Shale Boom, Shale Bust: The Myth of Saudi America

A very clear and insightful explanation of the unconventional oil and gas debacle that has taken over the oil and gas industry for the last 15 years. I worked as a geoscientist and technical manager for the last 37 years and have been totally gob smacked by the insane amounts of capital investment dollars that have been pored into exploration and production for hydrocarbons trapped in impermeable shales. The majority of these plays are not economic under any realistic commodity price scenario, meaning $100/BO, and once on this production treadmill, caused by continuous drilling, companies will not admit that their cash flows will never exceed their annual capital investments. I worked for 20 years for one the companies mentioned and I was amazed that executive management showed cognitive behaviors that became ultimately disastrous to this entity.Great read, just wish that the Oil Executives would take a look and wake up!!

As oil price goes down to $30 level, I thought the opportunity came. But I realized it's bit complicated than I thought. The author emphasized the dynamics oil than than merely pointing out the fundamental. To keep oil price afloat, according to him, the market needs the marketing force catering to the institutions which have no physical relation with oil, in that case, Investment Bank. As we know, the investment bank shut down their oil prop trading businesses because of the strict capital requirement. That's why, he said, the price much deviates from the fundamental. But that does not mean the fundamental of shale companies is OK, but quite opposite. The shale players are burdened with high break-even price, prone not just to the market price swing, but to Saudi's ruthless attack. And the vultures - mega oil companies, PE - are waiting for the weakest antelope to die. Meanwhile, in the last chapter, he offered the analytic frame to pick oil related stocks to play the next oil boom. Let me spare the specifics here, I gonna say, it's worth to read. Although I don't know why the renewable energy comes out in the later chapter - that's why I gave 4, not 5 -, I don't think it tarnishes the whole point of the book. So if you want dip into your toe in oil play, please, get into this book.

This is the must read book if you want to understand the recent ups and downs of the oil market and particularly how the promise of American shale oil is not likely to result in energy independence for the USA. Dicker digs into the factors that kept oil near $100/bbl (a premise he covered thoroughly in his earlier book,  Oil's Endless Bid: Taming the Unreliable Price of Oil to Secure Our Economy ) and how these have changed since 2014. He then outlines a potential future for the American oil industry, reviews the economics and political forces impacting oil pricing, and finally provides some potential investments to consider when the price of oil inevitably recovers. Dicker provides a comprehensive portrait of global oil in a concise format that is eminently readable.

'Shale Boom, Shale Bust: The Myth of Saudi America' is a must read for anyone in America connected in any way, either as a passive investor or as an active operator, with the business of drilling and producing oil and gas. Dan Dicker tells it like it is. I've put my money on learning in the next 6-9 months just how right Dan is in 'Shale Boom, Shale Bust' . We'll see larger declines in production and a higher spike in crude prices and the next boom will begin. I'll be the first to thank Dan Dicker for being the first to let us know of the potential magnitude of the cycle swings that lie ahead in the crude market in this fascinating oil business.

This book puts the recent decline in WTI prices in perspective. It also lifts the curtain of "Saudi America" to expose the truth about the shale oil revolution in the US.I strongly recommend this for both traders and passive investors.It's important to have an understanding of the dynamics of US shale resources. After reading this, I feel I am much more well equipped to make investing and trading decisions.Thanks for writing this book, Dan. I truly appreciate it!

If you want to know more about the forces that are driving the price of oil down and will likely drive it back up, read Dan Dicker's new book. Over the past 10 years, I've read voraciously on the subject of the oil business and found this book to be filled with insights. It even includes a few AH HA moments that are worth much more than the modest book price. It is a must read for anyone interested in the oil business.

Best book on the Oil industry I have ever read, including any online source. The information is clearly presented and very relevant to any oil environment. I have used the info in this book to help formulate my investment strategy in oil. Great companion to "Oil's Endless Bid". Knowing this information really helps to sift through the endless pundits opining on oil's ups and downs.Even though this book does include an addendum on investment ideas, read and understand the information in the book and develop your own investment plan in oil.

Today is 1.5 yr. after written, but it is true today as then. Easy to read, understand. Get it if you want to know the future of oil prices. No investor will guarantee results, but this is pretty darn insightful.

A great insight into the oil market generally and the US tight oil sector in particular. As well as being informative, it's well written and an enjoyable read. Time will tell if Dan's predictions come to fruition, but if you are interested in the geopolitics of oil I'd recommend it highly. It's also bang up to date as of mid-2015.