Transportation & Logistics Companies Reap the Benefits of U.S. Shale Gas Boom, Says PwC US

As the shale energy revolution is gaining speed in the U.S., transportation and logistics companies are experiencing an immediate and dramatic impact, according to a new PwC US report, Shale Energy: A potential game changer – Implications for the US transportation & logistics industry.

Since 2010, the U.S. has emerged as the largest gas producer in the world and the Energy Information Administration forecasts that by 2040, 50 percent of the country’s natural gas supply will come from shale gas, dramatically impacting several segments of the transportation and logistics industry.

“Shale energy is having a major effect on the chemicals and manufacturing industries in the U.S., with clear ramifications for transportation and logistics companies,” said Jonathan Kletzel, U.S. transportation and logistics leader, PwC. “This new source of abundant, low-cost energy provides a significant incentive for chemical producers and manufacturers to shorten their supply chain and bring production facilities back to the U.S. A revived manufacturing sector would increase the need for rail and trucking to move more products domestically and to ship exports abroad.”

According to PwC’s report, the shale oil boom is creating considerable opportunities for the railroad, trucking, marine shipping and airline industries as transport is needed to move gas, oil and waste by-products.

Railroads – In addition to transporting people, equipment and oil, railroads are also being used to haul the chemicals needed in the shale extraction process and to carry away waste products. The railroad industry is getting a boost from the positive effects of shale on the U.S. chemical industry as well, since rail is essential to the movement of chemicals, with nearly a quarter of U.S. chemical shipments being transported by rail.

“The inbound and outbound use of rail has led to a surge in demand for cars that can carry crude oil, and rail car companies are reaping the benefits, experiencing a backlog of orders for petroleum carrying cars and reporting strong financial results,” continued Kletzel. “In some shale-producing regions, the railroads have experienced such an uptick that they have had to build additional infrastructure to keep up with the increasing demand. Rail is quickly becoming a favored mode of transport because it is cheaper than trucking and more flexible than pipelines.”

Trucking – The low price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) relative to the more expensive diesel fuel has led many companies to switch to vehicles that run on natural gas. However, in order for trucking companies to expand their use of more affordable fuels, there needs to be infrastructure support. As part of America’s Natural Gas Highway initiative, a network of approximately 150 LNG truck fueling stations on interstate highways are scheduled to be in operation by the end of 2013. In addition to changing fuel dynamics, trucking activity has increased as a result of shale production as trucks haul fresh water, frac sand, waste products and heavy equipment.

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Marine Shipping – The North American shipping industry could become a major exporter of natural gas, driven by shale gas drilling activity. There are more than 20 proposed LNG export terminals seeking permits to allow total processing of about 30 billion cubic feet a day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If currently pending applications are approved, U.S. exports could result in approximately 3,600 new LNG tanker departures per year. The shipping industry is also expected to play an increasing role in the transportation of machinery and other products needed for exploration and production.

Airlines – The high price of jet fuel, the single largest cost component for airlines, coupled with the volatility of crude oil prices, is spurring a search for cheaper alternatives, such as those based on natural gas, states PwC’s report. The use of natural gas for jet fuel is still years away from widespread commercial use, but the incentive is there for development, given today’s concerns around carbon dioxide emissions. In the near-term, however, airports and airlines benefit from the increased traffic to and from the major shale gas regions. PwC’s analysis shows that flights originating in North Dakota airports serving the Bakken shale field have experienced an increase in load factors of almost 10 percent over the last five years as traffic has nearly doubled.

“While pipelines may eventually move the bulk of shale oil and gas, it will take time to develop the infrastructure, and rail, trucks, and planes will still be needed to transport people and equipment while ships will carry LNG to other parts of the world,” Kletzel said. “As shale energy helps to revive U.S. manufacturing, it will impact most transportation modes, as they are needed to move products both domestically and abroad.

Transportation and logistics executives should consider the opportunities currently presented by the rapid growth of shale energy, as the ‘winners’ will start developing strategic plans that consider the impact of shale on the overall economy and the potential it presents for the growth of their business now and for the foreseeable future.”