The latest Drilling Productivity Report released by the Energy Information Administration has shown that crude oil output in the shale patch will continue rising next month, with the Permian accounting for most of the increase. In February, oil wells in the Permian will yield 53,000 barrels more than thins month, far ahead of the second contributor to the rise, Niobrara, where crude oil output should go up by 13,000 bpd. Just one more play will likely register an increase in oil production, albeit small: the Marcellus shale, where output should rise by 1,000 bpd. The rest of the shale oil patch will experience declines in production, including Bakken, which will see the greatest decline, at 20,000 bpd; Eagle Ford, where the decline is expected at 3,000 bpd; and Utica, where production is seen to fall by 3,000 bpd. Oil output in Haynesville will see no change in February. The […]