如果继续反对使用化石燃料，就是在反对美国石油和天然气现代的文艺复兴革命。
奥巴马自担任总统这3年半以来，尽他最大的努力阻止化石燃料的使用。相应的政策措施包括征收碳税、加大联邦政府监管力度、延迟联邦政府的审批进度、拒绝 “拱心石”XL输油管道的基础设施审批、通过消除钻井的隐形成本中断钻井所需资金，以及大幅减少津贴等。所有这些政策的目的就是要提高石油消费者的成本。与此同时，投入到太阳能、风能和其他替代能源上的资金已达到数十亿美元。
很简单，总统这么做的目的就是要反对钻井开采美国无论现在和未来都需要的石油和天然气。我在这个领域已经研究了超过45年，因此我可以很确信地告诉你，目前除了钻井，还没有其他别的办法把石油和天然气开采出来供人们使用。
奥巴马总统现在面临的是他自己也没法阻止的状况，我们暂且称之为现代美国能源的文艺复兴革命。这次革命由美国和加拿大的独立石油生产商发起，也称作精密水平性钻孔技术。这项突破的新技术其实只需要在一个总共可开采2亿5000万桶石油的油田上钻井而已。
水平钻井开采法很快吸引了人们的眼球；美国北达科他州98%的油井都是水平的，美国剩下的油矿约70%也是水平钻孔的。天然气的供应量也因此从足以使用10年增加到了100年。
自2005年以来，美国的石油产量非但没有减少，反而增加了。美国现在正在引领世界勘探新的石油储备。讽刺的是，奥巴马总统想拿这个巨大成就去邀功，但实际上政府对此没有丝毫贡献！Continental Resources’ Cedar Hills Field公司与其他小型独立石油公司一起合作了15年，才打破了之前技术的局限，让巴肯油田的产油量达到了目前的水平。George Mitchell花了16年的时间才打破Barnett Shale气田的技术局限，从此实现了天然气资源的革命化转变。政府从来没有给过任何科研支持或资金援助，而政府的能源政策甚至今天为止还在掩盖真正在此方面做出贡献的那些人的功劳。
Continental公司和其他石油开采商化解了庞大的巴肯油田的风险，而过时的政府竟继续维持原有的限制政策。实际上，这些限制政策针对的并不是整个石油资源，而是Continental公司的石油储备。这些政策落后地认为美国的石油和天然气储备仅占世界总量的2%，但却不考虑美国目前是世界上第三大石油生产国（排名仅次于沙特阿拉伯和俄罗斯）。美国在石油储备上的限制政策让人们觉得无需担忧美国未来的石油供应，但实际上这种担心现在有些过头了！
是的，美国能源的文艺复兴革命确实浩大且真实，并且这次革命足以让美国能源恢复独立。目前美国虽然只供应了石油需用量的58%，但比起2006年60%的石油需要进口确实提高了。美国走到今天着实不易，我坚信在接下来的5年美国每天的石油产量可以再增加300万桶。DEPA（国内能源生产联盟）已宣称美洲，包括南美和北美，在下一个十年有望实现能源的独立。
虽然这会是一个巨大的挑战，但还是有可能实现的。能源独立不会在缺少新原油管道和其他基础设施的情况下实现，所以“拱心石”XL输油管道和其他技术需要立马批准通过，不能再继续拖延下去了。石油生产商们需要的是一个稳定的监管环境，而不是司法部的威胁和起诉或所有政府机构更加严格的监管。
这么做的回报是非常丰厚的，以下是其中一部分：
稳定的汽油价格。充足的国内原油供应可以同时降低价格和保持市场的稳定。
国家安全。美国将不再需要与本国利益相冲突的不友好国邦的怜悯。
外贸收支平衡。这意味着美国人的钱将保存在美国。
美国就业。能源类是过去3年唯一在美国就业市场中保持坚挺的职位，它可以让美国的就业市场新增100万个职位。到时候，大批能源生产企业会蜂拥至美国，利用美国的高级劳动力。
为美国创造更多的财富。美国俄亥俄州和宾夕法尼亚州的钢铁公司生产石油和天然气开采所需的管道，底特津则生产能源开采行业所需的卡车等工具，这样的话，包括美国公司、特许权所有人、美国国家和政府都能从美国石油开采中获益。
能源独立给人们心理上带来了积极影响。这恐怕是最丰厚的回报。能源独立能让美国摆脱欧佩克的统治和影响， 美国也可以自己生产石油，用美国自己产的石油和天然气给美国的未来加油。
尽管拖延了很久，但还来得及，美国现在就可以通过颁布正确的能源政策和目标来掌握自己的命运。这将成为美国这次大选最为关键的焦点，我相信罗姆尼是能够帮助美国把能源潜力运用到现实的候选人。如果沿着这条进步和繁荣的道路走，美国将收获很多；而如果不这样做的话，美国将面临危险。
If you are opposed to the continued use of fossil fuels in the world, then you are not in the position to embrace the modern-day renaissance of oil and natural gas in America.
