Last month, I spoke with Dr. Kent Moors on my
S&A Investor Radio podcast. We talked about an idea I've been following for years...
New technologies – like fracking and horizontal drilling – have allowed the U.S. to tap into incredible oil and gas reserves. My research team and I have gotten a close look at these technologies over the last 12 months in the
Permian Basin,
Eagle Ford, and the
Bakken Shale.
This has led to a huge oil boom in America. In 2011, the U.S. was producing 5.5 million barrels of oil per day. Today, it's producing 7.5 million barrels per day. That's a 36% increase in oil production in just two years.
And it's the most oil America has produced in 25 years.
Despite this massive boom, the U.S. isn't even close to producing enough oil to meet current demand. But Dr. Moors argues we will be soon... And even if he's half right, a few key players are going to reap enormous rewards.
Americans consume about 18.5 million barrels of oil per day. To reach energy independence, we'd have to increase production
by 11 million barrels of oil per day.
That's why Dr. Moors' prediction – that in 20 years, the U.S. will no longer need to import oil from overseas – was so shocking.
Dr. Moors is one of the smartest oil analysts in the field. He's a consultant to the world's largest energy companies. And he's basing his call on the latest planning document from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
OPEC is an oil cartel made up of mostly Middle East countries, and its purpose is to coordinate oil policy. The document projects that
not a single member of OPEC will be exporting oil to America a few decades from now.
In other words,
the largest oil-producing nations believe America will be energy independent in the not-so-distant future.
For the U.S. to become energy independent, it would likely have to open up more shale areas in New York, California, and Florida. It would also have to drill for oil in the Three Forks (under the Bakken shale),
the Cline (in the Permian Basin), and the Utica (located under the Marcellus shale).
Dr. Moors also suggests that the U.S. will import about 30% of its oil from Canada. That means the U.S. will need to produce about 13 million barrels of oil per day to meet current demand – 5.5 million barrels more than current production levels.
I'm not sure we'll get there in 20 years. But if the U.S. opens up more shale areas and starts importing fewer barrels of oil from overseas, many companies will be huge beneficiaries...
I suggest buying some of the largest shale oil producers, like
Continental Resources Inc. (
NYSE: CLR,
Stock Forum) and
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (
NYSE: PXD,
Stock Forum). These companies drill in the Bakken, Permian Basin, and Eagle Ford – and their oil production numbers are already skyrocketing.
Oil-service firms – like
Schlumberger Ltd. (
NYSE: SLB,
Stock Forum),
Baker Hughes Inc. (
NYSE: BHI,
Stock Forum),
Weatherford International Ltd. (
NYSE: WFT,
Stock Forum), and
Halliburton Co. (
NYSE: HAL,
Stock Forum) – will also be winners.
These companies sell drilling equipment and services to energy giants like
ExxonMobil Corp. (
NYSE: XOM,
Stock Forum) and
Chevron (
NYSE: CVX,
Stock Forum).
My favorite pick is
Halliburton – which I believe will be bought by
General Electric Co. (
NYSE: GE,
Stock Forum) over the next 12 months.
As America pushes to become energy independent, these companies will likely put money in investors' pockets.