Federal energy authorities have slashed by 96% the estimated amount of recoverable oil buried in California's vast Monterey Shale deposits, deflating its potential as a national "black gold mine" of petroleum, Los Angeles Times reported on May 20.
The Franco field off the coast of southeastern Brazil could have as much or more oil than the massive Libra field that the government last month sold in an auction to a group of energy companies, oil regulator ANP said on November 13, Reuters has reported.