A news release by the Ziff Energy Group says that the unconventional gas plays now active across North America will account for 53% of the continent’s gas production by 2020.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calgary, April 8, 2009

Shale Gas Outlook to 2020

Ziff Energy announces the release of a report which evaluates Shale Gas production to 2020 by major shale gas play. In 2008, Shale Gas production was over 5 Bcf/d (8% of North American gas production), with 70% attributable to Barnett Shale Gas in Texas. While production of the Barnett, Fayetteville, and Woodford Shales is developing, several other plays are being evaluated. These new plays will ensure Shale Gas production growth in the next decade.

Simon Mauger, P.Geol, Director Gas Services said “Growing Shale Gas production is changing the mix of North American gas supply. Increasing unconventional gas production will comprise 53% of gas supply by 2020, up from 30% in 2000.” The chart below shows Ziff Energy’s outlook for unconventional gas production growth to 2020.

North American Unconventional Gas Growth, Bcf/d

New technology such as horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracture stimulation (frac), along with rising natural gas prices through most of this decade allow shales to produce gas economically. The current dip in natural gas prices has slowed drilling in most areas as capital budgets are slashed, except for the prolific Haynesville Shale. Producers will continue to evaluate emerging shale plays, increasing their technical understanding and evaluating potential of the plays shown in the figure below.

North American Shale Gas Plays

Other recent Ziff Energy reports include:

• North American Demand Outlook to 2020
• Natural Gas Implications of Greenhouse Gas
• Mexico’s Gas Supply / Demand Outlook to 2016
• Global LNG Outlook to 2020
• Natural Gas Opportunities for Ethanol
• Gas Price Differentials Forecast to 2017
• North American Gas Storage
• Henry Hub Gas Price Outlook to 2017
• North America Gas Supply - The Next Decade
• North American Power Generation to 2017
• Canadian Natural Gas Exports to 2020
• Western Canada Gas Production Outlook to 2017
• 2007 U.S. and Canadian Gas Reserve Replacement

• Pipelines for Growing Oil Sands Production
• Northern Gas Moving Forward
• North American Pipeline Construction
• LNG Terminals – Costs and Timing

http://www.ziffenergy.com/download/p...