US oil prices: Let the good times roll

Oil price drivers

The basic laws of supply and demand are simply stated as:

1. If demand increases and supply remains unchanged, a shortage occurs, leading to a higher equilibrium price.
2. If demand decreases and supply remains unchanged, a surplus occurs, leading to a lower equilibrium price.
3. If demand remains unchanged and supply increases, a surplus occurs, leading to a lower equilibrium price.
4. If demand remains unchanged and supply decreases, a shortage occurs, leading to a higher equilibrium price.

The major factors that drive oil prices are (1) the global economy, primarily the US, the European Union and China; (2) energy scarcity, including reserve accretion and depletion; and (3) purchasing power, expressed in the respective currencies of those countries, with the heaviest influence from the US dollar.

Because a large majority of global oil is traded in US dollars, the volatility of that currency has tremendous influence on the real price of oil. Any weakness in the value of the USD against other currencies increases the purchasing power of countries that are not USD denominated.

For example, if the value of the dollar is even with the euro, then, all things being equal (crude qualities, transportation, and supply/demand), the cost of a barrel of crude oil would be the same for parties transacting in dollars or euros. However, if the dollar strengthened, then it would require more euros to purchase a barrel of oil. The reverse situation is not only true, but has been exhibited for the past several years; whereby countries denominated in the euro pay less for a barrel of oil in dollars.

So a weakened USD is a key driver of higher oil prices. It doesn't diminish the role of supply and demand, but it is of equal importance. The question then becomes what is the dollar's outlook and what corresponding effect would it have on oil prices, and therefore revenue and profit for oil companies? Let's look at two scenarios.

Low price cases

In June 2013, the World Bank said that "… over the longer term, oil prices are projected to fall." Your case for lower prices would argue that the EU economy is worse than thought and that the US economy strengthens more than forecasted. Also in June 2013, the European Central Bank had a dour assessment, once more revising downward their GDP outlook. According to The Economist, "The protracted weakness especially in southern Europe is inflicting social misery." [They] went so far as to proclaim that "… the most corrosive of all is loss of hope as the lost decade continues".

As well, you believe that US shale oil is a game-changer and production volumes will continue to grow as a rash of new wells are drilled and infrastructure is built. US oil production grew by more than one million barrels per day in the last year to 7.5 million barrels per day, the largest increase of any country in the world and the highest US output in more than 22 years. This is mostly due to new production from the Bakken, Eagle Ford, and other new shale targets, as well as soaring activity in the Permian Basin and several other producing regions.

OPEC (particularly Saudi Arabia) has demonstrated the ability to quickly replace production lost by other members. A recent International Energy Agency outlook says that OPEC's spare output capacity (total production capacity less anticipated demand) will grow to nearly 7.2 million barrels per day by 2015, up from 5.7 million barrels in 2013. History shows that OPEC is prone to fragmentation and its members ignore production quotas when they need money, further adding supply and lowering the price of crude.

High price cases

Barring a geopolitical event triggering wild crude oil speculation, if you make the case for higher oil prices, you would believe that the global oil supplies are finite and are depleting at alarming rates. The world population continues to grow exponentially, and energy demand is at an all-time high. This year, for the first time, non-Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries will use more oil than OECD countries. China, Southeast Asia, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and other non-OECD countries have enormous populations and energy consumption is growing at a pace much faster than that of OECD member nations (See Figure 2).

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average American used around 312 MMBTUs in 2011, down around 5% from the prior six-year average, but still nearly twice that of the average German, Frenchman, or Japanese. The average Chinese citizen used an average of only 82 MMBTUs; but this was a 23% increase over the prior six-year average. This is staggering when you consider that the population of China is estimated at nearly 1.4 billion. If their demand for fuels continues to grow at recent rates, China's oil demand will grow 25% more by 2018.

It's highly unlikely that the US will ever stop being a net importer of oil. Results from the upstart shale oil plays are less spectacular than the adolescent Bakken and Eagle Ford plays were, but the wells are just as expensive. The US Geological Survey estimates approximately 3 billion to 4.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil from the Bakken and Eagle Ford shales. The high-side case amounts to less than eight months of oil consumption for the US.

The biggest driver to maintain oil prices above $90 would be if the US economy remains lackluster and the EU economy begins healing. In that scenario, the dollar remains weak and the USD:euro could fall back to 1.45 to 1.50 range, which could bring oil back to the $130 to $140 area.

The dollar to euro scenarios might look like this:

If the US dollar strengthens against the euro by 10% to 15% during the next 18 to 24 months, oil prices could fall back to the $80 to $90 range. If the EU economy continues to appear to stabilize, we're looking at $90 to $110 oil for at least a couple more years.

The investment advisory firm Alliance Bernstein predicts that WTI will average over $100 in 2014, and longer term prices above $120 and rising to over $160 by the end of the decade. Others predict lower prices, based on factors such as China's economy cooling, the fast ramp-up of US shale plays and the opening up of Mexican oil concessions to foreign companies.

While these arguments all have legs, barring a geopolitical event, it's likely that the US economy will slowly continue to strengthen, the EU will continue to guise its internal maladies, and oil prices will maintain somewhere in the $90 to $110 range for the next 18 to 24 months.

If that holds true, domestic oil production will continue to roll and investment will pour into the sector at an unprecedented rate in 2014. What this means to domestic producers is that they have to continue their emphasis on raising the technology bar to increase efficiencies and lowering costs in finding and developing oil. Also, when forecasting oil prices for capital budgeting or acquisition purposes, companies should also monitor the value of the US dollar. OGFJ

About the Author

Jim Harden is a partner/principal and the valuation services leader at Hein & Associates, a full-service accounting and advisory firm with offices in Denver, Houston, Dallas, and Orange County, Calif. With more than 30 years' experience in the energy industry, including as an independent oil and gas operator and petroleum geologist, he provides valuation, economic consulting, and expert witness services to energy companies, private equity firms, and law firms. Harden is a senior member (ASA) of the American Society of Appraisers, certified in oil and gas valuation.