The recoverable resource base has been considerably expanded by the development of unconventional gas reserves, most significantly in the United States. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that conventional gas reserves are equal to around 120 years at 2010 levels, and when unconventional gas is added this figure rises to nearly 250 years. The remaining resources of gas can comfortably meet IEA projections of demand beyond at least 2035. The twenty first century has seen the rapid development of shale gas in the United States, which has been made possible by technological breakthroughs that allow considerable volumes of gas to be extracted at a price that competes with conventional gas. These technological breakthroughs …show more content…
Despite the game changing potential to increase the geological resource base, political and economic factors none the less may mean that the shale gas revolution leads to shortages in the future and a perpetuation of past energy consumption patterns. This analysis highlights that the role of shale gas as a game changing resources is uncertain, and any predictions that are made on its future can only be approximate guesses.
The shale gas revolution calls into question the peak oil hypothesis, which predicts that the price of finite resource will increase dramatically in the future once oil production reaches a peak. The peak oil hypothesis assumes that on the supply side once fifty percent of total world reserves of petrochemicals are extracted production will peak and then go into rapid and permanent decline. Rising oil prices may stimulate drilling in marginal areas but because ninety percent of the worlds reserves have already been discovered this will do little to increase the ultimately recoverable reserves (URR) of oil. This pessimistic prediction for future oil production is combined with a very optimistic prediction for the future of energy consumption. The geologists are also skeptical of the potential of unconventional gas and oil reserves to replace conventional oil. The economic argument for peak oil has its origins in Jevons’ ‘Coal Question’ (1865) and Hotelling’s ‘The
The American energy revolution, otherwise known as The "Shale Gas Revolution," is described as being the big change in the ways in which we get our oil. In other words, it is a way of making the longevity of the oil we use as energy last just a little bit longer. The conventional oil we extract from the ground is rapidly running out, fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is another way to get more oil out of the ground from less. Much of the oil we have left on Earth is trapped in shale rocks beneath the surface, not easily retrieved. These rocks are impermeable making it difficult to get to the oil enclosed inside. By the use of fracking, which opens up these rocks in order to let the natural gas and crude oil inside flow out, we increase the time in which we have oil left in the Earth, to use this valuable fossil fuel. According to Gold, in 2008 it was a small energy firm located in Canada that was first to administer a report entitled "The Shale Gas Revolution," which took to its supporters and is now used commonly. Gold believes in the revolution because he recognizes that the old ways of extracting the oil are crumbling, coal is no longer the major source of energy for making electricity, and a big change is occurring (Gold, 2014).
The Haynesville shale in Louisiana is one of several unconventional gas plays that have been discovered in the U.S. in the past decade and promise to dramatically change the course of future energy development given its enormous resource potential. Unconventional gas resources are abundant, but their development is particularly sensitive to technologic risk, geologic uncertainty, and gas price. To produce at commercial rates, shale gas wells require horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing which significantly increases the capital cost. The purpose of this paper is to examine the price sensitivity of Haynesville wells and the economic viability of the play. We characterize the operating envelope under which Haynesville wells are economic
Natural gases are the most important source of energy in the modern world of technology and electricity production, which makes the skyrocketing gas production in the U.S. due to hydraulic fracturing incredibly valuable in terms of global trade and economy. The United States has always been reliant on the Middle East and other European and Asian countries for energy, but is very quickly becoming energy independent. "By 2020, the Energy Information Administration predicts that the USA will become a net exporter of natural gas", reaching energy independence from other countries and starting to export gas to provide revenue and pay off debts (Hassett and Mathur). Even
Klare argues that discovery of a natural resource, for instance, oil, result in producers seeking and exploiting the most desirable, best quality and those closest to markets. Over time, these “easy” resources become scarce, of poorer quality, harder to extract and extend into areas further away from the market. This subsequent need to extract “tougher” resources has catalyzed an age of discovery that energy experts call the “shale revolution.” Daniel Yergin, an author and energy optimist describes the “natural gas
The Marcellus shale has been one of the most important developments in gas production over the past few years. Having a good understanding of what this gigantic gas reservoir can do to shape the future of the natural gas industry is vital to understanding today’s U.S. economy. The Marcellus shale has rich black organic shale with low density,and it is located in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. In addition, small areas of Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee,
