The Natural Gas Research Programme, launched in 2003, has become one of the foremost sources of independent academic research on natural gas. The programme focuses on natural gas within the disciplines of the Institute: economics, politics and sociology, international relations of gas-producing, consuming and transit countries, as well as the environment in its relationship with natural gas.
The Programme concentrates on natural gas issues of international significance, but also publishes work with a more regional and national focus. The Programme has produced major regional studies on gas and LNG in: Europe, Asia, CIS countries, the Middle East and North Africa. It has also produced a number of national studies, as well as work on Atlantic Basin LNG, gas pricing (in different parts of the world), market reform and regulatory issues.
Research is carried out by programme staff and commissioned from authors in a wide range of countries and from varied backgrounds: academic, industry and journalism. The Programme holds an annual Gas Day, at which topical events are debated by researchers and an invited audience.
The Programme has a Research Group comprising the sponsors of the Programme and independent experts from academia, industry and journalism. The Group meets twice a year to discuss proposed research projects, provide progress reports and debate topical issues, particularly new trends in supply and demand for gas in Europe and the Atlantic Basin.
From 2011 to 2016 several Natural Gas Research Programme researchers were involved in the work of the EU-Russia Gas Advisory Council, established under the auspices of the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue: Jonathan Stern as the EU Co-Speaker, Ralf Dickel and Katja Yafimava as Experts for the EU. EU-Russia Gas Advisory Council.
We are interested in hearing from students and researchers working on social science aspects of natural gas in an academic environment worldwide. You can write to James Henderson or Jo Ilott.
In this podcast James Henderson discusses a new OIES paper on the future of the Ukrainian gas market and its interconnections with Russia and Europe with Simon Pirani. The podcast first reviews the current state of the Ukrainian gas sector following a decade of dramatic change and then assesses the outlook for further transit of […]
The recent adoption by the UK and Norway of ‘net zero’ and ‘climate neutrality’ targets by 2050 has galvanised the upstream oil and gas industry in both countries to adopt GHG emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 for the first time. Meeting these targets, ensuring an appropriate sharing of costs between investors and taxpayers […]
A key element of LNG trading, the buying and selling of LNG cargoes (or strips of cargoes) on shorter term contracts of less than three years duration, is cargo optimization. LNG traders, once they have secured positions in the LNG chain, seek to ‘optimize’ their LNG position or ‘LNG book’. This optimization process is often […]
The OIES research on decarbonising energy markets has identified particular threats to gas networks from both declining demand for gas and a failure to adapt to new requirements in a low carbon world. Gas networks represent a huge, sunk cost asset and with the right mix of investment and incentives they could play a significant […]
Nigeria has immense hydrocarbon wealth and took over 20 years to reach FID on Nigeria LNG. In 10 years after FID, Nigeria LNG surpassed 20 Mtpa of production becoming at one time the 3rd largest global producer. The country spent over a decade pursuing an ambitious Nigerian Gas Master Plan with a massive planned expansion […]
As European imports of Russian gas have reached historical highs since 2016, it has become increasingly important to consider the routes by which that gas is delivered, the extent to which those routes are fully utilised, and the related question of how much spare capacity remains in the system, particularly at times of peak flows. […]
We would like to acknowledge the kind support of our sponsors; without whom the research carried out by the Programme would not be possible.
The Natural Gas Research Programme is sponsored equally by the following organisations:
BP
Centrica
Cheniere Energy
Edison
Enagás
Eni
Equinor
ExxonMobil
Gazprom Marketing and Trading
GECF
Energy Delta Institute/Gasunie
Fluxys
Iberdrola
JERA
Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)
Mozambique LNG
National Grid
OMV
Pavilion Energy
Petoro
RWE
Sedigas
Shell
SNAM
Swedish Energy Agency
Tellurian Inc
Total
Uniper Global Commodities SE
Wintershall Holding GmbH
Sponsors maintain an on-going dialogue with the staff including visits and presentations.
If your company or organisation would like to discuss any aspect of the Gas Programme further, please do not hesitate to contact James Henderson, Anouk Honore or Jo Ilott.
The contents of the Programme publications are the authors’ sole responsibility. They do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsors, the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies or of any of its Members.
The staff of the natural gas research programme have links with the following:
Natural Gas Research Programme Involvement in the EU-Russia Gas Advisory Council
From 2011 to 2016 several Natural Gas Research Programme researchers were involved in the work of the EU-Russia Gas Advisory Council, established under the auspices of the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue: Jonathan Stern as the EU Co-Speaker, Ralf Dickel and Katja Yafimava as Experts for the EU. More information about the GAC, including official documents, is available on the European Commission website.
Presentations made within each of the three GAC Work Streams – Gas sector, including EU Roadmap 2050 and scenarios, EU internal gas market issues, and infrastructure issues – can be found athttps://circabc.europa.eu/(once on the page take the following steps: Browse categories/European Commission/Energy/EU-Russian Gas Advisory Council/Library – then browse spaces and content).
In a new podcast David Ledesma discusses with Bassam Fattouh his latest paper with Andreas Economou: Oil Market Rec… https://t.co/ujewxxyDm1
Oxford Energy Podcast - Oil Market Recovery and the Balance of Risks - https://t.co/6LJtZjwESg https://t.co/s05bwcySu6
.@oxfordenergy Jonathan Stern participating in a panel on the impact of the EU methane strategy on the natural #gas… https://t.co/we4fAIyWUV
Michal Meidan talks about the outlook for pipeline imports into China and how Beijing’s midstream reforms are affec… https://t.co/KQjP2icQ3g