Crude oil production in September from seven major US shale plays is expected to decline 93,000 b/d to 5.27 million b/d, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest Drilling Productivity Report (DPR). EIA previously projected 91,000-b/d declines for both July and August (OGJ Online, June 9, 2015; July 13, 2015).
The DPR focuses on the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus, Niobrara, Permian, and Utica, which altogether accounted for 95% of US oil production increases and all US natural gas production increases during 2011-13.
The Eagle Ford continues to represent a bulk of the overall oil output declines, projected to fall 56,000 b/d in September to 1.48 million b/d. The Bakken is expected to fall 27,000 b/d to 1.16 million b/d, and the Niobrara is expected to fall 18,000 b/d to 399,000 b/d.