See the Map that Changed How MDN Views the NatGas World

The natural gas market in the United States is big and complex, with a lot of moving parts. When MDN editor Jim Willis began working in the market full-time in 2012, he learned from some of the best in the business–the people at Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI). There’s a whole lot more to our wonderful market than just drilling wells for natural gas, the “upstream” part of the business. There’s also pipelines, processing plants and compressor stations–the “midstream”; and petrochemical plants, LNG exports and other end users, the “downstream.” Perhaps one the key lessons Jim learned early on in working with NGI is ours is a market driven solely by price. And not just one price! Yes, the Henry Hub in South Louisiana is the most quoted price point in the world when it comes to natgas. Indeed, it forms the basis price against which all other trading points are measured. But Jim learned early on there isn’t just one price for natural gas, there are many (hundreds!) of prices for natural gas, because natural gas is traded at hundreds of different locations along pipelines, all around the country. When Jim was being taught about the markets and prices and why and where drillers decide to drill, driven by price, one of the key resources used to teach Jim was the NGI Map of Shale & Resource Plays in North America. It was a revelation that made a lasting impression when Jim’s tutors walked him over to the NGI map hanging on the wall and pointed out all of the different shale plays, pipelines, and trading points along those pipelines. Suddenly, the complex world of natgas with its many moving parts snapped into place. It was now understandable. NGI’s wall map is the tool that did that for Jim. Perhaps it can do the same for you…

You’ve heard about the Marcellus and Utica Shale regions–and likely know approximately where they run. But what about the Rogersville Shale? Or the Upper Devonian? Where are those plays located within the Marcellus/Utica region? And what about the Haynesville Shale we keep hearing about–a play not unlike the Marcellus? Somewhere in Louisiana, isn’t it? How close is the Haynesville to the Henry Hub trading point? Or what about the Permian Basin we read so much about? That ginormous oil play. Is it located only in Texas? Or does it bleed over into other states too? All of that information is available in under 2 seconds, with a quick glance at 2017 NGI Shale & Resource Plays map.

What trading points are available throughout the Marcellus and Utica region, where gas is bought and sold along major pipelines? It’s on the map. Same for every other major shale and resource play across the country–instantly see where gas is bought and sold, and how close those points are to various resource plays.

Somehow, someway, the geniuses at NGI have figured out how to cram everything you need to know about shale plays, pipelines (built and future), trading points, LNG facilities (built and future)–even information about “stacked” shale plays (sitting one on top of another in layers), onto a 52″ x 36″ mammoth wall map. Here’s a greatly scaled down picture of it:

What information is on the map?

  • 185 Oil & Gas Resource/Shale Plays – Every shale basin and resource play of consequence is included on the map, clearly identified.
  • 138 Cash Market Trading Points – NGI shows every cash market trading point, hub and interconnect where gas is traded and priced.
  • 202 Natural Gas Pipelines – Every major (and many minor) operating (150) and planned (52) natural gas pipelines are included on the map. This is phenomenal!
  • 68 LNG Import/Export Terminals – The location and maximum peak capacity (bcf/d) for every import/export liquefied natural gas terminal, operating and proposed.
  • 9 Regional/Shale Basin Maps – Zoom in on shale hot spots including the West Texas/Permian, Rockies, Western Canada small plays, Western Canada large plays, Midcontinent (including Oklahoma liquid plays), Louisiana/East Texas, South Texas, Northeast and Mexico.
  • Basin/Resource Play Rig Count Trends – Rig count charts from the top 8 plays, showing rig count progression from 2013-2016.

But wait, there’s more!

For 2017, NGI created a new, second wall map just for Mexico. As you may know, gas exports from the U.S. to Mexico is becoming a really big deal. The Mexico gas sector is undergoing government deregulation and Mexico is increasingly a vital market for the U.S. New trading points and pipelines are coming online. Where? It’s on the map. If you want to take advantage of fast-approaching opportunities with our friends to the south, you need the Mexico map too. Here’s a screen shot of the NGI 2017 Map of Emerging Mexico Pipeline Infrastructure:

OK, have we made you really really want these maps? Good! That’s what we intended to do! Please note that MDN editor Jim Willis is writing this post as part of an advertising sponsorship for NGI. However, also note that every word is true. Jim owns the maps. Jim uses the maps. Jim loves the maps! So it’s easy for him to write a post gushing about these fabulous products.

Who Needs These Maps?

If you are a natural gas buyer/trader, you need these maps. If you work in the accounting department reconciling gas trade information, you need these maps. If you work for a producer (i.e. driller), you need these maps. If you work for a midstream (pipeline) company–yes, you need these maps. Investors? You need the maps too. Government regulators? You need the maps. We can go on. Just about everyone needs these maps!

How Much?

OK OK! You sold me! How much are they?

The North American map is $425–and that gets you a physical wall map PLUS a handy dandy PDF version of the same map, always available on your computer.

The Mexico map is $129–for both a physical wall map plus a PDF version.

But here’s the best deal of all: Buy both maps (with both PDFs) for $499. Put them on your wall (and on your computer), and then thank me!

For more information and/or to order,
head on over to this page: https://goo.gl/5S5pgf