Texas Petro Index by petroleum economist Karr Ingham declined again in March to 181.8 for the 13th consecutive month. That represents a decline of 14.7 percent since the index of 213.3 a year ago in March 2019. Also in the past year, oil price (monthly average) was down 50.4 percent, natural gas price (first of […]
Concho to average 8 rigs for remainder of 2020; Kermit sand plant idled
Midland-based Concho Resources said last week it is again reducing capital spending for 2020 to $1.6 billion (40 percent below original budget) and complete about 110 to 130 gross operated wells. Concho said April 30 it expects to average about 8 rigs for the remainder of the year. First quarter oil production totaled 209,000 b/d […]
Navigating a Twofold Crisis
You have to like a guy who does the thing that gives people a measure of hope. Just when the grimness of the colossal price drop in crude oil was deflating people’s outlook for their economic future, someone did something uplifting. Kirk Edwards published an “Open Letter to President Trump” in the Odessa American on […]
Nowhere to Go: Oil Cuts Loom
IHS Markit expects up to 10 MMb/d of world oil production will be cut or shut-in from April to June 2020 as oil storage fills up and output from financially strapped companies begins to fall. If oil cannot be sold or stored, it cannot be produced. Transportation constraints and lack of access to every available […]
Texas Petro Index declines for 12th straight month to 188.5 in February
Texas Petro Index by petroleum economist Karr Ingham declined in February for the 12th consecutive month to 188.5 from 191.9 a month ago in January 2020 and 213.2 a year ago in February 2019 (down 11.8 percent in past year). The index is based on a comprehensive set of economic indicators in the industry (base […]
Rising Tide
In 1977, following the 1975 passage of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), almost all petroleum exports from the United States were banned. The Commerce department was allowed to make a few exceptions, such as for trade with neighbors Canada and Mexico. All this was, of course, in response to the OPEC oil embargo […]
Phillips 66 to defer Red Oak pipeline amid 2020 budget cuts
Operators in Permian Basin’s energy industry continue to announce reductions in capital budgets for 2020. They include: Phillips 66 said March 24 it will defer its Red Oak pipeline as part of reducing its 2020 capital budget by $700 million to $3.1 billion. With Plains All American Pipeline, Phillips 66 formed Red Oak Pipeline to […]
Crude oil, natural gas operators reduce spending in Permian Basin
More operators are reacting to commodity price downturn and industry current conditions by reducing 2020 capital spending in Permian Basin. They include: Apache reduced its 2020 capital budget to about $1.1 billion – down from about $1.75 billion – and will idle all its rigs in Permian Basin and reduce drilling elsewhere. “We are significantly […]
U.S. status as net petroleum exporter “at risk” as majors trim budgets
The U.S. status as a net petroleum exporter is at risk, Bloomberg said this week, as plunging oil prices threaten domestic production. U.S. recently began exporting more petroleum that it imports because of “record shale production in fields such as the Permian Basin.” Bloomberg added, “Now, amid the worst price rout in nearly three decades, […]
Centennial reduces operated rigs in Reeves County to three
Denver-based Centennial Resource Development said Feb. 24 it is reducing operated rigs in Reeves County to 3 beginning in 2020Q2 with a focus on upper Wolfcamp A and third Bone Spring sand zone. Another rig will be allocated to Lea County, N.M. Centennial is reducing its 2020 capital budget 28 percent compared to 2019. The […]
