Unconventional Natural Gas Extraction: Technologies and Global Markets

Report Highlights

The global market for unconventional natural gas extraction technologies was valued at nearly $61.2 billion in 2010 and nearly $61.6 billion in 2011. The market should reach $91.3 billion in 2016 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%.

Report Scope

The scope of this report includes the following categories of unconventional natural gas extraction technologies:

• Vertical and directional drilling.
• Horizontal drilling.
• Hydrofracture equipment.
• Hydrofracture chemicals.
• Well completion and operation equipment.

Markets considered are shown in the following table. BCC analyzes each technology, determines its current market status, examines its impact on future markets and presents forecasts of growth over the ensuing five years. Technological issues including the latest trends are assessed and discussed, as is the current and likely ongoing regulatory environment in support of this industry.

BCC analyzes anticipated market values in light of regional and global markets for unconventional natural gas. This report examines government roles with respect to unconventional natural gas production, including regulatory requirements, support and incentives. It provides a review of the most relevant extraction technologies, discusses recent trends in well development and regional drilling and provides overviews and market assessments for each technology. 

Analyst Credentials

Robert Eckard, PhD, has 15 years of experience working in the cleantech, clean transportation, clean/smart cities, advanced fuels, water and energy sectors. Having completed his dissertation at the University of California at Davis, Robert also runs a specialty industry research and technical consulting company, with an emphasis on energy, water and climate-oriented sectors, including those segments relevant to this study. Robert specializes in commercialization, data-based economic analysis, market development and penetration, environmental analysis and technical energy, environmental and market studies for Fortune 500, Global 1000 and promising startups, as well as state and local governments, other consultants and industry organizations throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. He worked as a subcontractor under the U.S. Department of Energy providing evaluations of a wide array of industrial technologies, systems and related supply markets. He helped to successfully develop new markets in the U.S. and abroad, identify target niches and support highly successful business strategy development. Previously, he produced reports for BCC Research on global markets pertaining to energy, industry, energy efficiency, water and industrial, durable goods and related categories and technologies. Robert works directly in the industries that he analyzes and has successfully secured over $225 million in fund development for specific projects and technologies in the last six years.