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US shale is ready for a comeback

Over the past two years, American shale oil producers have suffered. The low price environment destroyed returns, bankrupted weak companies, and abruptly halted the Shale revolution; geographically, most of shale production shriveled to a mere handful of counties. With lower oil prices, the exuberance of 2012- 2014 was finally reigned in.  The price downturn taught producers to be more disciplined, forcing them to be smarter about geology, asset choice, technological efficiencies and capital deployment. Most producers now smartly cover capital expenditure with cash flow as opposed to dependence on leverage and financing. In barely three years, the American shale producer has halved their cost of production through operational efficiency gains and large savings in service costs. American Shale went head on with the OPEC Cartel, and emerged stronger, leaner and smarter.

Breakeven oil
J.P. Morgan Asset Management

With oil prices significantly above their lows of 2016 and OPEC’s commitment to price stability, shale companies are once again starting to raise money for increased production. Notably, Diamondback Energy raised over $1 billion in December 2016, as it looked to expand its footprint in the Permian Basin. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the downward trajectory of oil and gas extraction and services jobs seems to have not only stopped but also turned higher; In November 2016 we saw the number of jobs in this category rise by about 3,300, the first increase since September 2014. Also, rig counts are now at the highest level seen since December 2015 as short cycle shale producers smartly deployed capital in high yielding acreage as prices stabilize above $45. It is anticipated that US oil producers will increase spending this year, as current guidance from numerous shale producers is indicating a growth of 350kb/d over the course of 2017. Wood Mackenzie expects a 3% $450 billion) increase in 2017 global upstream spending, with an increase of 23% ($61 billion) for the lower 48 states spending as well. The research company also expects global Final Investment Decisions (FID’s) to rise by 11 to 20 in 2017. With oil prices forecasted to average $60-65 in 2017, and higher through 2020, there is little doubt that the recovery has begun and we are entering a new phase of the Shale Revolution.

Screen Shot 2017 01 18 at 10.07.30 AM
J.P. Morgan Asset Management

There is concern that U.S oil producers will once again hamper price appreciation by flooding the market with crude. Though possible, anticipated backwardation in the crude curve will limit the upside required to hedge future production.  OPEC production cuts, announced November 30th 2016, will likely be enforced with about 65-70% compliance. In complying with these cuts, OPEC is looking to flip the crude oil curve into backwardation.  Allowing prompt prices to rise to a healthy target of $60 or higher while keeping forward prices depressed at (or below) $55  a barrel will ensure that the rate of future shale production growth is contained. This curve structure also allows OPEC to increase production when immediate demand arises. Another argument against shale producers over supplying the market is the fact that increases in rig counts have been required to counter the normal depletion rate of existing wells. New shale well production rates typically drop about 75% during the first year of production, with the Energy Information Administration estimating the annual decline rates of Bakken, Eagle Ford and Permian wells at 47%, 55% and 22% respectively. Lastly, offshore oil companies, both domestic and abroad, are less likely to benefit as much as their shale counterparts due to additional costs and a longer investment cycles which lead to a higher breakeven price. As such, it is more likely that we see a steady to gradual increase in U.S. production rather than a “flood” as some analysts have suggested.

The oil price recovery that started in mid-2016 is likely to continue through 2017 and U.S. Shale companies are an investment most likely to benefit from this price appreciation. They learned from their mistakes and have become nimbler. Good Ol’ American Shale is back! And it’s stronger, leaner and smarter.

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Read the original article on J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Copyright 2017.

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