EIA's Monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook And Winter Fuels Outlook -- October 11, 2017; WTI Below $60 Through All Of 2018 -- Industry; Won't Hit $70 Until At Least 2020

WTI to remain below $60 through all of 2018 -- US industry experts. From Reuters via Rigzone:

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. oil executives see crude oil prices remaining below $60 per barrel through 2018 and not hitting $70 until at least the next decade.

The survey, based on a poll of 250 executives at companies that produce, transport and refine oil and natural gas, reflects a shift from last year when many respondents forecast commodity prices would rise and capital spending budgets grow.

U.S. oil prices fell slightly on Wednesday to $50.79 per barrel.

Schlumberger also opined today that it would be "lower for longer." No links; read it but did not think it worthwhile to post it ... until now.

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EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook

Winter Outlook

Winter Fuels Outlook:

After last year’s relatively warm winter, our forecast assumes this winter heating season will be more normal and see increased spending on heating oil, propane, and natural gas because of higher fuel consumption and prices. Expenditures are expected to be relatively in-line with an average winter.

We forecast that homes that depend on natural gas for heating will experience a 12% increase in their heating costs compared to last winter.

Gasoline/Refined Products:

Despite the late summer’s hurricane disruptions, petroleum markets have largely returned to normal operations. Gulf Coast refineries reached 86% utilization by the last week in September, which was only 5 percentage points below average utilization for this time of year.

Consumers should expect to see retail gasoline prices continue to decrease from the two-year high of $2.69 per gallon, following Hurricane Harvey. We are forecasting average prices at the pump will fall to $2.33 per gallon by December.

Crude oil production in the Gulf recovered following Harvey, with production increasing by about 70,000 barrels per day in September, putting that month’s average production at 1.7 million barrels per day.

Based on our observations of current drilling and our price expectations, the forecast continues to project that U.S. crude oil production in 2018 will top the 1970 annual production record of 9.6 million barrels per day, with the current output forecast at 9.9 million barrels per day next year.

Natural Gas:

We expect that natural gas inventories will reach 3.8 trillion cubic feet by the beginning of the heating season at the end of this month, in-line with average levels from the past five years.

U.S. natural gas exports are expected to grow this winter and mark the first winter the United States will be a net exporter of natural gas.

Electricity:

U.S. homes that depend on electricity for heating are forecast to see their bills increase by 8% this winter compared with last winter.

Coal:

Coal exports were up 62% from January to July 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, based on strong global demand.

Renewables:

For 2017, electricity generation from utility-scale solar power is expected to increase by 40% and small-scale solar is estimated to climb by 28%.