OPEC’s Power Play Few Saw Coming

It takes a particular kind of cunning and patience to sit still while the world frantically rearranges the furniture. 

But, that’s exactly what OPEC just did.

After nearly three years of sitting on the bench, OPEC announced that the last of the oil it was voluntarily keeping off the market would once again flow into global supply. That’s another 547,000 barrels per day that will come back starting this September. 

This wasn’t a reckless gamble or a Hail Mary, mind you. It was a deliberate, calculated return — the final chapter in a long game that began in 2022 when OPEC+ voluntarily pulled 2.2 million barrels per day off the table to prop up prices.

Now with one stroke of the pen, OPEC is telling the world: “We’re back.”

But OPEC’s move isn't just about production, it’s about control. 

You see, the U.S. has been in charge of global supply growth for more than a decade and a half. Our tight oil producers in areas like the Bakken and Permian Basin stole the spotlight… and their era may be coming to an end. 

Don’t feel too disheartened, because that’s where a huge opportunity lies for individual investors like us.

Look, it’s impossible to overstate the shale boom’s impact on global oil supply. 

Since 2008, U.S. oil output has absolutely exploded from just 5 million barrels per day to an eye-popping 13.5 million today — that’s a 170% gain driven almost entirely by tight oil from places like the Permian Basin.

And truth be told, for a while there it felt like nothing could stop it.

But the party music is starting to fade, and now the hangover is setting in.

After years of aggressive growth, U.S. oil production is flattening. Who’s the biggest culprit, you ask? Well, that one’s easy… cheap oil prices. A low oil-price environment is like kryptonite for tight oil drillers. 

And with oil hovering below $70 per barrel, the entire E&P sector has little reason to risk capital. It’s like asking a contractor to build you a house during a hurricane — they’re not going to touch it until the storm passes.

Of course, you and I both know that rig counts have been sliding for years, and unlike flipping a light switch, ramping up output takes time — and a lot more money. The EIA is already forecasting lower U.S. output into 2026, and even President Trump, who once cheered for cheaper oil, is now warning that prices are too low for our own good. 

Meanwhile, OPEC just stood still — watching, waiting.

That patience is paying off, and now they find themselves with a tightening grip on supply just as U.S. dominance falters. 

And the kicker? Global demand is still rising.

For all the breathless headlines about EVs and green transitions, people are still driving, flying, and consuming oil at record levels. OPEC knows this — and so do the traders quietly repositioning for what’s next.

However, here’s where the real money gets made.

While most of the investment herd is busy chasing headlines, the smart money is preparing for the next wave of oil M&A.

Remember, major oil companies like ExxonMobil aren’t interested in squeezing more from the ground with their own hands. That’s messy, expensive, and more importantly, time-consuming. 

Instead, they wield their war chest like a weapon and buy whatever barrels they can to sustain growth. Just think back to 2023, when Exxon dropped $60 billion on Pioneer Natural Resources. It wasn’t just a flex — it was a signal. 

And the age of acquisition is back.

Right now, Exxon is sitting on over $14 billion in cash — more than enough dry powder to ignite an M&A boom and go on a shopping spree. In fact, they’re already hunting for their next meal. 

So what are they looking for?

Lean, nimble producers in the Permian Basin. They want the drillers that have already figured out the secret to grow output without needing $100 oil; the kind of outfits that optimize drilling techniques so efficiently that even the big boys have to take notes. In other words, exactly the kind of companies that aren’t on CNBC’s radar — yet.

Fortunately, my readers and I already found the perfect target for Big Oil. One that’s not only flying under Wall Street’s radar, but has the acreage AND experience to push production higher while crude prices languish around $70 per barrel. 

But here’s the best part… this driller isn’t waiting for Big Oil to come knocking. It’s already building the kind of track record that makes Exxon’s CEO start drooling. 

And the last thing we need to worry about is for oil to hit $100/bbl again, because the oil market’s next big payday is already forming — you just have to know where to look.

Let me help you get started and give you all the details on this tiny Permian driller firsthand right here.