GAP-JOURNAL 2012/13 - AFA

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TheriseofShaleGas
The combination ofthose two technologies enabled oil and gas extraction from reserves
previously not used because of too high costs orbecause extraction was not possible. In
the U.S. the domestic extraction ofnatural gas increased by 20% between 2007 and
2012, caused almost exclusively by the increase in shale gas extraction. (Mauter,
Meagan S., Vanessa R. Palmer, Yiqiao Tang, and R. Patrick Behrer2013: p. 9)
The U.S. Energy Information Administration as well as the International Energy
Agency predict acontinuation ofthis trend. According totheir forecasts, shale gas will
amount to approximately 50% of overall natural gas production inthe U.S. by 2035, up
from only 5%back in 2005. (Mauter, Meagan S., Vanessa R. Palmer, Yiqiao Tang, and
R. Patrick Behrer2013: p. 9, International EnergyAgency2011: p. 13)
Figure 3:
U.S. natural gas production by source (1990-2035)
Source:Mauter, Meagan S., Vanessa R.Palmer, Yiqiao Tang,and R. PatrickBehrer 2013: p.10