Summary of the Simmons and Company Oil and Gas Macro Outlook

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Summary of the Simmons and Company Oil and Gas Macro Outlook Oil Simmons estimates crude oil prices to average $24 WTI for 2000 and $21 WTI for 2001, with 1Q00 at $28, 2Q00 at $24, 3Q00 at $23 and 4Q00 at $21. For 2001, they see 1Q01 at $22, 2Q01 at $20, 3Q01 at $21 and 4Q01 stable at $21. Their thesis, relying on inventory-price dependence, is as follows. Crude oil stocks are at long-term lows, with OECD inventories approaching the 2,300 mmbbl range and US inventories well below 640 mmbbl. US motor gasoline as well as distillates inventories are at record lows, just below 200 and 100 mmbl, respectively. Domestic demand, however, continues to grow, with robust mogas demand at around 8.5 million barrels per day trending upwards. A high demand for distillates at 4.2 millon barrels per day is surprising considering the warmer-than-expected winter. DOE data displays continued total inventory outperformance throughout 1999, peaking at withdrawals of 51.8 million barrels in 4Q99. Opec compliance has remained high. Low crack spreads indicate refinery discipline. Simmons forecasts an increase of OPEC crude production at or around 1.0 mmbl/d after the March 27 meeting, as well as another hike of 1.5 mmbl/d at their second semi-annual in 3Q00. Their supply and demand forecast for 2000 predicts an average supply shortage of 1.2 mmbl/d, estimating supply and demand at 75.3 and 76.5 mmbl/d respectively. Supply will exceed demand most widely in 1Q00 with 3.6 mmbl/d, while easing to a surplus of 0.3 mmbl/d in 2Q00. Simmons sees 3Q00 undersupply at 1.0 mmbl/d and 4Q00 at 1.2 mmbl/d. The 2001 estimates depict OPEC production remaining stable at 29 mmbl/d, factoring in an additional 0.1 mmbl/d for possible problems with compliance. 2... ... middle of paper ... ...he term "half life", which got a few laughs). Implications of these decline rates seem to be an increased pace of depleted reserve replacement, indicating a need for further exploration and quicker development spending cycles. Not discussed, though perhaps equally important, is the question of AGA summer injections, which were low at around 1600 bcf in 1999, but may be different in 2000, considering previous years' levels. All in all, Simmons also remains in line with most other analysts on its estimates, though veering slightly lower in its storage level forecasts. Constraints in quality rigs are not expected within the next 6-12 months, though a definite demand increase is forecast. Possible labor shortages are not factored into their analysis and were predicted as being either unlikely or irrelevant. Data used: DOE, AGA, Bloomberg and Baker Hughes.

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