Coalbed methane (CBM) market to be worth $5.3BN in 2013

Monday 6 May 2013, Amsterdam

Our analysis indicates that the CBM market will reach a value of $5.3bn in 2013 as CBM markets in China, India and Indonesia grow and heavy spending continues on CBM development in Australia.

Coalbed Methane (CBM) has been a notable part of the US natural gas market for decades.  Today, Australia, China, India and Indonesia are all poised to embark on CBM development that will establish CBM industries of a similar scale.  Already a mature industry in America, CBM is now more than ready – from a cost and expertise perspective – to take advantage of very strong natural gas prices in India and across East and South East Asia.  What is more, we anticipate that, over the next 10 years, the CBM industry will expand in both the Eurasian and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.

The lead analyst of the CBM report commented that, ‘as spending on CBM development in the US market has declined in reaction to the natural gas price, the capital to be expended in Australia and China to bring CBM resources to market has gone in the opposite direction.  CBM-LNG export projects in Queensland are well known, but in addition to these the Chinese government is more determined than ever for CBM to fulfil its potential as a resource.  However, more CBM wells are required to reach adequate production levels in both Australia and China than initially anticipated, driving up spending. On top of this are the Indian and Indonesian markets; the first of which is now ready for sizeable development and the latter of which is, in 2013, embarking on multiple pilot production projects.  Geology permitting, the extraction techniques, cost and price dynamics are now in place for CBM capex to enjoy strong growth over the next 10 years.’

The report contains 95 tables, charts and graphs that add visual analysis in order to explain developing trends within the CBM market. We provide forecasts for the period 2013-2023 in terms of capital expenditure (US$) on CBM. In addition to a global forecast, there are six regional markets and six national markets analyzed and forecasted. Within the six regions, the CBM outlook of a total of 30 countries is analysed.

A company’s chapter provides detailed analysis and outlooks for the most active companies in the CBM market. Last of all, three interviews with individuals from within the CBM industry provide expert insight alongside our analysis.

The CBM Market 2013-2023 will be of value to current and potential future stakeholders and/or investors in the CBM industry or the wider natural gas market. It will also benefit companies and research centres that wish to broaden their knowledge and understanding of a niche market that will be critical to the development of the global natural gas industry.