After decades of trial and error, in 2001 George Mitchell, Chairman and CEO of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., cracked the code on what is today considered to be the new gold rush of the energy industry. By successfully commercializing hydraulic fracturing in the Barnett shale deposit, Mitchell ushered in a new opportunity for the United States to emerge as the largest natural gas producer in the world. Higher production of shale gas has reduced energy prices over the last five years and has increased U.S. energy self-sufficiency. Since it is viewed
The amount it cost for drilling in the United States has sky rocketed over the span of 10 years. Its higher expenses associated with fracking and horizontal drilling has cost too much. Fracking involves pumping water, sand and chemicals into shale at high pressures to exact gas or fluids that will be able to reach a well. Renewable energy is under a serious threat because global shale oil industry is expanding globally at fast rapid speeds. There is a new report circulating that by 2035, shale oil could be accountable for about 12 per cent of the global energy production, and this will cause a drastic drop in oil prices to about $50 per barrel. According to the director of sustainability and climate change at PwC, Jonathan Grant, these low oil cost might just extend the production and make alternative low carbon technologies a lot less appealing. This isn't exactly the most attractive strategy asking to leave fossil fuel reserves untouched, as the report makes note
Daniel Bosque questioned that whether shale oil is able to make money back. I think his concern is valuable. Because shale oil is different from normal oil, shale oil come from rocks and is generally in solid form. Difficult to be explored means this kind of explore will use much harder technologies. As a result it will cost lots of money. Regular oil comes from ground which is easy to be explored, can cause little money. So experts should make should hale oil can rain more than buy oil from foreign countries, because shale oil is harmful to
It has been argued that Conventional oil production has reached its peak and is now on a terminal, global decline however, it must be noted that oil is not finishing anytime soon but certain forms of it are being experimented in terms of chemicals, geography, geological and economically. Others allege the era of oil is coming to an end. But certainly not
Hughes states that “hydraulic fracturing seems to be the largest source of induced seismic activity” (Hughes 26). Seismicity concerns have been allayed by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering, who write that there “is an emerging consensus that the magnitude of seismicity… would be… negligible” (Royal Society 4). This scientific consensus suggests that Hughes’ arguments against shale gas are inaccurate. He fails to provide substantial evidence in support of his opinion that shale gas will not be an economic boon moving forward.
A recent study undertaken by the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources showed that China has 25.08 trillion cubic meters of proven shale oil and gas reserves, which is more than 200 times the national’s annual energy consumption rate. These statistics put China as the leading nation with the largest proven shale oil and gas reserves globally whose exploitation could open more opportunities for the country including reduced reliance on coal and energy imports from foreign countries, increased resources, and environmental conservation, and increased global economic superiority among others. Moreover, China would transform from an importer of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world’s leading supplier, and would also imply that the country
The purpose of this analysis is to examine the process of extracting natural gas in shale deposits—Horizontal High Volume Slickwater Hydraulic Fracturing, or “Fracking”—and determine the long-term viability of this process.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is focused “solar assisted air conditioning of buildings” in their task 25. The solar assisted air conditioning is very favorable technology to meet the demand for residential application. Later on, IEA task 38 is focused on “solar air conditioning and refrigeration”. In which the global research has started to working in the small capacity of absorption machine. The important milestone in the research of absorption system is micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power), and it can be helpful to provide hot water and electricity for the residential building. The available capacity range of absorption machine from 40 to 300 kW is shown in Table 1.7. The increasing global market due increasing the small size building cooling demand, there is an emerging research need to operate the absorption system below 40 kW. France, China, Japan, Spain, Germany, India, United States and Mexico are leading countries in absorption system manufacturing. Other than above manufacturer is shown in Table 1.7, Voltas, Trane, Blue Star, Carrier, Robur, Kirloskar Pneumatic and Sonnenklima are also contributing in the global market of absorption machine. The total share of manufacturer against installed capacity of absorption machine is shown in Figure 1.5.
The Relationship between energy independence, in the form of Energy Security Risk points, and Shale Gas Production in the United States.
This report explores the use of natural gas as a means of producing electricity, while the world switches from fossil fuels to renewables. It also considers the implications of using hydraulic fracturing