Newsletter No. 112
Good afternoon,
It’s Thursday, April 17, 2025, and in this edition of The Upside we’ll cover the latest news from the oil and gas industry, along with important news from King. As always, I hope to keep you up to date on the trends shaping our industry. Thanks for reading.
This Week's Headlines
- Leadership & Legacy in Tech with Joe Moise on The Jay Young Show
- Don't Miss Out on Our Upcoming King Webinar
- Minerals M&A on Track to Top $11B in 2025, Fueled by Permian and Gas Play
- Oil Prices Jump 2% on Hopes of U.S. and China Trade Peace
- EU Eyes Russian Energy Phase Out, May Boost U.S. Gas Imports
- Goldman Sachs: ESG Investors Should Rethink Excluding Oil and Gas
- RPC Expands Wireline Services with $245M Acquisition of Pintail Completions
HAPPENING AT KING
Leadership & Legacy in Tech with Joe Moise on The Jay Young Show
In the latest episode of The Jay Young Show, host Jay Young and co-host Jordan Soto sit down with Joseph E. Moise, Jr.—a retired tech and operations executive with 30+ years of leadership experience, including key roles at Union Pacific Railroad. Joe shares his journey from accounting to IT leadership, managing operations for 44,000+ users, overseeing CRM and call center systems, and leading early digital transformation efforts. He also dives into crisis management, organizational change, and what success means after retirement. Subscribe to us on YouTube or Rumble. You can also listen on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you'd like to talk to someone about King and are an accredited investor, you can fill out your information here or schedule a Zoom conversation with one of our SVPs here and someone will reach out.
Oil & Gas News
Minerals M&A on Track to Top $11B in 2025, Fueled by Permian and Gas Play
Oil and gas minerals and royalties M&A could exceed $11 billion in 2025, driven by strong activity in the Permian Basin, Haynesville, and Appalachia, according to Moelis & Co.’s Stephen Trauber. Nearly $6 billion in deals have already closed this year, including Diamondback’s $4.45 billion sale to Viper Energy and Occidental’s $905 million D-J Basin divestiture. Investor appetite remains strong, especially for cash-generating, low-risk mineral assets and natural gas plays tied to rising LNG demand.
Oil Prices Jump 2% on Hopes of U.S. and China Trade Peace
Oil prices went up by more than 2% on Wednesday thanks to fresh hopes that the U.S. and China might ease their trade tensions. A report suggested China is open to talks if the U.S. tones down its tough talk. On top of that, U.S. oil stockpiles rose slightly, which also helped boost prices. Brent oil hit $66.02 and WTI reached $62.63. The U.S. says oil production will peak in 2027, but global economic worries could limit how high prices go, especially with the World Trade Organization warning that global trade might shrink this year due to ongoing tariff threats.
EU Eyes Russian Energy Phase Out, May Boost U.S. Gas Imports
The European Commission is drafting a plan to phase out Russian oil and gas imports, following criticism from President Trump over Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. A vote on the proposal is expected around May 6. The shift may include increased U.S. LNG imports, aligning with Trump’s push for Europe to buy more American fuel to address the trade deficit. Despite sanctions, Russian gas exports to Europe rose in 2024, and oil exports remain largely intact due to shadow fleet tactics. Hungary and Slovakia may resist the proposal due to their high reliance on Russian energy.
Goldman Sachs: ESG Investors Should Rethink Excluding Oil and Gas
Goldman Sachs' Michele Della Vigna argues ESG investors should reconsider excluding oil and gas companies, likening the shift to how defense stocks gained ESG favor after the Russia-Ukraine war. He contends that leading energy firms are vital to the energy transition, acting as major investors in low-carbon technologies and providing financial and operational capabilities essential for global energy needs. While some ESG experts push back, citing the urgent climate crisis, others suggest that firms heavily investing in renewables may eventually gain a place in sustainable portfolios.
Move to Watch
RPC Expands Wireline Services with $245M Acquisition of Pintail Completions
RPC, an Atlanta-based oilfield services firm, has acquired Midland’s Pintail Completions for $245 million, including $170 million in cash. Pintail, known for its wireline perforation services across 30+ active fleets, strengthens RPC’s position in the Permian Basin and adds a key offering to its completions portfolio. The deal aligns with RPC’s strategy to diversify and deepen its service capabilities for top-tier E&P clients in the Midland and Delaware basins.
