According to a report by energy-research firm SBI Energy, world demand is continuing to rise for natural gas, and investments in infrastructure are growing. In the shale gas industry, production is expected to reach 12.6 trillion cubic feet by 2020, tripling its current output, reports the firm. Shale gas production in the U.S. increased at an annual rate of 48% from 2006 to 2010, reaching 4.8 trillion cubic feet and representing about 23% of the total U.S. natural gas production.

"After several prudent years, due to uncertainty regarding reserve estimates and production-related risks, shale gas processing assets are now regarded as an attractive form of investment. An increase in gas and natural gas liquid products from these shale plays over recent years has led to billions of dollars worth of investments in gas processing infrastructure," it reports.

"Investments in shale gas from the midstream sector reached over $7.7 billion in shale gas processing infrastructure, including $3.8 billion plus spent on equipment and components alone, in 2010," says Shelly Carr, publisher of SBI Energy. "This market is being driven by a growing demand for natural gas."

The current market for shale gas processing equipment and components is limited to the North American continent, specifically in the U.S. and Canada, she says. While the U.S. market has grown exponentially during the past five years, production increases are also occurring in Canada, where unconventional gas accounted for 25% of the country's natural gas production in 2010.

"Since technological advancements have made shale gas production economically viable, all major natural gas producers in North America have turned their attention to shale plays," says Carr.

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