Latest U.S. Oil Milestone Wins Comment from Joe R. Mathewson

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 09, 2013 (Press-News.org) U.S. oil production has skyrocketed in recent years, filling many experts and analysts with newfound optimism--and Joe R. Mathewson is among those who believe the United States could be headed toward true energy independence. Mathewson, who has worked with oil and gas companies numerous times in his 40-year professional history, points to a recent article from U.S. News and World Report. According to the article, U.S. oil production is poised to hit another milestone, with monthly crude oil production on track to outpace imports for the first time in two decades. Mathewson has responded to the new article in a statement to the press.

"U.S. oil independence has long been a topic of fervent wishing, but even our most optimistic politicians and oil industry experts have expressed doubt as to whether it could ever feasibly happen," remarks Mathewson in his new press statement. "With the new technologies of directional drilling and "fracking" combined with the new U.S. shale oil discoveries, that goal, set by the Carter Administration back in 1975, may be more attainable than any of us ever dreamed."

According to U.S. News and World Report, there are many factors that have contributed to America's sudden oil surge, but foremost among them are the productive shale plays found in North Dakota and in Texas. Due to these abounding resources, U.S. oil production is anticipated to surpass imports, by as many as 2 million barrels per day, by the end of 2014. Indeed, the article quotes the U.S. Energy Information Administration as saying that rising domestic production, especially in Texas and North Dakota, are contributing to the nation's move away from international oil dependence.

The trend is projected to continue for the foreseeable future, as well. U.S. News and World Report claims that domestic oil production is set to rise to as high as 8 million barrels per day by the end of 2014. Imports, meanwhile, are likely to keep waning with exports of U.S. oil increasing.

According to Mathewson, the current oil production is a significant milestone but it is being impacted and delayed by the lack of pipelines and infrastructure to handle, transport and process the growing supply of oil due to governmental regulations, permit delays and the reduced leasing of government lands for oil development. The Department of Energy and the Obama Administration has done little to encourage oil and gas development and it is being accomplished by U.S. oilmen on private lands in spite of the lack of government support.

"Historically, the United States has stood as the nation's foremost consumer of oil," he says. "While our oil use may slacken and our domestic production is clearly rising, that does not mean we are going to be able to stop importing foreign oil tomorrow. He feels that it will most certainly happen in the next several years as long as oil prices stay at or above $70 per barrel. Energy independence is an ongoing process, and will take more time, even though we are hitting some major and surprising milestones and in spite of current governmental policies and regulations.

Joe R. Mathewson has worked in the field of environmental permitting, site mitigation, and infrastructure construction for four decades, and is currently working as a Senior Engineering Manager in the California oil and gas industry.

ABOUT:

Joe R. Mathewson is a professional with 40 years of experience in site mitigation, environmental permitting, civil and mechanical construction, and hazardous waste remediation. He is a certified hazardous materials manager, registered environmental assessor and senior environmental engineer. On top of serving as the current vice president of operations at Diversified Project Services International, Mathewson has successfully managed numerous large environmental remediation projects and infrastructure construction programs around the country for such clients such as the United States Department of Defense, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.