US shale hinders Russian gas expansion

A boom in US shale is posing problems for Russia to expand its gas production as competition heats up in Europe amid predictions of lower gas prices

A man walks pushes his bike in Bucharest

Boom in US shale hinders Russia to expand its gas production as competition heats up. (AAP)

The US shale boom is making it harder for Russia to expand its energy production ahead of an expected fall in international gas prices.

And a potential shale revolution in Europe could pose a further challenge to Russia's oil and gas industry following widespread global condemnation of its intervention in Ukraine.

A global oil and gas report says the era of Russian "easy oil" has ended and the country now has to look to exploit resources in geographically isolated and more costly frontiers such as Siberia and the Arctic.

While Russian exploration and production spending is due to increase by $6 billion to $60 billion this year, the nation's oil and gas projects will require high energy prices to be economically viable, Deloitte's 2014 Oil and Gas Reality Check report says.

"Growing unconventional energy production in the US is expected to have a moderating effect on international energy prices when exports are fully underway, potentially constraining development in these new frontiers," Deloitte says.

Even more troublesome for Russia is that a European shale revolution could potentially happen on its doorstep, affecting some of its largest export markets.

"Oil and gas companies, many of which helped make unconventional production a reality in North America, are just beginning to invest in European shale," it says.

While no commercial discoveries have been made to date, the United Kingdom, Poland, Romania and Ukraine have emerged as major test cases for the viability of shale resources in Europe.

It said geopolitical developments related to the crisis in Ukraine could have global energy ramifications.

Russia exports much of its gas to Europe through Ukraine.

"On a relative basis the Ukraine situation will have less of an impact on the global energy framework than the ascent of North America into self-sufficiency and possibly into a new role as an export powerhouse," Deloitte said.

The global financial consulting firm added that increased competition for a share of the European natural gas market could lead to lower energy prices in Europe.

The release of the report comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry holds talks about Russian sanctions against Australia as part of the AUSMIN ministerial discussions in Sydney.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world