New Energy Resource - Shale gas (1)

XI'AN, China - June 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Kosun solids control equipments are not only used in oil drilling rig, but also shale gas. There are some oil drilling rig enterprises in China researching shale gas drilling rig. Anyway, Kosun solids control equipments could be used to oil drilling rig, natural gas drilling machine, shale gas drill equipment, CBM drill machinery and HDD drill rig. So let’s focus on shale gas now.

Definition and Importance of Shale Gas

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are small-grained sedimentary rocks that can be ample sources of petroleum and natural gas. Over the past decade, the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic breaking has allowed access to large masses of shale gas that were previously uneconomic to produce. The production of natural gas from shale formations has rejuvenated the natural gas industry in the USA.

Shale Gas Resources in USA

Of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.A. in 2011, about 95% was produced domestically; thus, the supply of natural gas is not as dependent on foreign producers as is the supply of petroleum, and the delivery system is less subject to suspension. The availableness of large quantities of shale gas should enable the United States to use up a predominantly domestic supply of gas for many years and produce more natural gas than it consumes.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Early Release projects U.S. natural gas production to increase from 23.0 trillion cubic feet in 2011 to 33.1 trillion cubic feet in 2040, a 44% increase. Most all of this increase in domestic natural gas output is due to projected growth in shale gas production, which grows from 7.8 trillion cubic feet in 2011 to 16.7 trillion cubic feet in 2040.

Although the prospects for shale gas production are promising, there remains extended uncertainty regarding the size and economics of this resource. Many shale formations, particularly the Marcellus (see map below), are so large that only a limited portion of the entire formation has been extensively production-tested. Most of the shale gas wells have been drilled in the last few years, so there is extended uncertainty concerning their long-term productivity. Another uncertainty is the future development of well drilling and completion technology that could substantially increase well productivity and reduce production costs.

An analysis in the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 (released June 2012) shows that the uncertainty in the size and economics of the domestic shale gas resources could have a considerable impact on future domestic natural gas production and that 2035 shale gas production could be between 9.7 trillion cubic feet and 20.5 trillion cubic feet. U.S. total natural gas production is projected to range between 26.1 trillion cubic feet and 34.1 trillion cubic feet. The resource uncertainty cases will be updated and included when the full Annual Energy Outlook 2013 is released in the spring of 2013.