Without Shale, Europe's Gas Bill Is Mounting Fr Shale Gas facture de gaze a Europei este n cretere By JAMES HERRON

Germania i Marea Britanie, doi mari consumatori de gaze naturale din Europa, sunt susceptibili s se aplece tot mai mult pe ali combustibil pentru a satisface nevoile de energie n urmtorii ani, cum ar fi extinderea de energie regenerabil cu emisii reduse de carbon i a energiei nucleare care s se ncadreze nevoilor lor. Aceast cerere suplimentar ar fi, probabil, ndeplinit de importuri la preuri mai mari, cum ar fi gazele aduse prin conducte din Rusia sau gazele naturale lichefiate din Orientul Mijlociu i Africa. For a continent already grappling with its long-term competitiveness, this could be bad news. Pentru un continent deja lupta cu ei pe termen lung, competitivitatea, acest lucru ar putea fi o veste proast. "Low prices for natural gas offer manufacturing a powerful competitive advantage, potentially stimulating much broader economic growth," said Mark Williams, downstream director for energy giant Royal Dutch Shell PLC. "Preuri mici pentru gazele naturale ofer un avantaj de fabricaie puternic competitiv, stimulnd creterea potenial mult mai larg economice", a declarat Mark Williams, directorul aval pentru gigantul energetic Royal Dutch Shell PLC. The U.S. is enjoying just that, thanks to a boom in production of natural gas trapped in shale rock. In Europe, there are hopes that its shale-gas resources could eventually help it at least partially mimic the U.S. Statele Unite se bucur doar c, datorit unui boom n producia de gaze naturale de ist prins n stnc. n Europa, exist sperane c sale de ist, gaze resurse ar putea ajuta n cele din urm, cel puin parial, imita SUA The big shift that is pushing the U.K. and Germany toward greater dependence on gas is the decline in nuclear power. Schimbare mare care se impinge Marea Britanie i Germania fa de dependena de gazele naturale este mai mare declin n energie nuclear. After the Japanese earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear-power plant last year, the German government decided to close all of its nuclear reactors, which produce 13 gigawatts of power, or the equivalent of 8% of Germany's energy-generating capacity, by 2022.

This coincides with the end of life spans for all but one of the U.K.'s reactors by 2023 that will leave just 1.2 gigawatts of capacity of the 11 gigawatts that they currently produce. Dup cutremurul japonez i tsunami-ul a declanat o cdere de la ani uzina nuclear de la Fukushima-putere trecut, guvernul german a decis s nchid toate reactoarele sale nucleare, care produc 13 gigawati de energie, sau echivalentul a 8% din Germania de energie generatoare de capacitate , pn n 2022. Acest lucru coincide cu sfarsitul durata de via pentru toi, dar unul dintre reactoarele Marea Britanie pn n 2023, care va lsa doar 1,2 gigawati de capacitate al 11 gigawati pe care le produc n prezent. Several European and British utilities have planned to build 16 gigawatts of new nuclear reactors, but some projects are now in doubt as their backers say it is uncertain that these plants can operate profitably given current electricity prices. Mai multe utiliti europene i britanice au planificat s construiasc 16 gigawati de noi reactoare nucleare, dar unele proiecte sunt acum n dubiu, susintorii lor spun c este sigur c aceste plante pot opera profitabil dat preurilor la electricitate curente. German utilities E.ON AG and RWE AG have abandoned a joint venture to build new nuclear plants with a combined capacity of 6 gigawatts because they lacked the capital to finance the work and external financing was scarce.In February, U.K. utility Scottish and Southern Energy SSE.LN +1.24% PLC quit a consortium with GDF German de utiliti E.ON AG i RWE AG au abandonat un joint venture pentru a construi noi centrale nucleare, cu o capacitate combinat de 6 gigawati, deoarece nu aveau capital pentru a finana lucrrile i finanarea extern a fost scarce.In februarie, Marea Britanie utilitate Scottish and Southern Energy SSE.LN 1.24% PLC renune la un consoriu cu GDF Suez SA and Iberdrola SA IBE.MC +0.40% to build plants with 3.6 gigawatts of planned new nuclear capacity in order to focus on renewable energy. GDF Suez and Iberdrola say they remain committed, but analysts say the projects are more doubtful. Suez SA i Iberdrola SA IBE.MC 0.40% pentru a construi centrale cu 3.6 gigawati de planificate de noi capaciti nucleare, n scopul de a se concentra pe energia regenerabil. GDF Suez i Iberdrola spun c rmne angajat, dar analistii spun ca proiectele sunt mai ndoielnic. A major expansion of coal power would cause countries to miss their carbon-reduction targets, and it seems unlikely that renewable energy could quickly fill this gap. O extindere major a puterii de crbune ar provoca rile lor s fi dor de reducere a carbonului obiective, i se pare puin probabil c energia regenerabil ar putea umple acest gol rapid. "Most clean energy technologies are not being deployed quickly enough, [and] are not on track to make their required contribution," the International Energy Agency said in a report last month.

