This has opened the U.S.-produced West Texas Intermediate crude oil to global penetration — never before even imagined prior to the fracking breakthrough.
After a mediocre fourth-quarter 2015 ending, there are some unexpected flickers of encouragement in the economic arena that may yet turn into a bonfire.
With negative oil demand/supply inversionhaving reached a low point as 2015 ended, there are increasing signs that the red-hot shale expansion is in a state of re-evaluation.
This expanding glut has encompassed fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), plus copper, lumber, iron ore, rare metals and even most agricultural products.