text: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9143/index1.html\n\nUnderstand that all the oil companies in this country are foaming at the lips to develop shale oil.  Even conservative estimates put the amount we have at 100% of our need for hundreds of years.  Shale oil is NOT a poor source of oil.  Indeed, we get about 20% of our oil from canadian shale oil, and they have FAR less than we do.  Our shale oil reserves are FAR greater than all the oil in the middle east combined.  It would take less than a year to convert to 100% shale oil and cost far less for that oil than we are currently paying, even considering in the development costs of the first year (after that, it's far cheaper to maintain it).\n\nThe only thing standing in the way is Congress.\n\nAlso, understand this.  We do not have to convert over to 100% domestic supply (although it would be a good idea to have the capability to rapidly do so by vastly increasing our refinery capabilities).  All we would need to do is maybe supply an extra 25% of our own needs.  That would crash the oil market and break the back of the terrorist funding middle east.  The ability to slide our oil import consumption up and down would give us an incredibly potent weapon to use against these jackasses and force them to behave.