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In the Global Energy Market, is Natural Gas the New Prize?

Posted on: Saturday, 1 April 2006, 03:02 CST

By Taylor, Bertie

Though oil has reigned supreme as the centerpiece of global energy, natural gas is quickly superseding it. according to panelists at the Cambridge Energy Research Associates conference in Houston last month.

"Though oil will continue to be an important energy resource for a while, there's no question that clean natural gas will play an essential role in energy resource development." said John Gass, president. Chevron Global Gas.

"With an expected 70% increase expected in the demand for natural gas. resources such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) have to start making the transition from premise to performance."

Gass added that some of the obstacles to such growth include pricing fluctuations, geopolitical events, looming tax policies and limited access to new resources.

"In looking to solutions, investments and project scheduling must continue at levels that will promote gas delivery. Government policies must promote instead of hinder and off-limits areas need to be opened to an industry that has the technology and expertise to develop energy with few environmental impacts.

"A windfall profits tax will not add one single barrel, not one cubic foot of gas to the equation."

North America continues to be a huge part of the growth of the global gas scene, said Gwyn Morgan, executive vice chairman of Calgary-based producer EnCana Corp. North America's consumption dwarfs consumption in many other parts of the world.

"The future is definitely unconventional resource plays." Morgan said. "There are huge unconventional resources in several places- long-lived, low-decline assets-that can now be unleashed with technology." Large-scale exploration programs and continuous cost reductions are also under way. Morgan said.

"LNG and unconventional supplies-that's where the energy growth will come from."

Gas is also becoming the new prize internationally, said YvesLouis Darricarere. executive vice president and president, gas and power, for France-based supermajor Total SA. Natural gas enjoyed faster growth compared with other fossil fuels during the past several years. Darricarere said.

"Though high prices and competition from coal and nuclear energy may affect the future of natural gas, gas demand will be driven by power generation by as much as 50%."

As the gas fields located close to consumers are slowly depleted, supply sources are being pushed further and further out. he added. He anticipates that by 2010. Qatar will be the dominant exporter of LNG supplies.

Alexander Landia. executive partner and global gas lead for management consulting firm Accenture. said to expect the same political intricacies from gas that came with oil.

"Gas will definitely deliver enough dramatic reasons to warrant a second look by Dan Yergin," he quipped, referring to Cambridge's chairman and author of The Prize about the history and importance of crude oil.

He agreed that supplies will continue to come from further afield globally. "Gas will overtake coal around 2020, and as gas production slows in places such as North America and the North Sea, demand in these same areas will grow.

"Gas is hard to diversify and substantial investments in gas infrastructure will be required. In producing countries, suppliers and consumers need to work together to make sure opportunities for such investments continue to exist."

-Bertie Taylor

Copyright Hart Energy Publishing, LP Mar 2006

Source: Oil & Gas Investor

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