Abstract: 

A new round of global shale exploration is unfolding - and this time things are different.

The last attempt ended abruptly. The success of US shale basins last decade curtailed global unconventional exploration as growth-focused E&Ps retreated to the Permian in the early 2010s instead. But the US shale sector is maturing. Many operators seeking organic growth must look beyond North America as part of their portfolio renewal strategy - and the conditions are now more favorable.

Today, there's no new major growth play in the US to compete with. Technology has slashed costs. Explorers are more selective. Regulators are willing to adjust terms. And with geopolitical tensions spotlighting energy security, global shale 2.0 could gather serious momentum. Investors and undersupplied energy markets are watching with interest.

This presentation sets out why international shale exploration is back in focus and why it’s building on last decade’s experience rather than starting with a blank sheet of paper. The Vaca Muerta and Jafurah Basin have proven international shale plays can be successful. What’s next?

Speaker Bio: 

Robert Clarke is Head of Americas Upstream Analysis for Wood Mackenzie. He helps lead valuation modeling, portfolio benchmarking, asset evaluation and M&A analysis for the firm’s Upstream and Carbon Management segment.

Joining Wood Mackenzie in 2005, Robert supported the firm’s buildout of Lower 48 coverage during the shale exploration boom. He managed WoodMac’s Global Unconventional Play Service from 2009 to 2015, which involved analogue characterizations and valuations of exploratory shale assets.

Robert’s focus areas today include technology and the future cost of supply, working alongside Supermajors and bulge bracket banks to understand upstream investment opportunities in the Americas.

He graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University in 2001 with a BA in Geology and received an MBA in 2005 from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. He is an adjunct professor at the Neeley School of Business at TCU, via the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute.