Shale boom, oil price dominate Houston energy conference

Houston

THE world's largest oil producers appealed to US shale producers to join their efforts to hold global prices at current levels at a major energy conference on Monday, as the boom in shale is continuing to undermine Opec's production curbs.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' secretary-general Mohammed Barkindo said on Monday at the CERAWeek conference in Houston that there is a "common understanding" between oil-producing nations and US shale producers that "we all belong to this industry", even as US exports have eroded Opec's market share over the last year.

This year's CERAWeek conference continues outreach between Opec and shale producers. Members of Opec will meet with shale producers on Monday evening at a dinner …