The US ‘shale boom’ has left North America close to energy independence. If shale technology is widely exported, oil trade could become much more regionalized.
By- Saji Sam and Bernhard Hartmann
The technological revolution in US crude output has seen 4mn b/d added from mostly tight formations over the past four years. It has upended global oil markets, shifting trade flows. If the shale becomes a global revolution this could be a harbinger: the confluence of volatile oil prices, abundant global shale resources, technology to extract these resources, and geopolitics could push companies to produce oil and gas closer to where it is consumed. Such regional markets could upset the political world order in the long term, changing power dynamics between traditional oil producing nations and consumers.
North America, South America and China are prime candidates for regional markets given the magnitude of technically recoverable unconventional oil and gas these regions hold. Unconventional oil and gas markets have reached maturity in the US, providing a blueprint for other regions. Since the US bans oil exports, the market is already somewhat decoupled from the rest of the world. Local oil trades at a discount to global oil markers, such as Brent.
South America has massive reserves; Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela together hold close to 250bn barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in unconventional resources, 80% of which is gas. Argentina alone holds 165bn boe. In China, technically recoverable unconventionals are estimated at 225bn boe (85% gas).
Yes, the US shale revolution will be challenging to replicate. American oil firms have enjoyed access to cheap capital at low interest rates. The US oil industry was already well-developed when shale output began. Pipelines and rigs were available, more were quickly built, and high-quality roads allowed smooth transportation of equipment. Water is available in the major US shale basins, and mineral rights laws make drilling possible and very attractive in many communities.
Other regions lack some of these. A lack of surface infrastructure and water in shale-rich regions could be challenging for China. Argentina must build market confidence to attract the investment needed to develop the ecosystem that would allow a private sector-led shale revolution.
But the technology and existing oil reserves offer hope that the political and infrastructure development is worth the effort. If regions can overcome the politics, environmental concerns, and capital requirements, they could cut dependence on traditional suppliers, and control their own energy policies.
This would mark a historic shift. Until now, most of the world’s oil has been produced in countries with high political risk, instability, conflict, and even insurgency. The top 10 oil exporters include such high-risk nations as Russia, Iraq, Nigeria and Venezuela. In some cases, the cost of mitigating that political risk is high enough to prompt oil company executives to scout for shale opportunities in stable regions instead of investing in risky countries with less attractive fiscal regimes.
Opec may have intended to squeeze North American shale producers as it has maintained production levels in the face of falling oil prices and protected market share. However, the drop in oil prices doesn’t necessarily put North American newcomers out of business.
Unconventional exploration and development in some of the most productive shale oil fields, such as the Bakken in North Dakota and Eagle Ford in Texas, is competitive with oil produced by conventional methods. In some areas, unconventional shale production has a break-even price as low as about $40/B, on par with some conventional production. Lower oil prices have prompted producers to cut back on capital projects, tempering demand for oil field services and supplies. Renegotiating with suppliers will bring that break-even price further down. In addition, many shale companies are intently focused on efficiency and technology improvements, pushing the break-even price low enough to put shale on par with oil fields of many traditional oil producing countries.
Lower oil prices are instead squeezing some of the traditional producers. Our research shows that $50/B oil puts some of the politically unstable oil producing countries under considerable stress, as they grapple with lower oil revenue in their national budgets. Those most at risk include Nigeria, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, and Russia. These countries might try to work with other producers to manage supply volumes in hopes of resurrecting oil prices. GCC producers Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar have amassed considerable wealth during the past decade in their reserves and sovereign wealth funds. While these countries could withstand a few years of $50/B oil by depleting their financial reserves, they would come under stress after five to seven years of low oil prices. They are betting on the resurgence of global demand to push prices up.
As Opec countries and other traditional producers come under pressure from oil prices, the US gains political leverage as it becomes less dependent on those suppliers. US dependency on the Middle East may shape perceptions of the region’s vulnerability to security crises, with other countries obliged to play greater roles.
For example, a recent global risk report produced by the World Economic Forum in cooperation with partners including Oliver Wyman points out that more widely available LNG from the US could undermine Russia’s negotiating leverage with consumers in Europe and Asia. Washington may use LNG exports to achieve foreign policy goals. Other regions might be able to build their own bases of political influence by producing more of their own energy, reducing their historic dependence on other nations. A number of energy companies have already been testing shale production in various European countries, such as Germany, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania. However, in many places, those operators must overcome deep environmental concerns in the community. They have had varying levels of success.
Many governments and national oil companies are growing interested in developing regional supplies as a key path to energy independence and affordable energy. But those countries will have to sort out a slew of issues, from community concerns and zoning issues, to mineral rights ownership and a new relationship with old suppliers. Local oil prices could react, and it could be a wild ride.
Bernhard Hartmann and Saji Sam are Dubai-based partners in the Energy Practice of Oliver Wyman, a global management consulting firm.
