The FINANCIAL — The cyclicality of the oil and gas industry is unlikely to impact the long term trajectory of the sector. However the current fluctuations may speed up some of the trends that were already unfolding, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s (DTTL) Oil and Gas Reality Check 2015 report.
The report outlines six of the major issues currently impacting the oil and gas industry (and the upstream market in particular). These issues include an anticipated shift in supply-demand fundamentals, the emergence of new trading patterns, consideration of OPEC’s role in the market, falling LNG prices, the long-term costs of complex projects, and evolving dynamics between integrated oil companies (IOCs) and national oil companies (NOCs).
Anton Botes, DTTL’s Global Oil & Gas Leader, comments: “The oil and gas industry has been built on long-term investments and has successfully emerged from cyclical downturns in the past. As these trends play out, companies across the board need to continue to adapt and remain agile to emerge a leaner, fitter business. At the same time, it’s worth remembering that weaker price signals often spur innovation. With that in mind, it’s not unreasonable to expect that lagging oil prices will spur greater innovation.”
The report highlights the following key trends:
1. Shift in supply-demand fundamentals
Fluctuating industry dynamics are fueling a power play between traditional and new oil suppliers. For example, the United States continues to maintain its place as a major producer of both oil and gas, while historical energy trade patterns are shifting. With the loss of the United States as an anchor market, the world’s major oil suppliers are searching for new buyers.
2. New trading patterns emerging
As oil and gas supply and demand fundamentals continue to evolve, new global trade patterns are emerging. As a result, this could threaten OPEC’s traditional position on global markets, although this is not a likely outcome in the short-term. What is certain is that OPEC will be seeking new buyers as North America increasingly meets its own demand, and it may aim to pick up market share from Western Europe.
3. OPEC: under pressure
The OPEC organization currently supplies approximately 32 percent of the world’s crude oil. However, OPEC’s oil market share will likely fall by 5 percent1 by 2018 as the supply of U.S. tight oil picks up. While that share may recover over the long term as supply patterns shift (particularly if U.S. production flattens), OPEC will cede dominance in the interim.
4. LNG prices: a buyer’s market
The price of LNG was once a model for stability, it is less so now. Until prices stabilize, natural gas will trade in more geographically proximate regions. That means Australian LNG will likely retain its north/south advantage, providing supply to Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Conversely, North American producers have a more natural trading advantage with Europe. The most cost efficient producers are the ones most likely to win global market share, especially as supply-demand economics kick in. This may ultimately give the United States (and perhaps Canada) a competitive advantage, as their breakeven points on LNG projects are typically lower than those in other parts of the world.
5. Investing in innovation: the cost of complexity
Capital spending is likely to fall off in the near term; however megaprojects will still be required to meet long-term global energy demand. To avoid the cost and time overruns that have typically characterized these projects, companies will likely want to explore a range of strategies, including pre-project planning, integrated project delivery, lean project management, modularization, and talent management. They may also want to invest in advanced analytics to enable agile project monitoring and evaluation.
6. National and integrated oil companies: evolving dynamics
It is currently hard to foresee a future where IOCs don’t play a pivotal role in oil and gas exploration and production. Yet, in areas where the IOCs’ traditional strengths are not required, it is possible to envision IOCs losing market share to large OFS players and to NOCs, particularly for non-technical projects. To prevent this slow erosion, IOCs will need to guard against the instinct to engage in mass layoffs while commodity prices remain soft. While there is always room for heightened cost consciousness, IOCs may want to avoid putting themselves into a position where they lack the talent and momentum they need not only to ramp production back up once prices recover, but to maintain their edge in a shifting competitive landscape.
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