The great imaginary California oil boom: Over before it started

It turns out that the oil industry has been pulling our collective leg. The pending 96 percent reduction in estimated deep shale oil resources in California calls into question the premise of a decades-long revival in U.S. oil production and predictions of American energy independence.

Fracking – headlines

•Marcellus shale legacy wells showing increasing depletion rates •Is the U.S. Shale Boom Going Bust? •Pollution Fears Crush Home Prices Near Fracking Wells •France’s Total calls time on Polish shale license •EPA drastically underestimates methane released at drilling sites •Fracking Boom •Does fracking cause quakes? California needs to know.

Fracking politics – headlines

•Why US fracking companies are licking their lips over Ukraine •Putin tells Europe Ukraine gas debt ‘critical’, transit threatened •Cheniere cheif plays down US gas claims •The Absurdity of US Natural Gas Exports •Everyone’s getting excited about US oil independence. Not so fast. •Russia’s South Stream pipeline in deep freeze as EU tightens sanctions noose

Fracking – headlines

•Will the Monterey Shale be an energy and economic boon for California? •Recognition in US of impact and cost of climate change •EIA: Tight-oil production pushes up US supply •After shale gas, now for tight oil •Financial questions seen for US shale gas, tight-oil plays •Gas industry rejects US expert warning on fugitive emissions