Oil prices are poised to rise as a number of positive trends take shape in the market, which is now balanced after years of oversupply, according to Schlumberger, the world's largest publicly traded oilfield services company. Schlumberger Chairman and CEO Paal Kibsgaard sounded the positive note after his company announced its third-quarter earnings rose by 65 percent, excluding charges related to a major acquisition. The company also saw quarterly revenue jump 13 percent year over year, driven by strong growth in the U.S. shale oil patch, as well as in Russia, the North Sea and Asia. Looking at the global picture, Kibsgaard said the prospect of rising oil prices has been bolstered by falling crude stockpiles around the world, as well as several other positive signals. "A continuation of these market trends, combined with further steady draws in global oil inventories is now creating the required foundation for further upward movement in oil prices and subsequent growth in global E&P investment," Kibsgaard said in a statement, referring to oil exploration and production.

Those market trends include the shift in focus among U.S. drillers from production growth to financial discipline after a heady period of land acquisition, particularly in the low-cost Permian basin in Texas and New Mexico. That signals more moderate output as American shale drillers strive to generate positive cash flow. Kibsgaard is also encouraged by recent signs that OPEC and other exporters including Russia will extend a deal to keep 1.8 million barrels a day off the market through the end of 2018. Also underpinning his view, investment in the oil industry throughout much of the world remains at "unprecedented low levels," which increases the odds that the market will swing to undersupply in the medium term. "Given the visible tightening of the supply and demand balance and the current geopolitical tensions in many of the world's key oil producing regions, a geopolitical risk premium may again become a significant factor," Kibsgaard said.

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