Originally Posted by
CurtainTwitcher
Interesting article recently about US shale oil and the US being close to totally oil independence:
Texas Is About to Create OPEC's Worst Nightmare.
The long term pressure will be rapidly increasing US supply, with lower prices from here is the gist of the article.
Shale is interesting, but the energy trade offs are substantial. Further the sunk costs of most wells are 'interesting'.
The really interesting part the shale play is well head pressure. Recently declines in the Permian basin and Eagle Ford (two big fields) are of concern, but of more concern to the industry is the relationship between well head pressure, temperature and flow rate. The shale model is predicated on highish flow rates that are not persistent. This has many oil people concerned.
A brief respite this may well be.