Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Analysis Of Horizontal Gas Drilling And Its Impact On Spot Market Pricing: A Focus On The Marcellus Shale Production Potential, Samuel O'Connell

Honors Theses

This paper attempts to quantify how the rapid increase in shale gas production in the past fifteen years has impacted regional natural gas spot prices. This method of natural gas extraction-pumping water mixed with sand and clay first vertically and then horizontally, with clay and sand particulates holding fractures open to allow the flow of natural gas-has a shorter well lifespan and faster decline rate than conventional wells. Through analyzing the degree of market integration between shale gas production and spot prices, we can quantify what impact different shale plays have had on the regional pricing of natural gas. With …