The production of shale oilis unlike drilling in other parts of the world the amount of shale oil that the wells produce decline at between 2% and 5% per year because of which wells keep pumping for 20 years or even more. When prices of oil drop, the wells still keep pumping. The pumping of wells will stop only if prices drop below the variable cost which seldom drops to that level for most wells. Unlike traditional projects, shale wells enjoy a short life.