Skip to main content

Latest News and Analysis
Deals and Transactions
Track Drilling (Rigs by operator) | Completions (Frac Spreads)

Top Story | Capital Markets | Capital Expenditure | Capex - 2026

This Operator Will Chop it's 2026 Rig Count From 34 to 24

printPrint    |   
This Operator Will Chop it's 2026 Rig Count From 34 to 24

ConocoPhillips is setting up 2026 as a lower-intensity, more efficient operating year — with the clearest proof coming from the Lower 48 activity reset following the Marathon integration. Management described a business that has moved into a level-loaded steady-state development program, where production can be held flat-to-up while activity and spending trend lower.

The Company’s preliminary 2026 framework calls for flat to 2% underlying production growth, alongside lower capital and lower operating costs. ConocoPhillips expects 2026 capex to step down from 2025 levels, while adjusted operating costs are expected to decline to approximately $10.2B, reflecting Marathon synergies and ongoing cost reduction and margin enhancement efforts.

Lower 48: the 2026 program is built on a lower…
Finish this article — free account or subscription
  • ✓  Full news archive — U.S., Canada & international coverage
  • ✓  A&D transactions — asset deals, corporate M&A, assets for sale
  • ✓  Permits & completions data, plus 900,000+ slides & presentations
No credit card. Includes 15 days of full access to permits, deals, completions and presentations.
Already a subscriber? Log in


More Capex - 2026 News

Ascent Resources 2026: A Quiet Growth Story for Oilfield Services

Ascent Resources 2026: A Quiet Growth Story for Oilfield Services

Ascent Resources may not be making headlines with rig additions or dramatic well count increases, but a closer read of their March 2026 investor presentation — compared against…

Canadan E&P 2026 Program Calls for 448 Net Wells, Up 24% vs. 2025 Plan

Premium content Canadan E&P 2026 Program Calls for 448 Net Wells, Up 24% vs. 2025 Plan

Canadian Natural Resources outlined a 2026 operating capital budget of approximately $6.3 billion (total capital budget $6,425 million, including $125 million for carbon capture) targeting 1,590–1,650 MBOE/d of…

Permian E&P Bucking The Trend; Plan to Increasing Drilling & Fracs in 2026

Premium content Permian E&P Bucking The Trend; Plan to Increasing Drilling & Fracs in 2026

Occidental’s 2025 U.S. onshore program is centered on the Permian, with ~$3.5B of Permian CapEx and ~$0.8B in the Rockies, totaling ~$4.3B. This supports ~15 net rigs in…

Permian E&P To Cut Capex by 10% for 2026

Premium content Permian E&P To Cut Capex by 10% for 2026

In its Q3 2025 update, Matador outlined preliminary expectations that 2026 total capital spending will be 8–12% lower than 2025, yet the company still expects to deliver approximately…

Whitecap Details 2026 Duvernay & Montney Program

Whitecap Details 2026 Duvernay & Montney Program

Whitecap Resources reported strong third quarter 2025 operating and financial results, marking its first full quarter following the strategic combination with Veren that closed on May 12, 2025.…

Gulf Coast News


Permian News