Investment and production is rising for US shale gas

Investment is still pouring into the unconventional gas sector and production continues to rise

It may be shale oil that is catching the eye of investors in the North American energy sector at present, but shale gas production is still going from strength to strength. A rise in domestic gas prices, thanks in part to a cold 2013-14 winter, is even prompting companies to return to little explored gas acreage, while falling drilling costs and the imminent start of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports add further momentum. If the forecasts are right, this is a sector with a healthy future. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that US shale gas production could grow from 9.7 trillion cubic feet (cf) in 2012 to 19.8 trillion cf by 2040. Output from the Marcellus shale alo