Energy Workshop
January 8, 2014
Peking University
This conference is made possible through the generous support of Gary S. Davis, Columbia Law School Class of 1980.
Agenda I
- 9:00 a.m.-9:10 a.m: Welcome: Workshop Opening
- 9:10 a.m.-9:20 a.m: Introduction: Roadmap of Workshop Topics
- 9:20 a.m.-10:20 a.m: Session 1: U.S. Shale Revolution: Economic and Geopolitical Implications for the U.S. and the World
- Impact on domestic production so far and projections for future; impacts on manufacturing, economic growth, and jobs; possible exports to Asian market and implications for Russia and E.U.; impact on U.S. balance of trade; less dependence on foreign producers; continued vulnerability to oil price shocks; variable costs of production; possibility of political/regulatory reaction that could affect production.
- 10:20 a.m.-10:30 a.m: Tea Break
- 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m: Session 2: Regulatory Framework for Developing Shale Gas: U.S. and China comparison
- Regulatory authorities; bidding process for government gas leases, pipelines; regulation of inter-state/inter-province and intra-state/intra-province commerce of gas, etc.; state versus federal regulation; and access to geological data.
- 11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m: Tea Break
- 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m: Session 3: Environmental Restrictions on Shale Gas Development: Water
- Water usage; risk of fracturing fluid migration during fracturing process; risk of surface spills; waste disposal; methane contamination; water usage; key command and control regulations such as for well casings and blowout preventers; pre-drilling testing of water; disclosure; and liability.
Agenda II
- 12:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m: Lunch
- 2:15 p.m.-3:15p.m: Session 4: Environmental Restrictions on Shale Gas Development: Air, Climate, Transport, and Land Use
- Relative effects of natural gas and coal on air quality and climate change; fugitive emissions; the long-term prospects of renewable energy; and natural gas as both a complement and a substitute for renewables.
- 3:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m: Tea Break
- 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m: Session 5: Protection of Mineral Rights in Gas & Industry: U.S. and China comparison
- How mineral rights are created, granted and transferred; solving overlapping rights and conflicts in mineral rights enforcement; dispute resolution (arbitration, litigation, administrative proceedings, etc.).
- 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m: Session 6: Regulating Infrastructure and Pipelines for Shale Gas Development: U.S. and Chinese Experience
- How infrastructure and pipelines in natural gas industry are regulated (levels of government: federal, state/provincial, local); free market access in investment; anti-monopoly regulation, third party access to pipelines.