Energy Analytics

International Upstream Returns Still Competitive

byEnverus

Long-lead international upstream projects still offer returns that remain competitive with North American oil plays and the fast-growing renewable energy sector despite growing economic, investor and regulatory headwinds. As a result, long-term production declines from the international project slate will continue to be offset by world-class projects such as the Guyana/Suriname developments that offer strong economics and production growth.

International offshore project IRRs have come into question in recent years as major new development projects have thinned. The push for greater portfolio diversification among operators raised the bar for new investments in long-cycle hydrocarbons projects. While it’s impossible to establish with full certainty just how resilient and investable the global oil and gas space is, understanding the returns from long-cycle projects gives a strong steer.

Amid a broad industry expectation that the days of long-cycle oil and gas projects and, by association, international supply are numbered, this is not the case, in our view. Taking into account full-cycle returns, resource scale and asset performance, we assess that hydrocarbon projects in this sector still offer competitive double-digit returns, particularly for oil and gas tiebacks compared to standalone projects (Figure 1).

Renewable energy returns are also relevant to this discussion as international oil companies allocate increased capital to onshore and offshore wind projects. When compared side-by-side in a $50 Brent world, international hydrocarbon projects IRRs are competitive with those of offshore and onshore wind projects, supporting our view that offshore oil and gas will retain its place in operators’ portfolios.

Unlike oil and gas projects, renewable investments help companies reduce their emissions profile, offer stable cash flow through power purchase agreements, access to lower cost of capital and boost corporate green credentials. But renewables also face their own headwinds despite strong IRRs: the lack of land availability and distance to population centers often challenge onshore wind projects.

FIGURE 1 | IRR of Supermajor Offshore Project Slate

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Picture of Enverus

Enverus

Energy’s most trusted SaaS platform — creating intelligent connections that uncover insights and opportunities to deliver extraordinary outcomes.

Subscribe to the Enverus Blog

A weekly update on the latest “no-fluff” insight and analysis of the energy industry.

Related Content

Enverus_Press_Release_Power_Energy_Transition_MandA_Thumbnail
Energy Transition
ByAdam Robinson, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

A combined $92 billion in energy and artificial intelligence (AI)-related investments were announced across Pennsylvania last week, with projects ranging from new data centers to natural gas plants and grid modernization efforts.

Enverus Press Release - Welcome to EVOLVE 2025: Where visionaries converge to shape the future of energy
Power and Renewables
ByColton Wright

As demand for AI, cloud computing and digital infrastructure continues to surge, hyperscale data centers have quickly become some of the largest and fastest-growing energy consumers in North America. For developers, grid operators and investors, knowing where the biggest loads are concentrated...

Breaking news alert on the impact on oil prices due to Israel attacking Iran
Power and Renewables
ByColton Wright

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has changed the game for renewable energy developers. With fewer subsidies to fall back on, developers are being pushed to rethink where and how they build projects. It’s no longer about chasing tax...

Enverus Press Release - Enverus releases Investor Analytics: Refined, actionable financial insights at your fingertips
Power and Renewables
ByDaniel Manfre Jaimes

In the dynamic landscape of energy markets, accurate load forecasting is essential for informed decision-making. Enverus power forecasting solutions have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance, particularly during extreme weather events and critical peak demand periods. Complementing this reliability, our ongoing commitment...

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could change clean energy tax credit economics
Energy Transition
ByAlex Nevokshonoff, Senior Analyst, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted on July 4, introduces sweeping changes to U.S. energy policy, significantly altering the tax credit landscape for clean energy projects.

Enverus Press Release - Upstream M&A climbs to $105 billion in 2024
Trading and Risk
ByKiana Cruz

In today’s fast-paced markets; traders don’t just need data, they need decisions. At EVOLVE 2025, the Trading & Risk session, “AI-Powered Trading Intelligence: Streamlining Decision Workflows,” spotlighted how artificial intelligence is evolving from a buzzword to a business-critical tool for...

data-center-demand
Energy Transition
ByAdam Robinson, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

The Texas Tech University (TTU) System and Fermi America announced an 11 GW data center powered by a mix of natural gas, utility grid power, solar, wind and nuclear energy. The newly founded power company is building one of the...

Enverus Press Release - Enverus PRISM® now available for Europe
Trading and Risk
ByKiana Cruz

EVOLVE 2025 brought together leading voices across energy trading, analytics and clean fuels to unpack today’s most pressing market dynamics. From evolving benchmarks to retail analytics, one thing rang loud and clear: adaptation isn’t optional, it’s strategic. We attended four...

Black-lady-with-powerline
Energy Transition
ByCorianna Mah, Analyst, Enverus Intelligence® Research

A massive heat dome swept across the eastern U.S. last week, driving temperatures into the triple digits and pushing the PJM Interconnection grid to its highest peak load since 2006.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Sign up for our Blog

Register Today

Sign Up

Power Your Insights

Connect with an Expert

Access Product Tour

Speak to an Expert