The final US oil and gas rig count for the year decreased this week, according to Baker Hughes, reaching 805 rigs after decreasing by 8 for the week, according to Baker Hughes. The total oil and gas rig count is now 278 down from this time last year—a nearly 26% drop.
For oil rigs, this week saw an decrease of 8 rigs, according to Baker Hughes data. The total number of active gas rigs in the United States held steady for the week according to the report, at 125 This compares to 198 a year ago.
The number of oil rigs has declined by 207 this year alone. And still, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and its partners in hype the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Rystad Energy are still talking of US oil production of 12.8 million barrels a day (mbd) this year rising to 13.8 mbd in 2020.
The EIA’s production figures are based on both estimation and hype. US production is over-stated by at least 2 mbd. This means that US oil production will average this year at 10.8-11.0 mbd and around 10 mbd in 2020.
Dr Mamdouh G Salameh
International Oil Economist
Visiting Professor of Energy Economics at ESCP Europe Business School, London