Since its appearance a decade ago, shale production of both oil and gas has boomed, reversing a 40-year decline in North American production and surviving a severe price downturn. But like all resources, shale fields are finite. A look at the oldest shale plays shows how maturation and exhaustion eventually limit production. Furthermore, new demands from investors may change the trajectory of output. This session will explore the lifespan, potential, and governors of the North American shale phenomenon, as well as the realities that work to limit its impact on global markets.
Shale oil and gas is arguably a “disruptive technology” transforming the oil and gas world, even though it still represents a small slice of the industry. What do companies see in the shale resource? How will shale interact with the global opportunity set? What will it take to deliver success?
Producers developing shale resources have clearly proven to the world that they can grow oil and gas output rapidly and materially. A new equation, however, is emerging for shale, balancing the interests of producers and investors, and of growth and returns. What will this new equation look like, what challenges does it pose, and what will be the impact?