Commodities at a Glance: Special Issue on Shale
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Unconventional Gas and Oil in North America Page 1 of 24
Unconventional gas and oil in North America This publication aims to provide insight into the impacts of the North American 'shale revolution' on US energy markets and global energy flows. The main economic, environmental and climate impacts are highlighted. Although the North American experience can serve as a model for shale gas and tight oil development elsewhere, the document does not explicitly address the potential of other regions. Manuscript completed in June 2014. Disclaimer and copyright This publication does not necessarily represent the views of the author or the European Parliament. Reproduction and translation of this document for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and the publisher is given prior notice and sent a copy. © European Union, 2014. Photo credits: © Trueffelpix / Fotolia (cover page), © bilderzwerg / Fotolia (figure 2) [email protected] http://www.eprs.ep.parl.union.eu (intranet) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank (internet) http://epthinktank.eu (blog) Unconventional gas and oil in North America Page 1 of 24 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 'shale revolution' Over the past decade, the United States and Canada have experienced spectacular growth in the production of unconventional fossil fuels, notably shale gas and tight oil, thanks to technological innovations such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Economic impacts This new supply of energy has led to falling gas prices and a reduction of energy imports. Low gas prices have benefitted households and industry, especially steel production, fertilisers, plastics and basic petrochemicals. The production of tight oil is costly, so that a high oil price is required to make it economically viable. -
Statoil-2015-Statutory-Report.Pdf
2015 Statutory report in accordance with Norwegian authority requirements © Statoil 2016 STATOIL ASA BOX 8500 NO-4035 STAVANGER NORWAY TELEPHONE: +47 51 99 00 00 www.statoil.com Cover photo: Øyvind Hagen Statutory report 2015 Board of directors report ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 The Statoil share ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Our business ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Group profit and loss analysis .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Cash flows ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ -
Assessing the Impacts of the Shale Gas Revolution on Electricity Markets and Climate Change
The Shale Gas Paradox: Assessing the Impacts of the Shale Gas Revolution on Electricity Markets and Climate Change Andrew K. Cohen Harvard College May 2013 M-RCBG Associate Working Paper Series | No. 14 Winner of the 2013 John Dunlop Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Business and Government The views expressed in the M-RCBG Fellows and Graduate Student Research Paper Series are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government or of Harvard University. The papers in this series have not undergone formal review and approval; they are presented to elicit feedback and to encourage debate on important public policy challenges. Copyright belongs to the author(s). Papers may be downloaded for personal use only. Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government Weil Hall | Harvard Kennedy School | www.hks.harvard.edu/mrcbg The Shale Gas Paradox: Assessing the Impacts of the Shale Gas Revolution on Electricity Markets and Climate Change A thesis presented by Andrew Knoller Cohen to The Committee on Degrees in Environmental Science and Public Policy in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree with honors of Bachelor of Arts Harvard College Cambridge, Massachusetts March 2013 The Shale Gas Paradox: Assessing the Impacts of the Shale Gas Revolution on Electricity Markets and Climate Change Abstract The United States shale gas revolution has led to record-low natural gas prices and profoundly affects the energy economy. Shale gas potentially offers a lower-carbon fuel source cheap enough to dethrone coal, the primary and most carbon intensive US electricity source. -
Natural Gas in the US Economy
