A split in US shale drilling strategies between the majors and independents is likely to widen as the two groups respond to diferent priorities. The US onshore shale boom of the past decade was driven by nimble independent operators that were prompt to adopt new technology, testing diferent reservoirs and shifting drilling from one location to another to ofset steep well decline rates. But that model hit a wall towards the end of the decade as companies spent large amounts in pursuit of volume growth, while paying scant attention to improving returns and margins.
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