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TotalEnergies Has Targeted US Oil and Gas Assets

The company aims to expand its American upstream presence to better control integrated LNG export operations.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Oil and Gas

Industrial natural gas infrastructure with pipelines and metal machinery set in an expansive, arid American desert landscape.
TotalEnergies plans to acquire further upstream oil and gas assets in the United States to stabilize its LNG export operations and mitigate global supply chain risks. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne confirmed the energy giant plans to acquire additional upstream oil and gas assets in the United States. The expansion follows a strategy of securing domestic production to feed regional LNG export terminals.

Why it matters

Management is seeking to stabilize exposure to Henry Hub gas prices while mitigating geopolitical risks currently disrupting global supply chains. By shifting upstream investments to the U.S., the company aims to protect its operations against potential price spikes.

TotalEnergies holds a 49% stake in Anadarko gas assets acquired in September 2025. Meanwhile, US LNG feedgas demand has reached 19.5 billion cubic feet per day, with Henry Hub prices averaging under $3 per million British thermal units since the conflict began.

The players

TotalEnergies

This is a global multi-energy company based in France that produces and markets energies on a global scale.

Patrick Pouyanne

He serves as the Chairman and CEO of the energy conglomerate TotalEnergies.

Continental Resources Inc.

This is a petroleum and natural gas exploration and production company based in the United States.

The details

TotalEnergies already operates assets in the Barnett, Eagle Ford, and Anadarko basins, alongside interests in the Rio Grande, Cameron, and Energia Costa Azul LNG terminals. The company is now evaluating potential liquid hydrocarbon and additional oil assets within the US market.

Timeline

  1. September 2025: The company acquired a 49% stake in Anadarko Basin gas assets.

  2. September 2026: Average US LNG feedgas demand reached 19.5 billion cubic feet per day.

  3. September 28, 2026: CEO Patrick Pouyanne discussed the firm's US upstream strategy.

Market Landscape

TotalEnergies is shifting its upstream focus to align with its integrated LNG strategy by hedging against Henry Hub benchmark gas pricing. This move positions the firm to better compete with major players by consolidating control over the full supply chain from extraction to export.

For the average consumer, this consolidation is intended to mitigate extreme volatility in domestic energy prices. While these corporate acquisitions are upstream, they are designed to insulate the company's export-heavy business model from broader global price spikes.

The takeaway

TotalEnergies is prioritizing domestic US assets as a strategic hedge against international instability and energy price shocks. This transition indicates a broader trend of energy companies seeking to regionalize supply chains to ensure operational security.

Further reading

For more on industry shifts, visit the Oil and Gas section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Hellenic Shipping News.

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Do you believe foreign ownership of US oil and gas assets improves domestic energy price stability?