Amid shale revival, don’t forget oil bounty offshore
Given their extensive oil and natural gas capacity and their accessibility, U.S. shale reserves are increasingly the investment of choice for producers. Integrated oil companies like Chevron are making that clear as they plan to spend more on areas like the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. But don’t rule out a comeback for oil buried deep beneath offshore waters. A new report by the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie says the deepwater industry is emerging leaner and more cost-competitive from the slump in oil prices that began in 2014, especially in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. On average, the costs of deepwater projects have fallen by just over 20% since 2014, the Scotland-based consultancy says. Assuming a 15% rate of return for producers, 5 billion barrels of deepwater reserves now break even at $50 per barrel or less. By…
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