Russian oil

If North Dakota oil keeps bringing down the price the world will gain an unexpected benefit. This will be the one thing that will get Putin’s attention and perhaps deter is desire to recreate the old Soviet Union. Among the many threats facing Russia’s economy, cheap oil could be the biggest of all. Crude prices have fallen more than 23 percent since June, depressing the ruble and knocking a potentially gaping hole in the national budget, which draws 45 percent of revenues from oil taxes. Just one more incentive for the government to open the Green River Formation for drilling.