The big question this week is whether supply disruptions will make a dent in the oil market’s ever-present global supply glut.
The answers in a nutshell: disruptions in Nigeria, Canada, and Libya are likely transient, whereas Venezuelan production poses a long-term problem. U.S. production will continue its slow decline, even if oil prices reach $50. On the other side, Iranian production will continue to increase—slowly—and Saudi Arabia will increase production rapidly. As for where the price of oil is headed – your guess is as good as mine.
Nigeria
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company generally produces about 2.5 mbpd, making it Africa’s largest oil producer. However, recent acts of terrorism and sabotage have cut this number to 1.65 mbpd. Both Shell (NYSE:RDSa) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) have suspended oil production in areas affected by this activity.
Insurgencies targeting Nigeria’s oil production are not a new phenomenon. In fact, Nigeria’s previous president, Jonathan Goodluck, pioneered a program in 2009 that provided former oil terrorists in the Niger Delta region with monthly stipends to keep them from attacking oil facilities. This seemed to keep a lid on violence in the region. Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhair, recently reduced the program’s funding by 70% and would like to cancel it entirely within two years.
The Niger Delta Avengers (who perpetrated the most recent attack on an offshore oil platform) claim to be fighting for independence for the Niger Delta and also demand a larger share of oil profits. If Nigeria can clamp down on this latest wave of attacks (which it appears to be doing in a recent series of arrests) and placate the militant separatists, then the country should be able to recover production in the short-term. The fact that the issues are political rather than structural suggests that oil investment and production should not suffer for long.
In fact, Exxon (NYSE:XOM) just announced plans to ramp up Nigeria crude production this week.
Canada
Wildfires in the Alberta tar sands region caused about a 1 mbpd drop in Canadian oil production over the past two weeks. The EIA expects some delays and outages throughout the summer, but the EIA does expect production to recover by the fall. However, other sources say that Canadian production will recover much sooner, likely by the end of May. This is one reason to doubt the usefulness of the recent Goldman Sachs forecast, which cites supply disruptions in Canada as a significant factor in resolving the global oil glut.
Libya
Production from Libya should be at about 1.5 mbpd, but attacks from Islamic militants and violent factional fighting throughout the country have caused significant disruptions (on the scale of 75%) to that supply. In particular, a political rift has grown and caused a short-term UN embargo when a faction in eastern Libya tried to illegally export oil outside of the Libyan National Oil Corporation. The UN blockaded oil from the eastern group’s port, resulting in additional supply disruptions over the past two weeks. However, the blockade has since been partially lifted and the two factions appear to be moving towards a compromise. Only 150,000 bpd remain embargoed. (This is a miniscule amount, compared to the nearly 100 million bpd consumed globally). According to the IEA, once the remaining ports are reopened, Libyan production could immediately grow by 700,000 bpd.
Venezuela
In 2015, Venezuela produced about 2.78 mbpd of oil. The country’s economic woes, including significant outages in electricity production (Venezuela largely relies on hydroelectric for domestic power, not oil) have stunted its oil production by at least 188,000 bpd. The dire economic situation in Venezuela promises to exacerbate and prolong their production failures. There is no guessing how low Venezuela’s production levels may get in the coming months due to extreme austerity and economic and political upheaval.
Of all the supply disruptions addressed here, Venezuela’s will have the most significant impact on the market, because the problems facing its oil production are structural and have been brewing for many years. Other than securing a temporary bandage via an “oil for loans” deal with China for about $50 billion, the Maduro government does not seem to have any plans to alleviate the situation. Right now, estimates indicate Venezuela would need sustained prices of $80 per barrel just to get production back up to 2015 levels. Until Venezuela improves its production capacity, it cannot bring in the revenue it needs; and Venezuela cannot improve its production capacity until it brings in more revenue.
Iran
Iranian oil production appears to be up at 4 mbpd, but political issues have stymied the release of new terms for its foreign oil contracts. Since the New Year, Iran has increased its oil delivery contracts, signing new ones with ENI (NYSE:E), Total (NYSE:TOT) and South Korea. Iran hopes these contracts will lead to investment in Iran’s aging oil industry. As of yet, only the Chinese have been willing to return to Iranian oil development at pre-sanction oil contract terms. However, the latest news is that Iran will have its foreign oil contracts ready in June … or perhaps July.
Saudi Arabia
Despite recent changes in the Saudi oil ministry, there are few questions about the world’s largest oil producer’s intentions. Oil production in Saudi Arabia is set to rise. Production in Saudi Arabia generally grows during the summer months to accommodate increased domestic electricity demands, but this planned expansion is more long-lasting. Citing growing demand from India and China, Aramco is planning to bring additional capacity online from its Shaybah field shortly and from its Khurais field in 2018. Shaybah alone will bring an additional 1 mbpd to the market.
United States
American oil production continues to slowly decline as additional shale oil companies file for bankruptcy. Since 2016, about 69 oil and gas producers in North America have filed for bankruptcy protection. Despite the recent rise in the price of oil, the financial troubles continue. Fourteen oil companies have filed for bankruptcy since April, some with debt in the billions of dollars. Even with oil prices edging towards $50 (a price which may not be sustained), more firms are likely to file, leading to further decreases in production and the continued slow process of consolidation.