Newsletters | Request Trial | Log in | Advertise | Digital Issue   |   Search
  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search
Related Articles
Trump’s energy report card
The administration is pushing for deregulation and streamline permitting for natural gas, while tightening requirements and stripping away subsidies from renewables
Trump’s Russia threat rings hollow
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
US oil sector faces complicated path
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand
California refiners dreaming of heyday
US downstream sector in key state feels the pain of high costs, an environmental squeeze and the effects of broader market trends
Mars attacks US oil industry
Crude quality issues are an often understated risk to energy security, highlighted by problems at a key US refinery
Bakken oil output may hold its ground
While oil prices will determine the trajectory of the key US shale patch, regulation and technological shifts are also likely to shape direction longer term
US, Russia and China circle the Arctic
The strategic importance of vast untapped oil and gas reserves and key shipping routes has come in from the cold
Trump creates new risk dynamic
US policies may have lasting effects in sectors such as energy, that rely on predictable rules and long-term planning
Momentum builds for Alaska LNG
Asian and European interest gathers pace as Trump throws his weight behind frontier state
Letter from the US: Energy needs require a rethink
Tariffs, AI, critical minerals and emerging markets all raise fundamental policy questions
US ExxonMobil Chevron ConocoPhillips
Charles Waine
8 February 2021
Follow @PetroleumEcon
Forward article link
Share PDF with colleagues

Cautious US majors curb annual spend

Recovering oil prices will not be enough to convince producers to stump up additional cash, but investors may still benefit from a substantial dividend pay-out

Market volatility is set to continue to constrain annual capex spend among US majors and ‘superindies’, even as the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines boosts oil prices and the prospect of a return to normal economic activity. Operators in the US shale patch were particularly burned by the economic downturn last year, and the largest US firms remain wary about overextending themselves. In 2020, the trio of ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips posted a colossal combined $30.2bn loss as oil prices plunged and energy demand vanished. ExxonMobil recorded the biggest loss and is again cutting capex. The major suffered a $22bn loss in 2020 and was forced to slice $10bn from its 2019 capex budget, a 32

Also in this section
Trump’s energy report card
11 August 2025
The administration is pushing for deregulation and streamline permitting for natural gas, while tightening requirements and stripping away subsidies from renewables
OPEC+ off-target in July
8 August 2025
The producers’ group missed its output increase target for the month and may soon face a critical test of its strategy
The great OPEC+ reset
7 August 2025
The quick, unified and decisive strategy to return all the barrels from the hefty tranche of cuts from the eight producers involved in voluntary curbs signals a shift and sets the tone for the path ahead
Latest EU sanctions largely toothless
7 August 2025
Without US backing, the EU’s newest sanctions package against Russia—though not painless—is unlikely to have a significant impact on the country’s oil and gas revenues or its broader economy

Share PDF with colleagues

Rich Text Editor, message-text
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: PDF sharing is permitted internally for Petroleum Economist Gold Members only. Usage of this PDF is restricted by <%= If(IsLoggedIn, User.CompanyName, "")%>’s agreement with Petroleum Economist – exceeding the terms of your licence by forwarding outside of the company or placing on any external network is considered a breach of copyright. Such instances are punishable by fines of up to US$1,500 per infringement
Send

Forward article Link

Rich Text Editor, txt-link-message
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
Send
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Project Data
Maps
Podcasts
Social Links
Featured Video
Home
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Reaching your audience
  • PE Store
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact us
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookies
  • Sitemap
All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws © 2025 The Petroleum Economist Ltd
Cookie Settings
;

Search

  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search