|
Responsible Natural Gas Resource Development
The American Gas Association (AGA) believes that the benefits of developing the abundant and clean natural gas energy resource in America can and should be realized. We also believe it can be developed in a responsible manner. Over the past several years a truly game-changing event has occurred in the natural gas industry thanks to improved technologies that are allowing energy producers to access significant and growing supplies of domestic natural gas from shale formations and other unconventional reservoirs.
The completion practices required to produce natural gas, specifically from shale formations, have attracted considerable attention in both the media and public policy circles. Safe and reliable extraction, transport and delivery of natural gas to consumers remain the first priority for all natural gas industry participants. These principles address a foundation for the sustainable and responsible development of all natural gas resources in our country and underscore the commitment of local natural gas utilities to the communities they serve...Read the full American Gas Association principles on responsible resource development
Organizations
- Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) Natural Gas Subcommittee- On May 5, 2011, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu charged the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) Natural Gas Subcommittee to make recommendations to improve the safety and environmental performance of natural gas hydraulic fracturing from shale formations. President Obama directed Secretary Chu to form the Natural Gas Subcommittee as part of the President’s "Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future" - a comprehensive plan to reduce America's oil dependence, save consumers money, and make our country the leader in clean energy industries.
- Marcellus Shale Coalition -Organization committed to responsible development of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale geological formation and the enhancement of the region’s economy.
- Energy In Depth -Natural gas and oil producers committed to strengthening America through the safe, responsible and environmentally-friendly development of domestic energy resources.
- FracFocus -The hydraulic fracturing chemical registry website by the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. You can search for information about the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells.
- STRONGER -non-profit, organization whose purpose is to assist states in documenting the environmental regulations associated with the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy have provided grant funding to STRONGER to support its activities. The American Petroleum Institute has also provided funding.
- Ground Water Protection Council -nonprofit organization whose members consist of state ground water regulatory agencies which come together within the GWPC organization to mutually work toward the protection of the nation’s ground water supplies. The purpose of the GWPC is to promote and ensure the use of best management practices and fair but effective laws regarding comprehensive ground water protection.
- Environmental Protection Agency STAR Program - a flexible, voluntary partnership that encourages oil and natural gas companies—both domestically and abroad—to adopt cost-effective technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and clean energy source.
Documents and Reports
Resource Assessments
- Potential Gas Committee -The Potential Gas Committee, which is managed through the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, CO), assesses the potential for future natural gas resource development in the United States every two years, capturing the nuances and changes in energy economics and technology with each new estimate. The volunteers of the PGC are industry scientists that work the geologic basins they evaluate for a living, bringing their unique experience to each cycle of reporting. The current (year-end 2010) PGC resource assessment when combined with U.S. natural gas reserves points to a future domestic supply of natural gas of 2,170 trillion cubic feet.
- World Shale Gas Resource Evaluation, Energy Information Administration (EIA) -Commissioned by the Energy Information Administration, Advanced Resources International has evaluated the potential for shale gas resource development in over 30 regions of the world outside of the United States. The assessment identifies potential for shale gas alone to exceed 5,000 trillion cubic feet and when coupled with U.S. shale resources to exceed 6,000 trillion cubic feet.
Hydraulic Fracturing Technology
- Shale Gas: Applying Technology to Solve America’s Energy Challenges (NETL) - American ingenuity and steady research have led to new ways to extract gas from shales, making hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of gas technically recoverable where they once were not.
- Chesapeake Energy Pre-Tour Presentation on Shale Gas Production & Best Practices- On Sept. 13, 2011, Chesapeake Energy hosted an excellent field trip at active and complete shale gas well sites in the Barnett Shale play for AGA members in Fort Worth, Texas, in conjunction with the Fall Committee Meetings of AGA's Operations Section and the Marketing and Communications Committees. Before we left on the tour, Mr. Justin Bond gave us an in depth presentation on natural gas shale production, techniques for improved environmental stewardship for water management and capturing methane emissions, and best practices for being good neighbors in both rural and urban settings - including sound barriers, attractive fencing and stone walls, and professional landscaping! This presentation is well worth viewing.
Environmental Impact Studies
Shale Development Economic Impact Studies
- Shale Gas: a renaissance in US manufacturing? Explore the potential benefits and the potential limiting factors for shale gas. Key findings, based on high recovery of shale gas and low prices of natural gas. US manufacturing companies could employ approximately one million more workers by 2025. Lower feedstock and energy cost could help US manufacturers reduce natural gas expenses by as much as $11.6 billion annually through 2025.
- The Economic Opportunities of Shale Energy Development (Manhattan Institute) - Development of shale gas resources is now well under way in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Unlike their neighbors to the south, however, New York residents are not directly benefiting from natural gas development as the result of a government imposed moratorium. This study analyzes the economic and environmental impacts of shale gas drilling in New York and finds the net economic benefits to be significantly positive.
API Workshop on Commitment to Excellence in Hydraulic Fracturing (Pittsburgh, Oct. 4-5, 2011)
- American Petroleum Institute (API) hosted an excellent workshop in Pittsburgh - the heart of the Marcellus Shale play -- for representatives of industry, environmental groups, and state regulators regarding technologies, policies and regulatory initiatives that can help reduce the impact of shale gas production on communities and the environment while facilitating access to this vast supply of U.S. energy that has helped make energy cleaner and more affordable in recent years. Download the presentations from the workshop.
|