The problem with the gov-elect is that he is supposedly going to try to get an oil processing tax passed in LA. If that happens, refineries, chemical plants, anything downstream will cease to expand and oil jobs will leave the state in larger numbers, as our neighbors (TX, MS, ALA) don't have this tax and actually offers incentives for this industry.
As for OPEC, they WANT oil to stay around 40-they don't lose money at this level, as most people believe, as their cost to produce a barrel from existing developments is well below 10. The purpose of keeping it this low is to drive unconventional oil developments (fracking, oil sands, ultradeep water, etc.) out of the game. These unconventionals really aren't all that profitable under 50...so you go from a supply glut (and the US as a net exporter) to supply pressure (and the US as a net importer). This is a political play, but in the long run will be beneficial to the US oil industry. The industry is already responding with new technology development that is driving down the cost of production. Now if we, as citizens, get TRULY informed about fracking and realize the hype is bullshit, things can get better.
And if ANYBODY thinks Saudi is an ally, they are delusional.
Originally Posted by p98397
Recent drilling and investment in rehabbing old fields has cost them plenty. It now costs them more to produce a barrel of oil than from Bakken.
Almost every oil producing company (including nationally owned) is losing money at this price but they need to service debt whether it is their own capital used to finance it or borrowed money.
The idea of $6 per barrel oil is ancient history, but urban myths persist.
And Kernelingus, oil companies have not priced themselves out of business. Bigger earnings from the Googles of the world for salaries and shareholder dividends has been standard for over a decade. That is another urban myth.