An Industry Analysis of Natural Gas and Its Place in the United States
Open Access
Author:
Malenfant, Shane Laurence
Area of Honors:
Supply Chain and Information Systems
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Robert Alexander Novack, Thesis Supervisor Dr. John C. Spychalski, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Natural Gas
Abstract:
The purpose of this industry analysis is to understand the complex nature of the natural gas industry and its current and future market prospects. Industry data regarding chemical properties, supply logistics, global market data, historical regulation and carbon footprint were gathered in order to analyze the current market for United States businesses. Overall, it was concluded that the feasibility of natural gas relies heavily on its expansion of innovative designs to expand capacity within the supply chain. However, natural gas’s abundance, combined with its unique chemical properties, production growth and practical applications, make potential growth a significant possibility in today’s “carbon-constrained” environment (MIT, 2013). There is clear promise in various economic sectors as a cleaner burning fuel. Overall, current market growth indicates that profitability can be established and expanded for companies willing to undertake the capital investment needed to integrate it into their business strategies and supply chains, yet development of more sustainable long-term goals must be achieved.