Energy Outlook Lowers Crude Price Forecast

The Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) released on August 11 forecasts that North Sea Brent crude oil prices will average $54 per barrel (b) in 2015 and $59/b in 2016, which is $6/b and $8/b lower than projected in last month’s STEO, respectively (Figure 1). The price decline reflects concerns about lower economic growth in emerging markets, expectations of higher oil exports from Iran, and continuing growth in global inventories. WTI prices are expected to average $5/b below Brent in both 2015 and 2016.

EIA’s updated projection remains subject to significant uncertainties as the oil market moves toward balance. During this period of price discovery, oil prices could experience periods of heightened volatility. The oil market faces a host of uncertainties heading into 2016 including the pace and volume at which Iranian oil reenters the market, the strength of oil consumption growth, and the responsiveness of non-OPEC production to low oil prices. In the more immediate future, there is potential downward price pressure heading into the fourth quarter if refinery runs drop by more than expected during the fall maintenance season.

The current values of futures and options contracts continue to suggest high uncertainty in the price outlook (Market Prices and Uncertainty Report). WTI futures contracts for November 2015 delivery, traded during the five-day period ending August 6, averaged $47/b, while implied volatility averaged 37%. These levels established the lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval for the market’s expectations of monthly average WTI prices in November 2015 at $34/b and $64/b, respectively. The 95% confidence interval for market expectations widens over time, with lower and upper limits of $27/b and $103/b for prices in December 2016.

EIA forecasts OPEC crude oil production to increase by 0.8 million b/d in 2015 and remain relatively flat in 2016. Iraq is expected to be the largest contributor to OPEC production growth in 2015.

However, there is considerable uncertainty regarding Iraq’s ability to sustain the higher production and export levels, particularly in light of the infrastructure constraints in the southern terminals.
OPEC member Iran is another source of uncertainty regarding production. On July 14, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany) and Iran reached an agreement that could result in relief from United States and European Union nuclear-related sanctions (which include some oil-related sanctions). If sanctions relief occurs, it will put additional Iranian oil supplies on a global market that has already seen oil inventories rise significantly above historical levels over the past year. This forecast assumes sanctions relief occurs in 2016, contributing to an annual average increase in Iranian crude oil production of 0.3 million b/d from 2015 to 2016, with most of the increase coming in the second half of the year.

The August STEO forecasts U.S. crude oil production will average 9.4 million b/d in 2015 and 9.0 million b/d in 2016, 0.1 million b/d and 0.4 million b/d lower, respectively, than in July’s STEO. EIA estimates total U.S. crude oil production declined by 100,000 barrels per day (b/d) in July and will generally continue to decrease through mid-2016 before growth resumes late in 2016. The decrease in the crude oil production forecast reflects a lower oil price outlook that will reduce expected oil-directed rig counts and drilling and well-completion activities throughout the forecast period.

Expected crude oil production declines are largely attributable to unattractive economic returns in some areas of both emerging and mature onshore oil production regions, as well as seasonal factors such as anticipated hurricane-related production disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico. Reductions in 2015 cash flows and capital expenditures have prompted companies to defer or redirect investment away from marginal exploration and research drilling to focus on core areas of major tight oil plays. Reduced investment has resulted in the lowest count of oil-directed rigs in nearly five years and well completions that are almost half of 2014 levels. Further, the reversal in June and July of the short-lived recovery in crude oil prices and lowered outlook for oil prices over the forecast period are expected to prolong and deepen onshore production declines.

Despite the downward revision to U.S. crude production growth, total non-OPEC supply is expected to increase by 1.4 million b/d in 2015 and remain flat in 2016. This output, combined with OPEC supply increases, will exceed demand in both 2015 and 2016, resulting in continued large inventory builds. EIA currently expects world inventory builds of 2.0 million b/d and 0.9 million b/d in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

U.S. average gasoline and diesel fuel prices decrease
The U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline fell six cents from the week prior to $2.63 per gallon as of August 10, 2015, 88 cents lower than at the same time last year. The West Coast price led the declines, down 12 cents per gallon to $3.36 per gallon. The Gulf Coast price decreased six cents per gallon to $2.34 per gallon, while the East Coast price declined five cents to $2.52 per gallon. The Midwest price was down four cents to $2.47 per gallon, and the Rocky Mountain price decreased three cents to $2.80 per gallon.

The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased five cents from last week to $2.62 per gallon, $1.23 per gallon lower than the same time last year. The West Coast and East Coast prices both fell six cents, to $2.85 per gallon and $2.71 per gallon, respectively. The Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Rocky Mountain prices each decreased five cents, to $2.49 per gallon, $2.52 per gallon, and $2.64 per gallon, respectively.

Propane inventories gain
U.S. propane stocks increased by 2.4 million barrels last week to 92.8 million barrels as of August 7, 2015, 22.5 million barrels (32.0%) higher than a year ago. Gulf Coast inventories increased by 2.5 million barrels and Rocky Mountain/West Coast inventories increased by 0.2 million barrels. East Coast inventories decreased by 0.2 million barrels while Midwest inventories remained unchanged. Propylene non-fuel-use inventories represented 5.0% of total propane inventories.