Wealthy investors increasingly seek oil and gas assets
Wealthy private investors and family offices are showing greater interest in mineral rights and other oil and gas assets, counting on long-term demand for energy. At the same time, finding such assets at an attractive price has become more difficult due to competition from institutional investors and private equity funds, CNBC reports.
A sellers’ market
According to investment advisers, energy factors linked to the war in Iran, as well as the artificial intelligence boom, have strengthened interest in energy assets. After the Covid-19 pandemic, family offices were able to benefit from traditional investors leaving the industry because of pressure from environmental advocates.
Now, dealmaking activity in the sector is growing. According to Wood Mackenzie, spending on oil and gas asset deals in the first half of 2026 reached a two-year high. Spending on deals involving gas production projects exceeded $32 billion, the highest figure in more than a decade.
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Jeff Peterson, chief investment officer of family office Gillon Capital, described the situation as a sellers’ market. He also noted that commodity price volatility complicates dealmaking. Since the beginning of June, Brent crude has traded in a range from $70.14 to $102 per barrel, while in July its price rose by almost 10% in a single trading session.
Infrastructure and small deals
Andrew Daugh, head of energy capital management at Bank of America, said that investors are increasingly considering infrastructure assets, including pipelines and export facilities. At the same time, the number of such opportunities on the market is limited because of lengthy permitting procedures and the complexity of construction.
Cody Carper, a partner at the law firm Baker Botts, believes that family offices can find a niche in deals worth less than $100 million, including by purchasing an undervalued non-operating asset for about $30 million. Peter Suberlak, director of investments at Tolleson Wealth Management, noted that clients typically seek inflation protection and relatively predictable cash flow rather than betting on price fluctuations. They also consider stakes in mature fields with operating wells, where experienced operators can reduce costs or increase production.
