U.S. Shale Producers Rebuild 4,100 DUC Wells as Record-Low Backlog Caps Fast Output Gains
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 29
U.S. Shale Producers Rebuild 4,100 DUC Wells as Record-Low Backlog Caps Fast Output Gains
2 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 29
U.S. shale operators have started rebuilding drilled-but-uncompleted well inventories, with Enverus estimating DUCs rose above 4,100 by May 20 after dipping below 4,000.
Record-low backlog still limits how quickly producers can lift crude supply: the EIA counted 4,972 DUCs in April, the lowest since 2013, and analysts say many older wells will never be completed.
That constraint matters because U.S. crude stocks fell 12.4 million barrels in the week to May 22 and are down 52 million since the war began, as exports and refinery runs jumped after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz.
Higher forward prices are now pulling more drilling back in. November U.S. crude traded near $78 a barrel, onshore oil rigs rose for a fourth straight week to 425, and frac crews are up 21% this year.
The shift points to slower near-term shale responsiveness even as 2026 output is still expected to grow, with the EIA raising its forecast to 13.65 million bpd.
With experts warning U.S. shale has plateaued, can this new drilling boom truly solve the global oil shortage?
Is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve too depleted to handle another major global energy shock?
Why might a Texas pipeline bottleneck prevent the U.S. oil boom from lowering your fuel prices?
The 2026 DUC Deficit: How Record-Low Drilled Uncompleted Wells Reshape U.S. Energy Security and Global Supply
Overview
The United States energy sector is facing a major challenge due to record-low inventories of Drilled Uncompleted wells (DUCs), which are crucial for quickly boosting production when market conditions, like high winter gas prices, are favorable. This depletion of DUCs, combined with global supply shocks and rising geopolitical risks, is severely limiting the potential for rapid growth in US shale output. As a result, the industry’s ability to respond quickly to market opportunities is constrained, posing significant risks for future production increases and impacting both domestic energy security and the global oil market.