Ziff Energy Group, a Canadian-based company, recently released an 8-page report that comments on the future of unconventional shale gas in the U.S. through the year 2020.

In exploring the active as well as the emerging national shale areas, Ziff notes that the plays will be extremely fruitful ventures for companies to pursue as long as emerging drilling technology, such as horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing, continue to be implemented and further developed in the years to come. It will also play an important role in overall energy costs.

“Shale Gas will compose a third of North American gas production by 2020, more than twice as much as today. This growth will more than offset declining high cost conventional gas,” says Simon Mauger, Ziff Energy’s director of gas services.

According to a chart presented by Ziff, shale gas represents the largest quantity of natural gas that remains in the U.S., with over 400 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) coming from emerging shale plays.

More information about Ziff Energy and its report can be found on its website at www.ziffenergy.com.