What’s the one phrase that best defines the oil and gas industry in 2018? Bottlenecks? Midland-to-Cushing? How about consolidation? Or maybe it’s simply fiscal discipline? Whatever you choose they are all represented in our series of 2018 wrap up articles that you’ll find through the Hart Energy family of websites.

Oil prices and bottlenecks lead our look back of the top storylines that shaped the industry in 2018. We followed the back and forth exchange between President Donald Trump’s tweets to OPEC about oil prices, while watching closely as the cartel and its partners met for a crucial meeting in Vienna at the beginning of December. Just how much did the pipeline crunches in the Permian and Appalachia affect companies’ decisions on where to explore this year?

When it came to the acquisitions and divestitures, consolidation was the name of the game, with some billion-dollar mergers leading the list of top deals for the year. Who were the big winners? Hart Energy’s Emily Patsy takes a look back. Be sure to check it out.

Hart Energy’s Velda Addison has been following the biggest developments throughout the year and she takes a look back at the most meaningful developments with the help of Stratas Advisors analyst Stephen Beck.

Stratas’ Ashley Petersen takes a look at what affected oil prices in 2018. She checks in on the geopolitical factors as well as oil trader sentiment and demand.

We’re also taking a look ahead to 2019. Hart Energy’s Joe Markman discusses what to expect for the upcoming year with partners at Sidley Austin. Expect plenty of capital, volatility, and shifts in investor strategies.

Oil and Gas Investor’s Darren Barbee asked analysts to show us the 2019 horoscope for shale mergers and acquisitions. There will be opportunities, but also risks. Fiscal discipline will once again be the buzz word.

Renewables are sure to remain in the spotlight in 2019. How will trade tariffs affect solar panel installations, and in the wake of a record-setting U.S. offshore wind auction, will we see more developments off of the New England coast? Time will tell. It promises to be an interesting year and Hart Energy looks forward to covering it for you.