Join our crew and become one of the 104,489 members that receive our newsletter.

drilling texas land rig

ExxonMobil: North American Shale to Exceed Most OPEC Nations’ Output in 2015

Bloomberg
Total Views: 11
December 12, 2013

Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) — Oil production from North American shale fields will outpace every member of OPEC except Saudi Arabia within two years, according to ExxonMobil Corp., the world’s biggest energy company by market value.

Globally, crude output from shale and similar rock formations that require intensive drilling techniques will increase 11-fold by the end of 2040, led by explorers in the U.S., Canada and Russia, Exxon said today in its annual long- term forecast for global energy.

Burgeoning U.S. production in shale hotspots such as North Dakota and Texas will soon overwhelm the capacity of domestic refineries and prompt the federal government to rethink its restrictions on crude exports, said Kenneth Cohen, the vice president who oversees Exxon’s lobbying efforts. The Irving, Texas-based company favors lifting the export limits, which date to the 1970s period of Middle East oilembargoes that triggered gasoline shortages.

“The reality is the market has moved from an era of scarcity to an era of abundance — but we’re still saddled with statutes and regulations stuck in a mindset of scarcity,” Cohen said in a telephone interview. “The principle of free trade should underpin not just blueberries and corn, but energy products as well.”

The estimate, assembled by a team of Exxon economists, scientists and engineers, also predicted that carbon dioxide emissions from energy-related sources will peak worldwide around 2030 before beginning a gradual decline. The reduction will stem from increased use of more efficient generators and engines and reduced use of the most carbon-intensive fuels, such as coal and wood, the report said.

Offsetting Declines

Crude extracted from beneath the oceans will expand 150 percent by 2040, with production from oil-sands deposits quadrupling in that period, according to Exxon, which used a base year of 2010 in its calculations. Shale, deep-water and oil-sands output together will be more than enough to replace declining supplies from older, onshore fields that were drilled decades ago, the report said.

Even with competition from North American shale sources, OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, will increase its share of the world oil market to 45 percent by 2040 from about 40 percent in 2010, according to the report.

Exxon, which traces its roots to the 1880s and John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust, compiles the estimate each year to guide long-term investment decisions.

((Exxon scheduled a webcast to discuss its long-term energy demand outlook for tomorrow at 10 a.m. New York time. To access it, go to www.exxonmobil.com/energyoutlookwebcast.))

– Joe Carroll, Copyright 2013 Bloomberg.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up
Back to Main
polygon icon polygon icon

Why Join the gCaptain Club?

Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.

Sign Up
close

JOIN OUR CREW

Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 104,489 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.

Join Our Crew

Join the 104,489 members that receive our newsletter.