News bites: Fracking tech goes deep, natural gas prices drop, and more

Bloomberg looks at efforts to improve hydraulic fracturing technology, reporting that “industry scientists are studying ways to create longer, deeper cracks in the earth to release more oil and natural gas.”

“Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) has set its sights on ‘super cracks,’ a method of blasting deeper into dense rock to create wider channels in order to funnel more oil and gas,” the piece notes.

Reuters has the latest on European plans to halt purchases of Iranian oil.

The Associated Press reports on falling natural-gas prices.

AFP reports from the Detroit auto show that manufacturers are "split between doubts and optimism" over the future of electric cars.

Bloomberg reports that Chrysler plans to begin selling natural-gas-powered pickup trucks in the United States.