The United States has benefited from shale gas

U.S. Energy Information Administration released earlier this year, "U.S. Energy Outlook" report shows that the U.S.  shale gas  production surged in the past six years, in 2011 reached 180 billion cubic meters, accounting for 34% of domestic production. U.S. dependence on Middle East oil so significantly. The report also said that in the next decade, the United States can achieve energy self-sufficiency, and by 2035, the U.S. shale gas production will reach 385 billion cubic meters, can be a lot of gas exports.
Last month, U.S. companies report to the Government, for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export license. U.S. Department of Energy is on this research. However, U.S. law on oil and gas exports, there are strict controls. What Should the U.S. export natural gas? United States on this issue there are heated debates.
In mid-August, the United States more than 40 members of Congress urged President Obama in approving LNG exports take a more proactive action. Unconventional gas They said, LNG exports to accelerate free trade and create more employment, growth is also expected to drive demand for natural gas production increases. There is support for exporters that geopolitical competition from an energy point of view, to accelerate LNG exports is the United States defeated Russia and Iran, two major gas exporter opportunity. But opponents believe, LNG exports will raise the U.S. if the implementation of domestic natural gas prices, giving a negative impact on industrial activity and increase household spending. In addition, LNG exports will accelerate fracking applications in the United States, and about whether this will pollute groundwater mining methods there has been controversy. Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy predict the long-term U.S. natural gas exports will not be great.
Shanghai Jiaotong University Energy Research Institute at Lijun that many American politicians with high-profile claims shale gas development, the United States is expected to become an energy exporter, this argument may be too optimistic. "For now the use of shale gas in the United States point of view, but also energy use accounted for only 15% to 20%, if the U.S. wants to make shale gas usage accounted for over 50% of all energy, the implementation does not import goals, there is still a long way to go. "
Despite all these comments, but in fact, the United States has already begun to benefit from shale gas development. In 2005, the United States 60 percent of its oil imports this year, this figure had fallen to 42%. Although the international oil market, an oil workers' strike could lead to higher oil prices, but the impact of high oil prices, the United States has become increasingly stronger immunity.
U.S. shale gas production to enhance not only reduces its domestic energy prices, but also reduces the production costs of U.S. companies.ceramic proppant PricewaterhouseCoopers released a report earlier on the show, 2025, shale gas potential impact on the U.S. manufacturing sector can make U.S. manufacturers of raw materials and energy costs by as much as $ 11.6 billion annually. This has given the German competitors sounded the alarm. "Shale gas gives the U.S. chemical industry significant competitive advantage," BASF CEO Kurt Bock said.
Many U.S. energy-intensive companies hope that the Government will ban oil and gas exports, as this domestic oil and gas prices can be kept low, reduce production costs, for example, Dow Chemical Company, which is equivalent to the daily consumption of natural gas throughout Australia daily consumption.