Environment and Energy

May 22, 2018
Rig Count Increases as Oil Price Tops $70 Per Barrel
Written by Peter Wright
With the price of oil now above $70 per barrel, the prospects appear positive for oil country tubular goods. But economic and political tensions on a global scale will keep energy prices uncertain.
The spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) broke through $70 on May 7 for the first time since Nov. 27, 2014. The price remained above $70 for six of seven working days to close at $71.01 on May 14. The total number of operating rigs exploring for oil and gas increased by 24 in the first two weeks of May to reach 1,046 on May 18. Nineteen of the 24 were in oil exploration. 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.


