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US Rig Count Craters To Lowest Since August 2010

Tyler Durden's picture




 

With oil prices down another 6% this week (despite Saudi leadership uncertainty and ECB QE), widespread layoffs announced in Shale states, and despite Lew's comments that he doesn't see US oil production declining, it is perhaps no surprise that the US rig count cratered further to its lowest level since August 2010. The US rig count is now down over 15% from the highs, with its biggest 10-week drop since May 2009 (and down 8% YoY). The pace of collapse in the rig count has now accelerated for 7 weeks in a row, and judging by lagged oil prices, there is a lot more room to drop yet. The oil rig count standalone is now down 7% YoY - its biggest drop sicne Nov 2009. As T.Boone Pickens so rightly noted, watch the US rig count (and suggested it will need to drop 500 rigs or more before any stability returns).

  • *U.S. OIL RIG COUNT -49 TO 1,317, BAKER HUGHES SAYS
  • US HORIZONTAL DRILLING RIGS DOWN 24 AT 1,229 IN WEEK TO JANUARY 23 -- BAKER HUGHES

The rig count continues to collapse... as 4-month lagged oil prices lead the way - just as they did before...

 

  • *ENERGY RIGS IN TEXAS'S EAGLE FORD FORMATION DOWN FOUR TO 181
  • *MISSISSIPPIAN LOSES FIVE RIGS TO 63: BAKER HUGHES
  • *ENERGY RIGS IN PERMIAN BASIN SLIDE BY 6 TO 481: BAKER HUGHES
  • *ENERGY RIGS IN WILLISTON BASIN FALL BY 12 TO 153: BAKER HUGHES
  • *ENERGY RIGS IN MARCELLUS FORMATION GAINS ONE TO 76

 

Notice that the rig count always undershoots before prices are able to reverse.

*  *  *

Not "unambiguosly good"!

Houston (and CO, ND, PA, WV) we have a problem...

 

But don't worry - Treasury Secretary Lew says the oil companies can handle it...

  • *LEW SAYS U.S. CRUDE PRODUCERS CAN HANDLE DECLINE IN OIL PRICES

As credit risk hovers near record highs for the sector

Charts: Bloomberg

 

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Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:10 | 5697381 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

<== Saudis are laughing their asses off

<== Goldman Sachs is laughing their asses off

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:14 | 5697397 whatsinaname
whatsinaname's picture

Little OT but noticed something weird about some oil companies - some of them had sold Puts on Oil in addition to buying hedges for downside price protection. While hedges might help them, I dont see the point of selling puts alongwith those. Unless of course they were smart enough to cover them before the downdraft.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:24 | 5697420 madcows
madcows's picture

i think the saudis are trying to drive everyone else out of business.

GS is just a bunch of a-holes.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 15:08 | 5697569 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Well, other than the fact that their production has already peaked...

Shit, they can't even get any positive gains from their increased rig count.

This is classic malinvestment and simply does not require conspiracy theories. Sure, Saudis want to eliminate competition, but they sure as fuck don't have the means to accomplish it. Demand isn't there, yet supply is so leveraged, nearly all producers have no choice but to pump like mad.

This is but a dog-eat-dog scenario where everyone tries to survive longer than their neighbor until some semblance of balance returns.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:28 | 5697439 Panafrican Funk...
Panafrican Funktron Robot's picture

I'd probably add Louisiana and Mississippi to the jobless totals,

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 15:15 | 5697595 Stoploss
Stoploss's picture

All the services come out of LA but they are never included for some reason.  The majority work in the services in US positions. Offshore is a multinat mix, so very few americans offshore.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:28 | 5697441 LawsofPhysics
LawsofPhysics's picture

There is no skimming if there are no big moves in the "market". Overcorrections only make the bonus that much sweeter for the paper-pushers.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:29 | 5697442 Devils Advocate
Devils Advocate's picture

Looks like another 400 will be closing over the next 6 weeks!

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:46 | 5697509 saints51
saints51's picture

$40's are getting boring. I am ready for the $30's and $20's for crude.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:43 | 5697508 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

GS: "I scored a 2-million dollar bonus! I feel bad about my clients losing all their money, though!"

