The Americanization of Shell Oil -- Testing the waters -- Betting on technology -- The trials and triumphs of exploration -- The end of business as usual -- The offshore imperative -- Deepwater treasures in a new era of oil

Growth in oil and gas production in the continental U.S. has led some states to reconsider their taxation of production, prompting comparisons of state policies, especially the rate at which production is taxed. Cross-state comparisons are problematic because states often selectively apply their...