Annual reserves report could lower oil
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: Energy shares were a real drag on the Dow last week, with the price of oil continuing to plummet. Oil’s back up some this morning to about $42 a barrel. But by the end of the year, energy companies have to report the size of their reserves. And in this case, price matters. Here’s Sam Eaton.
Sam Eaton: It’s an annual ritual in the oil and gas industry. Securities rules require companies to calculate how much of their reserves are economically feasible. And that’s based on the price of oil and gas at year’s end. The calculation is then used to estimate a company’s value, so it’s not exactly a time when energy companies want to see oil prices plunge.
Fadel Gheit is an analyst with Oppenheimer and Company:
Fadel Gheit:It is a physical asset that has certain market value, and banks use it as a collateral, you know, for loan as well as an indication of the financial viability of the company.
And oh, what a difference a year can make. The financial viability of energy companies at last year’s $96 a barrel close looks a lot different from this year’s lows.
Gheit says companies with high-cost portfolios like oil sands or deep water projects may find it harder to borrow or attract investors.
In Los Angeles, I’m Sam Eaton for Marketplace.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
