The U.S. economy’s reopening amid the Covid-19 pandemic jump-started the oil and natural gas midstream recovery in the second half of 2020. But, the recent rise in oil prices could spur renewed activity in a handful of basins, benefiting some operators in the year ahead.

Midstream

A Raymond James & Associates Inc. team, led by analysts Justin Jenkins and J.R. Weston, said operationally, the general consensus is that the Permian Basin would lead the next leg of performance among midstreamer companies, but the Bakken Shale/Denver-Julesburg Basin may need prices around $50/bbl to work.

“We are now there, but will it hold?” analysts asked.

U.S. oil prices crossed the $50/bbl threshold on Jan. 5 after Saudi Arabia announced it would cut oil production by a stunning 1 million b/d in...