Oil and gas prices - Sept 8
Oil and gas prices - Sept 8
Oil and gas prices are down today because the hurricane threat to the Gulf of Mexico has passed (for at least two weeks). Hurricane season ends November 1st.
Dan Steffens
Energy Prospectus Group
Energy Prospectus Group
Re: Oil and gas prices - Sept 8
My Take: News from Saudi Arabia is bullish, but oil will probably continue to flop around in the $45 to $50 range at least until we get back to "normal" after hurricanes. "Eventually", which can take longer than we like, falling U.S. and total OECD oil inventories should push oil through resistance at $50. - Dan
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Friday after almost a week of sharp rises as Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms in a century, drove towards Florida after tearing through the Caribbean.
Irma is the second major hurricane to approach the United States in two weeks and has already killed 14, flattening whole islands. Its predecessor, Harvey, shut a quarter of U.S. refineries and 8 percent of U.S. oil production.
"Hurricanes can have a lasting effect on refinery and industry demand," said Eugen Weinberg, head of commodities research at Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) in Frankfurt. "The impact of the forces of nature on U.S. oil production should not be overestimated – nor should their impact on demand be underestimated."
Brent crude (LCOc1) was up 16 cents at $54.65 a barrel by 1145 GMT, after earlier reaching its highest level since April at $54.80. U.S. light crude oil (CLc1) was 14 cents lower at $48.95 barrel.
Brent found some support from news that Saudi Arabia will cut oil supply allocations to its customers worldwide in October by 350,000 barrels per day (bpd).
U.S. crude prices fell as a result of low refining activity following Harvey, which sharply reduced demand for oil to process, traders said.
Harvey's impact was also felt in oil production. U.S. oil output fell by almost 8 percent, from 9.5 million barrels per day (bpd) to 8.8 million bpd, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
But the slowdown in refining and output should be temporary.
"Most refineries are restarting and we expect a near-full recovery by month-end," U.S. investment bank Jefferies said.
Port and refinery closures along the Gulf coast and harsh sea conditions in the Caribbean have also affected shipping.
"Imports (of oil) to the U.S. Gulf Coast fell to levels not seen since the 1990s," ANZ bank said.
It will take weeks for the U.S. petroleum industry to return to full capacity, analysts say.
Hurricane Irma hit the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Friday, heading for Cuba and the Bahamas. It was predicted to reach Florida by Sunday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Irma was a Category 5 hurricane, with wind speeds of 160-185 miles per hours (260-295 km/h).
On Irma's heels, Hurricane Jose is heading for the Caribbean Leeward islands, which have just been devastated by Irma, with wind speeds of 120 mph (195 km/h).
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Friday after almost a week of sharp rises as Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms in a century, drove towards Florida after tearing through the Caribbean.
Irma is the second major hurricane to approach the United States in two weeks and has already killed 14, flattening whole islands. Its predecessor, Harvey, shut a quarter of U.S. refineries and 8 percent of U.S. oil production.
"Hurricanes can have a lasting effect on refinery and industry demand," said Eugen Weinberg, head of commodities research at Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) in Frankfurt. "The impact of the forces of nature on U.S. oil production should not be overestimated – nor should their impact on demand be underestimated."
Brent crude (LCOc1) was up 16 cents at $54.65 a barrel by 1145 GMT, after earlier reaching its highest level since April at $54.80. U.S. light crude oil (CLc1) was 14 cents lower at $48.95 barrel.
Brent found some support from news that Saudi Arabia will cut oil supply allocations to its customers worldwide in October by 350,000 barrels per day (bpd).
U.S. crude prices fell as a result of low refining activity following Harvey, which sharply reduced demand for oil to process, traders said.
Harvey's impact was also felt in oil production. U.S. oil output fell by almost 8 percent, from 9.5 million barrels per day (bpd) to 8.8 million bpd, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
But the slowdown in refining and output should be temporary.
"Most refineries are restarting and we expect a near-full recovery by month-end," U.S. investment bank Jefferies said.
Port and refinery closures along the Gulf coast and harsh sea conditions in the Caribbean have also affected shipping.
"Imports (of oil) to the U.S. Gulf Coast fell to levels not seen since the 1990s," ANZ bank said.
It will take weeks for the U.S. petroleum industry to return to full capacity, analysts say.
Hurricane Irma hit the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Friday, heading for Cuba and the Bahamas. It was predicted to reach Florida by Sunday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Irma was a Category 5 hurricane, with wind speeds of 160-185 miles per hours (260-295 km/h).
On Irma's heels, Hurricane Jose is heading for the Caribbean Leeward islands, which have just been devastated by Irma, with wind speeds of 120 mph (195 km/h).
Dan Steffens
Energy Prospectus Group
Energy Prospectus Group
Re: Oil and gas prices - Sept 8
There is always a reason for oil to go up or down on a daily basis, but the dollar has been dropping the last few months, and no help to the price of oil. What gives?