Hydraulic fracturing pumps many thousands of gallons of mainly water and sand, with a few chemicals, at high pressure into tight gas-bearing shale deposits (hardened muds), creating cracks that allow gas to flow back up the well to the surface ( Shale Shock).

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Third, and most important, Timor-Leste's oil-and-gas income is relatively modest, and started to flow only after independence.

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The idea was that while gas prices were low, the cash flow from the higher-value liquids would be enough to keep Chesapeake solvent.

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Additionally, the rise of Islamism threatens to disrupt the flow of oil and natural gas from the region - a significant share of the world market - while discouraging investment in untapped reserves that could lessen dependence on Middle East supplies.

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In the design of the well, the company apparently chose a riskier option among two possibilities to provide a barrier to the flow of gas in space surrounding steel tubes in the well, documents and internal e-mails show.

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If a natural gas producer can enter five-year-forward contracts, why can't a dairy farmer smooth out his cash flow by linking feed and milk prices?

FORBES: Creative destruction 101