Shares of U.S. oilfield service companies have fallen by more than 8% in the past month as worries about margins in the shale patch are clouding the sector's nascent recovery.
The Philadelphia SE Oil Service Index, which tracks the 15 largest publicly traded oilfield service companies, was at 153.95 on June 22, down 8.3% in the last month and trading near where it began the year.
Oilfield service stocks overall have lagged those of producers since the oil price recovery gained steam last year. The recent pullback comes as some producers warned production in the largest U.S. oil field may slow due to a lack of pipeline space to move the crude to market.
Pressure pumper C&J Energy Services Inc. (NYSE: CJ) last week said it would delay deployment of three hydraulic fracturing fleets, and shale producer Halcón Resources Corp. (NYSE: HK) this week said it planned to drop a Permian rig next month.
RELATED: US Oil Producers Face Output Squeeze As Permian Pipelines Fill
"Investors are recognizing the Permian infrastructure constraint is real," said Robert Thummel, a managing director at asset management firm Tortoise. His firm recently sold its oilfield service stocks because of a lack of expected price increases in the Permian.
The Permian concerns are hitting hardest the stocks of companies that frack in the Permian. In the past month, shares of pressure pumpers ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE: PUMP) and Liberty Oilfield Services Inc. (NYSE: LBRT) have fallen by 21% and 22%, respectively, and rival Keane Group Inc. (NYSE: FRAC) is down about 16%.
Service firms with larger international operations have fared only slightly better. Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) and General Electric's Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHGE) are both down nearly 10% in the past month, while Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) has declined about 13%.
Oil production in the Permian is up 37% in the past year to 3.3 million barrels per day, according to U.S. government data, near the region's existing pipeline, rail and trucking capacity.
"You have these takeaway capacity issues and companies are re-negotiating their contracts saying, 'I might not need that extra frack spread,'" said Sajjad Alam, an analyst for Moody's.
Around 60% of the larger pressure pumpers' Permian activity is focused on customers with firm takeaway capacity or sales contracts, leaving smaller firms most exposed, analysts at Bernstein wrote on June 21.
"The stocks have reacted already," said Colin Davies, a Bernstein analyst. "There is a risk that there is another leg down for exposed stocks as actual operations begin to react and become more visible and tangible."
Recommended Reading
Sinopec Brings West Sichuan Gas Field Onstream
2024-03-14 - The 100 Bcm sour gas onshore field, West Sichuan Gas Field, is expected to produce 2 Bcm per year.
US Gas Rig Count Falls to Lowest Since January 2022
2024-03-22 - The combined oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by five to 624 in the week to March 22.
Tech Trends: Halliburton’s Carbon Capturing Cement Solution
2024-02-20 - Halliburton’s new CorrosaLock cement solution provides chemical resistance to CO2 and minimizes the impact of cyclic loading on the cement barrier.
US Drillers Add Most Oil Rigs in a Week Since November
2024-02-23 - The oil and gas rig count rose by five to 626 in the week to Feb. 23
US Drillers Cut Oil, Gas Rigs for Second Time in Three Weeks
2024-02-16 - Baker Hughes said U.S. oil rigs fell two to 497 this week, while gas rigs were unchanged at 121.