energy policy • strategy • economics

Menecon Energy Briefs

Every quarter, Menecon Consulting issues a feature article – the Menecon Energy Brief – on a topical energy-related issue. Click on the link below to download the first issue since the relaunch of the Brief in 2011.

Winter 2011: The Unconventional Gas Revolution Goes Global

Older monthly articles from 2005-2007 can be found here:

June 2007: Enter the Dragon

May 2007: Running Faster to Stand Still

April 2007: Who's Afraid of High Oil Prices?

March 2007: How Green is my Biofuel?

February 2007: Cutting US Gasoline Use

January 2007: Can You Stop Climate Change?

December 2006: Pricing Oil Out of the Market?

November 2006: Mapping an Alternative Energy Future

October 2006: Why Should OPEC Invest?

September 2006: Powering Economic Development

June 2006: Eliminating Perverse Energy Subsidies

May 2006: Merger Mania goes Global

April 2006: Autogas Incentive Policies

March 2006: The Long Road to a Hydrogen Economy

February 2006: By George, We're Hooked on Oil!

January 2006: Insecure European Gas

December 2005: Running on Empty?

Menecon Energy Briefs are designed to stimulate discussion and inform the energy debate. Reactions, questions and suggestions are welcome, and should be addressed to energybrief@menecon.com.

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The Unconventional Gas Revolution Goes Global

But replicating the US success is not going to happen overnight

As irritatingly over-used as the cliché has become, there is no disputing that the rise of unconventional gas – and specifically shale gas – in North America is a “game-changer”. It doesn’t change the rules of the game, but it certainly does change the conditions in which the game is being played and will unquestionably change the final result. And not just in North America. The unexpected surge in US shale gas production in recent years has upset global markets balances and will continue to exacerbate global over-capacity for at least the next couple of years.

In the longer term, unconventional production will most likely play an increasingly important role in global supplies as the experience gained and the techniques that have been developed in the United States are applied in other parts of the world. But, for all the hype, this is not going to happen quickly, for a variety of reasons – practical, logistical, economic and regulatory...