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 15:28 | 5697631 Romney Wordsworth
Romney Wordsworth's picture

Great news 4 u! Now you can use the proceeds to fill up a few TI-class super tankers and play Capt. Joe Hazelwood slalom with the icebergs until this shit blows over.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:11 | 5697385 ZomBiEHiGH
ZomBiEHiGH's picture

In Houston atm, I hear a slurping sound..

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:14 | 5697388 stinkhammer
stinkhammer's picture

fuck you lew      secretary of debt issuance     what a fooking looooser

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:13 | 5697391 maskone909
maskone909's picture

soon the oil rigs will equal the amount of rig'd markets

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:45 | 5697510 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Wake me up when its under 1000 and QE4 begins

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:15 | 5697396 thamnosma
thamnosma's picture

Lots of jobs going down the drain, unemployment rate up, potential cover for no rate increase. 

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:18 | 5697401 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

Hmm...a controlled demolition of the U.S. economy, a la WTC 7.

"Nobody could have predicted the plunge in oil price would lead to a drastic plunge in the world/domestic economy."

Pull it.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:17 | 5697404 Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe's picture

The comittee will adjust its expectations to the data which becomes available and will pursue the correct macroprudential path when that time comes. 

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:16 | 5697399 wmbz
wmbz's picture

Layoffs and bankruptcies are picking up steam.

Craigslist will be getting more bidness as the "toys" start getting sold off.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:18 | 5697405 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

Why does Jack Lew care?  He doesn't even know what a corn cob looks like.

 

You think he cares about some State's finances?  Bwhahahahahaha.

 

"Go bankrupt New Jersey." That's his ethos.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:18 | 5697407 wmbz
wmbz's picture

Of course Jackass LLew is clueless, just like the rest of them. They are completely insulated from all reality.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:23 | 5697423 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

He's clueless from the Governor of New Jersey's reality that's fer sure.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:59 | 5697538 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

By design. Otherwise someone might try to hold them accountable.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:19 | 5697411 Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe's picture

Boats are for fisherman and people who like to watch their money go down the drain.  

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 17:15 | 5697979 General Decline
General Decline's picture

The 2 happiest days of a person's life is the day they buy a boat and the day they sell it. I suppose that could also be applied to antidepressants.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:23 | 5697419 Eternal Complainer
Eternal Complainer's picture

"Notice that the rig count always undershoots before prices are able to reverse."

Wow,
A lot more pain

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:27 | 5697433 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

Have a HUGE merger between Baker Hughes and Halliburton.

 

Sounds like I should sell both!

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 15:15 | 5697590 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

I find the terms "undershoot/overshoot" to be a misnomer, as it implies something goes down/up further than necessary. In reality though, it is necessary, as that final capitulation creates the market signal that the true bottom/top is in.

It's not like you can magically recognize the "correct" level in advance. Especially when there is still price adjustment that needs to occur in order for an investment to present an acceptable level of risk to return. Without the "undershoot/overshoot" event, capital has no incentive to flow, as it is still not needed.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:30 | 5697427 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

Jobs aren't important, everyone will collect unemployment forever and food stamps until infinity and beyond while the banks print print print moar and moar free monies!

The Real Unemployment Rate: In 20% Of American Families, Everyone Is Unemployed -

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-29/real-unemployment-rate-20-ameri...

There Has Never Been A Greater Portion Of America Living On Food Stamps -

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-07/there-has-never-been-greater-po...

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 16:51 | 5697892 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

To infinit-EBT... and beyond!

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:24 | 5697428 madcows
madcows's picture

of course the companies can handle a downturn. 

The laid off employees... not so much.

I hope they put most of $200k salaries in the bank.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:32 | 5697438 Eternal Complainer
Eternal Complainer's picture

"..The laid off employees... not so much.

I hope they put most of $200k salaries in the bank..."

Righteous muggins for bail-ins...
Then all the slaves will all be equal

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:51 | 5697514 nightshiftsucks
nightshiftsucks's picture

Yeah I bet those shale workers were the ones buying all of the new trucks,watch the repo's explode.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:29 | 5697437 Vergeltung
Vergeltung's picture

How about some articles on the other countries that are struggling with this lower price (Venezuela, Russia, Iran, etc.)? To concentrate soley on the US, when so many other countries are losing at this price per barrel, might make one think this is agenda-driven reporting.

