Summary

Global Markets Direct, the leading business intelligence provider, has released its latest research “North America Unconventional Gas Industry - Set to Regain Momentum Post Current Crisis” The study, which is an offering from the company’s Energy Research Group, provides an in-depth analysis the unconventional natural gas industry in North America, detailing the major sources and key challenges and prospects for their development. The report provides an outlook for the overall natural gas industry in North America (the US and Canada) with forecasts till 2020, analyzing the growing importance of unconventional natural gas production in the industry. The report provides detailed analysis of 7 major shale gas plays and 2 major Coal Bed Methane (CBM) basins in North America analyzing the drilling details, cost trends, historical forecast and major players in each play. The report also provides the production forecast for each of these plays to 2020. The report is built using the data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in house analysis by Global Markets Direct’s team of industry experts.

North America’s natural gas supply composition is currently undergoing a dramatic shift from conventional towards more unconventional gas sources such as tight gas, coal bed methane (CBM) and, most importantly, shale gas. Unconventional natural gas is fast becoming a major source of natural gas supplies for the future especially in North America.

The North American natural gas industry is expected to witness a steady growth in production, increasing at an AAGR of 1.2% during 2008-20. The unconventional natural gas will play an increasingly major role in the overall production accounting for approximately 52% of the total production in 2020. The shale gas plays are expected to witness a huge surge in activity. In US, 45% of the total expected unconventional natural gas is expected to come from the six major shale gas plays namely Barnett, Antrim, Haynesville, Fayetteville, Woodford and Marcellus. The unconventional natural gas production in the US is expected to increase at an AAGR of 2.3%.

In shale gas basins in North America, the natural gas production is expected to increase from approximately 6 Bcf/d in 2008 to 19.3 Bcf/d in 2020 at an AAGR of 9.7%. Haynesville shale will over take Barnett to become the largest natural gas producing shale in the US in 2019. Other two important shale plays expected witness significant activity are Marcellus and Canada’s Horn River.

Scope

The report provides detailed information and provides an in-depth analysis of the North American natural gas industry with key trends, challenges and future prospects for the overall industry. The report provides forecasts of natural gas production in North America detailing the share of unconventional natural gas production to 2020. The report also provides detailed analysis of 7 major shale gas and 2 major CBM plays in North America with production forecasts to 2020. The scope of the report includes:
- Analysis on growth of unconventional natural gas industry in North America with forecasts to 2020 detailing its share in the overall gas production.
- Key trends and challenges of the development of different unconventional gas plays in North America.
- Analysis of the 7 major shale gas plays in North America with detailed analysis of cost trends, production trends, drilling activities and production forecasts to 2020. Key shales covered include Antrim Shale, Barnett Shale, Fayetteville Shale, Haynesville Shale, and Horn River Shale.
- Key activities in top two CBM basins in North America namely San Juan and Powder River basin detailing historical trends and forecasts to 2020.
- Detailed information on top five players in each of the major unconventional gas plays covering their areas of operation, past activities, investment plans and future plans details.
- Analysis of the M&A activities in each of the discussed unconventional gas plays during 2004 to October 2009.

Reasons to buy

The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner. It will allow you to:
- Drive revenues by identifying the fastest growing unconventional gas plays in North America to invest in.
- Identify market challenges and opportunities in the unconventional gas industry in North America for shaping investment strategies.
- Make informed business decisions and maximize investment returns by understanding the economics of different plays in North America.
- Identify upcoming business opportunities in various unconventional gas plays in North America.
- Identify potential challenges for business plans and develop effective risk alleviation measures.
 

