Changes in oil, natural gas industries catch some producers by surprise

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BY ADAM WILMOTH awilmoth@opubco.com

The books that line my desk reflect how much has changed in the oil and natural gas industry in the past five years.

The books written just a few years ago have a decidedly different tone from those written in the past two years.

Books such as “Beyond Oil,” “The End of Oil” and “The Coming Economic Collapse: How You Can Thrive When Oil Costs $200 a Barrel” seem out of place when the industry and country are now focused on rapidly increasing domestic oil and natural gas production.

Just five years ago, politicians and industry leaders were concerned about how to deal with the impending world oil and natural gas shortage.

But this week, President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney both used the season’s first presidential debate to discuss how increased domestic production has helped make energy independence possible.

It’s nothing new for politicians to discuss energy independence.