Shale Gas Report Ed 1, 2011
This new report looks at the global Shale Gas market, the changes, developments and forecasts for the future. Shale gas has been a ‘game changer’ in the US changing the country from being reliant on imports for the foreseeable future to being able to meet demand from domestic production. A large reduction in the cost to produce natural gas from shale has made shale gas economically viable. So presently US natural gas prices are around USD 4 per mmBtu. Whether shale gas can maintain its meteoric rise is uncertain. Low gas prices have made the economics of shale gas projects less attractive and are expected to remain bearish in the short-term. Furthermore, there is concern over the environmental impact of fracturing water and the amount of water used in the fracturing process. New environmental legislation on hydraulic fracturing, if passed, could drive the costs of hydraulic fracturing higher, possibly leaving only the big players in the shale game.
