Chowdhury Sabir

Ahmed
M.Sc (2nd Semester)
Department of Geology
Roll No
91/AGE/101026

 Is shale gas a viable resource?

What are the problems with it?
Social?
Environmental?

Laws and regulations

Where is it?

 Natural gas
Unconventional
Found in certain types
of shale
2,000-7,000 feet deep
Low permeability
Prevalent in the area
Confined in fractures
within the shale itself
Reserves higher than Oil
Enhanced Global
Availability

How is shale gas formed?

Shale containing natural gas is generally
sandwiched between two thick, black finegrained shale deposits
Continued pressure from burial forces most
of the natural gas to migrate from the
organic shales into more porous and
permeable rock such as sandstone and
limestone forming conventional reservoirs.
The natural gas remaining in the shales is
termed shale gas.

 Steps
1.Leasing land
2.Exploration
3.Drilling

Hydraulic
fracturing
Horizontal drilling

4.Collecting
5.Restoration

Horizontal Drilling and Fracturing

Not to scale
~ 3500 feet

Cap rock

Cap rock

100 feet
Pay zone

Not To Scale

Plentiful
Cleaner than other fossil fuels
Economy
Low maintenance costs
Environment friendly
Speedy creation of Infrastructure

 Most critics support the production of

natural gas from Shale.
Analysts expect shale gas will greatly
expand worldwide energy supply
Unconventional gas production is
expected to rise from 42% in 2007 to
64% in 2010
There is enough shale gas to support
the U.S. gas needs for 90 years

Presence of Shale Gas

worldwide

 North America is
currently the most
profitable shale gas
producer
Worldwide development
of shale gas plays are
expected to develop,
especially in Europe and
Asia

LOCAL
Shale gas contributes
an 11% rise in natural
gas in the U.S.
Pennsylvania
Marcellus Shale
contains about 500
trillion cubic feet of
natural gas

INDIAN ENERGY
SECTOR
: ANIndia
World
Asia Pacific
OVERVIEW
Energy Consumption

433
Largest Energy
Consumer

11294.9

3981

Coal

29%

51%

53%

Oil

35%

29%

31%

Natural gas

24%

11%

8.6%

Nuclear

5.5%

3%

0.80%

Hydro

6.4%

5.3%

6%

3245

1097

129
(US$ 76 billion)

2.1%

4.1%

4.8%

2.5%

6.5%

6.6%

5th

Energy Mix (%)

Oil & Gas Imports

Growth in Energy (10 yrs)

Total Primary Energy

Natural Gas

India A Fast Growing Energy Market with Growth in Natural Gas

Consumption more than World & Asia Pacific.

ONGC finds country's first-ever

shale gas reserve in West
Bengal
India's biggest energy
explorer Oil & Natural Gas
Corporation (ONGC) has discovered the country's first
shale gas reserve at Durgapur in Burdwan district of
West Bengal. The gas reserve - spread over 12,000
square km in the Durgapur-Ranigunj area - is the
world's third shale gas find. According to ONGC
estimates, India's shale gas reserves range between
600 and 2,000 trillion cubic feet.
"The successful pilot testing of first-ever shale gas
on surface will put India on shale gas map of the
world. It has opened up new hopes for meeting our
energy needs and encouraged to venture into many
shale sequences"

Relevant Technology:
Hydrofracturing
Hydraulic fracturing
Is hydraulic fracturing widely used?
Does hydraulic fracturing pose a
serious threat to the environment?

 Although shale gas is one of the fastest growing

trends in onshore oil and gas exploration there is
still a long way to go!
Better, more efficient technology needs to be
obtained.
Natural gas historically has only provided 22% of
the total energy consumed
Each gas shale basins is different and each has a
unique set operational challenges.
Because of these differences, the development of
shale gas resources in each of these areas faces
potentially unique opportunities and challenges.

 Protection of Groundwater
Wildlife Impacts
Community Impacts
Surface Disturbances

 Chemicals are added to water to aide in

fracturing the rock
This add goes to the amount of ground water

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

In using this technique researchers are trying to find a way to
cut down on water pollution

It takes 2 million to 4 million gallons of water

to drill and fracture a horizontal shale gas well
In the long run is not to bad compared to agricultural and
municipal use.
Only 1% - 8% of total water use

 Gas development
can adversely
affect animal
habitat and
wildlife.
They can drill
underneath areas
like wetlands to
reduce wildlife
disturbances.

 There are certain Community issues

that can arise

Damage to roads
Traffic congestion
Noise
Dust

It takes intense planning to ensure

that these factors have the smallest
impact possible

 Vertical wells can

require up to 40
acres per well or
16 wells per
square mile.
Horizontal wells take
up much less space
and are more
efficient.

 Natural Gas is the cleanest of all

fossil fuels
Can reduce the emissions of pollutants
into the atmosphere

The main products of natural gas

combustion are carbon dioxide
and water vapor
Carbon dioxide is a less potent pollutant

 Natural gas does not

contribute much to
smog
Emits low levels of nitrous
oxide and almost no
particulate matter

Can be used to fuel

vehicles
Cut down on the emissions
from gasoline and diesel.

 Advances in Hydraulic fracturing

and horizontal completions
Costs more to produce but low risk
of shale gas wells
North America the developing leader
Prospects
29,00 jobs
2.3 billion dollars to the economy

Conclusions
Enough unconventional Reservoir exist in the
country.
Unconventional Reservoirs are required to be
evaluated by collection of more data by initiating
Pilot Projects in Shale Gas as earliest as possible.
Exploration blocks may be awarded for
unconventional reservoirs.
Economically, Projects in Shale Gas looks viable.

References
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/apr/08/shell-oil-gas-james-smith
http://www.naturalgas.org/naturalgas/exploration.asp
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ongc-finds-maiden-shalegas-reserves-in-india/123723/on
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=shale-gas-and-hydraulicfracturing
http://www.api.org/policy/exploration/hydraulicfracturing/shale_gas.cfm
http://owni.eu/2011/02/14/shale-gas-energy-revolution-or-ecologicalthreat/
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/indiabusiness/28380148_1_shale-gas-damodar-basin-gas-source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale_gas
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/44366/shale-gas-game-changerindia.html
http://www.energytomorrow.org/Shale_Gas.asp
The Times of India, 26 January 2011, article

Thank You!