Latest News

United States natgas drillers cut costs, decrease activity in the middle of rate crash

U.S. natural gas producers are slashing costs and minimizing drilling activity following a. sharp decline in prices, companies said today throughout. earnings presentations and expert calls.

For months of reasonably low gas prices, numerous manufacturers kept. output mostly steady on expectations that need would increase in. When numerous liquefied natural gas (LNG) export, 2024 and 2025. plants get in service.

However, this week's collapse in gas rates to a 3-1/2- year. low convinced some drillers to reverse course.

Comstock Resources, a major U.S. gas manufacturer, stated. it would decrease the variety of rigs in operation from seven to. 5 and suspend its dividend till gas costs rise. sufficiently.

Antero Resources, another huge U.S. gas manufacturer, stated. it would cut its drilling and conclusion capital budget by 26%. after lowering the number of rigs in operation to two from. 3. It also dropped one of its two completion teams.

Antero anticipates a 3% decline in gas volumes this year versus. 2023.

[It's] great to see operators plainly lay out strategies to slow. D&C (drilling and conclusion) capital at current gas prices,. stated Jake Roberts, an analyst for Perella Weinberg Partners'. TPH&C o, in a note.

In recent months, gas costs have actually dropped on near-record. output and low heating need from a mild winter season that left ample. amounts of gas in storage.

After falling about 24% over eight days, front-month gas. futures settled at $1.581 per million British thermal. units on Thursday, their least expensive close since June 2020 throughout the. height of COVID-19 demand destruction.

The market is requesting for not only production curtailments,. however likewise activity decreases, Jeremy Knop, CFO at EQT,. the nation's most significant gas manufacturer, told analysts in a profits. call this week.

Analysts said EQT was much better positioned to avoid output. cuts near-term since it is well hedged in 2024, lowering its. exposure to the rate collapse.

EQT lowered its 2024 production assistance variety by about 50. billion cubic feet equivalent (bcfe) from earlier guidance in. mid-January to 2,200-2,300 bcfe, which the company said includes. some flexibility to reduce volumes must rates remain weak.

EQT's had total sales volumes of 2,016 bcfe in 2023.

If drillers continue to reveal decreasing production. assistance and weather stabilizes ... gas may quickly form a. short-term bottom with an overdue relief rally possible,. analysts at energy consulting company EBW Analytics Group stated in a. note.

Antero shares were up about 11% to a one-month high of. $ 23.47 after falling to a two-month low on Wednesday. Comstock. shares, which hit a two-year short on Wednesday, were up 2% to. $ 7.46.

Shares of EQT were up about 4% to $34.24 on Thursday after. dropping to a nine-month short on Wednesday.

(source: Reuters)