 

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:33 | 5697456 kowalli
kowalli's picture

Many countries have problem with budget. They don't have problem with mass layoffs

Shale oil, tar sands, offshore oil.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:38 | 5697470 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Shit, think about Venezuela!

TP and stuff is pretty available nowadays.

Unless you live in a country where a Marxist value is followed and no market is allowed.

You got a whole country of women with little TP and  Kotex.

Prepare to die, motherfuckers!
***

No, Fernando, no sex tonight!"
"But I found three rolls of TP!"
"Here is some golden nectar on your face, Fermnando! Go out and score a bigger supply!"

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:32 | 5697459 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Hard to choose...

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:37 | 5697473 homiegot
homiegot's picture

T. Boone Pickens was right.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:41 | 5697499 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Interesting...no news about Maduro or Venezuela in the MSM.

He must have scored.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 14:53 | 5697521 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

When you own a drilling company, and you are leveraged with Junk Bonds and the well head price means every barrel coming out marks up another loss of dollars, you might want to walk away and wait this low price cycle out. But you can't because "you are leveraged with Junk Bonds". The interest is due, so you pump and pray for a major spike in oil prices. You and every other high cost producer on the margines, you all pump like mad to service debt while praying for the oil price to spike. Basic economic of supply and demand are driving nails into their coffins, as supply grows as demand has fallen off. The oil markets find a lack of bidders and prices fall even more.

Until the Saudis squeeze all of the great American Shale Oil Miracle out of the markets. You can only pump at a loss so long, and then all the leveraged producers must default. The default tears through the financially engineered banks system and all the hedges finally dry up, or can't pay up.

Oil is boom and bust, that is why all the shills pushing you into chasing yield in the Junk Bond market have exposed you to the bust in oil. Banks too lent heavily to producers, chasing yield in the newly energy independent America. The low cost producers can last out North Sea oil, Canadian Tar Sands, American Oil Frackers, and the opening round of Arctic drillers. Saudi want their market share back, they want to be the American's oil supplier with all the political leverage that entails.

Simple enough, and Washiington DC is on board with the Saudis, allowing the Fracking Miracle to die, in the vaguie hope of collapsing the Russian economy, Iranian economy and Venezuela. The Zionist Neocons in Washington, will happily destroy a million good jobs in America, to bag three enemies of Zionism.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 15:03 | 5697550 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Must default? Sorry Jack, but you're confusing this shit-show with a functional economy that contains risk.

Producer debt will be securitized and sold to Yellen Inc. long before TPTB allow domestic production to blow-up (in the name of national security, reliance on foreign oil, etc). Sure there will be some that are allowed to fail, but that just creates the activiation energy for the next QE 'mandate.'

This is ALL about the banks, remember?

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 15:06 | 5697563 franzpick
franzpick's picture

New 5' LoD crude 45.47. Fix this Dragh Queen:

http://www.investing.com/commodities/crude-oil-advanced-chart

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 16:01 | 5697733 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Moral of this is to not buy drillers right now - either land or sea.  They have debt tied up in equipment and will be getting lower rates, contract cancellations, etc.  That several OPEC countries, Russia, Iran, and the US have said they are keeping production the same -- or increasing production -- actually means that oil services companies will still be supporting those current wells and current production.  There are seleced bargains out there now, as long as we don't have BOTH low prices AND decreased production.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 17:37 | 5698090 yrad
yrad's picture

Texas doesn't deserve this.

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 18:10 | 5698196 e_goldstein
e_goldstein's picture

Actually, we do.

 

Fri, 01/23/2015 - 17:52 | 5698150 KansasCrude
KansasCrude's picture

Jack Lew(ser)  will be the Savior to his alma mater TBTF Whore Citibank as Hankie Paulsen was to his TBTF Whore Goldman.  What an amazing coincidence (yeah right)  Check here for a reasonable story

http://investmentresearchdynamics.com/is-the-brown-stuff-about-to-hit-the-fan/

 

The drillers out there that have the ability to shut down are for the Debt Slaves it can sure be tougher but at these prices got to think even covering much of any costs are negligible for long....Good thing here in Southern Kansas we have gone a couple of weeks without an earthquake as the frakers are shutting down.  Expect a big acceleration in the next month for shutdown especially if prices continue to fall.  When you are bleeding out and can't even cover variable cost SHIT HAPPENS. 

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