U.S. shale gas revolution to change the world energy map

Some companies are turning to more cost-competitive oil shale.
Originated in the U.S. shale gas revolution, known as the "one hundred years oil and gas industry's most important event."
After 30 years of shale gas, shale gas in the United States to become the world's most successful mining countries, is also the only one to achieve large-scale exploitation of shale gas in the country.
The so-called shale gas, which is located in the main mudstone or shale in the carbon to adsorb or free state as the main mode of existence of gas accumulation, its chemical composition is dominated by methane (90% or more). Shale gas is considered to be oil and gas basins in the last category onto the stage of development of oil and gas resources.
In the U.S., shale gas  success does not happen overnight, but more than 30 years. In the 1970s, the oil crisis prompted the U.S. government and relevant agencies to accelerate the development of oil and gas resources, invested heavily in shale gas research.
As the technology matures shale gas development, shale gas costs continue to decrease, but not until 2002 before the economy still does not have the advantage, it is difficult to achieve large-scale production. After 2002, the U.S. average wellhead natural gas prices sharply rise, in order to seek alternative sources of energy, small businesses began to increase shale gas exploration and development of the high cost of energy, shale gas development has brought breakthroughs in key technologies and applications.
From 2006, the U.S. shale gas increased significantly. 2000, when the U.S. shale gas accounted for only 1% of the amount of natural gas supply, while by 2010 this proportion has reached 23%. 2011 U.S. shale gas production reached 180 billion cubic meters, accounting for the proportion of total U.S. natural gas 34%.
The success of U.S. shale gas on the U.S. and world energy produced extensive and far-reaching impact.
From the domestic impact, improving the results of America's energy supply, to protect the U.S. energy security.Frac sand Because a lot of natural gas instead of oil demand is, U.S. oil imports decreased year by year, the U.S. dependence on foreign oil in 2005 from 64.2% down to 49.3% in 2010. Because of the substantial growth in natural gas, crude oil breaking the U.S. market supply and demand balance, resulting in domestic consumption and natural gas prices plunged, accelerate the process of re-industrialization of the United States.
From the international influence, the United States was replaced in 2009 Russia became the first producer of natural gas, greatly enhancing its Russia, the Middle East and South America and other energy supply center political discourse.
The U.S. Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, "shale gas and U.S. national security" the report states that by 2040, the Russian natural gas market in Western Europe's share will fall to 27% in 2009 to 13%. If there is no U.S. shale gas, Russia, Venezuela and Iran to the 2040 global gas supply market will account for about 33 per cent, while because of the U.S. shale gas, these three countries share will drop to 26 percent.
Other words that the success of U.S. shale gas will also help the world's natural gas consuming countries with potential gas OPEC game, or against the big countries such as Russia control the global energy market.
However,Hydraulic fracturing the U.S. shale gas exploitation are also facing the challenge of lower natural gas prices, environmental pollution and water use constraints. From August 2008, the U.S. natural gas prices continue to decline (mainly in the $ 3-5 / one thousand cubic feet), challenging some of the development costs of shale gas blocks bottom line, and prompted some companies are turning to more cost oil shale.
"But in the long term, the U.S. will not slow down on the exploitation of shale gas, shale gas but will actively promote technological progress, adopt more stringent environmental regulatory measures." Chen Weidong analysis.