Baker Hughes Co. lowered its expectations for U.S. shale activity, saying an anticipated recovery in oil drilling is no longer likely this year.

Drilling in the U.S. shale patch dropped to the lowest level in almost 2½ years as operators vow to make good on promises to investors for subdued production growth this year.

From a dark Houston control room, Rafael Guedes watched on a monitor as a robot took charge of a drilling rig in a North Dakota oil field, locking out the human operator.

Exxon Mobil Corp. is betting that a better way to frack will double the amount of oil it can pump from shale fields.

President Joe Biden’s plan to suspend the federal gasoline tax would only make things worse for U.S. drivers, one industry CEO said ahead of a meeting in Washington between oil executives and administration officials.

Shale oil companies are using almost all of the fracking equipment and crews available as exploration expands, accelerating cost inflation and pointing to worsening supply chain disruptions across the industry.

Another disappointment to jolt the oil services sector: Baker Hughes Co. reported a third-quarter earnings stumble that included pain from Hurricane Ida and a warning of hampered growth for oil demand.

Shale investors have been demanding more consolidation in the U.S. oil patch. But not exactly a deal like this one.

Halliburton Co. expects the rout in North American shale to peter out after history’s worst crude crash decimated many of its customers.

Schlumberger has become the biggest oil service industry player yet to abandon frack work in North America, a sign that activity in the U.S. shale patch may never revisit previous highs.