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With oil prices low, early signs of a pullback in drilling activity

Green Car Congress

For example, ExxonMobil and Chevron have been insulated in the third quarter because of their large holdings in refining. For the third quarter, ExxonMobil reported a 3 percent rise in earnings compared to quarter three in 2013. Yet, many oil majors are relatively diversified, with large holdings downstream.

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Opinion: Why oil prices must go up

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Capital expenditures increased by almost threefold to $700 billion between 2000 and 2013, while output only increased 17% ( see IEA chart ). Chevron reported 89% and Shell posted just a 26% reserve replacement figure. Despite record levels of spending, the largest oil companies are struggling to replace their depleted reserves.