Permian set for growth slowdown
A range of obstacles will hobble further output increases in the Lower 48’s most productive basin heading into 2023
The Permian basin is inarguably the engine room of US shale, accounting for 60pc of domestic production in 2022. But high inflation, supply chain constraints, a decline in the availability of drilled-but-uncompleted (Duc) wells and limited pipeline capacity are set to limit growth next year. “We are certainly seeing some cost inflation, and [inflation in] the Permian is probably the strongest that we see around the world, into the low double digits year-on-year,” says Mike Wirth, CEO at Chevron. “In other parts of our portfolio, the cost pressures are probably a little bit less and the constraints are not quite as pressing.” Inflation will range from 10–15pc in 2023, according to forecasts f
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny






