July 2013, Vol. 240 No. 7

From the Burner Tip

Rising Oil, Gas Production Gives Substance To Energy Independence

The hot topic in energy circles is whether recently developed drilling and producing techniques that are raising oil and gas production will help solve the age-old problem of U.S. energy independence. In 1973 during the Middle East oil embargo, President Nixon vowed to wean the U.S. from foreign sources and be independent in energy supplies. That program was dubbed “Project Independence”. Every president since has made the same promise – with the same results! Now with the U.S. reaching its highest oil and gas production in current times, the question of energy independence is hot again. Whether it is realistic to think the U.S. can “kiss good-bye to all