I’m not a Aubrey McClendon fan. I don’t like the way he does business.... but he’s one of the guys who came along in the 90’s and as you said... nailed the thing down. I agree, he didn’t INVENT the process.
Aubrey McClendon was a landman and a high risk investor. He did not pioneer shale drilling. That was George Mitchell. Even Aubrey doesn’t make such claims in interviews.
The Two Sides Of Aubrey McClendon, America’s Most Reckless Billionaire
http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2011/10/05/aubrey-mcclendon-chesapeake-billionaire-wildcatter-shale/