Technically recoverable resources, in turn, are less than the in-place resources. Resources include not only proved reserves, but inferred reserves from known fields, and undiscovered resources from new fields. Estimated resources come primarily from the assessments done by the U.S. Geological Survey for onshore regions and by the Minerals Management Service for the offshore. As technology improves, economically recoverable resources grow. Economically recoverable resources are expected to grow from 1,040 tcf in 1990 to 1,355 tcf in 2020 in the reference case.
Technology has a significant influence on the development of resources.
The rapid and slow technology cases assume resource variation of more than 100 tcf plus or minus the reference case values in 2020. Resource levels have a significant influence on prices. The Gas Research Institute assumes significantly more resources, for example, and predicts significantly lower wellhead prices. Natural Gas Net Imports, 1970-2020 Natural gas imports fill the gap between production and consumption. Over the forecast imports continue to be dominated by pipeline imports from Canada.