SUGAR LAND--September 12, 2016--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Shale gas production is less expensive than offshore production, and Total S.A. (NYSE:TOT) (Paris, France) is the latest European oil major to seize an opportunity to broaden its role in the North American shale market. Total upped its investment in the Barnett Shale gas fields, which cover northern Texas, by buying 75% of troubled producer Chesapeake Energy Corporation's (NYSE:CHK) (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) assets in the shale play. Industrial Info is tracking more than $34 billion in projects involving Total.

Within this article: Details on Total's purchase of the Barnett assets, as well as projects that could derive feedstock from the shale play.