NEW YORK, May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemicals and metals information provider, has expanded its portfolio of maps with the release of its 2013 North American Shale Plays Map. Now in its second edition, this detailed, printed wall map presents in vivid color the key components of the burgeoning North American shale industry, depicting more than 80 shale plays in both the U.S. and Canada.

New to this edition is the representation of fractionators and steam crackers, which are processing plants that separate hydrocarbons into their various components. An additional 18 shale plays, 44 shale basins and 11 liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are also represented.

This Platts map enables energy professionals to view existing infrastructure, including LNG terminals, crude oil and natural gas pipelines and natural gas processing plants, as well as potential exploration areas, such as federal public lands.

In developing the map, the Platts cartography team utilized average daily dry natural gas production data by basin from Bentek Energy, the natural gas and crude oil analytical unit of Platts. They also indicated each shale play's primary resource as either oil or natural gas using data from Bentek analysts and Platts Gas Daily editors.

For convenient reference, the cartographers have pinpointed industry-critical information within several insets:

    --  Potential oil shale development in the western U.S.
    --  Emerging shale plays in North America
    --  Estimated shale gas production by state
    --  Shale gas proved reserves by state
    --  Estimated recoverable shale gas compared to existing proved reserves in
        32 countries in both 2009 and 2012
    --  Natural gas withdrawals and production by well type
    --  Average daily dry gas production by basin as of 2012

The 2013 North American Shale Plays Map measures 42" x 62" and is available in two formats: a glossy version ($395*) and a laminated version ($460*).

Platts offers approximately 30 maps and maps products, in addition to a wide variety of Geographic Information System (GIS) data.

Platts' maps and spatial data have been featured by broadcast and print media outlets including The New York Times, Newsweek, TIME and National Geographic.

*These prices do not include shipping costs and sales tax.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHP), Platts is headquartered in New York with approximately 900 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHP), a financial intelligence company, is a leader in credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics for the global capital and commodity markets. Iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power & Associates, McGraw Hill Construction and Aviation Week. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts