Israeli Energy Independence

By Tom Roberson

In an ironic twist of fate, Israel is about to become a major Middle East energy producer through the discovery of one of the world's largest offshore natural gas fields, with serious implications for regional realignment and stability.

Houston-based Noble Energy confirmed the discovery of an estimated 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits in its Leviathan offshore field, enough energy to power Israel for 100 years. The Leviathan field is part of the Levant Basin Province, estimated by the US Geological Survey to contain approximately 120 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves equivalent to 20 billion barrels of oil. While far short of Saudi Arabia's proven reserves of 262 billion barrels of oil, it nevertheless holds the possibility of freeing Israel from dependence on the oil market, influenced by its Arab neighbors for energy.

Israel will now be able to achieve what we in America have longed for since the 1970s, an end to dependence on foreign oil. Imagine the regional realignment possibilities conceivable by an Israel no longer dependent on hostile neighbors for oil. I don't imagine this news was well received by her neighbors in the oil business as they will now lose a significant bargaining chip in regional relations.

The discovery in America of significant recoverable gas reserves in shale formations such as the Barnett shale in Texas, the Haynesville shale in Louisiana, and the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania, along with the Eagle Ford shale in South Texas, hold the same promise for America. However, environmentalists are working to shut down gas production in these areas due to their opposition to the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process used in horizontal shale drilling.

Environmentalists never seem to be satisfied as they oppose ANWR drilling, offshore drilling, nuclear energy, and, basically, any energy production at all in a vain attempt to return us to the pristine conditions of the Stone Age.

I hope that Israel will not allow similar distractions to derail its ability to free itself from dependence on often hostile neighbors for its energy needs.

Tom Roberson is an independent conservative blogging at www.tomroberson.wordpress.com and doing his small part to save his country. He'd love to hear from you.