
It would take an estimated 280-rig increase to turbocharge U.S. shale production within a short window of time, according to Stratas Advisors’ Stephen Beck. (Source: Hart Energy/Shutterstock.com)
[Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the January 2020 edition of E&P. Subscribe to the magazine here.]
Modern-day history is chock full of “where were you when ‘xyz’ event happened?” moments. Most people of a certain age vividly remember what they were doing on Nov. 22, 1963, when they learned the news of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Even more remember hearing the news of American Airlines Flight 11’s crash into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and the following realization that it was not accidental as three more planes crashed into infamy.
These events shape our response to future tragedies. Take, for example, the drone attack on the two Saudi Aramco refineries at Abqaiq and Khurais. It rekindled memories of Kuwait, Desert Storm and my first taste of the fear that surrounds possible oil supply disruptions. I was a teenager itching to get my first car and driver’s license at the time.
The meteoric rise of unconventional oil and gas development answered the collective call to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil. However, the drone attacks—even though I know the U.S. is producing 12-plus MMbbl/d of crude oil—brought forward the spectre of a supply disruption.
It was with curious ears that I listened to Stratas Advisors’ Stephen Beck at the recent DUG Midcontinent Conference give his answer to the million-barrel question. Can U.S. shale hit the gas on crude production at a moment’s notice? What would it take to deliver an additional 1 MMbbl/d of oil?
According to Beck, it would take an estimated 280-rig increase to turbocharge shale production within a short window of time.

It would require a coordinated, multilayered effort. In his estimate, to increase production by another million barrels within a six-month time frame, it would require 420 additional wells added above plan each month with 2,100 truckload movements per month just to move those rigs. It would require 15,960 additional stages completed each month, with 93 completion spreads added to service, more than 6 Blb of additional proppant and more than 7 Bgal of additional water.
It would require a tremendous amount of steel, supplies and sweat to make it happen. As Beck noted, it would be a daunting task, but we’ve done it before, so why not again?
Helping in this daunting quest will be people like this year’s Energy Innovators. E&P is honored to recognize these men and women for their leadership and contributions in advancing oil- and gas-related technologies. Visit hartenergy.com/energy-
Read E&P's accompanying 2020 Energy Innovators articles:
Recommended Reading
Equinor Strikes Gas in Norwegian Sea
2023-01-18 - Obelix Upflank is first discovery of the year on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The partners are considering a subsea tieback to nearby Irpa field.
Eni Discovers Gas Offshore Egypt in Eastern Mediterranean Sea
2023-01-17 - Eni affiliate IEOC Production BV holds a 45% interest in the Nargis-1 well.
TotalEnergies Gives Lapa South-West the Green Light
2023-01-17 - The subsea tieback offshore Brazil is expected to go onstream in 2025, producing to the Lapa FPSO, which has produced the field since 2016.
ADNOC Awards $80 Million PCSA for Hail & Ghasha Gas Development Project
2023-01-17 - The work contract is for early project activities following the completion of FEED by Technip Energies.
Partial Outage Continues at Norway's Sverdrup Oilfield
2023-01-12 - Equinor experienced a power outage at the Johan Sverdrup oilfield, leading to a reduced production rate for two consecutive days.