U.S. natural gas production continued to increase in August, setting a new daily production record of 92.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) on August 19, 2019,

U.S. Rig Count is down 12 rigs from last week to 886, with oil rigs down 5 to 733, gas rigs down 7 to 153, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0. Canada Rig Count is down 13 rigs from last week to 134, with oil rigs down 9 to 93 and gas rigs down 4 to 41.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said it attacked two plants at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry on Saturday, knocking out more than half the Kingdom’s output, in a move expected to send oil prices soaring and increase tensions in the Middle East.

Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $59 per barrel (b) in August, down $5/b from July and $13/b lower than the average from August of last year. EIA forecasts Brent spot prices will average $60/b in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $62/b in 2020. EIA forecasts that West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices will average $5.50/b less than Brent prices in 2020.

OPEC oil output averaged 29.71 million b/d in August, up 230,000 from July as production increases in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nigeria and Iraq offset declines in Venezuela and Libya,

Iraqi crude production rose to 4.65 million b/d in August, from 4.62 million b/d in July, the country's State Oil Marketing Organization said Monday, meaning the country pumped 140,000 b/d more than its OPEC quota of 4.51 million b/d.

Brazil has announced the rules for an auction of oil drilling rights worth $26bn, setting the stage for Latin America’s top crude producer to become an even bigger player in the global market.

Dutch Groningen gas production in August was down 6% on the year but up 6% from to 1.26 Bcm, according to data from operator NAM.

The worldwide rig count for August 2019 was 2,206, down 32 from the 2,238 counted in July 2019, and down 72 from the 2,278 counted in August 2018.

U.S. Rig Count is down 6 rigs from last week to 898, with oil rigs down 4 to 738, gas rigs down 2 to 160, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0. Canada Rig Count is down 3 rigs from last week to 147, with oil rigs down 3 to 102 and gas rigs unchanged at 45.

Bankruptcy filings by U.S. energy producers through mid-August this year have nearly matched the total for the whole of 2018. A stock index of oil and gas producers hit an all-time low in August, a sign investors are expecting more trouble ahead.

Russia will fully comply with its obligations under the OPEC+ agreement in September

“OPEC can no longer ignore Russia because of its importance as an oil exporter and its economy,” said Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist at the Institute of International Finance in Washington. “The Russians will continue doing just enough to engage with the Saudis on oil production.”

In June 2019, for the 26th consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year to year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in June 2019 was 2,735 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 91.2 Bcf/d. This level was 9.4 Bcf/d (11.5%) higher than the June 2018 level of 81.8 Bcf/d.

The U.K., France and Germany have called for restraint in the South China Sea amid reports that Chinese and Vietnamese vessels are facing off in the disputed waters over competing territorial claims.