Shale Gas Development News

Russian energy giant Gazprom revealed that there is still a high level of uncertainty in the long-term forecasts for U.S. shale gas production. It also said that the number of LNG-consuming countries would grow in the long term.Gazprom's Board of Directors took note of the information about the prospects of the shale gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors around the world, as well as the opportunities and threats facing the Company.The oil and gas company focused on the business of extraction, production, transport, and sale of natural gas highlighted that, as in the past, shale gas production was concentrated almost entirely in the United States. However, there is still a high level of uncertainty in the long-term forecasts for U.S.

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) has received the first order of electronically controlled gas injection diesel engine (ME-GI) for MES. MAN B&W 8S70ME-C8.2-GI will be installed on two 2,400 TEU + 400 vehicles ConRo ships to be built by U.S. shipyard VT Halter Marine Inc. for U.S. owner Crowley Maritime Corporation. ME-GI is Diesel cycle dual fuel engine with high efficiency based on the principle of two-stroke low speed diesel engine and it can use both heavy oil and natural gas as fuel depending on relative price and availability, as well as environmental considerations.

FMC Commissioner William P. The Panama Canal may remake world trade patterns. To be finished in 2015, the $5-billion expansion of the Panama Canal will create a third lane accommodating mega-ships nearly three times larger than previously passable and this may significantly reduce shipping time to Asia. The expansion impacts state ports, rail lines, trucking and cargo movement from the south and east to the west. The U.S., once an importer of natural gas, could see new shale gas development, LNG projects, and the faster shipping lanes open new Asian markets.

Sub-Capesize sectors, previously better performers than Capes, now face an equally uncertain future according to recent Drewry analysis. Demand for Panamax ships improved over the 2nd quarter 2012, primarily due to an increase in grain volumes and Asian coal imports. Significant increases in vessel demand on the transatlantic grain route employed a sizeable fleet of Panamax vessels, leading to an improvement in earnings. Coal demand was also buoyed by fears that Indonesia will introduce a coal export tax, prompting China to increase imports and stock pile huge volumes of Indonesian coal. While coal export restrictions from Indonesia will be negative for the dry bulk market…