Natural Gas in the U.S. Economy: Opportunities for Growth Robert Pirog Specialist in Energy Economics Michael Ratner Specialist in Energy Policy November 6, 2012 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R42814 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Natural Gas in the U.S. Economy: Opportunities for Growth Summary Due to the growth in natural gas production, primarily from shale gas, the United States is benefitting from some of the lowest prices for natural gas in the world and faces the question of how to best use this resource. Different segments of the U.S. economy have different perspectives on the role natural gas can play. Suppliers, which have become the victims of their own production success, are facing low prices that are forecast to remain low. Some companies that have traditionally produced only natural gas have even turned their attention to oil in order to improve their financial situation. Smaller companies are having a difficult time continuing operations and larger companies, including international companies, have bought into many shale gas assets. Prices have remained low even as consumption has increased, in part, because producers have raised production to meet the demand and because companies have improved efficiency and extraction techniques. Some companies, many with large production operations, have applied for permits to export natural gas. This has raised concerns from consumers of natural gas that domestic prices will rise. The debate regarding exports is ongoing. Industries that consume natural gas have seen input costs drop, and some have heralded low natural gas prices as the impetus for a manufacturing revolution in the United States. -
Unconventional Oil Resources Exploitation: a Review
Acta Montanistica Slovaca Volume 21 (2016), number 3, 247-257 Unconventional oil resources exploitation: A review Šárka Vilamová 1, Marian Piecha 2 and Zden ěk Pavelek 3 Unconventional crude oil sources are geographically extensive and include the tar sands of the Province of Alberta in Canada, the heavy oil belt of the Orinoco region of Venezuela and the oil shales of the United States, Brazil, India and Malagasy. High production costs and low oil prices have hitherto inhibited the inclusion of unconventional oil resources in the world oil resource figures. In the last decade, developing production technologies, coupled with the higher market value of oil, convert large quantities of unconventional oil into an effective resource. From the aspect of quantity and technological and economic recoverability are actually the most important tar sands. Tar sands can be recovered via surface mining or in-situ collection techniques. This is an up-stream part of exploitation process. Again, this is more expensive than lifting conventional petroleum, but for example, Canada's Athabasca (Alberta) Tar Sands is one example of unconventional reserve that can be economically recoverable with the largest surface mining machinery on the waste landscape with important local but also global environmental impacts. The similar technology of up-stream process concerns oil shales. The downstream part process of solid unconventional oil is an energetically difficult process of separation and refining with important increasing of additive carbon production and increasing of final product costs. In the region of Central Europe is estimated the mean volume of 168 million barrels of technically recoverable oil and natural gas liquids situated in Ordovician and Silurian age shales in the Polish- Ukrainian Foredeep basin of Poland. -
The Shale Gas Revolution in China—Problems and Countermeasures
EARTH SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL Earth Sci. Res. J. Vol. 22, No. 3 (September, 2018): 215-221 PETROLEUM GEOLOGY The shale gas revolution in China—problems and countermeasures Xiaohui Chen1, Zhicheng Liu2,*, Xing Liang3, Zhao Zhang3, Tingshan Zhang1,2, Haihua Zhu1, Jun Lang1 1School of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China 2Sichuan Institute of Land Planning and Surveying, Chengdu 610045, China 3PetroChina, Zhejiang Oil Field Company, Hangzhou, 310013, China *Email of the corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Keywords: shale gas; exploration and Shale gas development throughout the world has resulted in a revolution in the field of global energy and has also development; problems; countermeasures. become an important topic in China in recent years. While organic-rich shale is widely distributed in China and the initial commercialization of shale gas has been achieved, the research, exploration, and development of shale gas remain at an early stage. Problems exist with crucial technologies, innovation, institutional mechanisms, environmental protection, and other aspects of the industry. The shale gas exploration and development industry in China can learn from the experiences of other countries and strengthen its position in the market, with the support of new government policy. Given its unique geological conditions, China should speed up the introduction of technical innovation and establish its unique systems and methods for shale gas exploration and development. La revolución del gas de lutita en China-problemas y contramedidas RESUMEN Palabras clave: Gas de lutita; exploración y El desarrollo del gas de lutita en el mundo ha significado una revolución en el campo de la energía; en China, durante los desarrollo; problemas; contramedidas. -
Shale Gas and the Environment
