Federal bank survey finds energy activity drops to record lows

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released the first quarter Energy Survey this week, showing how energy activity in the Tenth District that includes Oklahoma decreased at a steep pace and expectations for future activity dropped further.

“District energy activity fell sharply during the first quarter of 2020, with our index dropping to its lowest level since we began the survey in early 2014,” said Chad Wilkerson Oklahoma City Branch executive and economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

He said many of the survey findings reached record lows.

“Expectations for future activity also fell to their lowest level since late 2014, as most firms do not expect energy prices to
return to profitable levels this year.”

The Kansas City Fed’s quarterly Tenth District Energy Survey provides information on current and expected activity among energy firms in the Tenth District. The survey monitors oil and gas-related firms located and/or headquartered in the Tenth District, with results based on total firm activity. Survey results
reveal changes in several indicators of energy activity, including drilling, capital spending, and employment.

Firms also indicate projections for oil and gas prices. All results are diffusion indexes – the percentage of firms indicating increases minus the percentage of firms indicating decreases. A summary of the first quarter survey is attached.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City serves the Tenth Federal Reserve District, encompassing the western third of Missouri; all of Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wyoming; and the northern half of New Mexico.

The survey took place between March 16 and March 31, the period when energy firms were contacted.

The drilling and business activity index fell from -48 to -81,
the lowest reading in survey history (since early 2014),
indicating a continued, deep decrease in activity (Chart 1).
The revenues and profits indexes fell sharply to levels last
seen in Q1 2015. Indexes for employment and employee
hours indexes also decreased significantly, and the wages
and benefits index turned negative. Additionally, the
indexes for supplier delivery time and access to credit
declined further.
Year-over-year indexes also declined substantially. The
year-over-year drilling and business activity index sank
further, from -50 to -92, a record survey low. Indexes for
total revenues, capital expenditures, delivery time, profits,
employment, employee hours, and access to credit
decreased again in the first quarter, marking over six months
in negative territory. The year-over-year index for wages
and benefits also turned negative.
Expectations indexes dropped further. The future
drilling and business activity index worsened from -21 to
-78, the weakest outlook for activity since Q4 2014. The
future capital expenditures, delivery time, profits,
employment, employee hours, wages and benefits, and
access to credit indexes decreased again in Q1 2020.

The future revenues and profits indexes dropped steeply to the
most negative readings in survey history. Price expectations
for oil and natural gas liquids decreased compared to the
previous quarter, while price expectations for natural gas
rose.

This quarter firms were asked what oil and natural gas
prices were needed for drilling to be profitable on average
across the fields in which they are active (in alternate
quarters they are asked what price they need for a
substantial increase in drilling). The average oil price
needed was $47 per barrel, with a range of $25 to $65
(Chart 2). This average was below the prices reported in
2019, and the lowest recorded profitable price. The average
natural gas price needed was $2.74 per million Btu, with
responses ranging from $1.90 to $4.50.

Firms were again asked what they expected oil and
natural gas prices to be in six months, one year, two years,
and five years. Expected oil prices were much lower than
previous price expectations. The average expected WTI
prices were $33, $42, $50, and $58 per barrel, respectively.
Expectations for natural gas prices also decreased from last
quarter. The average expected Henry Hub natural gas prices
were $2.02, $2.34, $2.57, and $2.94 per million Btu,
respectively.
Firms were also asked about their expectations of firm
solvency if low oil prices persist. Contacts
anticipated on average that 61 percent of firms would
remain solvent in the next year if the WTI price of oil were
to stay at $30 per barrel, and 64 percent of firms would
remain solvent if the WTI price of oil were to stay at $40.
Respondents expected considerably fewer firms to remain
solvent if oil prices stay low for more than one year.
Finally, respondents were asked if they have seen
additional pressure from investors or customers regarding
environmental practices. 58 percent of firms
indicated they have seen increased pressure regarding
environmental practices over the last 24 months. Over 48
percent of firms reported gas flaring as a top environmental
concern from investors and customers, and 45 percent listed
water management and carbon emissions (other than gas
flaring) as a top environmental concern.

Selected Energy Comments
“These are unprecedented times. The combination of the supply shock (Saudi and Russia supply increase) and
demand shock (COVID-19) are introducing challenges we have never seen before. We are hunkering down to
live within cash flow.”
“We cannot continue producing oil below the cost to produce it. Prices must go up, but there is a world-wide
oversupply keeping prices down.”
“Long term $30 per barrel (oil price) will lead to massive consolidation and insolvency. I’m estimating that
some will be able to hang on for another year, but two years probably reduces E&Ps significantly.”
“I don’t know of any companies that can operate profitably at that price ($40/bbl oil). The ones that stay solvent
have cash reserves, refining or other revenue streams to keep them solvent.”
“Long term, $40 is not enough. Some will be able to survive but many/ most will not.”
“The longer the price stays at $30 the more likely our competitors will fail. Even those who have hedged have
likely only hedged a portion of their production and likely for a year or two out.”
“The oilfield is generally highly leveraged and these commodity prices will not sustain the bulk of firms in the
industry.”
“Electrical demand for transportation fuel will help natural gas prices stabilize, along with LNG exports giving
natural gas the ability to become a fungible global commodity.”
“Saudi/Russia fight for market share could last 6-18 months. COVID-19 demand destruction likely to last 3
months.”
“The next year is going to be bad due to the demand destruction related to the shutdown of the world economy
due to COVID-19. As the market balances over the next 18-24 months prices should start to improve.”

Click here to view entire release.

Source: Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank