Clear, in-depth guides to how the US oil market actually works
Looking for the number rather than the explanation? See live crude oil prices for real-time WTI and Brent quotes.
Why a small Oklahoma town is the pipeline crossroads of the world, how WTI futures delivery works, and why Cushing inventory levels move the market every week.
Why the price of a barrel differs across Texas, North Dakota, Louisiana, Alaska, and California — quality, transport costs, and the regional benchmarks that matter.
Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken, and the rest: where American oil comes from, how each basin developed, and what their output means for prices.
How WTI futures contracts are structured, what micro contracts and oil ETFs offer, and the risk-management concepts behind oil market participation.
Why oil is priced in 42-gallon barrels, how to convert a barrel price to gallons or litres, what a barrel refines into, and why cheap crude does not mean cheap gasoline.
What the USOIL symbol actually tracks, how it differs from CL futures and the USO ETF, when it trades, and what moves it from hour to hour.
How shale reshaped global oil markets, where production stands today, and what the plateau phase means for prices going forward.
How OPEC+ production decisions interact with US shale output, and what that tug-of-war means for WTI prices.