Unconventional gas gains to grow: IEA

Shale and tight gas will keep Canada among the globe’s top producers

July 21, 2011

Canada will remain among the world’s top producers of natural gas, the International Energy Agency says. In its “Golden Age of Gas” scenario, released as part of an ongoing World Energy Outlook 2011 series, the Paris-based arm of the OECD predicts about two-thirds of national annual production will come from unconventional gas by 2035, making Canada the sixth-largest producer globally. China, Australia and the United States will likewise see production increases over the next two decades, following a global uptick that sees production from shale gas, tight gas and coalbed methane accounting for 24 per cent of global production by 2035. Whether or not Canadian operators gain access to an international sales arena remains to be seen.