Posted on 05/04/2013 9:51:06 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The shale revolution hit America and the world with such speed and suddenness that it surprised almost everyone—investors, businessmen, economists and politicians. Soon the implications of this dramatic development seeped into the national consciousness and spread optimism that the United States could ride it to a wave of prosperity. And the new techniques for extracting "unconventional" oil and gas from shale rock, which America possesses in such abundance, do indeed pose prospects for an economic boom.
They also pose prospects for changes in the defense posture of many nations. Anything of value that a nation possesses must be protected, and that includes its capacity to produce energy. America's leaders and defense chiefs will have to recognize and respond to the new strategic imperatives of shale, just as their potential adversaries undoubtedly will. Together, these new imperatives will have repercussions for sea-lane protection, domestic security, the importance of water, and international competition for diminishing foreign markets.
While these may not be major challenges to Washington yet, they will grow in significance as the shale revolution, currently in its relative infancy, continues to expand. As Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), puts it, “The global oil map will be redrawn over the next five years.” The revolution is the product of new, cost-effective methods of drilling to extract natural gas trapped in shale rock. In the United States, which has taken the lead in such development, this has brought a glut of cheap energy onto the domestic market. By 2015, the IEA estimates, the United States will overtake Russia as the world's biggest gas producer and by 2035 will become “all but (energy) self-sufficient.” Shale oil also can be extracted from shale rock....
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...
Pretty good article, showing someone why our defense needs may become reduced, or changed because of this domestic energy breakthrough, can help them understand why defense and force projection are needed by countries in the first place.
just drill baby.
Some countries with large shale deposits have elected not to exploit them over environmental concerns. They will find themselves increasingly left behind in energy production. We haven’t heard the last from US environmentalists either. There’s a moratorium on drilling in NY and environmentalists are still pushing for limits or outright bans. The rosy future painted in this article is not a sure thing despite having the technological ability to accomplish those goals.
Democrats will take credit for any success but we all know they OPPOSED any of the programs that are now successful.
Energy ping.
“Democrats will take credit for any success but we all know they OPPOSED any of the programs that are now successful.”
Let them. This will force them to get and stay behind fracking in the long term, and also force them against the left wing environmentalist hacks in their party.
The way I see it, drilling for oil in America was always about national security. I believe that Iran will get the bomb (2,3,4...) within a few years. I believe they will detonate one through one of their proxies or at least, threaten the ME and everyone else. Suicidal, yes.
When that scenario starts to play out, we will need to get our oil from somewhere, so it is better that we can approach self-sustaining supplies of oil as fast as we can. Drill, baby, drill.
By 2015, the IEA estimates, the United States will overtake Russia as the world's biggest gas producer and by 2035 will become "all but (energy) self-sufficient"By 2035, the price of gold will be somewhere under $1000/oz, and the US-generated supply of electricity will have doubled.
Thanks Ernest.
I’m waiting to see if gas rates will drop in NE PA. My rates went up. No suppliers are offering lower rates yet in Philly area. While western half of state can find various suppliers providing reduced rates both for electricity and gas.
....BP predicts US oil independence and a net exporter by 2030....
Energy Outlook 2030 | Statistical Review 2012 | BP www.bp.com › ... › Statistical Review of World Energy 2012 The BP Energy Outlook 2030 - January 2013, contains our projections of long-term energy trends.
More here....http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9048887&contentId=7082549
Even if we becoming energy independent, or just dependent on North America, we will still have a strategic interest in patrolling the seas.
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