American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2012 - 252

way at 9:30 a.m.
Prior to the business agenda, Briggs
says, a Texas Hold 'em poker tournament
will kick off the meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday,

Feb. 26. A silent auction opens at 5 p.m.
that day and runs through 9:30 Tuesday
morning. The welcome reception is set
for 5 p.m. Sunday.

For information or to register, contact
LOGA, P.O. Box 4069, Baton Rouge,
La. 70821; phone 225-388-9525; or visit
www.loga.la.
❒

Basin Boom Times Highlight For IOGA
MOUNT VERNON, IL.-Members of
the Illinois Oil & Gas Association may
have their heads on a swivel at their annual
meeting this year as they look back at significant successes in 2011 and ahead to
the potential for new opportunities in 2012.
The meeting is scheduled for March
1-2 at the Convention Centre in Evansville,
In. A preconvention workshop is set for
Feb. 29.
"We have had a tremendous year with
many exploration successes," enthuses
Brad Richards, IOGA executive vice president. "New oil has been discovered and
people are drilling conventional wells.
There also has been an increase in horizontal drilling for conventional reservoirs.
"Production increased last year over
2010, which is the first increase in Illinois
since the mid-1980s," Richards adds.
"This is a significant development in conventional plays."
IOGA members also will hear some
cautiously optimistic news about current
and future leasing activities, Richards
predicts. "There will be an emphasis on
the leasing activities at our convention,"
he comments. "We believe these will be
resource- and unconventional-type plays.
We certainly don't want to ignore the
success of the conventional plays, but
we also need to talk about what may be
headed our way.
"It appears," the executive vice president continues, "there could be multiple
plays, not just one."
Specific plays that Richards says will
be discussed include the Mississippi Lime.
"That really has taken off," he remarks.
"We hope to have a speaker talk about
the Mississippi Lime in Kansas and Oklahoma so our members may be able to appreciate what could be headed our way."
Other plays include the New Albany
and Maquoketa shales, Richards notes.
"Leasing activity today is centered in
the deep part of the Illinois Basin,"
Richards says. "It appears the leasing interest is in liquid plays-both oil and
natural gas. A lot of this is speculation
because lessees hold things close to the
vest. There has not been a lot of public
comment."
Convention Agenda
While IOGA's annual meeting agenda
has yet to be finalized, Richards announces

some of the speakers who will address
the group. Marlan Downey, former president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, is one. Downey had
a 30-year career with Shell Oil and retired
as president of Shell International.
Brad Aman of Continental Resources,
who worked in the Illinois Basin for
many years, will give a presentation on
the Bakken Shale, Richards continues.
Since oil and gas rules in Illinois were
rewritten and adopted last year, he says
Duane Pulliam, supervisor of Illinois Division of Oil and Gas, will explain the
effects of the changes.
A banquet and entertainment are on
the Thursday, March 1, agenda. Technical
sessions will be scheduled, and the Friday
luncheon will wrap up the annual meeting,
Richards says. "This luncheon is a popular
part of the program," he notes. "We recognize those who have made significant
contributions to the industry."

The company that has made the most
significant discovery will be recognized
as Wildcatter of the Year, and four individuals also will be honored. The categories are Petroleum Professional of the
Year, Petroleum Professional Woman of
the Year, Service Person of the Year, and
the IOGA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The displays in the exhibitor hall are
another highlight, Richards adds. Up to
70 booths are expected.
"Our convention and trade show are a
pretty impressive deal, relative to our
size," he asserts. "For a small basin, we
have a pretty large turnout. In the past, it
has been about 650 attendees and we
could exceed 700 this year. Not too many
associations our size can boast that kind
of turnout."
To register for the meeting, contact
IOGA, P.O. Box 788, Mount Vernon, Il.
62864; phone 618-242-2857; or visit
www.ioga.com.
❒

Shale Gas Industry Will Employ
870,000 By 2015, Study Projects
ENGLEWOOD, CO.-Natural gas
shales, which have dramatically transformed
the outlook for U.S. energy supplies, also
are having profound economic impacts-
creating jobs, reducing consumer costs of
natural gas and electricity, stimulating
economic growth, and bolstering federal,
state and local tax revenues, according to
an IHS Global Insight study. The study
finds shale gas production supported more
than 600,000 jobs in 2010, which is
projected to grow to nearly 870,000 jobs
by 2015.
The Economic and Employment
Contributions of Shale Gas in the United
States tracks the long-term economic
impact of U.S. shale gas production, and
presents the economic contributions of
shale gas in terms of jobs, economic value
and government revenues through 2035,
as well as the broader macroeconomic
impacts on households and businesses,
according to IHS.
"The rapid growth in shale gas
production-currently 34 percent of total
U.S. production-is one of the most
significant energy developments in recent

252 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

decades and is having a significant impact
on the nation's economy in terms of
stimulating job creation and economic
growth," says IHS Vice President John
Larson, lead author on the study.
Among the study's key findings, IHS
says:
* Shale gas had grown to 27 percent
of U.S. natural gas production by 2010;
was 34 percent by December 2011, will
reach 43 percent in 2015, and will more
than double by 2035 to 60 percent.
* In 2010, the shale gas industry supported more than 600,000 jobs; by 2015
the total likely will grow to nearly 870,000,
and to more than 1.6 million by 2035.
* Nearly $1.9 trillion in cumulative
capital investments are expected to be
made between 2010 and 2035.
* Annual capital expenditures, especially strong in the early years, will grow
to $48.1 billion in 2015.
* The shale gas contribution to the
U.S. gross domestic product was more
than $76.9 billion in 2010; in 2015 it
will be $118.2 billion, and will triple to
$231.1 billion in 2035.

American Oil and Gas Reporter - January 2012

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