US universities doing research on exploitation of natural gas from shale

Natural Gas Intel:
Researchers from five public universities are working with the oil and gas industry and others to develop new technologies for converting shale gas into transportation fuels and petrochemicals, potentially adding $20 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
...
"Our challenge is to make the best and most responsible use of these staggering [shale] resources," said CISTAR's Peter Keeling, director of industry and innovation. Director Fabio Ribeiro added that researchers are "striving to revitalize the U.S. industry and its workforce through STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] research aimed at responsibly realizing the potential of shale resources."

According to its website, CISTAR's 19 industrial stakeholders include supermajors BP plc, ExxonMobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell plc.

Purdue said CISTAR's research "focuses on developing new catalysts, separation methods and process design, including modular systems that deliver cost-effective solutions for the transformation of alkane resources with major positive potential impacts on the environment, society and economy." The center's website shows its strategy also includes deploying small, mobile manufacturing plants close to U.S. shale plays.
This could lead to added economic activity in shale plays like Texas's Permian Basin.  It would also bypass the infrastructure bottlenecks now faced by producers.

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