At a Bad Time for the US, Canada is Losing Its Ability to Fill America's Requirements for Natural Gas

摘要

Canada supplies 16 per cent of the natural gas consumed in the United States, double the amount it provided a decade ago. Possibly more important, Canada has often rescued its neighbour in emergencies, sending natural gas across the border to ease shortages and keep prices fairly stable. Unfortunately for the US Canadian production in 2002 fell for the first time since 1986, and a further decline of 2 per cent to 4 per cent is expected this year. Just when the US needs all the Canadian gas it can get gas reserves in western Canada are being depleted more quickly than readily recoverable new reserves are being discovered Canadian production is currently at its maximum and industry experts say it will be at least five years before Canada is again in a position to ad as a swing supplier. Stored supplies of natural gas are also low in both the US and Canada.