RFERL: Could U.S. Gas Boom Loosen Europe's Energy Dependence On Russia?

With shale gas production in the United States booming, Russia’s intervention in Crimea has given a boost to those calling for the United States to expedite natural gas exports to Europe to help it cut its reliance on Russian energy. But how realistic is this idea? 

Why all the talk about the United States exporting natural gas to Europe?

Russia is the world’s largest exporter of natural gas and Moscow has not been shy about using this as a political weapon. With Russia supplying Europe with approximately 40 percent of its energy, and with the main natural gas pipelines running through Ukraine, the potential for new disruptions -- and political blackmail -- are very real.

This has led to calls for Europe to seek alternative sources of energy. And one key source could be across the Atlantic Ocean, in the United States. 

Thanks to breakthroughs in hydraulic fracturing technology, known as fracking, and the subsequent "shale gas revolution," the United States has in recent years become the world's largest natural gas producer.

Since there are no natural gas pipelines running across the Atlantic, in order to export to Europe, the United States would need to convert its natural gas to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and ship it in tankers.  MORE