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Dead Cat Bounce Over: U.S. Rig Count Loses 3 @ 623, M-U Even @ 41
The slight rise in the national rig count, with the count going up by one or two rigs a week over the past five weeks (what we call a “dead cat bounce”), is over. The Baker Hughes U.S. rig count lost ground again last week. The count went from 626 active rigs two weeks ago down to 623 last week. The Marcellus/Utica stayed even at 41 active rigs last week.
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S&P Global Commodity Insights, one of the biggest and best in the energy information business, issued its annual Energy Outlook for 2024 yesterday. It’s an interesting read. S&P analysts say “uneven balances and OPEC+ resolve to remain key risks to markets,” and “coal, gasoline entering peak demand years.” Yep, the mighty S&P has bought into the “peak” theory (which has been wrong every single time it’s been announced). It would be fun to revisit some of the predictions a year from now, including the prediction that worldwide coal demand will decrease in 2024 and that 20% of all cars sold in 2024 will be electric. Color us skeptical.
Once a month, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysts issue the agency’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), their best guess about where energy prices and production will go in the next 12 months. Last month, the report predicted the price for Henry Hub natural gas futures would average $3.40 this winter (see 
According to powerhouse consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY), it’s been a successful 2023 for the oil and gas industry. In 2023, O&G continued to win back investors and position itself as a key player in the so-called energy transition. Looking ahead, 2024 will be full of opportunities and challenges as everyone looks to “decarbonize” and supposedly move away from fossil fuels. EY offers four trends to watch in O&G for 2024.
The Baker Hughes U.S. rig count hit a new low for 2023 five weeks ago (see 
In August, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see 
Each year, the Oil & Gas Journal updates oil and natural gas reserves by each O&G-producing country. It’s a fascinating look at where the biggest (and smallest) oil and gas supplies exist on the planet. Would it surprise you to learn that three other countries have more (far more) natural gas reserves than we have here in the U.S.? Perhaps even more startling, There are eight countries with more oil reserves than the U.S. Unfortunately, most of the countries with larger supplies are enemies of the U.S.
The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) released production numbers for the third quarter of 2023 late last week, and nobody noticed…except MDN (thanks to a tip from a good friend). ODNR no longer issues a press release to summarize the results as they once did. We’ve got the full spreadsheet with oil and gas production details for all 3,281 active shale wells in the Buckeye State. We’ve sliced and diced the numbers and have our usual Top 25 lists for natural gas and oil wells. We’ve included a couple of charts summarizing the data, showing the total production by driller (gas and oil) and the total production for the quarter by county. You’re gonna love it!
While the rig count remains anemic, it shows signs of life. Last week, the U.S. rig count added rigs for the third week in a row. The rig count hit a new low for 2023 one month ago (see 
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently published its 2022 Oil and Gas Annual Report. This is the seventh year in a row the DEP has published the report in an interactive, electronic (i.e., online only) format. Don’t worry; we’ve made the report a convenient PDF for MDN readers. What does the 2022 report show? Permits issued went down, but the number of new wells drilled went up. The big news is that natural gas production has, for the first time, gone down year over year in the Keystone State. It is the first time natural gas production has decreased for a given year in the modern shale era in PA.
A team of researchers led by the University of Maryland claims they can now “fingerprint” methane to determine the source of where the molecules come from. Using isotopic variants, the researchers say they can distinguish fossil fuel sources of methane from microbial sources from swamps, landfills, and farms. If true, this is a new and welcomed development. First, the news, then a discussion of its importance.
In its assessment of global LNG supplies and natural gas stocks for the winter of 2023/2024, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says the world (and the U.S.) has enough natural gas to meet demand. However, there’s a big BUT… EIA says, “but risks remain.” What are those risks? Possible extreme weather and supply issues.
Once a month, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysts issue the agency’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), their best guess about where energy prices and production will go in the next 12 months. Last month, the report predicted new all-time highs for natural gas production in 2023 (see