China is playing catch-up with providing pipeline networks that move natural gas from the source of the shale gas to the consumption point. The US however already had these pipeline networks present before the expansion and popularity of natural gas transportation across the nation. This is noted as one of the examples of how shale gas has flourished in the US in a greater way than that of China. But China has begun the process of extensive investment into the production of these pipeline networks, improving the availability of pipeline-transported natural gas. This allows for more areas of the nation to incorporate the natural gas as part of the energy portfolio, not just the areas of the nation that are immediately adjacent to the exploration efforts. The ease and availability of transportation has been noted for the relative ease of entry for these companies into the market in the US. The regulation of pipelines is still not without challenges, but allows for a single point of focus for the environmental protection agencies across the country. Once China produces a greater number of pipelines, there may be a greater rush to use these, giving the State an opportunity to create a revenue source, a user fee for introducing extracted resources into the system. This is one area that China can be innovative in, because the demand is so high for these pipeline networks.
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