Technology takes over tight oil

As the shale business matures, its wildcatter mentality is being replaced by artificial intelligence

A WTI crude price rangebound in the $50-$60/bl band means profitability is under pressure across the US shale business, which faces far higher ongoing opex than operators of conventional resources. WTI at $100/bl can support a fragmented market of hundreds of participants but lower prices require savings to be squeezed from economies of scale and the innovative application of new technology.  Disappointing returns have largely locked small players out of capital markets and the recent trend is solidly towards consolidation, with the majors becoming increasingly interested in taking stakes when they are available at the right price. Occidental, which purchased Anadarko and kept its US shale a