Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    SweetCrudeReportsSweetCrudeReports
    Subscribe
    • Home
    • Oil
    • Gas
    • Power
    • Solid Minerals
    • Labour
    • Financing
    • Freight
    • Community Development
    • E-Editions
    SweetCrudeReportsSweetCrudeReports
    Home » OPEC crude output cuts should help U.S. shale profits in 2021

    OPEC crude output cuts should help U.S. shale profits in 2021

    January 10, 2021
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

    HOUSTON — A decision by OPEC and allied countries to cut crude production through March delivered a late Christmas present for U.S. shale firms that have slashed costs, but any rise in prices spurred by the unexpected move may be just a modest stocking stuffer.

    U.S. crude oil production has fallen 2 million barrels per day in the last year as low prices and demand forced shale producers to cut their losses. Investors had already been pressuring the industry to curb spending and boost returns before the pandemic hit. Shale output was quickly cut, but might return quickly if prices keep rising.

    On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, said it would voluntarily reduce its production by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in February and March, after Russia pushed to increase output, worried about U.S. shale capitalizing on the group’s cuts.

    Russia and Kazakhstan will increase their output, reluctant to cede market share to the United States. Overall, OPEC+ had been due to restore 500,000 bpd in each of the two months. Saudi officials were concerned new increases would outpace demand during new coronavirus lockdowns.

    Prices for West Texas Intermediate on Friday topped $52 per barrel, and the 12-month futures’ price, which producers use to plan spending on new wells, hit $51.37 a barrel, up from $44.63 at the start of December.

    BOTTOM LINES TO BENEFIT
    Higher crude prices will fall directly to U.S. producers’ bottom lines given recent cost cuts and commitments to keeping output flat. Companies pledged to keep production flat and use any price increases to boost investor returns or pay down debt.

    Rising prices in recent years have “tended to be a bit of a mirage,” said Thomas Jorden, chief executive of Cimarex Energy. “We’re going to be highly disciplined in setting a budget,” he added at a Goldman Sachs conference on Thursday.

    In top two U.S. shale fields, oil and gas companies are profitable in the $30 per barrel to low $40s per barrel range, according to data firm Rystad Energy. This year’s higher prices could push the shale group’s cash from operations up by 32%, Rystad said.

    Another factor that will benefit producers is low oilfield service costs. Excess capacity at the companies that provide fracking sand and services cut fees and have not been able to raise them.

    “Margins are terrible,” said Chris Wright, chief executive of Liberty Oilfield Services, the second-biggest fracking company in North America. “They’re slightly better now then they were six months ago, but they’re still terrible.”

    ACTIVITY REMAINS DEPRESSED
    Liberty has kept existing customers through the pandemic, but pricing remains so low it has not made sense to go after new clients. Demand for fracking services is improving but falls short of levels that would boost U.S. shale production, he said.

    Shale producers historically lifted production budgets with rising oil prices, said Linda Htein, senior research manager at consultancy Wood Mackenzie. But “this time is maybe a little bit different” because global demand remains uncertain, she said.

    Oil would have to hit $60 to $65 per barrel to restore U.S. output by 1 million barrels per day while improving investor returns, said Raoul LeBlanc, a vice president at data provider IHS Markit.

    Energy executives in Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming and northern New Mexico in a Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City poll released Friday the said oil prices would have to average $56 per barrel for them to substantial increase drilling.

    The industry pulled back activity so much last year that oilfield work this year will mean “mitigation of declines rather than growth,” said Sarp Ozkan, a senior director at analytics firm Enverus.

    *Jennifer Hiller; editing: David Gregorio – Reuters

    Related News

    Russia plans to compensate for oil overproduction in August-September

    Russia’s fuel export revenue in June fell 14% from last year, IEA says

    US OKs exchange with Exxon Mobil to aid Gulf Coast supplies

    Comments are closed.

    E-book
    Resilience Exhibition

    Latest News

    Russia’s Novatek says Q2 gas output up 2.8% y/y

    July 12, 2025

    LNG Canada’s start-up yet to lift gas prices amid supply glut

    July 12, 2025

    Russia plans to compensate for oil overproduction in August-September

    July 12, 2025

    Taiwan’s CPC Corp eyes US shale gas assets, sources say

    July 12, 2025

    China sets its first renewable standards for steel, cement and polysilicon

    July 12, 2025
    Demo
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Opec Daily Basket
    • Oil
    • Power
    • Gas
    • Freight
    • Financing
    • Labour
    • Technology
    • Solid Mineral
    • Conferences/Seminars
    • Community Development
    • Nigerian Content Initiative
    • Niger-Delta Question
    • Insurance
    • Other News
    • Focus
    • Feedback
    • Hanging Out With Markson

    Subscribe for Updates

    Get the latest energy news from Sweetcrudereports.

    Please wait...
    Please enter all required fields Click to hide
    Correct invalid entries Click to hide
    © 2025 Sweetcrudereports.
    • About Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy Policy

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.