SOME NATURAL GAS PROFITABLE AT $4 PER UNIT

A recent study says that the Barnett Shale of Texas is said to be profitable at $4 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) of frac gas.  The study was made when the price of natural gas was around $3.50/unit, but recently the price of natural gas actually has hovered around $4/unit.  With about 839 rigs operating at the time of a Baker Hughes Rig count study (February 15, 2013), Texas has about half the total rigs operating in the U.S.  (http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/02/28/barnett-shale-gas-to-remain-profitable-study-finds/)

It is said that power plants switching from coal to natural gas will be profitable at prices up to $8/unit. (http://rtec-rtp.org/2011/07/04/is-shale-gas-production-profitable/)

An extensive discussion of shale gas can be seen at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale_gas