reported an 11.12-million-barrel weekly crude draw.

BP headquarters building at 1 St James's Square in London, England
Prices & MarketsOct 13, 2026

BP Cuts Net Debt by $7.8 Billion in Q3, Hitting 2027 Balance Sheet Target 15 Months Early as Gas Trading Surges

BP expects Q3 2026 net debt to plunge $7.8 billion to $13.5B, beating its 2027 balance sheet target by 15 months as gas marketing surges past Q2.

Crude oil tanker Eagle Kinabalu passing a new LNG facility in Port Arthur Texas
Prices & MarketsOct 12, 2026

Goldman vs. BMI: $20 Geopolitical Premium Splits Brent Outlook After Monday's $106 Settlement

Goldman targets $90 Brent by December while BMI holds $100-plus for months. Monday's $106 settlement and $20 geopolitical risk premium divide Wall Street.

Helmerich and Payne flex rig drilling the Bakken formation onshore United States
Prices & MarketsOct 9, 2026

Baker Hughes: US Oil Rigs Hit 17-Month High at 462 as Permian Climbs to 274, WCS Discount Widens to $25.55

US oil rigs rose to 462, a 17-month high, as the Permian added 4 to 274, while WCS crude's $25.55 discount to WTI reached its widest since 2023.

Thunder Horse semi-submersible oil platform operated by BP in the Gulf of Mexico
Prices & MarketsOct 8, 2026

Brent Crude Settles at $104.28 as Hurricane Isaias Shuts In 1.28 Million bpd of Gulf Oil and Hormuz Attacks Hit Daily Pace

Brent crude settled at $104.28/bbl Thursday as Hurricane Isaias shut in 63% of Gulf of Mexico oil and Iran's Hormuz attacks hit a daily pace.

Helmerich and Payne flex drilling rig in the Bakken Formation, North Dakota
Prices & MarketsOct 2, 2026

G7 100-Million-Barrel Reserve Release Pushes Brent Below $100 as US Gas Rigs Drop to 133

G7 releases 100 million barrels from strategic reserves, dragging Brent crude to $99.68 per barrel, its first sub-$100 settle since September.

Ultra Large Crude Carrier AbQaiq in the Persian Gulf under aerial security
Prices & MarketsOct 1, 2026

China Fuel Export Suspension for October Joins Hormuz Tanker Attacks and Russia Diesel Ban as Brent Holds at $103

Three simultaneous supply shocks: China banned fuel exports, Russia extended its diesel ban, and tankers were struck in Hormuz. Brent settles at $102.70.

Crude oil pipeline and storage equipment at a US Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility
Prices & MarketsSep 29, 2026

Standard Chartered Says Oil Risk Premium Is Structural as US SPR Reaches 44-Year Low, Brent at $102.59

Standard Chartered says Brent's $17.59 risk premium over Goldman's $85 target is now structural. US SPR hits a 44-year low at 283.8 million barrels.

Syncrude oil sands mine works at Mildred Lake Alberta showing mining operations
Prices & MarketsSep 25, 2026

WTI Settles at $92.44 as Brent-WTI Spread Hits $11.93, Squeezing Alberta Oil Sands Netbacks

WTI crude settled at $92.44 Friday, down 7.4% on the week, while the Brent-WTI spread hit $11.93, compressing netbacks for Alberta oil sands producers.

Oil storage tanks at Ras Tanura crude export terminal in eastern Saudi Arabia
Prices & MarketsSep 24, 2026

Houthi Missiles Strike Saudi Oil Infrastructure, Brent Settles at $106.60 as $12 Brent-WTI Gap Shields Permian Producers

Brent surged $3.52 to a $106.60 ICE settlement after Houthi missiles hit Saudi oil infrastructure. WTI at $94.35 widens the Brent-WTI gap to $12.25 per barrel.

Eagle Kinabalu crude oil tanker docked at Port Arthur Texas terminal photographed from above
Prices & MarketsSep 23, 2026

Hormuz Commodity Traffic Falls 80% in 24 Hours as Brent Settles at $103.10, Reversing Monday's Diplomatic Rally

Strait of Hormuz recorded just 3 commodity transits Wednesday, driving Brent to $103.10 and widening the WCS-Brent discount to $24.93 per barrel.

AbQaiq ultra large crude carrier ULCC supertanker underway at sea in open water
Prices & MarketsSep 21, 2026

Iran Diplomacy Sends Crude Lower as Goldman's New $85 Brent Target Trails a $102 Market by $17 Per Barrel

WTI plunged $5 to $95 and Brent slid to $102 Monday as Trump signaled Iran talks at UNGA. Goldman's new $85 Q4 target still trails the market by $17.

OPEC headquarters building exterior in Vienna Austria daytime
Prices & MarketsSep 20, 2026

OPEC+ Completes 1.65 Million bpd Voluntary Cut Rollback as IEA Counts 10 Million Barrels Per Day of Gulf Output Still Offline

OPEC+ added a final 188,000 bpd in September, yet IEA counts more than 10 million bpd of Gulf output still shut in. Brent settled at $103.19 Friday.