1
1 5
1.1 List of Tables 9
1.2 List of Figures 11
2 North America Unconventional Gas Industry – An Introduction 13
2.1 Overview 13
2.2 Report Guidance 13
3 North American Unconventional Gas Industry 14
3.1 Major Unconventional Natural Gas Sources in North America 14
3.1.1 Shale gas 14
3.1.2 Coal Bed Methane 14
3.1.3 Tight Gas Sands 14
3.1.4 Gas Hydrates 14
3.2 North American Shale Gas Industry: Status, Challenges and Prospects 15
3.2.1 North American Gas Shale Industry: Current Status 15
3.2.2 North American Gas Shale Industry: Major Challenges 17
3.2.3 North American Gas Shale Industry: Major Prospects 18
3.3 North American Coalbed Methane Industry: Status, Challenges and Prospects 18
3.3.1 North American Coal Bed Methane Industry: Current Status 18
3.3.2 North American Coal Bed Methane Industry: Major Challenges 20
3.3.3 North American Coal Bed Methane Industry: Major Prospects 21
3.4 North American Tight Gas Sands Industry: Status, Challenges and Prospects 21
3.4.1 North American Tight Gas Industry: Current Status 21
3.4.2 North American Tight Gas Industry: Major Challenges 23
3.4.3 North American Tight Gas Industry: Major Prospects 23
3.5 North American Gas Hydrates: Status, Challenges and Prospects 23
3.5.1 North American Gas Hydrates Industry: Current Status 23
3.5.2 North American Gas Hydrates Industry: Major Challenges 23
3.5.3 North American Gas Hydrates Industry: Major Prospects 24
4 North American Unconventional Gas Industry, Outlook to 2020 25
4.1 North American Unconventional Gas, Growth in Production, 2008-2020 25
4.1.1 North America, Unconventional Natural Gas Production Growth, 2008-20 25
4.1.2 The US, Unconventional Natural Gas Production Growth, 2008-20 29
4.1.3 Canada, Unconventional Natural Gas Production Growth, 2008-20 30
4.2 North American Unconventional Gas, Major Emerging Plays 32
4.3 North American Unconventional Gas, Future Trends 35
4.3.1 As Natural Gas Prices Recover, The Shale Plays Will Become The Hottest Play In North America 35
4.3.2 The Development Of Unconventional Natural Gas In North America Will Hit The LNG Import Industry 35
4.3.3 The Unconventional Natural Gas Industry Will Attract Huge Investments In The Next Decade 36
4.3.4 The Growing Production From Shale Gas In North America Could Change The Demand- Supply Scenario Globally 37
4.3.5 The Industry Is Expected To Grow At A Rapid Pace With Major International Oil Companies Entering The Unconventional Plays 37
4.3.6 The Growth Of Shale Gas Plays In North America Will Lead To Growth Of Shale gas Plays Globally 37
5 Antrim Shale 39
5.1 Antrim Shale, Play Activity Analysis 39
5.2 Antrim Shale, Operational Overview 39
5.2.1 Antrim Shale, Production Trends, 2003-2020 39
5.2.2 Antrim Shale, Drilling Activity, 2008 41
5.3 Antrim Shale, Competitive Landscape 42
5.3.1 Antrim Shale, Major Companies by Production, 2008 42
5.4 Antrim Shale, Top 5 Companies Analysis 44
5.4.1 Atlas Energy Resources 44
5.4.2 HighMount Midwest Energy LLC 44
5.4.3 BreitBurn Energy Partners LP 44
5.4.4 Terra Energy Ltd 44
5.4.5 Ward Lake Energy 45
5.5 Antrim Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in the Play, 2004-08 45
6 Barnett Shale 46
6.1 Barnett Shale, Play Activity Analysis 46
6.2 Barnett Shale, Operational Overview 47
6.2.1 Barnett Shale, Well Profile 47
6.2.2 Barnett Shale, Production Trends, 2003-2020 48
6.2.3 Barnett Shale, Cost Trends, 2009 50
6.2.4 Barnett Shale, Drilling Activity, 2004-2009 51
6.3 Barnett Shale, Competitive Landscape 53
6.3.1 Barnett Shale, Major Companies by Acreage, 2009 53
6.3.2 Barnett Shale, Major Companies by Production, 2008 53
6.4 Barnett Shale, Top 5 Companies Analysis 54
6.4.1 Devon Energy 54
6.4.2 Chesapeake Energy 56
6.4.3 XTO Energy 58
6.4.4 EOG Resources 59
