Oil and Gas Exploration and Production

The US oil and gas exploration and production industry consists of about 5,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $250 billion. Major companies include Anadarko Petroleum, Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, and Occidental Petroleum, along with the exploration and production divisions of integrated companies such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips.

Petroleum refining, petroleum wholesale distribution, and retailing (fuel oil and LP gas dealers and gas stations) are covered in separate industry profiles.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by economic activity, population growth, and energy efficiency for residential, industrial, and transportational uses of oil and gas. Profitability of individual companies is driven by the success rate of new wells drilled and the ability to increase production from existing wells. Large companies are advantaged by access to capital, including the ability to buy or merge smaller companies. Small companies compete by focusing on, and developing expertise in, a few geographic areas. The industry is capital-intensive: average annual revenue per employee is more than $1 million.

Oil and gas compete with other energy sources, such as coal, nuclear power, and hydroelectric power, for industrial and home heating applications. Renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, and hybrid-electric cars, which use stored electricity from batteries instead of or in addition to gas or diesel, are emerging alternatives for transportation applications.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products of the oil and gas exploration and production industry are crude oil (about 55 ...