Dynamics

Despite the shale revolution in North America transforming global energy dynamics, the United States is unlikely to disengage completely from the Persian Gulf because other nations still depend on the region and it will still affect the world’s oil prices, according to a draft report presented to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Worldwide production of shale oil has the potential to reach 14 million b/d by 2035, about 12% of the world’s total oil supply, prompting a 25-40% decline in oil prices, according to a report issued Thursday by PwC.

An analysis of natural gas market and gas patch dynamics by analysts at Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) yields little reason to be excited about dry natural gas production. And ongoing low natural gas prices won’t be much of a catalyst for opportunistic mergers and acquisitions (M&A), one S&P credit analyst said Wednesday.

Investors expecting dour third quarter earnings from Dow Chemical Co. one day after the company reported plans to cut approximately 2,400 jobs were given a bit of a surprise Wednesday as the chemical giant reported better-than expected earnings, thanks in part to abundant and low-priced natural gas.

Market dynamics will override politics, and the job producing and economic stimulus effects of the gas industry will prevail in the years ahead regardless of the outcome of this fall’s presidential elections, said panelists last week at the LDC Gas Forum’s mid-continent meeting in Chicago.

Market dynamics will override politics and the job producing and economic stimulus effects of the gas industry will prevail in the years ahead regardless of the outcome of this fall’s presidential elections, according to panelists at the LDC Gas Forum’s mid-continent meeting in Chicago Monday.

Market dynamics will override politics and the job creation and economic stimulus effects of the gas industry will prevail in the years ahead regardless of the outcome of this fall’s presidential election, according to panelists at the LDC Gas Forum’s Midcontinent meeting in Chicago Monday.

May natural gas futures advanced Monday as traders noted favorable internal dynamics and identified higher short-term trading objectives that could take May futures up to 20 cents higher. At the close the May contract had gained 6.7 cents to $4.108 and June was up 6.9 cents to $4.176. May crude oil tumbled $2.87 to $109.92/bbl.

Europe’s unconventional commercial gas reserves likely rival those in North America and could begin making contributions to supply in 10 to 15 years, according to IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates (IHS CERA).