Falling oil prices prompt pullback in U.S. drilling
The Wall Street Journal reports today that U.S. oil drillers are scaling back on plans to drill new wells, amid the plunge in global prices.
Nymex crude dropped 77 cents a barrel to $77.91 Thursday.
Crude is down more than 25 percent since June, making it much less profitable to drill for oil in shale-rock plays.
As WSJ (subscription required) notes:
Continental Resources Inc., a major oil producer in North Dakota’s Bakken Shale, said Wednesday that the company wouldn’t add drilling rigs next year. ConocoPhillips Co. said that next year’s budget would fall below the $16 billion spent this year, dropping plans for some new wells in places such as Colorado’s Niobrara Shale.
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. signaled that it might delay adding rigs in Texas unless oil prices rebound.
“We’re in a battle with Saudi Arabia in regard to market share,” Pioneer Chief Executive Scott Sheffield told investors Wednesday. The Irving, Texas, company hasn’t announced its drilling plans for next year, but Mr. Sheffield said they would hinge on where oil prices stand in the next few months.