6.4.5 Quicksilver Corporation 59
6.5 Barnett Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in the Play, 2006-2009 59
7 Fayetteville Shale 61
7.1 Fayetteville Shale, Play Activity Analysis 61
7.2 Fayetteville Shale, Operational Overview 62
7.2.1 Fayetteville Shale, Well Profile 62
7.2.2 Fayetteville Shale, Production Trends, 2004-2020 63
7.2.3 Fayetteville Shale, Cost Trends, 2009 65
7.2.4 Fayetteville Shale, Drilling Activity, 2009 66
7.3 Fayetteville Shale, Competitive Landscape 68
7.3.1 Fayetteville Shale, Major Companies by Acreage, 2009 68
7.3.2 Fayetteville Shale, Major Companies by Production, 2008 69
7.4 Fayetteville Shale, Top Five Companies Analysis 71
7.4.1 Southwestern Energy 71
7.4.2 Chesapeake Energy 72
7.4.3 Petrohawk Energy 74
7.4.4 XTO Energy 74
7.4.5 Hallwood Energy 75
7.5 Fayetteville Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in the Play, 2006-2009 75
8 Haynesville Shale 77
8.1 Haynesville Shale, Play Activity Analysis 77
8.2 Haynesville Shale, Operational Overview 78
8.2.1 Haynesville Shale, Well Profile 78
8.2.2 Haynesville Shale, Production Trends, 2008-2020 79
8.2.3 Haynesville Shale, Cost Trends, 2009 83
8.2.4 Haynesville Shale, Drilling Activity, 2009 84
8.3 Haynesville Shale, Competitive Landscape 87
8.3.1 Haynesville Shale, Major Companies by Acreage, 2009 87
8.3.2 Haynesville Shale, Major Companies by Production, 2008 88
8.4 Haynesville Shale, Top 5 Companies Analysis 90
8.4.1 Devon Energy 90
8.4.2 Chesapeake Energy 90
8.4.3 Encana Oil & Gas 92
8.4.4 Petrohawk Energy Corporation 92
8.4.5 Forest Oil Corporation 93
8.5 Haynesville Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in the Play, 2008-09 94
9 Horn River Shale 96
9.1 Horn River Shale, Play Activity Analysis 96
9.2 Horn River Shale, Operational Overview 97
9.2.1 Horn River Shale, Production Trends, 2008-2020 97
9.2.2 Horn River Shale, Cost Trends, 2009 99
9.2.3 Horn River Shale, Drilling Activity, 2009 99
9.3 Horn River Shale, Competitive Landscape 99
9.3.1 Horn River Shale, Major Companies by Acreage, 2009 99
9.4 Horn River Shale, Top Companies Analysis 100
9.4.1 EnCana Corporation and Apache Corporation 100
9.4.2 Exxon Mobil Corporation 101
9.4.3 Devon 101
9.4.4 EOG Resources 101
9.4.5 Quicksilver Resources 101
9.4.6 Nexen 101
9.5 Horn River Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in the Play, 2007-2009 102
10 Marcellus Shale 103
10.1 Marcellus Shale, Play Activity Analysis 103
10.2 Marcellus Shale, Operational Overview 104
10.2.1 Marcellus Shale, Well Profile 104
10.2.2 Marcellus Shale, Production Trends, 2008-2020 105
10.2.3 Marcellus Shale, Cost Trends, 2009 107
10.2.4 Marcellus Shale, Drilling Activity, 2009 107
10.3 Marcellus Shale, Competitive Landscape 109
10.3.1 Marcellus Shale, Major Companies by Acreage, 2009 109
10.4 Marcellus Shale, Top Five Companies Analysis 110
10.4.1 Chesapeake Energy 110
10.4.2 Range Resources 111
10.4.3 Statoil 113
10.4.4 Atlas Energy Resources 113
10.5 Marcellus Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in the Play, 2007-2009 113
11 Woodford Shale 115
11.1 Woodford Shale, Play Activity Analysis 115
11.2 Woodford Shale, Operational Overview 116
11.2.1 Woodford Shale, Well Profile 116
11.2.2 Woodford Shale, Production Trends, 2003-2020 116
11.2.3 Woodford Shale, Cost Trends, 2009 118
11.2.4 Woodford Shale, Drilling Activity, 2009 119
11.3 Woodford Shale, Competitive Landscape 120
11.3.1 Woodford Shale, Major Companies by Acreage, 2009 120
11.3.2 Woodford Shale, Major Companies by Production, 2008 121
11.4 Woodford Shale, Top 5 Companies Detailed Analysis 123
11.4.1 Newfield Exploration 123
11.4.2 Devon Energy 123
11.4.3 XTO Energy 124
11.4.4 BP America 124
11.4.5 Pablo Energy 124
11.5 Woodford Shale, Mergers and Acquisition Activity in<