Podcast
North American Energy Part 1: The Shale Revolution
A brief history of oil and gas development prior to the shale revolution.
North American Energy Part 1: The Shale Revolution
Adam Fackler, CFA
Adam Fackler, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
About the Podcast
A brief history of oil and gas development prior to the shale revolution.
North American Energy Part 1: The Shale Revolution

Oil and gas development is not new in the US. The first US oil well was actually drilled in northwest Pennsylvania in 1859. Oil production subsequently reached a peak in 1970 at roughly 9.6 million barrels a day, before declining through 2008. George Mitchell—he’s often referred to as the father of fracking—started experimenting with hydraulic fracturing in the 1980s before utilizing a modern-day frack in 1997. Five years after that, Mitchell actually combined horizontal drilling with this improved frack. The combination has led to an American energy renaissance driven by increased resource potential, improved well economics, and has really created a manufacturing model with improving efficiencies.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing were first applied to gas-focused drilling in the Barnett, the Fayetteville, and Haynesville. The same technology was then applied to liquids-focused basins like the Eagle Ford, Bakken, and Permian. The Permian Basin is the focal point of development in the US. The basin encompasses two sub-basins called the Delaware and Midland Basins.

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Investment Decisions: Do not use this report as the sole basis for investment decisions. Do not select an allocation, investment discipline, or investment manager based on performance alone. Consider, in addition to performance results, other relevant information about each investment manager, as well as matters such as your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon.

The returns on a portfolio that utilizes environmental, social, or governance (ESG) criteria for stock selection may be lower or higher than portfolios where ESG factors are not considered, and the investment opportunities available to such portfolios may differ.

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Past performance does not guarantee future results.

© 2026 Miller/Howard Investments.

DISCLOSURE

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: ARE NOT FDIC INSURED - MAY LOSE VALUE - ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED

Opinions and estimates offered constitute Miller/Howard Investments' judgment and are subject to change without notice, as are statements of financial market trends, which are based on current market conditions. Nothing stated herein, including the mention of specific company names, should be construed as a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any security, sector, or MLPs in general. To receive a list of all recommendations for the previous year, please email compliance@mhinvest.com. All investments carry a certain degree of risk, including possible loss of principal. It is important to note that there are risks inherent in any investment and there can be no assurance that any asset class will provide positive performance over any period of time. The material may also contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty, and there is no guarantee they will come to pass.

Common stocks do not assure dividend payments. Dividends are paid only when declared by an issuer’s board of directors, and the amount of any dividend may vary over time. Dividend yield is one component of performance and should not be the only consideration for investment.

The information above is from sources deemed to be reliable and is provided strictly for the convenience of our investors and their advisors. These materials are solely informational. Legal, accounting and tax restrictions, transaction costs, and changes to any assumptions may significantly affect the economics of any transaction.

The information and analyses contained herein are not intended as tax, legal, or investment advice and may not be appropriate for your specific circumstances; accordingly, you should consult your own tax, legal, investment, or other advisors, at both the outset of any transaction and on an ongoing basis, to determine such appropriateness. Any investment returns — past, hypothetical, or otherwise — are not indicative of future performance.

Investment Decisions: Do not use this report as the sole basis for investment decisions. Do not select an allocation, investment discipline, or investment manager based on performance alone. Consider, in addition to performance results, other relevant information about each investment manager, as well as matters such as your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon.

The returns on a portfolio that utilizes environmental, social, or governance (ESG) criteria for stock selection may be lower or higher than portfolios where ESG factors are not considered, and the investment opportunities available to such portfolios may differ.

ESG/Sustainable Investing Considerations: It is important to know that sustainable investments across geographies and styles approach the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and other sustainability considerations and incorporate the findings in a variety of ways. Therefore, you should carefully review Miller/Howard’s ADV to understand how a particular product or strategy approaches sustainable investing and if the approach aligns with your goals and objectives. Sustainable investing-related strategies may or may not result in favorable investment performance and the strategy may forego favorable market opportunities in order to adhere to sustainable investing-related strategies or mandates. Issuers may not necessarily meet high performance standards on all aspects of ESG or other sustainability considerations. In addition, there is no guarantee that a product’s sustainable investing related strategy will be successful. Companies, as well as related investment strategies, face increasing risks associated with different and evolving industry and regulatory standards as well as public sentiment toward sustainable (ESG) and diversity (DEI) approaches; these risks include, but are not limited to, becoming the subject of investigations and enforcement actions, litigation, public boycott, and reputational harm. Speak to your financial advisor for more information. Companies, as well as related investment strategies, may underperform if ESG-related risks become financial obligations and/or harm investor sentiment, and ESG risks and opportunities can impact a company’s profitability and longevity.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

© 2026 Miller/Howard Investments.

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