Shale Gas and the Environment: Critical Need for a Government–University–Industry Research Initiative POLICYMAKER GUIDE Shale gas production is increasing at a rapid rate and is expected to become half of the U.S. natural gas supply by 2040. A government– university–industry research initiative is needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge at the interface of shale gas development and environmental protection so the nation can better prepare for its energy future. CONTENTS 4 OVERVIEW 4 What Is Shale Gas? 4 Where Is Shale Gas Located in the United States? 5 How Is Shale Gas Extracted? 5 Are All Shale Gas Plays the Same? 6 How Much Shale Gas Production Is Expected in the United States? 6 What Are the Potential Benefits from Shale Gas? 8 What Does the Public Think about Shale Gas Development and the Environment? 10 SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT 10 How Might Shale Gas Development Impact Water Resources? 12 What Have Carnegie Mellon University Researchers Found about Shale Gas Development and Water Resources? 13 What Key Questions about Shale Gas and Water Resources Are Unanswered? 14 How Might Shale Gas Development Impact Air Quality? 15 What Have Carnegie Mellon University Researchers Found about Shale Gas Development and Air Quality? 16 What Key Questions about Shale Gas and Air Quality Are Unanswered? 16 How Might Shale Gas Development Impact Greenhouse Gas Emissions? 17 What Have Carnegie Mellon University Researchers Found about Shale Gas Development and Greenhouse Gas Emissions? 18 What Key Questions about Shale Gas and Greenhouse -
Trends in U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Upstream Costs
Trends in U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Upstream Costs March 2016 Independent Statistics & Analysis U.S. Department of Energy www.eia.gov Washington, DC 20585 This report was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analyses, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the United States Government. The views in this report therefore should not be construed as representing those of the Department of Energy or other federal agencies. U.S. Energy Information Administration | Trends in U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Upstream Costs i March 2016 Contents Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Onshore costs .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Offshore costs .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Approach .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Appendix ‐ IHS Oil and Gas Upstream Cost Study (Commission by EIA) ................................................. 7 I. Introduction……………..………………….……………………….…………………..……………………….. IHS‐3 II. Summary of Results and Conclusions – Onshore Basins/Plays…..………………..…….… -
Oil and Gas Technologies Supplemental Information
Quadrennial Technology Review 2015 Chapter 7: Advancing Systems and Technologies to Produce Cleaner Fuels Supplemental Information Oil and Gas Technologies Subsurface Science, Technology, and Engineering U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Quadrennial Technology Review 2015 Oil and Gas Technologies Chapter 7: Advancing Systems and Technologies to Produce Cleaner Fuels Oil and Gas in the Energy Economy of the United States Fossil fuel resources account for 82% of total U.S. primary energy use because they are abundant, have a relatively low cost of production, and have a high energy density—enabling easy transport and storage. The infrastructure built over decades to supply fossil fuels is the world’s largest enterprise with the largest market capitalization. Of fossil fuels, oil and natural gas make up 63% of energy usage.1 Across the energy economy, the source and mix of fuels used across these sectors is changing, particularly the rapid increase in natural gas production from unconventional resources for electricity generation and the rapid increase in domestic production of shale oil. While oil and gas fuels are essential for the United States’ and the global economy, they also pose challenges: Economic: They must be delivered to users and the markets at competitive prices that encourage economic growth. High fuel prices and/or price volatility can impede this progress. Security: They must be available to the nation in a reliable, continuous way that supports national security and economic needs. Disruption of international fuel supply lines presents a serious geopolitical risk. Environment: They must be supplied and used in ways that have minimal environmental impacts on local, national, and global ecosystems and enables their sustainability. -
Natural Gas Liquids
