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    Environment and Energy

    Energy Prices and Rig Counts: U.S. Pumping More Crude Than Ever

    Written by Peter Wright


    Last week, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that in the last two months of 2017, the U.S. pumped more crude oil than at any time in history.

    The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) broke through the $60 level on Dec. 29 for the first time since Dec. 18, 2014. It reached $64.22 on Jan. 12 before falling back to $59.41 on Feb. 12. The price has remained over $60 through the first 12 days of March closing at $61.35 on the 12th. The total number of operating rigs exploring for oil and gas increased by six in the week ending March 16. The prices of oil and natural gas drive the consumption of energy-related steel products including oil country tubular goods, pipe fittings and well head equipment, among others. Welded tubular goods (not including OCTG) consumed about 5.5 million tons of hot rolled sheet in 2017.

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