[ckilmer]

US fracking techniques have basically given Russia an unlimited supply of oil. They have some shale oil deposits in Siberia that dwarf anything in the USA. (Same goes with the Chinese and shale gas. They have even larger deposits of shale gas than the USA.)

imho the world is going to go from tightly balanced supply and demand for oil/gas to a glut in 10 years or less. That will put downward pressure on hydrocarbons everywhere. Lower energy prices will be pure oxygen on the world economy. So even as the oil/gas patch loses profits from lower prices the rest of the world economy will grow like crazy — driving demand for energy UP and prices up again. Its about a 20 year cycle.

This is the way it has always worked since the dawn of the oil age.

The best way to be positioned for this kind of dynamic cycle is to have a very diverse economy so when energy prices decline the rest of the economy can improve.

[Marine_Uncle]

RE: "The best way to be positioned for this kind of dynamic cycle is to have a very diverse economy so when energy prices decline the rest of the economy can improve."

And that of course is where the "hat tricks" come into play. :)

[pluvmantelo]

Unfortunately, there is a sitting president, a domestic political party and a global elite to whom your rosy scenario reads like a grim tale indeed. Their actions need to be factored into the prediction.