US upstream week in brief: Optimism returns to the oil patch

If NAPE 2017 is any indication, tight oil optimism is back. And, with numerous plays supporting the rig and capex recovery, most of the industry has reason to celebrate. Recent guidance from key companies supports this changing tide, as do deals geared towards freeing up capital to ramp up activity. Although the deals on offer at NAPE were quite diverse, the Powder River basin was a hot topic for discussion on the floor. Could it be the next big thing? Gastar Exploration secures a $425 million PE capital injection to increase activity in the MidCon, and Matador mobilizes midstream capital to accelerate Delaware development. Bakken production falters, but we highlight why this could be only temporary. Noble, Devon and Marathon round out the week by increasing spend across plays.