- Potential Gas Committee-The Potential Gas Committee (PGC), which is managed through the Colorado School of Mines in 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 include industry scientists who work the geologic basins they evaluate for a living, bringing their unique experience to each cycle of reporting. When combined with U.S. natural gas reserves, the current (year-end 2010) PGC resource assessment 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.
Environmental Impact Studies
- Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Marcellus shale gas - Carnegie Mellon- This study estimates the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the production of Marcellus shale natural gas and compares its emissions with national average U.S. natural gas emissions produced in the year 2008, prior to any significant Marcellus shale development. Natural gas from the Marcellus Shale emits 20 to 50 percent fewer greenhouse gases than coal over the entire life cycle of production.
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Natural Gas Have the Benefits Lessened? (AGA)- Considers the benefits of natural gas in reducing GHG emissions.
- Methane Contamination of Drinking Water in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Duke University) - Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment published this analysis, which acknowledges the significant contribution of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing to the growth in domestic natural gas production through, while also examining the potential impact of these operations on drinking water in northeastern Pennsylvania.
- Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Analysis of Natural Gas Extraction & Delivery in the United States (NETL)- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory detailed findings comparing power generation technology life cycle green house gas footprint. Natural gas is 50% lower than coal at busbar.
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 include that fact that U.S. manufacturing companies could employ approximately one million more workers by 2025, and lower feedstock and energy cost could help U.S. 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 underway 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.
- Understanding the Size of the U.S. Natural Gas Resources: A report from the Natural Gas Supply Association that notes the extent to which we are likely underestimating, rather than overestimating, the size of the natural gas resource base.
- 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.