Since President Obama’s election three and a half years ago, he and his administration have done everything in their power to stop fossil fuel usage, including a carbon tax, increased federal regulations, delays in federal permitting, infrastructure permitting denials for the Keystone XL Pipeline, capital starvation for drilling by the elimination of intangible drilling costs, and depletion allowance. All of these actions are designed to result in higher costs at the pump for the consumer. At the same time, there are billions of dollars in subsidies being given to solar, wind and all other alternative sources of energy.
In short, the President is opposed to drilling for oil and gas to supply America’s needs and future. I have been in this business for over 45 years and I can assure you there just isn’t any way to coax oil and gas from the rocks they are in to bring them to the surface for consumption without drilling a well!
The President is faced with a situation today which even he doesn’t have the power to stop. I will just call it the modern-day American Energy Renaissance. This renaissance was brought about by independent producers in the United States and Canada. It is called precision horizontal drilling. This technologic breakthrough over the past two decades has resulted in the ability to place a wellbore or drainage lateral in a thin-bedded rock formation of 10-15 feet of producing formation exposed to the wellbore for two miles or more. You now have 9,000-10,000 feet of producible wellbore. In the case of Continental Resources’ Cedar Hills Field in Bowman County, North Dakota, this technique was all that was required to create wells in an oilfield with an ultimate recovery of 250 million barrels.
Horizontal drilling has caught on quickly; 98% of North Dakota wells are horizontal and about 70% of the rest of the wells in America in large resource plays across the country are drilled horizontally. Natural gas supply has soared from estimates of a 10 year supply to more than a 100 year supply.
Since 2005, oil production in America has been increasing instead of declining. The U.S. now leads the world in the discovery of new oil reserves. Ironically, President Obama wants to take credit for this magnificent achievement, but, government had nothing to do with it! Continental worked with other small, independent oil companies for over 15 years to break the code and bring the great Bakken oil production to its current level. George Mitchell spent 16 years breaking the code on the Barnett Shale gas play which revolutionized natural gas resource plays. Governmental research and aid was non-existent and our energy policies continue to hinder our efforts even today.
Continental and other operators have de-risked this gigantic Bakken oil resource play that covers 9 million acres (or 15,000 square miles) through drilling wells across the Play. However, out-of-date government reserve practices limit the extent of proven reserves to only include direct off-sets in contact with known proven production if these can be drilled in five years. These reserve practices were designed for conventional reservoirs, not widespread resource plays covering entire productive basins. These reserve limitations are at best out-of-date and perhaps even archaic. They count U.S. oil and gas reserves at just 2% of the world’s total despite the fact that the U.S. is currently third in the world in oil production (behind only Saudi Arabia and Russia). The limitations on reserves in America would lead one to believe our future oil potential is insignificant when in fact it is renowned and surging ahead!
Yes, the American energy renaissance is both powerful and real. This renaissance is capable of restoring American energy independence. Currently we are supplying 58% of our petroleum needs. This is up from 40% in 2006 when we were importing 60% of our needs. We have come a long way quickly and it is my conviction that in the next five years we can add another 3 million barrels per day of oil production. DEPA (the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance) has declared that the Americas, North and South, could be energy independent in the next decade.
The challenge is huge, but achievable. Energy independence cannot be realized without new crude oil pipelines, other infrastructure. The Keystone XL Pipeline and others need approval now, not continued delays. Producers need regulatory stability, not threats and lawsuits by the Department of Justice, nor increased regulations from all governmental agencies.
The rewards can be great, and include:
Stabilized Gasoline Prices. Sufficient domestic crude oil supply will both lower prices and provide stability.
National Security. We will not be at the mercy of unfriendly regimes whose interests conflict with our own.
Balance of Trade Correction. This means we keep our money in America.
American Jobs. The energy sector is the only bright spot in the job market for the past three years that can be illuminated to include an additional one million U.S. workers employed. Plentiful energy entices manufacturing back to the U.S. to take advantage of our superior workforce.
American Wealth Creation. U.S. steel companies in Ohio and Pennsylvania roll the pipes used in oil and gas. Detroit benefits in the sale of pick-ups and trucks used in the industry. American companies benefit, royalty owners benefit, states benefit, and the U.S. government benefits because good things flow from American Oil.
The Psychological Uplift of Energy independence is perhaps the largest reward of all. Energy independence would free us from OPEC’s dominance and influence. We would be producing for ourselves and using U.S.-produced oil and gas to power our future.
Although long overdue, the United States can now take control of its own destiny with a real energy policy and purpose. This will be a crucial issue in this election and I believe Mitt Romney is the candidate who can help us turn our energy potential into reality. We have everything to gain as we follow this road to progress and prosperity. Our very way of life is at risk if we do not.
