HOUSTON — Cutbacks in U.S. natural gas drilling and production and higher North American demand combined to decrease storage levels and raise prices above $4/mmbtu in the first quarter of 2013, according to Ernst & Young Oil & Gas Center’s quarterly analysis.

On the rebound

Gas-directed drilling fell in 2012 through early 2013, and after natural gas prices hit all-time lows in early-2012, some producers cut back production while others focused on higher-priced liquids.

Despite these shifts, natural gas supply continued to soar on associated gas production and lagged infrastructure completions.

Meanwhile, demand improved as power generation and industrial usage increased 21 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

“Although $4/mmbtu reflects a more-than 50 percent increase over 2012’s record lows, U.S. natural gas prices are still very low compared to global markets,” said Marcela Donadio, Americas Oil and Gas Leader for Ernst & Young’s Global Oil and Gas Center.

“The shale boom has created a new reality of abundant U.S. natural gas. Taking full advantage of this increased supply will require access to the global market in the form of LNG exports.”
Oil demand. Global oil demand growth is projected to increase by less than 1 percent as demand falls in advanced economies but rises in the developing world.

Lackluster demand and increases in non-OPEC supply, largely from North America, indicate softer pricing and a challenge for OPEC to manage its production and maintain supply and demand balance.

“Growing non-OPEC production is now impacting global supply and demand dynamics,” said Donadio. “With major consuming countries like the U.S. relying more on ‘home-grown fuels,’ exports are being shifted to new destinations. This creates new trade alliances and relationships.”

Gas outlook

Despite the higher U.S. natural gas prices, regional price differences are substantial — highlighting the opportunity to ship U.S. natural gas to advantageous markets.
Access to new gas supplies from planned LNG projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Africa, U.S. and Canada will create greater pricing balance and impact the economics of many proposed LNG projects.

Australia’s booming LNG sector, which is experiencing rapid cost escalation, will be the most pressured by these new supplies.

Midstream bottleneck. Surging North American supply, both in terms of oil and natural gas, has created substantial logistical constraints and bottlenecks as well as triggering unprecedented infrastructure investment.

As many as 20 mid- to major-sized pipeline projects are slated to be completed in 2013 and another 20 mid-to-major projects are slated for 2014.

Crude-by-rail capacity is also surging as rail shipments of crude are estimated to have increased by more than 50 percent in 2012. Downstream. The downstream industry continued to gain momentum and experienced slightly higher margins in the first quarter on modest demand growth and less available capacity during refinery maintenance season.

Midcontinent refiners, with access to the advantaged Bakken and other regional crude supplies, have benefitted from the lower prices.

Oilfield services

Total global rig counts have flattened and remained below year-earlier levels through the first quarter of 2013.

In the U.S., rig counts have declined on reductions in gas-directed drilling. Oil-directed drilling dominated first quarter activity although it has also slowed due to reduced incentives for NGLs.

Global upstream spending is increasing, but at a slower pace than in recent years. Spending is estimated to have been up by about 10 percent in 2012.

Transactions

On the back of a record year with total deal value topping $400 billion in 2012, oil and gas transactions activity slowed significantly in the first quarter of 2013, though numbers were still higher on a quarterly basis year-over-year.

North American transaction activity fell sharply in the first quarter, especially in the upstream sector.