Natural
gas costs much more in Europe than in the United States. This is because
European gas deposits have been almost consumed, with the exception of the
Norwegian sites.
The
United States consumes a huge amount, and it is self-sufficient (it imports
natural gas from Canada, and exports to Mexico, but the cross border trade
doesn´t alter the fact that US gas reserves are sufficient to satisfy the
country´s demand).
The
main reason why the price of gas in the U.S. is lower than in Europe, is the US ability to produce its natural
gas from fractured shales. In the U.S. oil and gas companies have turned to this business with enthusiasm, and today employ hundreds of thousands of personnel
drilling gas wells, fracturing the
shales, and building the infrastructure to ship the gas from the wells to the
consumer.
Photograph: Drilling for gas in the USA
The
level of activity in the last 5 years has been enormous. Fractured shale
production has increased from almost nothing to constitute more than 40% of
national consumption. A lot of natural gas that was imported from other nations
is now shipping to other countries (including Spain).
The
large increase in gas production in the U.S. has caused increased competition,
and this competition has reduced prices. Today the U.S. consumer enjoys much
lower prices.
Chart: Gas Prices in the USA, Europe, and Japan
This
is not seen nearly as much in Europe, where the gas comes from large
monopolistic producers. The Russian state controlled giant gas producer
Gazprom is the one with the most weight, and so far the Russians insist on
selling gas at a very high price (it´s linked to oil prices). European
countries have no alternatives, so they
swallow hard, and pay.
But
Europe has a potential medium term alternative, it has shale gas deposits that can be fractured
and produced. The technology exists, they have educated people, they can be
trained, and in 5 to 10 years Europe can organize a huge industry to produce shale gas.
This may allow them to negotiate harder and slow down increases
in future consumer prices.
Why
doesn´t Europe produce its deposits? Because the European Union is very
concerned about global warming, they don´t know how much shale gas they can
produce, or simply because environmental NGOs in Europe have been able to halt
the development of the industry (I also read a recent article which explains
the Russians are stealthily financing campaigns against shale gas developments
in Europe).
See
the map showing where shales have been identified that can produce natural gas:
Areas containing shale natural gas (in blue)
Some
countries have possibilities, and others not. Spain has some. But the UK,
France, Germany, and other countries may have a lot. And as the European
gas grid is interconnected, production within the European Union would benefit
the community because it would allow them to negotiate more reasonable import
prices.
I am convinced that the alleged environmental
damage is mostly noise made by individuals who don´t understand the technology, or visualize how governments can regulate the gas industry. Europeans can produce their gas. If
they don´t it will be produced in other countries, Europeans will import
it, and will pay exorbitant prices.
As
for my readers in Russia, I think they should consider the future. Russia will
not be a country that supplies raw materials and weapons forever. Russia must
be developed like other countries. Russia has an educated and hardworking population, and
this means that if Russia breaks free from the oligarchs and their friends it
will be a greater nation.
Photograph: Happy Russians (from BolshoiMoscow.com)
And
those in other countries, it is better that they find out what they have, and consume it with caution.
Burning natural gas is the best method we have to reduce CO2 emissions when
it´s developed alongside wind power. And while global warming isn´t as terrible
as some imagine, it's something we do need to
consider.
Some references
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