{"id":18078,"date":"2018-07-05T11:40:16","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T15:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=18078"},"modified":"2018-07-05T14:59:48","modified_gmt":"2018-07-05T18:59:48","slug":"how-the-conversation-changed-at-this-years-world-gas-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2018\/07\/05\/how-the-conversation-changed-at-this-years-world-gas-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"How the conversation changed at this year\u2019s World Gas Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>For years, conversations at major oil and gas industry conferences focused on one thing: the shale revolution. Excitement about the surge in economical new supply of unconventionally produced oil and gas was palpable, as panelists spoke of the potential for shale to transform everything from the geopolitics of American energy supply to the price of hydrocarbons. With such an unexpected and seismic change, a supply side story carried the day, with a focus on \u201cbelow ground\u201d drivers of energy abundance.<\/p>\n

But today, the shale revolution is simply the new normal and the conversation has changed. \u201cAbove ground\u201d factors like increasing competition from renewables, greenhouse gas emissions, and social license to operate will affect demand for natural gas for years. How industry confronts such challenges \u2013 both in the United States and internationally \u2013 will have a lot to do with industry\u2019s longevity in putting resources to productive use in a changing world demanding cleaner energy.<\/p>\n

At last week\u2019s World Gas Conference in Washington, DC, difficult questions swirled about whether industry has done enough to earn society\u2019s trust and prove natural gas has a constructive role to play in the transition to a low carbon economy. The biggest buzz of all surrounded one key issue: methane emissions<\/a>, a core strategic challenge for the oil and gas industry.<\/p>\n

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I remember from experience that methane began as a niche issue years ago, mentioned by engineering and science teams, not CEOs. World Gas Conference 2018 left no doubt that those days are over, and that tackling methane must become part of business as usual. Here are four key takeaways.<\/p>\n

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  1. As methane goes mainstream, leaders see the opportunity<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In this fast-changing and competitive energy environment, reducing methane emissions<\/a> from oil and gas operations is an increasingly important differentiator for companies wanting an edge. That\u2019s why leading oil and gas companies had methane on their minds at this year\u2019s conference:<\/p>\n