AMERICA’S ENERGY FORUM Bringing experts and verifiable facts to the energy discussion

North Dakota’s daily oil production will double to 1.6 million barrels by 2017, Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms said in a taped address to oil county and industry folks Thursday.

Though many Americans apparently don’t realize it, the U.S. is producing considerably more of its own energy. Last year the U.S. generated a record 79.1 quadrillion Btu (British thermal units) domestically, nearly 14% more energy than in 2005, largely due to increased production of oil and natural gas.

Coming U.S. regulations on engine exhaust and cheap natural gas are encouraging some commercial marine operators to power their vessels with liquefied natural gas instead of diesel.

California Governor Jerry Brown, preparing the state for development of the largest shale-oil reserves in the U.S., signed into law regulations for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a process that has been criticized by environmental groups.

Unconventional drilling for oil and natural gas, such as that in Ohio’s Utica Shale, could be a major boost to the nation’s manufacturers during the next decade and a half.

Economists credit the Eagle Ford Shale - and all that has trickled down from it - as the catalyst for development in Victoria.

With natural gas drilling operations starting up in a number of areas, some are starting to see an increase in employment as development begins and wells are being set up to tap into the Marcellus Shale deposit.

The Great American Energy Boom is having a major ripple effect on the shipbuilding industry, which thanks to a 1920s maritime law, is busier than it has been in decades.

Five years ago today, TransCanada the Calgary, Alberta-based corporation filed an application for a presidential permit to build an extension to the Keystone Pipeline. The addition was dubbed “Keystone XL,” (“KXL”) and was intended to add capacity to the existing pipeline. The Northern part of the pipeline would transport Canadian and U.S. oil while the southern component would carry U.S. and Canadian oil to Gulf Coast refineries.

Eagle Ford Shale oil production is expected to reach 1 million barrels per day next summer — and keep growing as operators add tens of thousands of more wells to the giant South Texas field.