"Cele mai multe tehnologii curate de energie nu sunt folosite suficient de repede, [i] nu sunt pe cale s-i aduc contribuia lor cerute," Agenia Internaional pentru Energie a declarat ntr-un raport de luna trecuta. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said an additional 10 gigawatts of gas-fired power plants will be built by 2022 to fill the gap left by shuttered nuclear plants. In the U.K., even the most optimistic scenario for the use of nuclear power leaves a 6-gigawatt hole to be filled, most likely by gas. Cancelarul german Angela Merkel a declarat o suplimentare de 10 gigawati de centrale electrice pe baz de gaz vor fi construite pn n 2022 pentru a umple golul lsat de plante obloanele nucleare. n Marea Britanie, chiar i cel mai optimist scenariu pentru utilizarea energiei nucleare las o gaur 6-gigawatt s fie umplut, cel mai probabil cu gaz. Assuming the most efficient gas-fired power plants were built, replacing these reactors would add around 14 billion cubic meters a year to European gas demand, equivalent to almost 3% of 2010 EU gas consumption. This figure could rise further if the U.K. government can't come up with stronger financial support for new nuclear projects. Presupunnd c cele mai eficiente pe baz de gaz centrale electrice s-au construit, nlocuind aceste reactoare ar aduga n jur de 14 miliarde de metri cubi pe an, la cererea de gaze european, echivalentul a aproape 3% din consumul de gaze al UE 2010. Aceast cifr ar putea crete n continuare, dac guvernul britanic nu poate veni cu sprijin financiar mai puternic pentru noi proiecte nucleare. Meeting this extra demand could prove expensive. Pipeline gas from Russia is priced on a formula tied to crude oil, so is relatively expensive. Goldman Sachs expects oil-indexed natural gas on continental Europe to sell at an average price of $13.60 per million British thermal units this year, a 24% premium to the market price in the U.K., which gets around half its gas from the North Sea. Satisfacerea acestei cereri suplimentare ar putea dovedi costisitoare. Conducta de gaz din Rusia este de pre pe o formul legat de iei, deci este relativ scump. Goldman Sachs se ateapt de petrol indexate de gaze naturale pe Europa continental de a vinde la un pre mediu de 13.60 dolari la un milion de uniti termice britanice in acest an, o prim de 24% la preul de pia n Marea Britanie, care devine n jur de jumtate de gaze din Marea Nordului. Rising demand for LNG from Asia is also pushing up prices. The amount of LNG available to the U.K. in the first quarter of 2012 halved from the same period a year earlier, after the country was outbid by Asian customers, and it had to import more oil-indexed gas to compensate, said Barclays analyst Trevor Sikorski. "We expect the LNG market to increasingly tighten as we go through the next few years," he said. Cererea n cretere pentru GNL din Asia este, de asemenea, creterea preurilor.Suma de GNL disponibile n Marea Britanie n primul trimestru al anului 2012 sa njumtit fa de aceeai perioad a anului trecut, dup ce ara a fost supralicitat de catre clienti din Asia, i a trebuit s

