Water shortages are threatening energy output and increasing costs in some of the world’s most prolific sectors including shale gas in the U.S., crude oil in the Middle East and coal in China, and the situation is set to worsen, Wood Mackenzie said Thursday. The energy sector is already the world’s largest consumer of water for industrial purposes, using over 15% of global supply, and this is rising, the consulting firm said in a report, noting huge quantities are needed to increase pressure at oil fields, in technologies like hydraulic fracturing and to upgrade coal quality. Growing water needs will pit energy companies against other users, and increase production costs significantly, it said. Water is already a major cost factor for companies involved in shale developments in the U.S., including Antero Resources Inc., AR -0.27% Antero Resources Corp. U.S.: NYSE $ 55.04 -0.15 -0.27% Nov. 6, 2013 4:00 pm […]