Crude oil production in July from seven major US shale plays is expected to drop 91,000 b/d to 5.49 million b/d compared with June, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest Drilling Productivity Report (DPR). The forecasted decline is up 5,000 b/d compared with June’s decline from May (OGJ Online, May 12, 2015).
The DPR focuses on the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus, Niobrara, Permian, and Utica, which altogether accounted for 95% of US oil production increases and all US natural gas production increases during 2011-13.
The monthly decline will again be led by the Eagle Ford, whose expected 49,000-b/d drop to 1.59 million b/d is only 2,000 b/d higher than the previous month’s decline. Production from the Bakken is expected to fall 29,000 b/d, also up 2,000 b/d from June, to 1.24 million b/d. The Niobrara is expected to see a 17,000-b/d drop, up 1,000 b/d from June, to 414,000 b/d.