The unconventional oil age

Shale is going global. Its arrival will shape the supply picture for years to come

SHALE oil has transformed the American energy landscape. But can the phenomenon spread around the world? It's a crucial question for global oil markets. If the unconventional oil boom takes off outside North America it will disrupt international oil-trading patterns and ease supply tightness. If it doesn't, then Opec and other established exporters can rest easy. Shale oil, otherwise known as tight oil, will have been another little road bump on the group's journey to oil-market domination. Optimists say the conditions are right for a truly global unconventional oil business. Sustained high crude prices and rising demand give drillers every incentive to unlock more supply. That's what worked