NEW YORK, May 14 (Reuters) - U.S. oil production couldalready be increasing in some of the best areas, even thoughprices remain depressed compared to last year, said Marvin Odum,director of Shell's Americas exploration and production businessat the FT Energy Strategies Summit on Thursday.
In "some absolute sweet spots" production could bemaintained and "even start to pick up" Odum said.
U.S. oil prices have rebounded to about $60 a barrel, upfrom a low near $40 hit in February that slowed drillingactivity. Prices topped $107 a barrel last June.
The majority of North American oil output is likelyprofitable between $60 and $80, Odum said.
(Reporting By Edward McAllister)