Crude oil output from the seven major US onshore producing regions is expected to rise 41,000 b/d month-over-month in February to 4.748 million b/d, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
As with last month’s edition of the Drilling Productivity Report, the Permian is forecast to provide the upward lift, adding 53,000 b/d during the month to reach 2.18 million b/d.
The DPR tracks the total number of active drilling rigs, drilling productivity, and estimated changes in production from existing oil and natural gas wells in the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus, Niobrara, Permian, and Utica.
The Niobrara also is expected to record an increase, gaining 13,000 b/d month-over-month to 426,000 b/d. The Eagle Ford output decline, meanwhile, is seen shrinking to just 3,000, bringing the South Texas region’s average oil production to 1.042 million b/d. The Bakken is expected to fall 20,000 b/d to 978,000 b/d.
Overall US natural gas production from the seven regions is expected to increase 330 MMcfd month-over-month in February to 47.969 bcfd. Leading the way is the Marcellus with a 188-MMcfd jump to 18.591 bcfd.
Also expected to see rises in gas output are the Permian, up 103 MMcfd to 7.609 bcfd; Haynesville, up 76 MMcfd to 6.118 bcfd; Niobrara, up 45 MMcfd to 4.477 bcfd; and Utica, up 15 MMcfd to 3.956 bcfd.
The Bakken is projected to drop 5 MMcfd to 1.746 bcfd. The Eagle Ford is seen falling 92 MMcfd to 5.472 bcfd.
Used as an indicator of future oil and gas production, EIA’s drilled but uncompleted (DUC) well count for the seven regions in December grew by 167 month-over-month to 5,379. Again carrying the weight for the rest of the regions, the Permian added 137 DUC wells to bring its tally to 1,706.
According to Baker Hughes Inc. data, the Permian has doubled its rig count since May 13 (OGJ Online, Jan. 13, 2017).
Other month-over-month DUC well increases included the Niobrara by 30 to 704, Eagle Ford by 8 to 1,284, Bakken by 5 to 815, and Haynesville by 3 to 154. The Utica dropped by 6 to 99 and the Marcellus by 10 to 617.
Contact Matt Zborowski at [email protected].
