Shale Plays

Over the past few years, advances in technology have allowed us to discover and develop vast supplies of natural gas across the United States and Canada - in volumes that can power our country for generations to come and reshape the energy landscape.

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Countless opportunities have been made possible thanks to abundant "shale gas" located about a mile below the earth's surface. The United States has massive shale plays spread throughout much of the country

  • According to Penn State University, the Marcellus Shale, which spans West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, may be the second largest natural gas field in the world.
  • The Barnett Shale encompasses more than 5,000 square miles and covers at least 24 counties in North Texas. It is one of the most active shale plays in the U.S., and is estimated to contain as much as 26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
  • Covering approximately 9,000 square miles in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, the Haynesville Shale could contain as much as 251 Tcf of technically recoverable resources.
  • The newly discovered Utica Shale that spans Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania and reaches into Canada, and the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas are the latest examples of the wealth of North American supplies of this clean energy resource.

Studies from prestigious energy research firms and universities have affirmed that the dream of clean, abundant, homegrown energy is now reality, with the help of shale gas.

Penn State says that the Marcellus Shale alone has enough natural gas to economically transform the Northeast region of the country, while IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates has predicted that shale gas will make up 50% of U.S. natural gas supply in the next 25 years-up from just 20% today. Even Energy Secretary Steven Chu has said that the amount of natural gas available in the United States may be double what was previously believed.

Bottom line: Natural gas is a clean, domestic and abundant energy source that is ready to be put to greater use for our nation today.

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