The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File PhotoAug 1 (Reuters) - Shale producers Pioneer Natural Resources Co (PXD.N) and Devon Energy Corp (DVN.N) on Tuesday tightened budgets and warned of lower drilling and completions activity in coming months after a drop in oil and gas prices slashed their second-quarter profits. U.S. shale producers have been forced to reduce the number of rigs in operation and delay well completions as profits have fallen from bumper 2022 levels after crude prices eased from multi-year highs. Pioneer, a top producer in the Permian shale basin, cut its 2023 budget, including for drilling and completions, by $125 million to a range of $4.375 billion to $4.575 billion. Devon, which operates in Permian's Delaware basin, forecast capital spending of about $900 million in the third quarter, less than in the second quarter, after one temporary fracking crew was dropped from the basin.

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Persons: Angus Mordant, Devon, Pioneer's, Arunima Kumar, Maju Samuel, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Natural Resources, Devon Energy Corp, Thomson Locations: Loving County , Texas, U.S, Permian's Midland, Devon, Permian's Delaware, Bengaluru, Arathy, Houston