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How Oil Could Go To $100 Per Barrel

Kuwait oil

In its February Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the EIA forecasts this month's world oil consumption at 96.7 million barrels per day (mbpd). The oil supply, however, is much lower, only 93.6 mbpd, with the difference of 3.1 mbpd of necessity being drawn from crude oil and refined product inventories. By historical standards, a sustained draw of 3 mbpd is large, and we would expect prices to be rising under such circumstances.

The EIA sees demand continuing to recover at a good pace to mid-year, with July world oil consumption forecast at 98.2 mbpd (but still about 4 mbpd below 'normal'). This incremental demand is being materially supplied by two sources, Brazil and OPEC. We might accept Brazil's crude oil production growth as given, allowing that the timing might be off by a month or two. The pivotal question is instead OPEC's intentions.

The EIA uses a volume (or demand) driven model, implying that OPEC will passively increase production to meet demand, and thereby keep oil prices low. But why would OPEC do this? If OPEC simply maintained current production levels, the world would be 3.5 mbpd short of supply by mid-year. A shortfall of 3.5 mbpd -- 3.6% of global consumption -- is a lot. It would rapidly drain remaining excess inventories, leaving only oil prices to mediate between supply and demand just as the world economy is showing both strength and momentum as the pandemic ends. In other words, in the coming months consumers will be prepared to compete for the available barrels of oil, and that should push oil prices up sharply.

Related Video: Can Saudis Defend Aramco from Houthis?

That's the '$100 / barrel' thesis.

A few important notes and caveats. In many cases, operators must commit to producing barrels before they know what the price will be. In this case, OPEC can let prices rise and add barrels at its discretion. This provides OPEC a great deal of control and flexibility over oil prices. Certainly, higher oil prices are better, but more barrels can be added on fairly short notice if OPEC believes the market is overheating. This should encourage OPEC to test ever higher price levels.

And of course, Middle East politics are convoluted. The complex interplay of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States can produce unexpected results. Were Iran more collected, it could probably bring the US back toward some sort of deal in short order, thereby freeing Tehran to increase oil exports and push down oil prices. On the other hand, the Houthi attack on Saudi oil facilities at the loading port of Ras Tanura may push the Saudis back into the US embrace and motivate the Kingdom to keep oil prices lower to curry favor with the Biden administration.

It is hard to know where the balance comes out. Nevertheless, now is OPEC's best opportunity to make real money in the short to medium term. They would be fools to let the opportunity slip by.

By Steven Kopits of Princeton Energy Advisors via Zerohedge.com

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  • Mamdouh Salameh on March 09 2021 said:
    Brent could be headed towards $100 in the second half of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023 because of a fast-tightening market and the possibility of a demand-supply deficit estimated at 10-15 million barrels a day by then triggered by a serious decline in global oil industry’s investments in oil projects.

    Since early December crude oil prices have staged an impressive comeback. Brent crude oil price has shot up from $40 a barrel in early December to $67.20 today, a rise of 68%. The question is how high oil prices are destined to go this year and next.

    Oil prices are now definitely in a bull market. They are currently underpinned by large economic stimulus packages, a gradual return of the global economy to normal business activities as a result of the global rollout of anti-COVID vaccines, a fast-depleting global oil inventories, almost complete compliance by OPEC+ with the production cuts, the insatiable thirst of China and India for oil, far lower global oil industry’s investments and weakening US shale oil industry.

    Brent crude oil price could be projected to hit $70-$80 a barrel in the third quarter of 2021 if not earlier and average $65 in 2021 with global oil demand returning to pre-pandemic level of 101 million barrels a day (mbd) by the middle of this year. A $100 oil is already in sight.

    Dr Mamdouh G Salameh
    International Oil Economist
    Visiting Professor of Energy Economics at ESCP Europe Business School, London
  • Tom l on March 14 2021 said:
    I would expect pricing to stay high as oil companies fear not just OPEC dumping on them but the threat of green tech coming online. this fear as well as the wounds of just last years oil glut will keep new projects from being built. My oil stocks all need to rally another 50% just to account for 68 dollar Brent so I like this trade better than anything else in this otherwise frothy market.

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