U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a third week in a row for the first time since October, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on April 5.
The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 620 in the week to April 5, the lowest since early February.
Baker Hughes said that puts the total rig count down 131, or 17%, below this time last year.
Baker Hughes said oil rigs rose two to 508 this week, while gas rigs fell by two to 110, their lowest since January 2022.
The oil and gas rig count dropped about 20% in 2023 after rising by 33% in 2022 and 67% in 2021, due to a decline in oil and gas prices, higher labor and equipment costs from soaring inflation and as companies focused on paying down debt and boosting shareholder returns instead of raising output.
U.S. oil futures were up about 22% so far in 2024 after dropping by 11% in 2023. U.S. gas futures, meanwhile, were down about 28% so far in 2024 after plunging by 44% in 2023.
That increase in oil prices should encourage drillers to boost U.S. crude output from a record 12.9 MMbbl/d in 2023 to 13.2 MMbbl/d in 2024 and 13.6 MMbbl/d in 2025, according to the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) outlook.
But the drop in gas prices to a 3-1/2-year low in February and March will cut U.S. gas output to 103.4 Bcf/d in 2024 from a record 103.8 Bcf/d in 2023, according to the EIA, as some producers slash spending and reduce drilling activities.
Analysts, however, said it could take a few months for those planned gas rig reductions to show up in the data.
Recommended Reading
Seadrill Sells Three Jackups for $338MM to Gulf Drilling International
2024-05-17 - Seadrill Ltd. is also selling its 50% equity interest in the joint venture that operates the rigs offshore Qatar.
Could Crescent, SilverBow Buy More in South Texas After $2.1B Deal?
2024-05-17 - The combination of Crescent Energy and SilverBow Resources will yield one of the Eagle Ford’s top producers—and the pro forma E&P could look to gobble up more acreage in South Texas after closing.
Permian Powerhouse: Apache Doubles Down on Core Assets After Callon Acquisition
2024-05-16 - Apache CEO John Christmann detailed plans for the Permian Basin and Suriname during the SUPER DUG Conference & Expo.
Crescent Energy to Buy Eagle Ford’s SilverBow for $2.1 Billion
2024-05-16 - Crescent Energy’s acquisition of SilverBow Resources will create the second largest Eagle Ford Shale E&P with production of about 250,000 boe/d, the companies said.
Diamondback’s Van’t Hof Plays Coy on Potential Delaware Divestiture
2024-05-16 - Diamondback Energy’s President and CFO Kaes Van't Hof also addressed new Permian exploration and the lack of “fun” dealing with the FTC on its deal to buy Endeavor Energy Resources.