US energy: what to watch in 2018
Oil production, trade, renewables and technology top our list of major questions facing America's energy industry heading into the new year
The US energy sector is undergoing a period of deep transformation: from booming oil and gas output to a revolution in the power mix and the rise of electric vehicles. These changes are raising a host of new questions for the industry. Here are a few we'll be watching closely this year. 1. How high will US oil production go? America's crude output will grow again in 2018, but the pace is likely to slow from last year. Between December 2016 and end-2017, the US likely added more than 1m barrels a day of oil production - a return to pre-crash levels of growth. The final figures for the year aren't in yet, but analysts at Rystad Energy say US crude production capacity likely hit 10m b/d by end-

Also in this section
29 July 2025
The EU’s Russia sanctions could have far-reaching implications for India’s Vadinar-based refinery
29 July 2025
There is a good strategic case for China to sign a deal for gas supplies via the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, but Beijing’s concerns over over-dependency on a single supplier and desire to drive down the price make it relatively unlikely that a contract will be finalised this year.
29 July 2025
EU industry and politicians are pushing back against the bloc’s green agenda. Meanwhile, Brussels’ transatlantic trade deal with Washington could consolidate US energy dominance.
25 July 2025
KRG, Iraq’s central government and Turkey are all working to get exports flowing from the key port, but complications remain