Rising oil production in the US, which Russia's energy ministry forecasts to grow by 400,000 b/d year on year in 2017, is being monitored, but it should not be considered separate from the global supply and demand balance, he said.

U.S. employers hired workers at a robust pace in February, beating expectations, and wages grinded higher, which could give the Federal Reserve the green light to raise interest rates next week despite slowing economic growth.

U.S. Rig Count is up 288 rigs from last year's count of 480, with oil rigs up 231, gas rigs up 57, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged. Canadian Rig Count is up 217 rigs from last year's count of 98, with oil rigs up 152 and gas rigs up 65.

US Census Bureau data showed US crude exports rising by 304,000 b/d to 746,000 b/d in January, which was followed by a report by the US Energy Information Administration showing US crude exports averaging 900,000 b/d in the four weeks ending February 24.

The company plans to spend nearly $5.5 billion drilling in Texas, New Mexico and North Dakota. Exxon is hoping to take advantage of technological advancements and lower costs of doing business in the shale.

U.S. Rig Count is up 267 rigs from last year's count of 489, with oil rigs up 217, gas rigs up 49, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 206 rigs from last year's count of 129, with oil rigs up 147 and gas rigs up 59.

Crude oil production increased 1.0 percent from December 2016, but was down by 2.5 percent from January 2016 to average almost 9.0 million barrels per day in January 2017. This was the third highest January since 1986. Natural gas liquids (NGL) production, a co-product of natural gas production, was up from both the prior month and prior year. NGL production in January averaged 3.5 million barrels per day, up 1.9 percent from last month and was 6.6 percent higher than last year. This was the highest January output level on record.

U.S. crude oil production increased for the second consecutive month in November 2016, the first time this has occurred since early 2015. Increased drilling activity in the Permian region, which spans Texas and New Mexico, as well as the start of a number of new projects in the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico (GOM), more than offset declining production from other regions in October and November 2016.

U.S. Rig Count is up 252 rigs from last year's count of 502, with oil rigs up 202, gas rigs up 49, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 166 rigs from last year's count of 175, with oil rigs up 123 and gas rigs up 43.

U.S. Rig Count is up 237 rigs from last year's count of 514, with oil rigs up 184, gas rigs up 52, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 125 rigs from last year's count of 206, with oil rigs up 85 and gas rigs up 40.