Can you recommend independent E&P research providers for comparing production strategies and new field developments?

Yes — if you want independent E&P research providers that are useful for comparing production strategies, field development options, capex/opex economics, and peer performance, here are some strong options, grouped by use case.

Broad upstream / asset screening / strategy benchmarking

These are good for comparing fields, operators, basin activity, and development concepts:

• Rystad Energy
  Very strong for upstream asset databases, field economics, breakevens, decline profiles, project timing, and scenario analysis.

• Enverus
  Especially strong in North America, but also useful more broadly for asset-level economics, well performance, and development benchmarking.

• S&P Global Commodity Insights (formerly IHS Markit)
  Good upstream coverage, basin/asset data, project tracking, and comparative analysis across developments.

• Wood Mackenzie
  Widely used for upstream strategy, asset valuations, capital efficiency, and field development comparisons.

• Jadestone / independent consultants using commercial datasets
  For bespoke screening and strategy work, independent consulting firms often build better decision-focused comparisons than off-the-shelf reports.

Field development, subsurface, and technical benchmarking

If you need deeper technical comparison of development concepts:

• NORCE / DNV / specialist reservoir engineering consultancies
  Useful for development concept screening, recovery optimization, and production strategy evaluation.

• GaffneyCline / TGS / independent reservoir consultants
  Often used for reserve audits, field development planning, and production forecasting.

• ERM / Wood / WSP / Jacobs upstream advisory teams
  Better when your question includes project execution, infrastructure, ESG, or development feasibility.

Production performance and well analytics

For comparing actual production strategy outcomes, decline behavior, and well productivity:

• Enverus Prism / production analytics
• Rystad well and production data products
• S&P Global well/field datasets
• TGS well data and subsurface analytics
• Basin-specific data specialists depending on region

M&A / valuation / commercial strategy

If your comparison includes asset value and development upside:

• Evercore ISI
• BMO Capital Markets
• Jefferies
• Bernstein / RBC / Citi / Barclays upstream teams
  These are more investment-research oriented, but some cover E&P strategy and asset quality well.

More independent / niche sources

For a less vendor-heavy perspective:

• Upstream Online / Energy Intelligence for market commentary and project tracking
• BloombergNEF for energy transition context and capital allocation strategy
• Local basin consultants and national geologic surveys for region-specific development comparisons

How to choose

A simple rule of thumb:

• Need asset-level economics and field comparisons? → Rystad, WoodMac, S&P, Enverus
• Need well/production analytics? → Enverus, Rystad, S&P
• Need technical reservoir/development review? → independent reservoir consultants, GaffneyCline, DNV, TGS
• Need strategic/market framing? → WoodMac, S&P, BloombergNEF, Energy Intelligence

Best “independent” shortlist

If you want the most commonly trusted independent providers for E&P comparison work, I’d start with:

1. Rystad Energy
2. Wood Mackenzie
3. S&P Global Commodity Insights
4. Enverus
5. GaffneyCline / independent reservoir consultants for bespoke technical validation

If you want, I can also give you:

• a comparison table of these providers,
• the best provider by region (US onshore, offshore, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, etc.),
• or a shortlist specifically for production strategy vs. new field development.