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Natural gas is seen as a fuel of the future by the authors of Statoil’s “Energy Perspectives 2012” report. “Global gas demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2040. Positive drivers include significant new available supply at moderate costs and environmental policies,” said Chief Analyst Eirik Waerness. Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, and Statoil believes that natural gas will serve as an important and cost-efficient means to meet the challenge of global warming, he said. In aggregate, the fossil fuel share of the global energy mix is expected to drop from 81% in 2010 to 73% in 2040: “In OECD Europe, renewables is expected to more than double towards 2040, and becoming the second most important fuel with a 24% share of the energy mix in the region,” said Waerness. This development is driven by climate and environmental policies, energy security concerns, as well as price and cost developments, he said.

A joint health assessment in a Colorado oil and natural gas field has concluded that air pollution-spurred health concerns have to be added to the environmental precautions surrounding well development and, more specifically, hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

ExxonMobil Corp. boosted its proven reserves in 2008 by 1.5 billion boe, more than replacing the amount of oil and natural gas it produced. The Irving, TX-based major said reserves added totaled 103% of the resources it produced last year. ExxonMobil had 22.8 billion boe of reserves at year-end 2008, split evenly between natural gas and oil. Excluding asset sales, the producer replaced 110% of its output. Using the Dec. 31, 2008 oil and gas prices required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to make reserves calculations, ExxonMobil replaced 136% of its output, the company said. Prices from a single day, it said, are not useful for making long-term investment decisions. At the end of 2008, ExxonMobil’s proved reserves base increased to 22.8 billion boe. The company’s reserves life, at current production rates, is 15.3 years. The portion of proved reserves already developed was estimated at 62%.