by Tanada » Tue 08 Mar 2016, 10:27:10
While I believe KSA is doing their very best to under sell ever competitor in the world market it looks pretty clear to me they are maxed out. The only way, as ROCKMAN pointed out to us, for KSA or any other producer to make more in a low price market is to produce and sell more oil. It should have been obvious, but it wasn't, at least no to me, because a minor production cut should raise prices and more than compensate for the lost sale volume in pure cash flow terms.
The thing is, because they are pumping just as hard as they can right now KSA is demonstrating that their claimed 'spare capacity' is just a claim, and not much more than a claim. In the past they have used that claim to calm the markets when oil supplies were tight at $100/bbl but I am not so sure they will be able to do so in the future now that they have maxed out production.
Another thing to consider, by pumping, just as an example, 9 MM/bbl/d for a year they would conserve 365 MM/bbl/d to sell in future years when presumably the price would be higher than it is today. Once again pumping flat out now may be a survival strategy that works for the next few years, but it means they are less flexible and less profitable 5 or 10 years down the road. At least that is how I see it.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Alfred Tennyson', 'W')e are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.