importe mai mult gaz petrol-indexate pentru a compensa, a spus analistul Trevor Sikorski Barclays . "Ne asteptam ca piata de GNL pentru a strnge tot mai mult ca vom trece prin urmatorii cativa ani", a spus el. However, recent developments in the gas industry mean this is by no means set in stone. Many companies believe the U.K. and Germany's neighbor Poland may hold resources that would enable them to at least partially mimic the boom in shale gas production that has pushed U.S. gas prices to 10-year lows. Industry analysts say there are still questions over how cheaply and quickly these resources could be tapped. Cu toate acestea, evoluiile recente din industria gazelor nseamn acest lucru este n nici un caz stabilite n piatr. Multe companii cred c Marea Britanie i pe aproapele Germania Polonia poate s dein resurse care s le permit cel puin parial, imita boom-ul n producia de gaze de ist, care a mpins preul gazelor naturale din SUA la 10 ani minimele. Analistii din industrie spun ca exista inca intrebari asupra modului simplu avantajos i rapid aceste resurse ar putea fi exploatat. "Forget about straight-line forecasts for natural gas demand and supply," said Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a senior gas analyst at the International Energy Agency. Shale gas opens the way for "patterns [to] suddenly diverge from the conventional view in the most unexpected way." "Uit linie dreapt previziunile pentru cererea de gaze naturale i energie", a declarat Anne-Sophie Corbeau, un analist senior la gaz Agenia Internaional pentru Energie. Gazul de ist deschide calea pentru "modele [a] brusc se abat de la vizualizarea convenional n modul cel mai neateptat." IEA releases World Energy Outlook 2010, peak oil is an inevitability AIE World Energy Outlook Comunicate de 2010, "ulei de vrf este o inevitabilitate" Dr Samuel Fenwick, Industrial Fuels and Power

World Oil News Center Gazprom board sees shale gas production as unreasonable prospect Gazprom vede placa de producie gazul de ist ca perspectiva nerezonabil BY ALEXANDER KOLYANDR MOSCOW--Russia's natural gas monopoly OAO Gazprom said its board considers shale gas production an "unreasonable" prospect, merely a week after President Vladimir Putin urged the national energy giant to retune its strategy to adapt to changing market conditions.

MOSCOVA - Rusia de monopol natural de gaze OAO Gazprom a spus consiliului su de administraie consider c producia de gaze de ist un "nerezonabil" perspectiva, doar o sptmn dup ce preedintele Vladimir Putin a cerut gigantul energetic naional pentru a reacorda strategiei sale de a se adapta la condiiile de pia n schimbare. "Currently shale gas production is considered to be unreasonable [for the company] due to high reserves of traditional gas, which has lower production costs than shale gas, and due to ecological risks", Gazprom said in a statement, citing the company's board. "n prezent, ist productia de gaze este considerat a fi lipsit de sens [pentru compania] datorita rezervelor mari de gaz tradiionale, care are costuri de producie mai mici dect gazul de ist, precum i din cauza riscurilor ecologice", Gazprom a afirmat ntr-o declaraie, invocnd consiliul societii. The board of the company, Gazprom said, will look again at the state of the global shale gas production in a year. Gazprom supplies about a quarter of Europe's gas demand through a pipeline network, but this is under competitive pressure from growing supplies of liquefied natural gas, which is imported to Europe by ship from places like Qatar. The economic crisis and growing supplies of shale gas and LNG have contributed to a sharp drop in gas prices, challenging Gazprom's business. Consiliul de administraie al companiei, a declarat Gazprom, va uita din nou la starea produciei globale de gaze de ist ntr-un an. Gazprom furnizeaza aproximativ un sfert din necesarul de gaze al Europei printr-o reea de conducte, dar acest lucru este sub o presiune concurenial n cretere de la livrrile de gaze naturale lichefiate, care este importat n Europa de ctre nave din locuri precum Qatar.Criza economic i livrrile de gaz de ist n cretere i de GNL au contribuit la o scdere brusc a preurilor la gaze, o provocare de afaceri Gazprom. Countries from Poland and Ukraine to China are starting to develop their own shale-gas reserves, posing an even bigger threat to Gazprom's exports. Mr. Putin urged Gazprom Oct. 23 to "take into account the current developments and have a clear view how the situation will develop not only in the next two to three years, but through the next decade," he said, adding that the country's energy strategy should be ready in November. ri din Polonia i Ucraina ctre China, ncep s se dezvolte propriile lor de ist de gaze cu rezerve, care reprezint o ameninare mai mare pentru exporturile Gazprom. Vladimir Putin a cerut Gazprom 23 octombrie "s ia n considerare evoluiile actuale i au o vedere clar cum se va dezvolta situatia nu numai in urmatorii doi-trei ani, ci prin urmtorul deceniu", a spus el, adugnd c ara lui Strategia energetic ar trebui s fie gata n luna noiembrie. Dow Jones Newswires

