Opinion
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US Lower 48: 4 things to look for in 2026
Predictions for the year ahead
1 minute read
Lydia Walker
Senior Research Analyst, Upstream
Lydia Walker
Senior Research Analyst, Upstream
Lydia is an upstream analyst on Wood Mackenzie's Lower 48 research team
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Scott Norlin
Research Manager, L48 Upstream
Scott Norlin
Research Manager, L48 Upstream
Scott leads a team of upstream analysts focused on L48 upstream.
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Featured
CCUS 2023 outlook
Oil and gas face diverging paths in the US Lower 48 in 2026. While oil faces price headwinds, gas is positioned for growth driven by hyperscaler power demand and the next LNG wave.
How will this shape the year ahead – and beyond?
Powered by Lens Upstream, in this report we share our take on the key themes we'll be watching closely including:
- Horizontal rig count will fall below 500 – but is that the needle-mover it once was?
- Is a gas-weighted M&A surge on the cards?
- Permian set to achieve historic dominance as the powerhouse of US oil supply?
- And more.