Category: Ratings

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Rule of Thirds: Breaking It Down in the Midstream

Photo of pipelines stretchign the horizon.

With shrinking E&P budgets, weak commodity prices, the rise of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, the need for greater emphasis on customer satisfaction in the oil and gas industry has never been stronger. Providers of midstream services, and their stakeholders, ignore the evidence at their own peril.

Results from EnergyPoint Research’s 2019 Oil & Gas Midstream Services Survey make the case, as companies rating in the top third of the survey register investor returns well in excess of the bottom third. Continue reading “Rule of Thirds: Breaking It Down in the Midstream”

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Yes, It Pays to Keep Customers Smiling

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Yes, it pays to keep customers smiling—even in the midstream.

As midstream activity marches on in North America, customers show preferences for providers with strong operating and project-development skills. Professionalism also matters.

The need for solutions is diverse and widespread. Constraints in West Texas―ground zero of U.S. shale-oil production―crimp output. Natural gas in Appalachia seeks conditioning and outlets. Gulf Coast petrochemical and LNG facilities demand feedstock. Canadian producers beg for market access. Continue reading “Yes, It Pays to Keep Customers Smiling”

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The Rig Equipment Blues

Dark image of a drilling rig
Today’s wells cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars a day to drill. Thus, few things rankle operators like slowed activity.
 

To limit downtime, the equipment on rigs receives close attention. However, EnergyPoint Research surveys show many equipment providers are missing the mark. There’s room to improve in post-sale support, availability and delivery, and pricing. Without improvements, the status quo will only entice new entrants.

Continue reading “The Rig Equipment Blues”

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Tight Conditions Weigh on Ratings

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Global oilfield activity remains buoyed by high long-term commodity prices. But a first look at customer satisfaction in 2008 suggests industry suppliers still struggle to serve ravenous customers.
 

Ratings in the natural gas-driven U.S. & Canadian markets, though low, are stable for the time being. Weaker natural gas prices in the second half of 2007 have helped.

It’s oil-driven international markets that are eroding. Ratings in this segment are down significantly, according to EnergyPoint Research’s 2Q 2008 survey.

Continue reading “Tight Conditions Weigh on Ratings”