For the first time in my 55 years in the industry, we have essentially no excess capacity to produce natural gas in North America. Almost no shut-in or prorated wells exist. This is not disputed by anyone I know.
We have seen projections of a 30 tcf/year demand in 10 years, up from 22 tcf now. How does that play against an actual decline in capacity to produce, poor economics, plus federal land off limits?
Those of us who care about such things should work harder to:
- Educate the public about how important it is to have abundant energy at sensible prices.
- Open federal lands. Natural gas availability will not equal projected demand unless prices rise and federal lands are opened.
- Tell it to the political leaders. Being forewarned is being forearmed.
These times of coming disconnects between natural gas availability and demand will provide opportunity and political crisis. Statesmen and stateswomen will be needed. Volunteers, please.
Wayne E. Swearingen
Tulsa
Project planning and the environment
