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April
27
2020

Oil Prices Crash 24% As Storage Fears Mount
Matt Stoller

Oil prices look to be facing yet another harrowing Monday, with the price of WTI sliding by more than 20 percent in early morning trading.

Global oil storage is inching closer and closer to reaching its capacity, and worse, the problem is being exacerbated as more local governments across the world extending COVID-19 lockdown recommendations, weighing on crude demand.

According to Goldman Sachs, global oil storage could be completely full within the next three weeks, and another dramatic crash could follow.

Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets, Rystad Energy also sees storage reaching a critical level in a matter of weeks. “Actions are needed now as the problem stopped being theoretical and far away. The storage clock is ticking for producers and we are approaching the final countdown if no further action is taken," he explained.

The perfect storm for oil markets has left Brent crude oil prices down 68 percent on the year, while WTI has fallen by 72 percent. The low crude prices have left domestic shale producers fighting for survival.

While once shining-U.S. Shale producer Whiting Petroleum was the first company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it surely won't be the last, with the shale patch looking particularly vulnerable due in large part to their high breakevens and history of taking on debt.

Noble Energy (NBL), Halliburton (HAL), Marathon Oil (MRO) and Occidental (OXY) have all lost more than 66 percent of their market cap in just a few short months. Even majors such as Exxon (XOM) have lost as much as 40 percent of their value.

Buddy Clark, co-chair of the energy practice at Houston law firm Haynes and Boone, noted, "It's hard to believe that 100 bankruptcies is the optimistic view. That just shows you where we are," adding "I don't think I've seen anything like it in my lifetime. It's unprecedented."

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com 

 

 

 

Michael Kern is a newswriter and editor at Safehaven.com, Oilprice.com, and a writer at Macro-Investing.com. 

 

  

 

  

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