US commercial crude oil inventories declined 3.3 million bbl during the week ended Aug. 18 compared with the previous week’s total, continuing a months-long downward trend.

U.S. - Industrial production rose 0.2 percent in July following an increase of 0.4 percent in June. The index for mining rose 0.5 percent in July for its fourth consecutive monthly increase. Within mining, gains in oil and gas extraction and in metal ore mining were partially offset by declines in nonmetallic mineral mining and in drilling and support activities. The decrease of 0.5 percent in drilling and support services followed 10 consecutive months of increases for that index.

The U.S. will export more natural gas than it imports in 2017. The United States has been a net exporter for three of the past four months and is expected to continue to export more natural gas than it imports for the rest of 2017 and throughout 2018. The United States’ status as a net exporter is expected to continue past 2018 because of growing U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico, declining pipeline imports from Canada, and increasing exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

CARNEGIE - The United States generates one-fifth of its electricity using one hundred nuclear power reactors. That’s more reactors than in any other country, but until 2013 the last construction start in the United States was in 1977.

TESCO reported a U.S. GAAP net loss of $12.1 million, or $(0.26) per share, in the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted net loss for the quarter was $11.6 million, or $(0.25) per share, excluding special items, consisting primarily of charges related to restructuring costs. This compares to a U.S. GAAP net loss of $13.7 million, or $(0.29) per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017, and a U.S. GAAP net loss of $18.9 million, or (0.47) per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted net loss in the first quarter of 2017 was $13.4 million, or $(0.29) per diluted share, and in the second quarter of 2016 was $15.8 million, or $(0.39) per diluted share.

U.S. Rig Count is up 490 rigs from last year's count of 464, with oil rigs up 384, gas rigs up 108, and miscellaneous rigs down 2 to 0. Canadian Rig Count is up 95 rigs from last year's count of 122, with oil rigs up 64, gas rigs up 33, and miscellaneous rigs down 2 to 0.

The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC) has updated its 2017 Canadian Drilling Activity Forecast to reflect an increase in its projected total number of wells to be drilled during the year to 7,200 from 6,680.

Nabors Industries Ltd. ("Nabors" or the "Company") (NYSE: NBR) reported second quarter 2017 operating revenues of $631 million, compared to operating revenues of $563 million in the prior quarter. Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nabors for the quarter was a loss of $117 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $149 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017. The second quarter results include $7.3 million in net after-tax charges, or $0.03 per diluted share, primarily due to premiums paid on a debt redemption.

TransCanada Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada or the Company) announced net income attributable to common shares for second quarter 2017 of $881 million or $1.01 per share compared to net income of $365 million or $0.52 per share for the same period in 2016. Comparable earnings for second quarter 2017 were $659 million or $0.76 per share compared to $366 million or $0.52 per share for the same period in 2016. TransCanada's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.625 per common share for the quarter ending September 30, 2017, equivalent to $2.50 per common share on an annualized basis.

Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the second quarter of 2017 (table 1), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 1.2 percent (revised).

U.S. Rig Count is up 495 rigs from last year's count of 463, with oil rigs up 392, gas rigs up 106, and miscellaneous rigs down 3 to 0. Canadian Rig Count is up 101 rigs from last year's count of 119, with oil rigs up 69, gas rigs up 33, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 0.

China's import of US crude oil crossed 1 million mt for the first time in June, an eight-fold rise year on year, as elevated Dubai prices prompted both state and independent refiners to use it as an opportunity to diversify supplies, a trend that could add to the headache of OPEC suppliers.

In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1 to 1-1/4 percent. The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting some further strengthening in labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2 percent inflation.

The U.S. shale boom—which reshaped world markets for crude oil and natural gas before Mr. Trump took office—has only limited impact on Russia’s standing as a major energy provider to Europe and Asia.

API announced that estimated total wells drilled and completed in the second quarter of 2017 increased 62 percent compared to the second quarter of 2016. This includes a 41 percent increase in estimated development gas well completions and a dramatic 81 percent increase in total estimated oil well completions from year-ago levels. Total estimated oil well completions also increased 19 percent from the first quarter of 2017. Growing well completion figures could lead to an increase in U.S. oil production, which rose 62 percent from 2010 to 2016, and U.S. natural gas production which, also increased 26 percent during the same time.