Tariffs on imported steel and other inputs are complicating supply chains for North American oil drillers, but are not as problematic as the broader downturn in crude prices that has cut into demand for their services.
"Section 232" tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump on steel and aluminum imports seem more likely to stay — and possibly even double to 50pc — compared with more widespread tariffs that are being challenged in court. That may have spelled higher costs for well casing and tubing, known as oil country tubular goods (OCTG), but drillers say they have seen worse before, and prices could instead be softening on account of weaker drilling demand.
The OCTG Pipe Logix Index of All Items — a benchmark for casing and tubing prices used by steel mills, pipe manufacturers, distributors, and oil and gas companies — averaged $2,073/short ton (st) in May this year. That is down from $2,087/st in April and the first decline in nine months following a steady ascent that began months before Trump's return to the White House was assured by his November electoral victory.
Softer OCTG prices appear to be following weaker crude benchmarks, and in turn, demand for drilling and related services. US light sweet WTI averaged $60.94/bl across May, down from $78.62/bl in the same month 2024, or 22pc lower, and the current price environment is pressuring the sector as a whole to lower costs.
"It's an energy industry problem and not just a drilling services problem," Helmerich & Payne chief financial officer Kevin Vann told investors in May.
The supply chain synergies have become more uncertain because of ongoing trade wars, according to Helmerich & Payne, but the Tulsa-based, oilfield services company seems to view the broader tariff-induced commodity price downturn as the larger concern, especially in the event it persists.
The company's chief executive, John Lindsay, notes that most of the challenges are in the oil markets and expects more "upcoming" activity for natural gas.
Supply chain disruptions appear manageable
Nabors Industries president Tony Petrello also does not anticipate tariffs to have a significant impact directly to his company's business, with the exception of higher taxes on Chinese goods.
"I don't think drill pipe is the biggest hit on our drilling business," Petrello told investors in April. "It's more like spares [parts], pumps, things like that, that, over the years, we have started to acquire from China."
The Houston-based drilling contractor was bracing for a $10-20mn impact to free cash flow on account of US trade actions, but that was based on the 145pc tariffs against imports from China. Trump has since brought those down to 30pc, but tensions remain between the two countries.
Canadian-based Precision Drilling meanwhile notes the cost of drill pipe can fluctuate considerably, regardless of tariffs, and only expects prices to increase a "little bit" on new purchases.
Precision has "gotten well-ahead" of those needs with purchases over recent years, according to chief financial officer Carey Ford, while alternatives for other parts with tariff exposure have been sourced domestically. But this is not uncharted territory for drillers who had to grapple with soaring prices in the field as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and inflation ran rampant through the sector. This was exacerbated by higher prices for the metals used to make well casings, while producers resumed drilling more oil and gas wells as demand recovered.
One need not look far back to see what level of prices drillers had to contend with, underscoring why present-day concerns lie elsewhere. Even with the recent climb, May's benchmark price is just roughly one-half the $3,867/st price recorded in October 2022.
"Even with tariffs, drill pipe wouldn't be as expensive as it was a couple of years ago," Ford said in April.
OCTG make up about 10pc of the total cost of an onshore well.
