US energy: what to watch in 2018
Oil production, trade, renewables and technology top our list of major questions facing America's energy industry heading into the new year
The US energy sector is undergoing a period of deep transformation: from booming oil and gas output to a revolution in the power mix and the rise of electric vehicles. These changes are raising a host of new questions for the industry. Here are a few we'll be watching closely this year. 1. How high will US oil production go? America's crude output will grow again in 2018, but the pace is likely to slow from last year. Between December 2016 and end-2017, the US likely added more than 1m barrels a day of oil production - a return to pre-crash levels of growth. The final figures for the year aren't in yet, but analysts at Rystad Energy say US crude production capacity likely hit 10m b/d by end-
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
