Chair's Corner - February 2019
February 1st, 2019
“There is nothing certain but the uncertain.” – UNKNOWN
Oil Prices
2018 was a mixed year for our industry. Oil prices soared to highs that the market hadn’t seen in almost four years, but also succumbed to some of the largest single-day drops. Early predictions from Wall Street pointed to barrel prices in excess of $100. Instead, the market experienced the worst drop in over two years. Amidst all the volatility in prices, we saw the United States become the world’s largest oil producer in 2018. The key factor driving US production levels was the Permian Basin. In spite of Permian Basin drillers having issues with pipeline takeaway capacity, oil production increased by nearly 900,000 barrels per day last year.
With falling demand and increasing production from the Permian Basin, more price uncertainty is possible this year.
Infrastructure constraints …