Crude production in the US shale patch is slowly recovering
US shale closes the gap
Supply is gradually returning, but the market will remain tight into next year
The start of 2022 may be fast approaching and oil market volatility again on the rise—with WTI suffering its biggest drop in early December since the initial pandemic-induced freefall last year—but crude production in the US shale patch is slowly recovering, and the Permian has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The EIA estimates that US crude production will end this year averaging 11.1mn bl/d, down by 200,000bl/d from last year and 1.13mn bl/d below volumes recorded in 2019. Into next year, the agency expects greater tight oil activity—driven by oil prices staying above $60/bl—to lift average annual production to 11.9mn bl/d, edging closer to pre-pandemic levels but still 333,000bl/d b
Also in this section
7 November 2025
The Russian company’s German assets are under Berlin’s management and are exempt from sanctions, for now, but a permanent solution still needs to be found
6 November 2025
The Russian firm made a significant attempt to expand overseas over the past two decades but is now divesting its global operations
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
5 November 2025
Construction of the pipeline in Afghanistan is making tangible progress, but extending it into Pakistan and India remains unrealistic for political reasons
