Did I read that right? Yes. You did. Like many of you, I like to engage in fact based discussions about frac’ing. Like, for instance, there isn’t a “K” in the phrase “fracture stimulation”. Or, how casing design, blow out preventers, and cement bond logs work to protect groundwater.

I describe the depth of the zone vs. the depth of the fresh water. I describe that, even though I love golf, 36 million barrels a day of water are used by golf courses in the U.S. With 1,000 wells a month completed, assuming 7,500′ laterals, 10 million barrels of water (and increasingly recycled water), is used to frac wells each day. I even tell people to turn their furnace off for a day and see what happens.

I talk about CO2 being generated from consumption; about the fact that the U.S. is emitting less CO2 today than it did last year and will decrease again next year because natural gas is more efficient than coal. And, I talk about the fact that 74% of the coal fired electrical generation in the world is in Asia and maybe we should spend more time and money there.

I am not unique. Our trade associations, our advocates and our CEOs all say the same thing. And guess what, it isn’t working. That’s because nobody cares about that. They care about a narrative. Well, here’s the narrative.

The anti-frac movement in the U.S. is backed by Russia with the intention of controlling a higher percentage of global energy supply and strengthening their economy and position in the world. End of story. If you are anti-frac, you are anti-America. Here’s the proof (not that anyone needs any because it’s so obvious, isn’t it?). I’m probably going to submit it to a scientific journal for peer review and publishing.

1. In 2014, OPEC increased production to hurt Russia at the request of the American government as part of their response to Crimea.
2. In 2016, Russia is “accused” of influencing the U.S. election to bring Donald J. Trump to power over Hilary Clinton, who was Secretary of State as the relationship soured prior to running for President.
3. 3 weeks after Trump wins, OPEC cuts production.
4. In 2017, anti-frac rhetoric is found to have links to Russia.
5. Russia provides 36.7% of the natural gas market in Europe at prices much higher than the U.S.
6. Russia is the world’s second largest oil producer.
7. 67% of natural gas produced in the US requires frac’ing. 7.7 mmbo/d in the U.S is produced from horizontal wells, of which ~100% require frac’ing.
8. A ban would lead to a 30-40% 1 year decrease in supply in the U.S (and send prices sky high).
9. Putin describes frac’ing as barbaric and Russia will never do this.
10. The Russians are aiding Bernie Sanders, who said he will ban frac’ing, to win in 2020.

Occam’s razor says to take the answer with fewest assumptions. Since for casing to fail and frac’ing to cause groundwater to be contaminated would take an almost impossible chain of events, it’s pretty clear. Anti-frac rhetoric is driven by the Russians to ensure that prices go up, benefiting what would then be the largest producer of oil in the World (after declines in the U.S.) and largest exporter of natural gas in Europe (who’s competitor is LNG from the U.S.). Russia wins.

Therefore: Anti-frac is anti-America. Next, I prove that 2+2 = Fish. Of course, the alternative is we could just have a discussion that talks about the BENEFITS AND CONSEQUENCES and think for ourselves…