Harold Hamm Drives Continental Resources’ Global Energy Expansion

Billionaire Oilman Makes Strategic Moves in 2026

Harold Hamm, the billionaire founder of Continental Resources, is making significant headlines in early 2026 as his company expands its international footprint and he participates in high-level political discussions about global energy development. Hamm’s Continental Resources reached an agreement to buy assets in Argentina from Pan American Energy, expanding its push into the Vaca Muerta shale basin, signalling the company’s confidence in South American energy opportunities.

Continental’s Argentine Expansion

The Oklahoma City-based company agreed to buy non-operating interests in four blocks from Pan American, marking a significant investment in one of the world’s most promising unconventional resources. On January 5, 2026, the company announced a landmark deal with Pan American Energy (PAE) to acquire substantial stakes in four key blocks, positioning itself at the heart of the world’s most promising unconventional resource outside of North America. The expansion follows a high-profile meeting in September 2025 between Harold Hamm and Argentine President Javier Milei, which helped pave the way for Continental’s Argentine operations.

White House Energy Diplomacy

Hamm’s influence extends beyond corporate boardrooms into political circles. Oklahoma billionaire oilman Harold Hamm, the founder of Continental Resources was among a few dozen top oil leaders in the U.S. who met Friday at the White House with President Trump to discuss assuming control of Venezuelan oil and exploration in the South American country. This meeting underscores Hamm’s position as a key energy advisor and his company’s potential role in reshaping regional energy infrastructure.

Significance for Global Energy Markets

Hamm’s strategic moves reflect broader shifts in the global energy landscape. Hamm, a significant donor to President Donald Trump, was one of the earliest champions of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing that led to the US shale revolution. Those same techniques are key to developing Vaca Muerta. His company’s expansion into Argentina, combined with his participation in White House discussions about Venezuelan energy development, positions Continental Resources at the forefront of international energy policy and development. For energy markets and investors, Hamm’s activities signal growing American involvement in South American energy sectors, potentially reshaping regional supply chains and export pathways in the years ahead.