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USA Shale Oil Boom
Monday 14th March 2011 (10:50 GMT)
Last year, the Deepwater Horizon disaster resulted in the halt of new well exploration, on offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. However, 2010 actually saw a rise in USA domestic oil production. The high price of oil makes shale oil deposits a viable target for oil companies using new extraction techniques.
Explosive charges are detonated deep in the shale oil formations. This causes cracks or fractures in the rock. Hot gas (air is sometimes used) is pumped at pressure through an injection well releasing the oil and gas, which is then pumped to the surface through a second production well.
Fracking as this new exploration technique is known, is controversial and has many opponents.
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