Environment and Energy

October 27, 2017
Energy Market: Oil Price Up, But Rig Count Down
Written by Peter Wright
Since Sept. 20, there have only been two days when the spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) closed below $50, which is a positive sign for steel. The prices of oil and natural gas drive the consumption energy-related steel products including oil country tubular goods, pipe fittings and well head equipment, among others. A significant volume of hot rolled coil is used to make welded tubular goods. However, the number of operating rigs exploring for both oil and gas had a recent peak of 958 on July 28 and has since declined to 913 on Oct. 20.
Figure 1 shows historical oil and gas prices since January 2000. The price of WTI has increased for each of the last four months and is $5.80 per barrel above its mid-summer slump, reaching $51.91 on Oct. 23. Our price and inventory data come from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).


