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.
The EU is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80–95 per cent below 1990 levels. So far, the electricity sector has been the main focus of EU low-carbon policies, but if Europe is to meet its objectives, decarbonization efforts will need to expand to other sectors. Heat and transport are the next […]
LNG spot prices in Asia have fallen sharply in the last 6 months as the supply coming on to the market has outstripped demand. With oil prices remaining above $70/b this has opened up a wide gap with oil linked long term contract prices. Are we seeing the beginning of a systematic decoupling of spot […]
The number of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) worldwide continues to grow though there are major differences between countries both in terms of levels of penetration and underlying drivers. NGVs have some environmental advantages over petroleum-based fuels – particularly if biomethane is available – and, in many markets, are cheaper. However, the prospects for NGVs in […]
A collaboration between OIES and the Sustainable Gas Institute to assess actual progress in deploying a range of fledgling renewable gas technologies. With growing acceptance of the need for the energy system to be approaching carbon neutrality by 2050, much has been written about the potential for gas to decarbonise. Various approaches are put forward, […]
The current and potential rapid growth in Asian LNG demand is not all about China and India. With the traditional markets of Japan, Korea and Taiwan looking at best at slow growth, the new markets are increasingly important targets for existing and new LNG suppliers. This new research will assess the current and projected supply […]
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 […]
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:
Anadarko
Barclays
BP
Centrica
Cheniere Energy
Edison
Enagás
ENI
Equinor
ExxonMobil
Gazprom Marketing and Trading
Energy Delta Institute/Gasunie
Iberdrola
Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)
National Grid
OMV
Open Grid Europe GmbH
Petoro
Sedigas
Shell
SNAM
Swedish Energy Agency
Tellurian Inc
Uniper Global Commodities SE
Wintershall Holding GmbH
Petoro
Sedigas
Shell
SNAM
Statoil
Swedish Energy Agency
Tellurian Inc
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).
A review of a new OIES paper on oil market conditions and Saudi Arabia’ balancing act: The extent of dislocations i… https://t.co/n8EFPraNEj
May 24th
Jonathan Stern on the latest Groningen earthquake: I think it is likely to accelerate even further the phase-out of… https://t.co/d1tGcAIAjp
May 23rd
About 43% of the industrial gas demand in Europe could, in theory, decline in the 2020s as a result of decarbonizat… https://t.co/0iMqP4dCsd
May 23rd
