[AmishDude]

I sense a zot, but I'll bite.

The fact is, there is a lot of shale oil in Rocky Mountains. This has been known for decades. However, it's much more expensive to extract than the usual oil supply. In particular, there are huge start-up costs.

If I recall correctly, at current prices, it's close to profitable to extract it. But if the prices go down (which any ME country could do by increasing supply) the whole process becomes a money-loser and there's no way to recover it.

There is no conspiracy.

I'd advise that you avoid such poorly-written articles in general and this website in particular.

There's no conspiracy or secret.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

any Middle East (southwestern Asian) country with large oil reserves and Venezuela, Nigeria, and even the UK and Norway. (though their reserves are apparently running dry).

[capt.P]

Yeah, no zot for you. I'm with you.