Explorers

ConocoPhillips will say goodbye to the ranks of Big Oil and move to the top of the North America’s pure-play explorers list at the end of this month, with a U.S. focus on liquids-rich opportunities, the incoming CEO said Monday.

Given the continued weak outlook for U.S. natural gas, explorers with exposure to high rates of return (ROR) in liquids-focused plays, both in the onshore, as well as the shallow waters of Gulf of Mexico’s Outer Continental Shelf, provide the best upside going forward, according to the energy team at Credit Suisse.

A sample of 20 of North America’s top natural gas explorers indicates that 2012 output will continue to rise, despite low prices, according to Barclays Capital energy analysts.

A sample of 20 of North America’s top natural gas explorers indicates that 2012 output will continue to rise, despite low prices, according to Barclays Capital energy analysts.

North America’s natural gas prices, now at their lowest level in 10 years, may not be helping explorers, but positive impacts are being felt across a variety of industries inside and outside the energy sector, according to an analysis by Moody’s Investors Service.

North America’s natural gas prices, now at their lowest level in 10 years, may not be helping explorers but positive impacts are being felt across a variety of industries inside and outside the energy sector, according to an analysis by Moody’s Investors Service.

With natural gas prices at their lowest level in years, U.S. explorers will have to stop drilling for economic reasons, right? Anadarko Petroleum Corp. CEO Jim Hackett said he thinks shut-ins are inevitable. Energy analysts with Barclays Capital Markets aren’t so sure.

With natural gas prices at their lowest level in years, U.S. explorers will have to stop drilling for economic reasons, right? Anadarko Petroleum Corp. CEO Jim Hackett said he thinks shut-ins are inevitable. Energy analysts with Barclays Capital Markets aren’t so sure.

North American explorers aren’t going to let a little thing like weak natural gas prices get in the way of record spending plans in 2012, a recent survey by Barclays Capital has found.