Texas Railroad Commision wants price regulation bail out from Trump

[BLA + 1,666]

Oil Extends Gains as Texas Supports Trump-Led Output Proposal

By 

Sharon Cho

 and 

Alex Longley

March 19, 2020, 6:26 PM EDTUpdated on March 20, 2020, 6:44 AM EDT

• Brent crude rebounds above $30 a barrel on Friday in London
• Texas regulator proposes coordinated cuts with Saudis, Russia

 

Oil rallied for a second session as President Donald Trump waded into the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, while a Texas regulator proposed his state could coordinate output cuts with the feuding producers.

Futures in London topped $30 a barrel, continuing a rebound from their lowest level since the early 2000s. Texas’s main oil regulator is considering curbing output for the first time in almost half a century, though the idea is still in preliminary discussions.

President Trump has said he could intervene in the deepening price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia when the time is right. Though that’s given renewed optimism to markets that a deal can be found, Russia is said to be planning to hold out amid crude’s slump.

While oil has clawed back some losses, the market is bracing for a slump below $20 a barrel, according to a Bloomberg survey. While Saudi Aramco said it will cut domestic refining to free up more crude for export, analysts at MUFG Bank Ltd. said the price war is a “lose-lose strategy” for the kingdom and Russia, with the fiscal and revenue outlook for both countries would be challenging if crude holds below $40 for a protracted period.

“With other governments manipulating oil markets, it’s fair to ask: Why shouldn’t our government step in to try to reinstate a more market-based approach?” Ryan Sitton, one of three voting members of the Texas Railroad Commission, said in a Bloomberg Opinion column. “It would stave off a total oil industry meltdown.”

Saudi Arabia has ordered state-run Aramco to keep output at a record 12.3 million barrels a day over the coming months, but in a surprise move, both the kingdom and Iraq cut the rebates on freight costs they give to customers, effectively lifting prices for some buyers in Europe and the U.S.

See also: Asia Refiners Eye Deeper Run Cuts as Fuel-Making Losses Mount

As a support measure for U.S. drillers, the Trump administration plans to initially purchase 30 million barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in May and June, and buy as much as 77 million barrels in total over time. Still, measures may go further, with Sitton proposing a plan in which Texas, the world’s third-largest crude producer, joins the two larger producers to curb supply, asking for federal support to negotiate with the other countries.

The American shale industry has found itself caught in the middle of a fight over market share between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The sector has so far scaled back operations and is also threatened with a wave of bankruptcies.

PRICES:

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery, which expires Friday, rose as much as $2.67 to $27.89 a barrel and was trading at $27.17 a barrel as of 10:43 a.m. in London.

Brent increased $1.68, or 5.8%, to $30.11 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange

— With assistance by Dan Murtaugh, and James Thornhill

Edited March 20, 2020 by BLA

[BLA + 1,666]

6 hours ago, BLA said:

 

As a support measure for U.S. drillers, the Trump administration plans to initially purchase 30 million barrels for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in May and June, and buy as much as 77 million barrels in total over time. Still, measures may go further, with Sitton proposing a plan in which Texas, the world’s third-largest crude producer, joins the two larger producers to curb supply, asking for federal support to negotiate with the other countries.

The American shale industry has found itself caught in the middle of a fight over market share between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The sector has so far scaled back operations and is also threatened with a wave of bankruptcies.

 

Regulation is a bad idea

Many shale producers have already cut back. 

U.S. free markets are self regulating.  Adam Smith " . . . the invisible hand"

Example: Pioneer cut -45% , etc

OPEC has invited the Texas Railroad Commission to speak at their June meeting.

BAD IDEA .  ONCE YOU GO OVER THE LINE DIFFICULT TO TURN BACK.  Who decides who cuts back in U.S. and by how much.  

Do you trust Saudis/OPEC ?

Edited March 20, 2020 by BLA

[Douglas Buckland + 6,308]

Personally, I think that Greta called Putin and whatshisname in Saudi Arabia and worked some deal with them in a clever ploy to crash fossil fuels, promote renewables, embrace the cimate change agenda and become heros of sweetness and light.

Edited March 20, 2020 by Douglas Buckland
Typo