Crude oil production in March from seven major US shale plays is expected to fall 92,000 b/d to 4.92 million b/d, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest Drilling Productivity Report (DPR).
The DPR focuses on the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus, Niobrara, Permian, and Utica, which altogether accounted for 95% of US crude oil production increases and all US natural gas production increases during 2011-13.
Output from the Eagle Ford in March is forecast to decline 50,000 b/d to 1.22 million b/d, followed by a 25,000-b/d drop in the Bakken to 1.1 million b/d and a 15,000-b/d loss in the Niobrara to 389,000 b/d.
The Permian is seen rising by 1,000 b/d to 2.04 million b/d.
New-well oil production/rig across the seven plays in March is expected to increase by a rig-weighted average of 4 b/d to 504 b/d. Expected to lead the way is the Utica, up 13 b/d to 308 b/d; with the Niobrara closely behind at a 12-b/d rise to 741 b/d. The Eagle Ford is seen gaining 8 b/d to 812 b/d.
EIA projects natural gas production in March from the seven plays to fall 451 MMcfd to 44.26 bcfd, mostly reflecting a 202-MMcfd drop in the Marcellus to 15.7 bcfd, 158-MMcfd loss in the Eagle Ford to 6.44 bcfd, and 70-MMcfd decline in the Niobrara to 4.15 bcfd.
The Utica, meanwhile, is expected to rise 32 MMcfd to 3.28 bcfd.
