DUC well inventory sufficient to support US fracking deep into 2021

September 5, 2020

OSLO — The recovery of fracking operations in the US is happening largely thanks to an unusually high inventory of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs), which is strong enough to sustain the current level of fracking without the industry adding more rigs to expand drilling deep into 2021, a Rystad Energy analysis shows.

After DUCs run out, however, rig activity in the five key oil regions needs to be in the 280-300 range to maintain flat oil output.