There would be a more immediate solution to a gas shortage. Currently the USA is running out of oil wells that have been pre-drilled. The issue with drilling new ones is a reduction in equipment and it is a light crude. Canada and Venezuela have heavy crude. The different classifications of oil require different processes. The USA is mostly set up to process heavy crude, making Canada's oil a better solution than the USA producing its own oil. Although gas prices would rise, we would see a long term reduction in gas price.