Brookings energy security initiative natural gas task Force natural gas BrieFing Document #1: Natural Gas Liquids march 2013 charles k. ebinger govinda avasarala Brookings natural g as task Force Issue Brief 1: Natural Gas Liquids 1 PREFACE n may 2011, the Brookings institution energy security initiative (ESI) assembled a task Force of independent natural-gas experts, whose expertise and insights provided inform its research on various issues regarding Ithe u.s. natural gas sector. in may 2012, Brookings released its first report, analyzing the case and prospects for exports of liquefied natural gas (lng) from the united states. the task Force now continues to meet pe- riodically to discuss important issues facing the sector. With input from the task Force, Brookings will release periodic issue briefs for policymakers. the conclusions and recommendations of this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the members of the task force. members of the Brookings institution natural gas task Force JOHN BANKS, Brookings institution KELLY BENNETT, Bentek energy, LLC JASON BORDOFF, columbia university KEVIN BOOK, clearview energy Partners, LLC TOM CHOI, Deloitte CHARLES EBINGER, Brookings institution, task Force co-chair DAVID GOLDWYN, goldwyn global strategies, LLC, task Force co-chair SHAIA HOSSEINZADEH, Wl ross JAMES JENSEN, Jensen associates ROBERT JOHNSTON, eurasia group MELANIE KENDERDINE, massachusetts institute of technology energy initiative VELLO KUUSKRAA, advanced resources international MICHAEL LEVI, council on Foreign relations ROBERT MCNALLY, the rapidan group KENNETH MEDLOCK, rice university’s James a. Baker iii institute for Public Policy LOU PUGLIARESI, energy Policy research Foundation, inc. BENJAMIN SCHLESINGER, Benjamin schlesinger & associates, LLC JAMIE WEBSTER, PFc energy non-participating observers to task Force meetings included officials from the energy information adminis- tration and the congressional research service. -
Welfare and Distributional Implications of Shale Gas
BPEA Conference Draft, March 19–20, 2015 Welfare and Distributional Implications of Shale Gas Catherine Hausman, Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan Ryan Kellogg, Department of Economics, University of Michigan and National Bureau of Economic Research We thank Steve Cicala, David Lagakos, David Romer, and Justin Wolfers for valuable comments; Timothy Fitzgerald, Joshua Hausman, Lutz Kilian, Tom Lyon, Lucija Muehlenbachs, Barry Rabe, and Daniel Raimi for helpful feedback; and Sarah Johnston for excellent research assistance. Welfare and Distributional Implications of Shale Gas Catherine Hausman Ryan Kellogg∗ March 2015 Abstract Technological innovations in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have en- abled tremendous amounts of natural gas to be extracted profitably from underground shale formations that were long thought to be uneconomical. In this paper, we provide the first estimates of broad-scale welfare and distributional implications of this supply boom. We provide new estimates of supply and demand elasticities, which we use to estimate the drop in natural gas prices that is attributable to the supply expansion. We calculate large, positive welfare impacts for four broad sectors of gas consumption (residential, commercial, industrial, and electric power), and a negative impact for producers, with variation across regions. We then examine the evidence for a gas-led \manufacturing renaissance" and for pass-through to prices of products such as retail natural gas, retail electricity, and commodity chemicals. We conclude with a discussion of environmental externalities from unconventional natural gas, including limitations of the current regulatory environment. Overall, we find that the shale gas revolution has led to an increase in welfare for natural gas consumers and producers of $48 billion per year, but more data are needed on the extent and valuation of the environmental costs of shale gas production. -
Underground Coal Gasification and Coal Chemicals Around the World
FUELLING THE FIRE The chequered history of Underground Coal Gasification and Coal Chemicals around the world ‘Fuelling the Fire: the chequered history of Underground Coal Gasification and Coal Chemicals around the world’ is a Friends of the Earth International report produced by Friends of the Earth Scotland and published in July 2016. Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 74 national member groups and some 2 million members and supporters around the world. We challenge the current model of economic and corporate globalisation, and promote solutions that will help to create environmentally sustainable and socially just societies. Our vision is of a peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony with nature. We envision a society of interdependent people living in dignity, wholeness and fulfilment in which equity and human and peoples’ rights are realised. This will be a society built upon peoples’ sovereignty and participation. It will be founded on social, economic, gender and environmental justice and be free from all forms of domination and exploitation, such as neoliberalism, corporate globalization, neo-colonialism and militarism. We believe that our children’s future will be better because of what we do. Friends of the Earth International has member groups in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belgium (Flanders), Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao (Antilles), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,