International shale race takes off

While shale gas production in the US reached 4.87 trillion cubic feet in 2010, shale drilling and production is slow-going in other countries.

Nonetheless, the EIA recently released a report covering 48 shale gas basins in 32 countries, asserting that shale gas is a global phenomenon with 6,662 trillion cubic feet of unconventional resources worldwide.

With the news this week that Chevron has hired oilfield services firm Halliburton for drilling services on its Polska shale project in Poland, the international shale race heated up a bit.

International countries around the world are eager to tap into shale reserves, using techniques and technologies, namely horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing, perfected in the unconventional formations of the US and Canada.

Both India and China are making strides to begin drilling shale. National oil company CNPC joined forces with super-major Shell to develop a well manufacturing company to focus on shale gas and CBM drilling and development. Additionally, India is drilling its first shale gas wells, as well as awarding shale gas blocks for development.

In South America, shale drilling in Argentina is also picking up through efforts in the Neuquen Basin.

While France has recently banned the use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas resources in the country, Toreador Resources, an active shale explorer in France, stresses that it can develop its Paris Basin resources without the technology.

The Ukraine claims to hold the world's largest shale reserves, with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the country calling for international investors to study its shale gas deposits.

The drilling and development of shale resources across the globe may prove the perfect solution to growing demand for energy outpacing current production levels.


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Phaedra Friend Troy is the content director for PennEnergy.com, an all-energy website that provides oil and gas, power and infrastructure news, analysis, reports and more. Sign up for a free daily enewsletter today.