10/30/2012

French industry minister: France must be open to shale gas potential BY GERALDINE AMIEL PARIS -- French industry minister Arnaud Montebourg Monday reiterated that the merits of shale gas should be explored in France. Mr. Montebourg's comments precede the release later in the day of a government requested report on France's competitiveness, which should recommend that potential shale gas fields are explored as a way to lower France's energy imports and costs, according to the minister. The industry minister's comments underscore divisions in the French government over the country's energy mix strategy, as French President Francois Hollande has pledged to forbid hydraulic fracturing, citing risks to the environment. A report issued in April following a request from the previous government said French shale oil and gas fields are potentially some of the most promising in Europe and banning exploration before the reserves are assessed could be detrimental to France's economy and labor market. Dow Jones Newswires 11/05/2012

Galson Laboratories Develops Hydrofracking Test Kit That Meets OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alerts Requirements October 17, 2012 As the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, increases across the country, so does the potential risk of exposure to hazardous materials. In 2012, OSHA/NIOSH published a Hazard Alert on worker exposures in hydraulic fracturing operations requiring appropriate protection from silica exposure and other hazards. Galson Laboratories, a world leader in industrial hygiene analysis and monitoring solutions, has developed a Hydrofracking Test Kit that allows their clients to meet this new OSHA/NIOSH requirement in a quick, easy and affordable manner. Hydrofracking involves the injection of water, silica sand, and small amounts of chemicals into wells so that oil and/or natural gas can flow out of the well. OSHA has stated that it is imperative that worker exposures be managed during this process, said Joe Unangst, President and CEO. One of the first steps in determining if there are exposures is to perform personal air monitoring. Thats why we have developed our Hydrofracking Test Kit.

The Galson Laboratories Hydrofracking Test Kit provides all the essentials for on-site testing and monitoring. The basic kit includes a Radiello diffusive monitor; Edge eg 5 noise dosimeter; 3M organic vapor monitor; pre-calibrated pump; and a cyclone w/filter cassette. The Hydrofracking Test Kit was designed to provide testing for such potential exposure hazards during hydrofracking as respirable dust, silica, volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and noise. Some additional potential hazards (mentioned in the Hazard Alert) include: diesel particulate, acid gases (HCl), aldehydes, such as glutaraldehyde, and metals, such as lead. As the practice of hydrofracking continues, the need to monitor personal air conditions will continue to be important. The Galson Laboratories Hydrofracking Test Kit is now available through the Galson equipment rental program. You can also view our instructional video(http://www.galsonlabs.com/resourcecenter/instructional-video-gallery/?v=81)on how to use the Hydrofracking Kit right online. About Galson Laboratories Galson Laboratories is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association. Headquartered in Syracuse, NY, Galson Laboratories has service centers in Charleston SC, Alameda CA, Seabrook TX, Stevens Point WI, Anchorage AK, Honolulu HI, Salt Lake City UT and Mississauga Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit www.galsonlabs.com. SOURCE: Galson Laboratories