Shale gas has become a major new source of natural gas supply to the US market,

Thursday 8 March 2012, Amsterdam

Over the last five years, shale gas has become a major new source of natural gas supply to the US market, the largest gas market in the world. Over this time, both gas production and capital investment into shale development have grown considerably, bring this market once dominated by small private companies into the global spotlight.

Currently North America is seeing a period of substantial oversupply as booming production coupled with unmatched demand leave a glut of gas on the market. As constraints in the natural gas market become increasingly restrictive, competitive positioning becomes ever more vital for further business development.

This report examines the positioning of the major players in the market by creating a market share analysis of the 20 largest companies by capital expenditure on shale gas in 2011. The leading companies are compared by market share, shale gas acreage, proportion of their business focused on shale gas, and the expected change in expenditure from 2011 to 2012. A forecast for 2012 expenditure on shale gas development is also made, introducing new players to the top spending group as the better positioned companies show their advantages. A SWOT analysis of each of the companies is also included, providing a short to mid term outlook for each of the leading 20 companies.

The major producing shale plays are also analysed in terms of break even cost, initial production rates and liquids showing. This analysis is then used to calculate the prospects of each company depending on where they operate and the extent of their acreage.

The 20 Leading Companies in Shale Gas 2012: Competitive Landscape Analysis report provides an accurate, up-to-date source of information on the prospects of the leading companies in the shale gas market. This information is provided at a critical time in the brief history of shale gas as record low natural gas prices in North America put pressure on the economical development of resources. The report provides an unbiased and clear indication of which companies are in the most advantageous position going forward. See which companies will fare best by purchasing The 20 Leading Companies in Shale Gas 2012: Competitive Landscape Analysis today.