Why Shale Oil Can’t Simply Turn the Spigot Off and Stop the Flow

|
We're learning far more about the oil business than we ever thought we would, due to the price crash brought on by the coronavirus and the Saudis and Russians dumping. Yes, oil and gas are an industry that goes together--but natural gas really is a different kind of business overall. Different kind of drilling, different kind of pipelines, different economics. We don't know about you, but we always thought an oil driller could simply shut-in a well (essentially turn off a valve) and later, when the economics returned, just open the valve again and let the oil flow. Boy were we wrong! Shutting in a well is a major decision with long-term consequences. It's not just flipping a switch or turning a valve.

To view this content, log into your member account. (Not a member? Join Today!)