政府 10 月 31 日的数据显示，美国 8 月份石油产量攀升至近 1200 万桶/日，这是自 COVID-19 大流行爆发以来的最高水平，尽管页岩油公司表示他们预计未来几个月产量不会加速。

美国原油价格今年飙升至三位数并推高了消费者的燃料成本后，一直徘徊在 85 美元/桶左右。总统乔·拜登呼吁石油公司提高产量以降低燃油价格。

美国总产量在 2019 年底达到 1300 万桶/日的峰值，但自疫情爆发以来，由于钻井平台关闭以及设备和劳动力成本迅速增加，该产量尚未恢复到这一水平。

几家美国页岩油生产商最近表示，油井结果令人失望，产量低于预期。

纽约瑞穗能源期货总监鲍勃·约格(Bob Yawger)表示，“你会看到产量上升，但我认为产量不会飙升至1310万桶。”

在疫情对需求造成严重破坏并削减利润两年多后，全球最大的五家石油公司中的四家在最近一个季度的净利润约为 500 亿美元。大多数主要石油巨头和大型上市生产商都致力于通过股票回购和股息向股东返还利润。

德勤上周表示，预计到 2022 年，美国上游石油公司每桶自由现金流将增长 68%，而今年迄今为止的产量增长将维持在 4.5%。

美国能源信息署（EIA）在月度数据中表示，8 月份原油产量增长 0.9%，至 1198 万桶/日，为 2020 年 3 月以来最高。

美国天然气产量再创新高，8 月份 48 个州的总产量增加 600 MMcf/d，达到 110.6 Bcf/d。

这超过了 7 月份创下的 110 Bcf/d 的历史新高。

在主要产油州，德克萨斯州月产量增长1.6%至510万桶/日，新墨西哥州月产量增长0.6%至创纪录的158万桶/日，但北达科他州月产量下降0.5%至106万桶/日。德克萨斯州的产量达到 2020 年 4 月以来的最高水平。

在天然气产量最高的州，德克萨斯州月产量增长 0.9%，达到创纪录的 31.3 Bcf/d；宾夕法尼亚州月产量下降 1.5%，达到 20.4 Bcf/d，为 2020 年 11 月以来的最低水平。

U.S. oil output climbed to nearly 12 million bbl/d in August, government figures showed on Oct. 31, the highest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as shale companies have said they do not see production accelerating in coming months.

U.S. crude prices have hovered around $85/bbl after surging into triple-digits this year and boosting fuel costs for consumers. President Joe Biden has called on oil companies to boost production to reduce fuel prices.

Overall U.S. output peaked at 13 million bbl/d in late 2019, and has not returned to that level since the pandemic started as rigs have been shut in and as costs for equipment and labor increased rapidly.

Several U.S. shale producers recently said well results are disappointing, and production is falling short of forecasts.

“You’ll see production tick higher, but I don't think we’re going to go ripping higher to 13.1 million barrels,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York.

A little over two years after the pandemic wrecked havoc on demand and slashed profits, four of the five largest global oil companies brought in roughly $50 billion in net income in the most recent quarter. Most major oil majors and large, listed producers are focused on returning profits to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends.

U.S. upstream oil companies are expected to bank a 68% increase in free cash flow per barrel in 2022, while output growth lingers at 4.5% year to date, Deloitte said last week.

Crude production rose 0.9% to 11.98 million bbl/d in August, highest since March 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in monthly figures.

Natural gas production in the U.S. hit another record, with gross output in the Lower 48 states rising 600 MMcf/d to 110.6 Bcf/d in August.

That topped the prior all-time high of 110 Bcf/d in July.

In top oil producing states, monthly output rose 1.6% to 5.1 million bbl/d in Texas and 0.6% to a record 1.58 million bbl/d in New Mexico, but fell 0.5% to 1.06 million bbl/d in North Dakota. Texas’s output is at a level not seen since April 2020.

In top gas producing states, monthly output rose 0.9% to a record 31.3 Bcf/d in Texas and fell 1.5% to 20.4 Bcf/d in Pennsylvania, lowest since November 2020.