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US oil output from top shale areas to increase in May, EIA states

U.S. oil output from top shaleproducing regions will increase in May to the greatest level in 5 months, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). stated in its regular monthly Drilling Productivity Report on Monday.

Production from the top basins will climb up by more than. 16,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.86 million bpd, the greatest. output considering that December, the EIA said.

U.S. shale oil production, which represents about. three-quarters of overall U.S. oil output, is rising due to. improved well efficiency and rebounding activity after a deep. freeze in early 2024 required business to shut in production.

Oil output in the Permian basin, the biggest U.S. shale. field straddling West Texas and New Mexico, is due to increase by. about 11,500 bpd to 6.17 million bpd, the third greatest monthly. output on record, the EIA said.

Production in the Eagle Ford in southeastern Texas was. projection to climb to 1.16 million bpd, the greatest considering that. November, the EIA said. In the Bakken, output was set to. increase by 4,800 bpd to 1.25 million bpd, the strongest given that. December.

Overall natural gas output in the big shale basins will relieve. to a four-month low of 99.9 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in. May from 100.2 bcfd in April, the EIA predicted.

That compares to a monthly record gas output high of 102.3. bcfd in the big shale basins in December 2023.

U.S. gas production is anticipated to decrease in 2024 as. producers reduce drilling activities after rates was up to a. 3-1/2- year low in February.

In Appalachia, the biggest U.S. shale gas basin spanning. Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, output is set to slide to. a seven-month low of 36.1 bcfd in May from 36.2 bcfd in April. Appalachia output struck a record 37.2 bcfd in December 2023.

However, the EIA expects brand-new Appalachia gas well production. per rig to rise to a 28-month high of 28.2 per million cubic. feet each day (mmcfd) in May.

If correct, that would be a 15th straight monthly increase. in new well production per rig, which peaked at 34.4 mmcfd in. Appalachia in December 2020.

Total drilled but uncompleted

(source: Reuters)