Active Permian Basin drilling rig tower in West Texas oil field
Prices & MarketsSep 18, 2026

Baker Hughes Friday: US Rigs Hit 595, Highest Since May 2024, as Gas Drilling Reaches 3-Year High and WTI Settles at $99.53

US rigs climbed to 595 this week, highest since May 2024, as gas drilling hit a 3-year high at 134 rigs. WTI settled at $99.53 per barrel Friday, down 2.3%.

Aerial view of Syncrude oil sands mine works at Mildred Lake, Alberta, showing tailings pond and sulfur stockpiles
Prices & MarketsSep 17, 2026

Brent Settles at $104.82 as Saudi Aramco Targets Partial East-West Pipeline Repair and $19 Risk Premium Holds

Brent settled at $104.82 on Thursday's ICE close as Saudi Aramco targets partial pipeline restoration; full repair could take weeks to months.

Oil storage tanks at Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia
Prices & MarketsSep 16, 2026

Brent Retreats to $105.50 From $109.44 Peak as Saudi Aramco Doubles Ras Tanura Loadings and Opens Sohar Route

Brent fell to $105.50 Wednesday as Saudi Aramco rerouted 4 million barrels through Oman's Sohar port, easing fears that drove crude to $109.44 Tuesday.

Satellite view of smoke rising from Saudi Arabia's East-West crude oil pipeline
Prices & MarketsSep 14, 2026

Saudi Aramco East-West Pipeline Shutdown Drives Brent to $109.44 as Saudi Exports Lose Their Hormuz Bypass

Saudi Aramco's 7 million bpd East-West pipeline is offline after drone attacks, driving Brent to $109.44 and trapping Saudi exports behind Hormuz.

Aerial view of the Athabasca oil sands mining operations in northern Alberta, Canada
Prices & MarketsSep 13, 2026

Goldman Sachs Raises Year-End Brent Target to $85 as Bank of America and HSBC Also Upgrade; ICE Friday Settlement of $104.61 Sits $14 to $21 Above Consensus

Goldman Sachs, BofA and HSBC raised Brent year-end forecasts Sunday, but all three targets trail Friday's $104.61 ICE settlement by up to $21 per barrel.

Syncrude oil sands mining complex and tailings ponds at Mildred Lake Alberta
Prices & MarketsSep 10, 2026

China Crude Restocking Lifts WCS to $89.40 as WTI Settles at $104.20; Goldman's $85 Q4 Target Now $22.63 Below Brent Settlement

China's crude restocking push lifts WCS to $89.40 as WTI settles at $104.20, netting Alberta oil sands operators $13.53 per barrel more than September 1.

Aerial map of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman with shipping lanes
Prices & MarketsSep 9, 2026

Brent Crosses $102 as US Sinks Five Iranian Tankers and Goldman's Q4 Forecast Falls $17 Below Spot

Brent crude hit $102.14 Wednesday as the US-Iran tanker war escalated, pushing Goldman's just-raised $85 Q4 target $17 below current spot prices.

SATORP Saudi Arabia oil refinery complex illuminated at night near Jubail
Prices & MarketsSep 8, 2026

Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia Energy Sites in 2026's Heaviest Attack, Goldman Raises Brent Target to $85

Goldman raises Brent target to $85 as Houthis strike Saudi energy sites in heaviest 2026 attack, wounding 73 and halting Jazan refinery operations.

Large oil tanker sailing through open harbour waters on a clear day
Prices & MarketsSep 2, 2026

Brent Crude Settles at $95.24, 19% Above Goldman's $80 Q4 Target, as US-Iran Clashes Cut Strait of Hormuz Tankers to 5 per Day

Brent settled at $95.24 Wednesday as US-Iran clashes cut Hormuz to 5 tankers, putting Goldman Sachs' $80 Q4 oil price target 19% behind spot.

Kharg Island crude oil terminal on the Persian Gulf, handling 90 percent of Iran oil exports
Prices & MarketsSep 1, 2026

WTI Tops $90 Per Barrel on Larak Island Strikes as WCS Climbs to $75.87 for Canadian Oil Sands

WTI topped $90 per barrel Tuesday as US strikes on Larak Island reversed a three-session slide, lifting WCS to $76 for Canadian oil sands producers.

Exposed Athabasca bituminous tar sand deposit near Fort McMurray Alberta Canada
Prices & MarketsAug 31, 2026

Brent Crude Rebounds to $90.69 Settlement as Hormuz Flows Hit 15 Million bpd; Goldman Sachs Q4 Cap at $80 Would Cost Alberta Producers $15 CAD Per Barrel

Brent settled at $90.69 on Monday's ICE close. Goldman Sachs caps Q4 at $80, threatening a $15 CAD/bbl revenue drop for Alberta crude producers.

