Bakken oilfields of North Dakota
Bakken oil output may hold its ground
While oil prices will determine the trajectory of the key US shale patch, regulation and technological shifts are also likely to shape direction longer term
The US Energy Information Administration recently caused a stir by predicting a small decline in US crude oil production next year in its Short-Term Energy Outlook, with the relatively mature Bakken leading it, but some industry experts are sceptical of declining Bakken production in both the short and longer term for several reasons. “Trump’s contradictory policies of both lower prices and ‘US energy dominance’ have put uncertainty into projections of US production growth,” Edward Morse, senior advisor and commodities strategist at merchant commodities firm Hartree Partners, told Petroleum Economist in an interview. “There is no doubt that lower oil prices, at times below $60/bl and even fl
Also in this section
29 April 2026
The UAE’s exit from the alliance marks a decisive step towards a world in which oil markets are shaped less by collective management and more by national strategy
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
