A new drilling technique is opening up vast fields of previously out-of-reach oil in the western United States, helping reverse a two-decade decline in domestic production of crude.
Companies are investing billions of dollars to get at oil deposits scattered across North Dakota, Colorado, Texas and California. By 2015, oil executives and analysts say, the new fields could yield as much as 2 million barrels of oil a day -- more than the entire Gulf of Mexico produces now.
Petroleum engineers first used the method in 2007 to unlock oil from a 25,000-square-mile formation under North Dakota and Montana known as the Bakken. Production there rose 50 percent in just the past year, to 458,000 barrels a day, according to Bentek Energy, an energy analysis firm.
It was first thought that the Bakken was unique. Then drillers tapped oil in a shale formation under South Texas called the Eagle Ford. Drilling permits in the region grew 11-fold last year.
Now newer fields are showing promise, including the Niobrara, which stretches under Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas; the Leonard, in New Mexico and Texas; and the Monterey, in California.
Ethan / JRyan: Remember, Life is but a short time. Eternity is what actually counts. These are strange days for all, especially the nation of Israel. The well is but a blip in the big picture. Pray the Ancient of Days spares us in the coming weeks...
Aug 9, 2024 14:06:42 GMT -5
Ethan / JRyan: Well it is getting more insane now......Pray for peace, the search for oil can wait.
Oct 3, 2024 7:00:06 GMT -5
Ethan / JRyan: Why the rise on no news? Nice but odd don't ya think?
Nov 8, 2024 10:00:37 GMT -5
Ethan / JRyan: What a nice day but look at the volume? WOW
Nov 14, 2024 15:22:15 GMT -5
Ethan / JRyan: Clueless as to why but not complaining.......Amazing really. Still a HUGE risk.
Nov 19, 2024 10:32:59 GMT -5