Oil tanker loading crude at Al Basrah Oil Terminal in the Persian Gulf
Prices & MarketsAug 30, 2026

Brent Crude Falls More Than 5% to $89.31 as Persian Gulf Exports Triple to 15 Million Barrels Per Day, WTI Closes at $83.40

Brent crude fell more than 5% to $89.31 per barrel Friday as Persian Gulf oil exports tripled from March lows, stripping out the Iran conflict premium.

EIA weekly Cushing Oklahoma crude oil inventory chart showing stocks versus five-year average
Prices & MarketsAug 27, 2026

IEA and OPEC Split by 2.18 Million Barrels Per Day on 2026 Oil Demand as US Crude Stocks Reach Five-Year Average

IEA projects 2026 oil demand falling 1.6 mb/d while OPEC sees growth of 580,000 bpd; the 2.18 mb/d gap reflects diverging assumptions on Hormuz.

NASA MODIS satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman in the Persian Gulf
Prices & MarketsAug 27, 2026

IRGC Announces Iran-Oman Revenue-Sharing Pact for Hormuz; US Conditions Block Strait Reopening

Iran's IRGC claims a Hormuz revenue-sharing deal with Oman, but US sanctions compliance remains the threshold for restoring the 20 mb/d waterway.

US Strategic Petroleum Reserve crude oil storage facility at one of four Gulf Coast sites
Prices & MarketsAug 27, 2026

US Crude Output at 13.843 Million Barrels Per Day as Brent-WTI Spread Widens to $6.19 on Hormuz Disruptions

US crude output climbed to 13.843 million bbl/d as Hormuz disruptions opened a $6.19 Brent-WTI spread; the SPR drew 3.7 million barrels in a week.

Tengizchevroil Future Growth Project oil processing facility in Kazakhstan
Prices & MarketsAug 27, 2026

OPEC+ Adds 188,000 bpd for September, Completing 2026 Quota Reversal While Kazakhstan's Tengizchevroil Compliance Gap Exceeds 500,000 bpd

OPEC+ adds 188,000 bpd for September as Chevron's $46.7B Tengiz expansion keeps Kazakhstan 500,000 barrels per day short of monthly OPEC+ compliance targets.

NASA Landsat satellite view of Athabasca oil sands mining operations in Alberta Canada May 2011
Prices & MarketsAug 26, 2026

Goldman Sachs Slashes Q4 2026 Brent Forecast to $80, Widening the Gap With Wood Mackenzie at $90 as WCS Settles at $70.01

Goldman Sachs cut Q4 2026 Brent to $80/bbl while Wood Mackenzie holds at $90, a $10 gap driven by Hormuz recovery timing as WCS settles at $70.01.

Cheniere Energy Sabine Pass LNG terminal facility in Cameron Parish Louisiana viewed from above
Prices & MarketsAug 26, 2026

Henry Hub Natural Gas Rises 3.3% to $2.86 as US LNG Export Demand Surges on European Supply Deficit

Henry Hub rose 3.3% to $2.86 per MMBtu on Wednesday as European TTF's 103% surge since the QatarEnergy force majeure lifts US LNG export economics.

Enbridge crude oil tank farm at Cushing, Oklahoma, the key U.S. petroleum storage and pricing hub
Prices & MarketsAug 26, 2026

EIA Reports 95,000-Barrel Crude Build for August 21 Week, Defying API's 4.2 Million-Barrel Figure

EIA's official crude tally shows a 95,000-barrel build for the week ending August 21, far below API's 4.2 million-barrel figure and the 0.6 million consensus.

Aerial photograph of the Strait of Hormuz from 35,000 feet showing the narrow waterway
Prices & MarketsAug 26, 2026

Brent Crude Falls to $87.20 as Iran-Oman Corridor Talks Extend Oil's Three-Session Slide

Brent fell to $87.20 per barrel Wednesday as Iran-Oman Hormuz corridor talks extended oil losses to a third straight session, down from $93 at peak tensions.

Enbridge crude oil storage tanks at Cushing, Oklahoma, the WTI delivery hub
Prices & MarketsAug 25, 2026

API Crude Build Tops 4.2 Million Barrels, Double Analyst Forecasts, as WTI Settles at $82.36

US crude inventories rose 4.2M barrels last week, double analyst forecasts, dragging WTI to settle at $82.36 as the SPR holds at 293 million barrels.

Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz photographed at night from the International Space Station
Prices & MarketsAug 25, 2026

US Treasury Spares Chinese Banks in Iran Sanctions Expansion, Brent Falls 2.83% to $89.56 in Second Consecutive Session

US Treasury Iran sanctions excluded Chinese banks, Brent fell 3% to $89.56 for a second day. Pakistan mediates as Iran threatens retaliation through Hormuz.

US Navy aircraft carrier CVN-69 underway in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman
Prices & MarketsAug 24, 2026

US Iran Sanctions Drive Brent Below $92, Snapping Two-Week Rally as Goldman Projects $80 to $120 Range

Bessent's Iran sanctions pushed Brent below $92 on Monday, snapping a two-week rally. Goldman sees Brent ranging $80 to $120 depending on Hormuz traffic.