LOUISIANA/ EAST TEXAS - The high prices we've been paying at gas pump aren't anything new, but some new technology might ease our frustration. The Haynesville Shale might cover one million acres. It might be rich in oil and natural gas, and it might ease the struggles Americans have had at the gas pump.

Oil and natural gas experts stress, nothing is definite at this point, but they're excited at the formation's potential.

The Haynesville Shale is a conversation starter in our part of the country. This rock formation, 10 to 13 thousand feet beneath the earth's surface, could make a lot of people a lot of money.

"It's a big deal," Says Bill Pittman of MyOilPro.com. "It's a really big deal, and it's welcomed."

Bill Pittman, founder of the website "MyOilPro.com" says during the oil boom shale was what you drilled through to get to the good stuff. The rock had oil and gas in it, but no one got excited about it - until now. Shale is a "tight rock." It's tough to get the oil and natural gas out, but it has a high porosity. The higher the porosity, the more oil and gas it has in it. Two major developments are helping get the gas and oil out of this rock.

The first is Hydraulic Fracturing. When the shale is "fracked," it's easier to pump out the natural resources. Horizontal Drilling is also playing a big role.

"You can stay in contact with the formation for thousands of feet, instead of a couple hundred feet," Pittman adds.

Horizontal Drilling increases production rates. The more oil and gas produced, the more money made.

"It's been since late 70's, early 80's since i've seen anything like this," Says Farmer Gordon Boogaerts.

And that's saying a lot for Gordon Boogaerts. The Dixie, Louisiana Farmer leased his land during the oil boom, and now he's clearing out some of his corn for the same thing. Oil and gas companies are buying up land at a dizzying pace..

"Some of these Haynesville guys are gettin' what, 5, 6, 8-thousand an acre ?....now that's somethin' I've never seen before," says Boogaerts.

But Pittman cautions, the Haynesville Shale could be boom, or a bust.

"It's gonna take, not only more drilling, but it's also gonna take more time to get some production data to see if it's really as good as they hope."

And if it is, there will be many more relaxing days on the porch for land owners like Gordon Boogaerts.