U.S. shale gas revolution brought about what

U.S. shale gas revolution is changing the international energy map and geopolitical.

Beginning in 2005, thanks to breakthroughs in shale gas technology for large-scale development of U.S. shale gas. Shale gas production in 2007 was 36.62 billion cubic meters, up to 180 billion cubic meters in 2011. Expected 2035 U.S. shale gas production will account for 45% of the total production of the domestic natural gas.

Oil trader Mercuria Energy Group CEO Mark Donald said in an interview with this reporter, the shale gas revolution so that the U.S. energy prices greatly reduced, the United States has become the world's cheapest gas supply side, the increase of gas prices right to speak, The global economic and geopolitical significant impact.

Because of the price advantage of natural gas, in addition to its clean and efficient features, has been formed on the coal, oil and other traditional energy impact. "Due to a drop in demand, some of the coal producers and traders began bankruptcy. U.S. natural gas and coal is mainly used for power generation, is a competitive relationship, Coal and Electricity proportion began to decline." Donald introduced.

United States Department of Energy (EIA) released "Energy Outlook 2012 report," said U.S. energy consumption structure, the proportion of coal consumption has shrunk to 32%, the proportion of natural gas consumption from 20% to 32% in

Coal demand to bring down the price of coal fell sharply, the U.S. coal exports find markets. The data show that the U.S. coal over the past three years, a net export growth rate of 24%, the 2011 net export volume of 94 million tons, accounting for 12.5% ​​of world trade. EIA expects that this year, the U.S. will export 125 million tons of coal.

In the area of ​​the United States exports, China is the main market. 1 to September, China's coal imports of 203 million tons, an increase of 36.3%. Among these, there are a considerable number are sourced from the United States. To import large quantities of low-cost coal and domestic coal prices clamp. It is also important factors affect port coal price trend.

U.S. shale gas utilization is also a certain pressure on oil consumption and imports. The data show that decreasing the U.S. net imports of crude oil (85.15, -0.42, -0.49%), decreased from 656 million tons in 2005 to 445 million tons in 2011, has returned to the level of 15 years ago.

According to U.S. experts speculate that U.S. oil imports will continue to decrease. In the large-scale development of shale gas from 2008 to 2011, U.S. crude oil imports annual growth rate of -2.97%. Accordingly, the growth rate calculations, U.S. crude oil imports about 338 million tons in 2020. By then, China has become the world's largest crude oil importing country, China will undertake greater international pressure.

Of course, the status of the oil is still not shake the oil still is the main fuel for motor vehicles, renewable energy, although the energy generation, but not directly replace petroleum as a power fuel. "Donald told the author.

It is clear that the United States not only rely on shale gas solved the import dependency, supply and demand will also impact on a broader range of global resources. China's energy trade, energy market also indirectly affected.

Successful precedent in the United States, China shale gas started, will make a series of financial subsidies, system design, access mechanism, market management arrangements.

Which first brought the innovations of the resource management system. Up to now, the Ministry of Land and Resources of shale gas mineral rights twice a tender to sell to break the monopoly of the oil and gas resources in the long-standing, allowing small and medium enterprises, non-oil and gas companies involved in the exploration and development of shale gas.

In addition, the shale gas resource occurrence conditions, terrain and the United States are not the same need to apply to the local shale gas drilling and fracturing technology. So far, our only initial grasp of the vertical well fracturing shale gas exploration and development technology, not yet mastered the technical expertise of the sub-horizontal wells and fracturing.

Shale gas technical progress and innovation, and will also activate the domestic technology services and consulting and training market. Recently, private enterprises SPT Energy Group established collaboration with the American Institute of Gas Technology Training and Consultation Centre of shale gas.

In addition to the technical needs of large-scale development of shale gas starts Forced domestic market reforms, institutional changes. To coalbed methane, for example, the production of coalbed methane development years, capacity is still at an early stage of development, and is influenced by institutional mechanisms. The commercial development of shale gas needs to open up the market, which include the tenement block, access to markets, the price of natural gas, engineering services, and financial market reforms in many areas.