“Today’s report shows evidence that the consistent decline in oil and natural gas drilling could be coming to an end,” said Hazem Arafa, director of API’s statistics department.

Domestic crude oil production in October was higher compared to the prior month, but was lower than the prior year, and the prior year to date. At an average of 8.6 million barrels per day, U.S. crude oil production in October decreased 8.0 percent from October 2015, but increased from September by 0.2 percent. October’s crude oil production was the third highest since 1985 and the second highest year to date in 31 years, since 1985.

Our national energy security depends on our ability to produce oil and natural gas here in the U.S., and this decision could very well increase the cost of energy for American consumers and close the door on creating new jobs and new investments for years. We are hopeful the incoming administration will reverse this decision – consistent with the will of American voters.

“America’s growth in natural gas production means that through LNG exports we can give our allies stability and security in the global natural gas market. America’s shale revolution is growing our economy, spurring environmental improvements and strengthening our own energy security. U.S. LNG will give our allies an opportunity to achieve those some goals.”

The $10bn Tapi project is aimed to carry 33bn m³/yr of gas to the participant countries by 2021. Ashgabat has an 85% stake in the challenging project, which equates to one third of the country's total yearly budget.

With most companies indicating continued reductions in E&D budgets absent a meaningful increase in crude oil prices, proved reserves additions will likely continue to decline.

Oil companies operating in Norway expect to spend 153.2 billion kroner ($18.47 billion) on exploration and production next year, the weakest figure since 2011 and nearly a third below the sector’s all-time high of NOK220.7 billion two years ago. In 2016, they expect to spend NOK165.9 billion on exploration and production, down from NOK195.4 billion a year earlier and 1% below a similar estimate made in February.

Turkmenistan on Sunday began building its segment of a natural gas pipeline to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI), a $10 billion project designed to ease its dependence on Russia and China.

Total petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) fell slightly in October by 0.3 percent from year ago levels, according to API’s Monthly Statistical Report for October 2015. Production of all four major products–gasoline, distillate, jet fuel and residual fuels was higher than deliveries for those products, so refined products were exported.

“The fact is that the nation’s 21st century energy renaissance, which has made domestically produced natural gas cheap and abundant, has helped us achieve substantial and sustained emissions reductions without command and control style regulatory intervention,” said Gerard. “By contrast, the administration continues to hew to last century’s thinking that increased energy production and achieving climate goals are mutually exclusive, pursuing costly government mandates to detriment of the American consumer and our economy.