The frackers were so successful at getting investment money and drilling wells that they really shot themselves with their own gun.  They flooded the gas market and drove prices way down below production costs.  

The consumers got a temporary benefit, but even conventional drilling could not show a profit at the low market prices.  

So then everybody lost money.  

Well, not the scammers, at least, mostly not.  They had been planning to cash out and run all along, it was just a matter of doing it earlier than expected.

--Gaianne  

The Fates are kind.