?? 據美國鉆井網站2021年8月6日報道，根據GlobalData的數據，盡管油價高企，美國頁巖生產商仍保持著嚴格的生產和資本指導方針。

　　這家數據和分析公司指出，投入新開發的新鉆機增加速度遠遠低于之前的價格周期，大多數美國頁巖生產商正在把他們的生產和資本指導重點保持在保護資產負債表和產生自由現金流。

　　GlobalData強調，對于許多運營商來說，這導致了在過去6個月里已開鉆但未完鉆(DUC)庫存井的數量減少，以減少資本支出，同時保持產量水平。 GlobalData指出，目前美國國內石油日產量平均約為1100萬桶。

　　GlobalData上游油氣分析師Steven Ho在一份公司聲明中表示：“由于德爾塔毒株的變化，一些地區的經濟復蘇步伐存在不確定性，歐佩克+決定在2021年逐步增加產量，預計這將限制油價?！?/p>

　　“然而，由于生產商在2021年剩余時間內采取了對沖策略，美國至少有三分之一的非常規油氣產量不會受到價格下跌的影響。 與此同時，這意味著，當現貨價格高于預期時，一些運營商無法從中受益，因為他們的對沖操作實際上限制了他們能夠獲得的最高價格?！?/p>

　　Steven Ho 說，“美國頁巖似乎找到了一種保持彈性的方法，并為任何時候的石油需求需要從非常規開發中獲得更多原油做好了準備。 運營商現在需要采取更低的價格方案，并傾向于以成本效益高的方式運營。 他們還必須解決持續產生自由現金流的問題，繼續實施最佳的對沖策略，降低債務水平，以及實現碳減排目標。”

　　GlobalData代表還強調，頁巖行業的整合預計將會增加。 本月早些時候，彭博社報道稱，據知情人士透露，德文能源公司和康菲公司是研究殼牌公司在二疊紀盆地油田投資組合的潛在買家。 7月份，Penn Virginia 公司透露已與Lonestar資源美國公司達成最終合并協議，以全股票交易的方式收購該公司。早在5月份，卡伯特油氣公司和Cimarex能源公司同意合并。

　　李峻 編譯自 美國鉆井網站

　　原文如下：

　　USA Shale Producers Stay Disciplined

　　U.S. shale producers are remaining disciplined with production and capital guidance despite high oil prices, according to GlobalData.

　　The speed at which new rigs are put to new developments is considerably less than in previous price cycles, the data and analytics company noted, adding that most U.S. shale producers are being conservative in their production and capital guidance as priorities remain around protecting balance sheets and generating free cash flow.

　　GlobalData highlighted that, for many operators, this has led to a drawdown of drilled but uncompleted (DUC) inventory wells in the past six months to reduce capital expenditure while maintaining production levels. U.S. domestic production is currently averaging around 11 million barrels per day, GlobalData outlined.

　　“Uncertainty around the pace of economic recovery in some regions due to the Delta variant, and OPEC+’s decision to gradually increase output throughout 2021, is expected to restrict oil price,” Steven Ho, an upstream oil and gas analyst at GlobalData, said in a company statement.

　　“However, at least a third of U.S. unconventional production is protected against a drop in price due to producers hedging strategies that are in place for the remainder of 2021. At the same time, this means that some operators are not able to benefit whenever there is a higher than expected spot price, as their hedging effectively puts a cap on the maximum price they can fetch,” he added.

　　“U.S. shale appears to be finding a way to remain resilient and prepared for whenever oil demand requires more crude oil from unconventional developments. Operators will now need to assume a lower price scenario and favor operating in a cost-efficient manner. They also must address concerns around sustaining the generation of free cash flow, keep implementing optimal hedging strategies, reduce debt levels, as well as meeting their carbon reduction targets,” Ho went on to say.

　　The GlobalData representative also highlighted that there is an expectation for increased consolidation across the shale sector. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that, according to people familiar with the matter, Devon Energy Corp. and ConocoPhillips are among potential suitors studying Shell’s portfolio of Permian Basin oil fields. Last month, Penn Virginia Corporation revealed that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Lonestar Resources US Inc. to acquire the company in an all-stock transaction, and back in May, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. and Cimarex Energy Co. agreed to merge.